Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Sinclair

“Hmm, where oh where could my little pup be?”

My mother’s velvety voice sounds just on the other side of the cabinet where I’m hiding. I press my hands over my mouth to try and silence my giggles, but a few small sounds still escape.

“Aha!” Mom whips open the cabinets two doors down, shouting with triumph only to soften her tone into another thoughtful hum. “Not in there.”

She muses aloud, and I can almost see her rubbing her chin in thought.

As she moves closer I climb along the shelves, clambering over towels and wash rags to settle in the cabinet she just searched and found empty. A shaft of light bursts into the dark cupboards as my mother pulls open the doors where I’d just been sitting, another delighted cry on her lips.

She doesn’t seem disappointed to have failed again, on the contrary she sounds impressed.

Ahh, he’s a sneaky little sausage.” She observes sagely, “That’s very good. All the best hunters can track their targets as silently as a ghost.” I can hear her footsteps circling, and I know she can smell me in the room, but I’m doing my best to outsmart her.

“In fact the very best predators can sometimes trick their prey into thinking they’re the ones doing the hunting… when really they’re about to be someone’s dinner!” Her voice rises at the end as she lunges for another cupboard. It’s getting harder and harder to hide my giggles as she fails to find me, but I know she’s enjoying this just as much as I am. I shift again, crawling silently to the very last cupboard in the man sion’s huge laundry room.

“What was that!” My mother’s voice sharpens, and I can see her freezing through a small crack in the door. “Oh I wish my fierce little wolf was here to protect me! I think I’m being watched.” She frets loudly. “I certainly hope something terrible isn’t about to jump out and scare me.”

Right on cue I leap out of the cupboard with a ferocious roar, pouncing on her and toppling her right to the ground. She cries out dramatically, throwing her arm over her eyes to protect herself from the terrible sight of her attacker. “Oh no! A Vicious rogue, please don’t eat me!” She begs, “I have pups!”

“Mommy it’s me!” I laugh hysterically, trying to pull her arm away from her face.

was sure I was a goner!” Her shock and relief only lasts a moment, and then she sits up, à familiar spark in her green eyes. “Such a rascal – scaring me that way.” She prowls toward me, waggling her fingers in obvious threat. I back away, my pudgy hands outstretched in preparation to ward off the imminent attack. “And you know what happens to pups who

monster’s relentless assault. I’m only six, but my mother is so little that I already stand as tall as her shoulder, and I must be at least half her weight. I flatten her to the

she murmurs, hugging

I’m a fierce hunter.” I correct her indignantly, rolling my eyes at her silliness.

are

who?” She inquires, sounding slightly

as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Alpha warriors don’t come home

mother counters, playfully narrowing her eyes. “Have you been sneaking out to the pub at night?” She gasps, gripping my arms. “How many

I laugh, “I promise!” Of course, she doesn’t need to know that I already

overreact

who know that fighting is a last resort. They don’t do it because it’s tough or manly, they do it because they have to protect their pack. They do it for love of their family and people – nothing else.” She explains sternly. “You can’t ever forget that duty, or that your power is a grave responsibility. Love is not a bad word, and sweetness is not weakness – these things are your greatest strengths. You have to promise me that you never stop coming to me for cuddles no

her words, and secretly feeling relieved that I don’t have to act like I don’t care in order to be strong. I don’t want to stop

play with us and read bedtime stories, and always comforts us when we’re hurt or scared. He never shames us for those feelings, even if the rest of the world makes those things seem wrong. But then again, he’s the most powerful wolf in

when the fire alarm begins blaring. Mom sits up with me still in her arms, scenting the air. We both smell smoke at the same time, and she immediately jumps to her feet. She sets me on the ground and leads me up the stairs, her eyes scanning the manor around us

I ask anxiously,

find Roger.” She explains, gazing towards the upper stories. “Just

away up the stairs. I start to run outside, when I hear the sound of a cat yowling in the distance. Oh no! Pancake! I

meows. They carry me deeper and deeper into the smokey house, until I can actually see the flames climbing up the outer walls. Fear slices through me, but I know Pancake is close and I can’t leave him to die. I finally find the terrified animal cowering under the china cabinet in the dining room, a blazing inferno

been closed, and there hadn’t been another way out, but I still find myself scolding the young tabby. “Pancake what are you doing? Don’t you know bout fire alarms? They mean you have to get outs!”

remember my school lessons about what to do in the event of a fire. When I opened the door I’d let a bunch of air in, feeding the riotous flames. A wall of fire is blocking the door, and all I can do is tuck Pancake inside

on one hand, using the other to hold Pancake still, when I hear my mother’s