Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 160 - Separation

Ella "What do you mean, you might not take me with you?" I demand, barely processing Sinclair's words. "We're mated, where you go I go.” "Baby, I don't want to be away from you.” Sinclair sighs, sending a wave of genuine regret through our bond. This isn't the first time he's done this - let me feel his emotions to confirm their veracity, but this is the strongest I've ever experienced them. With the help of our connection, I can sense how terribly Sinclair hates the idea of leaving me behind when he travels. It's making his wolf positively rabid with anger, worry, and sadness. Even as the emotions are filtering in, I can already see a way to use them to my advantage. If he feels this strongly, surely it won’t be too difficult to convince him to take me with him.

"The problem is that I have no idea what I’m walking into with a lot of these meetings.” Sinclair explains. "I've been to Vanara before, and know a few of the Alphas, but most of the packs I'm visiting are complete unknowns. I don’t know the territories or threats, I don’t know how rough the conditions will be or how well we'll be received when we arrive." "How much time are we talking about?” I question, needing to get a handle on the scope of this potential separation.

"Weeks, maybe a month." He shakes his head, and I can feel his frustration. "I've been trying to figure out which terrifies me more, taking you with me and putting you in danger as a result, or leaving you behind where I can’t get to you if something happens.” "It's definitely safer to have me with you." I inform my mate confidently." You’re the one who said the only time I’m truly safe is when I'm in your arms."

Sinclair laughs warmly, squeezing me closer. “Why do I feel like you're not the most objective opinion on this?" "Because you’re so blinded by your love for me that you assume I'm in the same boat, but don’t worry because I am completely unbiased." I declare, shifting to straddle his lap.

"Oh, so you aren’t blinded by your love for me?" Sinclair teases, stroking my sides.

"It's different." I hedge, "I'm not exactly sure how at this moment, but there's no doubt in my mind that it is." "You do know that being adorable won't make me change my mind, don’t you?" Sinclair asks gently, grazing his knuckles over my cheek.

wolf whimpers in my head, and before I can think about whether or not I’d shared the sound with my mate, he responds in a way that guarantees he did. He begins to purr,

Ella.” Sinclair admits. "I’m leaning towards leaving you here with Gabriel, Roger and Dad. I trust them and I trust the security here. I want you with me, I just can’t help but feeling it would be irresponsible... honestly it feels selfish, like I'm choosing my own comfort and happiness over your safety." i "But I want to be with you too. So if it's selfish, let's be selfish together." I beg. Pushing away from him, I make my eyes wide and

nape a second later, applying just enough pressure to make me quiver with the instinct to submit. "I have news for you, trouble. If I do go without you,

a shiver as his authority washes over me, so I change track." Fine, but if you're not here then who will give me

gasp as our lips collide, and Sinclair takes the opportunity to slip his tongue inside, tangling it with my own. Only when my mouth is red and swollen, and I’ve forgotten our conversation entirely, does he release me. He keeps our eyes level, massaging my head through my thick rose gold tresses. I loll my head into his

meant exactly what I said." He answers

a lot." "I’ll think about it." Sinclair agrees. "There are a lot of advantages, I just need to make sure it’s right." "Thank you." I exhale, so comfortable and cozy that I already feel as though I

cramming into small passenger planes carrying all their earthly belongings, arriving lost and depleted at

we cross the Vanarium bridge spanning the crystalline waters of the lake, I can't help but feel a renewed sense of awe at our stunning surroundings. However my admiration quickly fades when our cars pull up outside a group of large white tents erected to triage the incoming shifters. As I understand

to brace myself for the harrowing experience ahead, only to become distracted by Cora's incessant fidgeting beside me. It hasn't escaped my notice that my sister is behaving very oddly today, she keeps shooting Roger wary looks, then pretending like he doesn't exist if he returns the gesture. This morning she would fall silent or walk away if Roger came near us, and though my instincts aren’t sending up red flags

the car I sidle up to my brother-in-law, "Would you like to tell me why my sister

don't think she's a very big