Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Ella

I pace back and forth outside Gabriel’s chambers, absolutely beside myself over Phil!ppe’s fate. I have the worst feeling that Sinclair is going to fire or demote the guard because of my actions, and I’m already preparing a furious speech to deliver to my mate if he does so. I can’t hear a single word of their conversation because the King’s chambers are soundproofed – a luxury I decide Sinclair and I should definitely invest in when we return home.

The waiting is horrible, but eventually my faithful guard emerges, looking thoroughly dejected. I can’t stop myself from racing up to him with man energy. “Did he demote you? Is he still on the call –I’ll talk to him-“

“Woah,” He catches me by the shoulders. “It’s okay, Ella. He didn’t demote me, he just did a lot of yelling”

“Im so sorry.” I profess wringing my hands.

“Don’t be.” Phil!ppe says evenly, staring me straight in the eye so I can see the honesty in his expression. “You were right. Being someone’s guard is a really intimate relationship. You have to trust me with your very life, with all your secrets

He sighs, shaking his head. “Most people get to choose their guards but you didn’t pick me, you didn’t even know who I was when Dominic a.ssigned me to you.”

“So?” I protest, still feeling indignant on his behalf.

“So it’s right that I should have to prove myself to you.” He chuckles. “Trust has to be earned.”

Phil!ppe pauses, giving me an assessing look. “But I have to tell you that if it had gone on much longer. I don’t think I could’ve kept it up.. part of protecting you means looking out for your health and well-being even when you don’t want me to do it. You weren’t doing well and I’m glad Dominic got through to you. I don’t want to be in that position again.”

“I respect that.” I reply contritely. “And Ill try to do better.” I promise, wondering if my sudden urge to explain myself is actually to help him understand, or to make myself feel better. I have a terrible sense that it’s the latter, but I forge ahead anyway as we begin walking down the opulent corridor.”

such a whirlwind. My entire life

and I’m in charge of a world I didn’t know existed, and I’m in the middle of

on his heels, pursing his l!ps. “Is that part of why you’re so

sure about

don’t think any of us… I mean we all realized you’d been left with the humans and that the Goddess was involved, but I think maybe we were so distracted by how amazing it all is that we didn’t consider what it

feel very vulnerable. I wrap my arms

I used to say our parents were spies working together on a top secret project for the government and that they’d had to leave us in the orphanage for our safety. But they left us together so we wouldn’t have to be alone.” I smile at the bittersweet memory. “But we grew up… and we realized that we just weren’t wanted. We weren’t any more special than

I confess. “Ive been saying I have to find out where I came from – which is true. But in my

of it too.. because for the first time since I was eight, I

that can motivate us without us even realizing it.” He

therapy is

on.” I gr0an,

“Not you too!”

defense, “hey, I’m just following my

throwing my arms up. “That’s what they all

I’m back in the sitting room with Leon, Henry, and my small audience of

for the therapy session following today’s ether trip – a fact the

of me, but this time I don’t need any guidance from Leon to travel into the

and for the

ever seen. The strange thing is that I find it hard to