Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 132 - Ella Warns Sinclair

Ella "What do you mean, you won’t tell me?" Sinclair rumbles, full of foreboding. He's glowering down at me, emitting raw Alpha authority and unflinching disapproval. The idea that anyone would keep me from him - even me myself - seems to be more than he can handle. Still, I know I have to - if he comes after me the Prince will kill him. i

I set my jaw trying to look fierce and determined, even though my wolf is whimpering in the face of his ire. "I won't! I don't care what you do or what you say, I'm not going to tell you."

"Ella, what are you talking about? Why not?" Sinclair demands, his hands tightening reflexively on my body and then easing when he realizes how tightly he's holding me.

"I heard the Prince and Lydia talking, they know you won't give them their ransom. They think you'll try to stage a rescue instead, and when you do, they'll be waiting. It's all a set up. If you come here they'll kill you." I whisper frantically, knowing this won't dissuade him, but hoping my explanation will at least help him understand why I can't answer his question.

Sinclair's eyes glow neon green, and he bares his fangs, "So what would you have me do, Ella? Just leave you as his prisoner?" Before I can conjure any kind of response, he continues, "Not fucking likely, trouble."

"I don't have the answers." I moan, leaning into him in hopes that he’ll calm down. Unfortunately he knows what I'm about, and keeps me at arm's length, "I just know that rescue is not an option. I'm not going to let anyone else die for me - especially not you!" My throat is itching, my voice thick with emotion as I look up at my mate. "I can't lose you, Dominic."

"Sweetheart, if I know there's an ambush waiting I can prepare for it." Sinclair reasons, sounding gentler now. I think my upset has calmed his own temper, because he tucks my head under his chin and begins stroking my spine in long, soothing strokes. "I know you're scared and you probably feel horribly guilty about your guards, but their deaths were the most honorable kind for a warrior. They joined my ranks because they wanted to defend the pack at all costs."

"You didn’t see them." I hiccup, "it wasn’t - they thought they’d failed. They died believing they hadn’t done their jobs, that they hadn't protected me."

They fought until the very end, even when the odds were so stacked against them that they knew they

I don’t want you to die too!" I cry. "I need you,

of dying anytime soon." Sinclair promises, caressing the curve of my belly. "But you need to tell me where you are so

stubbornly shake my head. "I've made up my mind, Dominic." I insist. "I'm better off in captivity than I

over the bruise

face into his hand, nuzzling and nibble his palm, "it's not so bad." I insist, "A

if I don’t end my campaign

he threatened to kill me, but even Damon isn't that foolish. As long as you're out there making life

firmly. "And even if you are right, I can’t help you through this pregnancy if we’re separated. You’re already high risk, being a prisoner could make your

emit a pitiful moan, hating how right he is. 'There has to be another way. Maybe I can escape on my own." The Prince's threats ring in my mind, but I'm smart enough not to repeat these things to my mate. I know in my heart that if anyone is going to put themselves at risk, it should be me. The possibility of my baby's death is too painful to contemplate, and my inner mama bear lashes out at the thought with primal rage. Still, Sinclair is the one who has to rule,

Sinclair is watching me with narrowed eyes, and too late I realize he's still got one hand on

and I’m caught, they might rough me up a bit, but they won’t kill me." I assert, convinced the Prince wouldn't give up such a powerful bargaining chip - or perhaps praying that I'm right, since I'm not willing to endanger Sinclair. "I'll be able to try again. But if you try to rescue me and they get the better of you, they'll kill you. The risk is less if I try to do this on my

fists clench and unclench on my body. "Listen to me, now. We only have a few more hours to work this out, and one way or another, you need to tell me where you are. I'm not saying I'm going to ride in there on a white horse to save

answer? Are you meeting him in person?" I question, thinking that if I try to escape when the Prince is out

Sinclair demands, his