Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 166 - Kindred Spirits

3rd Person

When Cora walked into the palace's opulent dining room, she expected to find the table packed with people. Ever since they'd arrived in Vanara, Gabriel had been entertaining different statesmen and potential allies for the war, in addition to their own party. However this night the dining room was almost entirely empty. Not only were Gabriel and his coterie of powerful friends absent, but so were Ella, Sinclair and Henry. Only Roger sat at the long, shining table, a glass of amber liquid in his hand.

"Where is everyone?" Cora asked, standing frozen in the doorway.

"The King had a prior engagement - some charity gala for the hospital." Roger answered, not looking the least bit surprised to see the lovely human. "Dad was exhausted and decided to take supper in his rooms, but I don't have any idea about Dom and Ella."

"Oh." Cora replied simply, relieved by the thought that her sister would probably arrive any moment. After he'd badgered her with personal questions on their excursion into the capital, the last thing Cora wanted was to be alone with Roger all evening long. She didn't like the way he looked at her, the way his eyes darkened and his attention lingered with unnerving focus. He made her feel as if she were a particularly scrumptious rabbit bound for his hungry wolf belly, but only after he'd chased and taunted her to exhaustion.

She gingerly crossed to the table, painfully aware of the way his eyes followed her every move. She sat down and made a show of spreading her napkin over her lap, refusing to look at the wolf seated across from her." So, how was your day?" She asked, striving for some semblance of small talk to kill the time.

When Roger didn't respond, Cora finally dragged her eyes from her empty plate to look up at him. When her gaze finally reached his face, he offered her a knowing smirk. "Oh, so you can look at me." He teased, "I was beginning to worry."

She narrowed her eyes, not caring for being called out when she was only responding to his behavior. Still, not one for confrontations, she muttered a sulky, "sorry."

"Are you?" Roger inquired slyly, "because you look annoyed."

Cora replied, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. She glanced to the door

sake -

offer up her opinions to people whose reactions she could not predict. She didn't mind sharing complaints or venting with Ella, who she knew would always love her unconditionally, but this man was another matter entirely. It wasn't

own, and it struck him that while their struggles might be different, Cora was far from unscathed by their difficult upbringing. He decided to give her a push." Come on, what’s the worst that could happen?" He purred, his wolf sitting up at attention, curious and eager for her response. Roger mentally shook his head, why was his inner animal so

cinnamon skin blanched slightly. Belatedly Roger realized this might have been the wrong question to ask - knowing what the human orphanages were like, it wouldn’t surprise him if honesty was sometimes met with terrible things. Luckily Cora recovered rather quickly. She crossed

"We’re practically family - in-laws for all intents and

gall of the man, he

even believed his own words, the way he’d been looking at her

his brow, "And she's all you've ever needed,

alone together, Roger seemed intent on interrogating her deep personal feelings? "Why do you keep asking me these things?" She exclaimed, staring at her lap. "I'm just trying to

ducking his head to try and catch her eye, but

him at last. 'What interest could you possibly have in

shouldn't

answer my question." Roger's lips unfurled into a lethal smile, and suddenly Cora realized that she might not actually want to hear his answer. "I find you fascinating, Cora." He confessed, noting the way her heart skipped a beat. "I see a kindred spirit in you. I see someone who landed in many of the same circumstances I did, but

don't know me as well

seat. Now that he'd captured Cora's gaze, he was determined not to break it, hoping his wolf's power might compel her

world, and as much as I'd like to say otherwise, my relationship with my sister defined me every bit as much as yours did with Dominic. I got where I am in my career because Ella shielded me from things that would have destroyed me and gave me the space to find my own ambitions, the freedom to dedicate myself to my school work without any ghosts hanging over my head." Cora's mouth flattened into a hard line. "I stood on her shoulders my entire childhood and I show my gratitude by blaming her. She saved my life by bringing me here, but all I can think about is the

can't even take a compliment. Because while you might tell me I’m clever and beautiful, all I can think is that I'll never be as clever and beautiful as she is... plus now she’s an actual mythical creature -