Sinclair

It’s mid-morning by the time I leave Roger’s house, and I dial Cora’s phone number, both because she needs to know about what happened, and because I need help caring for Ella. Despite the doctor’s promises, I’m worried that Ella won’t recover as quickly as he’s predicting and if anyone knows what to expect, her sister surely must.

“Mr Sinclair?” She sounds uncertain as she answers, as if she suspects her caller lD might be lying to her.

“Good morning, Cora.”I greet her, taking a deep breath. “l’m sorry to disturb you when you’re at work, but I’m calling with some bad news.”

I can feel the anxiety in her sharp intake of breath, and worry imbues her soft voice, “ls Ella okay? Is the baby?”

“They’re both at home resting.” I share, hoping this will assuage the worst of her fears. “But there was another attack last night.”

“Another one?” Cora squeaks, indignation bleeding into her voice as she continues. “I thought you were supposed to be this all powerful Alpha? You’re supposed to be keeping her safe! My sister has known you for a month and she’s already had people trying to kill her twice!”

I understand her outrage, and I agree with it completely. “I know. You have every right to be upset with me. I’m not very happy with myself right now. I failed her.” I confess, exhaling heavily. “I’m not turning out to be a very good father so far.”

“I..” Cora doesn’t seem to know what to makę of this. “Tsk,” She clears her throat. “Well is she alright?

Does she need anything?”

“She’s a bit scraped up, but I’m afraid the worst damage was psychological.It wasn’t Iike last time. She… she didn’t recognize me afterwards.'”I wonder if the human can hear how upsetting I find this particular detail, but when she remains silent I forge on. “She’s in a deep state of shock- the doctor used the word dissociative, like she completely disconnected from her body to protect her mind.”

Cora swears, but she doesn’t sound surprised. “I’ll leave work right now.” She offers, “I can be there within a half hour.”

sedated and I’m not sure when she’ll wake up.” For a moment I debate whether or not I should voice my next thought. Ella hasn’t spoken

to show her upset to Cora, insisting she was fine. “And… I don’t want to sound insensitive because I know you love Ella and want to be with her, but I’m afraid if you’re there she’ll be so focused on not worrying you, that she’ll try to pretend like nothing happened and ignore

a minute. “You’re probably right about that. Ella has always been the caretaker… she really doesn’t

I’ve learned.”I muse aloud. “So l think it would be

know all her creature comforts, the

to make this call before Ella wakes. By the time she returns to consciousness I can have all her

Cora interrupts

Dominic, Cora.”I correct

patiently. “It’s not my place to tell you the

don’t want to hear whatever it

Cora trails off for a moment, sounding positively miserable. My mind immediately floods with horrible images of Ella, even more sweet and innocent than she is now, suffering at the hands of the adults meant to care for her. “You need to be prepared that she won’t just be dealing with the trauma of the attacks when she wakes

dissociated.” I guess, hating every word of thịs conversation. “You’ve seen this

“But you’re not wrong either. She wants to protect the people she cares about even when she’s in no state to

we have in

supp0se it’s two sides of the same coin.”I say instead. “Whether she’s doing it to protect herself from the pain or put on a brave face for

tone of someone having an

inquire, not liking this

I wonder if maybe we’re wrong about it being for someone else.” Cora shares. “I mean maybe that’s how it started, but

if her sister is there or not, she’ll try to do the same with this – because it’s all she knows. Only now

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