Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Ella

“Ella, I love you, but you’re driving me crazy.” My sister’s voice floats through my phone, sounding more exasperated than irritated. After his shower, Sinclair went to his office, and I promptly called my sister for advice.

“What do you mean?” I inquire hesitantly, I’ve just finished explaining

“I mean,” She sighs heavily, “Who are you, and what have you done with my sister? You’ve always known exactly what you wanted and done whatever was necessary to make it happen. You are a strong, independent woman – not some bratty, indecisive, emotional basket-case who’s too caught up in a man to know her own heart.” She gr0ans.

I wish I could argue with her assessment of my behavior, but I know she’s right. However, before I can acknowledge as much, she continues, “It’s like: you like Sinclair, you don’t like Sinclair. You want to be with him one moment, and the next you’re trying to foist him off on another Woman- just make up your mind! I swear, I don’t even recognize you anymore!”

“Can’t you see that’s the problem! I don’t even recognize myself anymore.”I exclaim, rubbing my sore neck. “My entire life has been turned upside down. “

“I known! Because that’s all you ever talk about anymore.” She bursts, interrupting me. “Do you have any idea when you last asked me about my life? That you showed interest in anything other than yoủr own problems?”

Her words sting, and I realize she’s right. I have been so wrapped up in my own drama that I’ve been neglecting my sister. I hate to think it, but the truth is I don’t have any idea what’s going on with her. “Tm sorry, Cora. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing, but it would be nice to know you care!”

She snaps, sounding more than a little petulant.

And she had the nerve to call us bratty! The little voice in my head observes.

“Are you serious?” I hiss. “People are trying to kill me, Cora. A psychotic bitch drugged and attempted to rape the father of my child. I’m committing a fraud of epic proportions in order to save an entire fucking species from civil war. And you’re pissed because for the first time in our entire lives, I’m not ignoring my own needs to take care of yours?”

“I never asked you to do that!” Cora argues, “you made that choice all on your own.”

“Because I had to!” I growl. “I had to be the strong one because you always fell apart at the first sign of trouble.”

you should have let

defensively, “maybe if you had, I would have learned

to protect you.”I finally say, my voice hoarse. “Do you really wish that I hadn’t? Was

“You know that isn’t what I meant.. but

we would have been in it together, rather than you being

if I had.”I share, even as a wave of sorrow swells inside me to learn how she struggles with guilt. “Why haven’t

to talk about it.” Cora scoffs. “I suppose that’s one thing

is all so hard for me. I feel so … raw. I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally vulnerable, and I don’t

tell.” She laughs. “And it’s not your fault that you never learned how to handle feelings Ella, but you also have to take responsibility for learning now that you recognize the problem. You do realize this is why you’re having so

it’s that our situation is insane.” I object pointedly. “It’s not like this isn’t the first

a while ago, but this is the first time I’ve been able to acknowledge that I passed the point of

I will come over there and smack you right in that beautiful face

it’s not like it started out that way.” I defend, wondering if I’m being honest even as I say the words. “I did

Did you ever feel even a fraction of what you feel for Dominic, for Mike?”

of Mike, and I’ve been in such deep denial about Sinclair that I haven’t even considered comparing my feelings for the

think you believed you were in love with him for all

do you think you let him treat

“Because I didn’t have the first idea what a healthy relationship looked like?” I

She agrees. “That little shit preyed on you from day one – we were just too young and inexperienced to realize it at the time.” She has the grace not to say “I told you so.” The fact is that Cora tried to warn me about Mike more than once over the years, but I was

could go back in time and kick him in the balls before he could ever introduce himself to

I chuckle,

do about Dominic, now

That doesn’t change the situation we’re in.