Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 222 - Summit begins

3rd Person

James froze, staring at Isabel in shock and amazement. "Are you serious?" He inquired, not wanting to get his hopes up in case it was all a jest, or some strange test.

Isabel only flushed, starting to backtrack. "I... well, I just thought... I mean She stammered, looking anywhere but at him. "I’m sorry, it was a silly

idea. You’re just so fond of her, I don’t know what I was think-"

"Of course I want to." James interrupted, wanting to hold her so badly it hurt, but settling for a firm hand on her shoulder. "Goddess Isabel, I'd love nothing more."

"Really?" Isabel squeaked, a tremulous smile stretching across her features.

"With all my heart." James confirmed, pinning her with a fierce gaze. "But I do have to warn you."

"About what?" She asked, going still.

"I'm not going to settle for Sadie alone." James informed her sternly. "I want you both. I was prepared to wait -to fight for you - but you need to understand that letting me bond with her this way will change things. There will be no getting rid of me now.”

Isabel trembled slightly, peeking up at him from beneath her lashes. Her expression was somewhere between sullen and amused, "Was that ever an option?"

"No," He chuckled, "but now that I know you realize it, I'm afraid I’m going to make things very difficult for you."

Isabel flashed her fangs, but light sparkled in her eyes as she issued her own challenge. "Right back at you. It's not going to be easy to win me, James."

only grinned, at last pulling her into his arms. She didn't come quietly, but once she

medical tent when she heard a few of the Vanaran nurses gossiping. "They're increasing the evacuations, but I think they're worried about

this conversation - after all it's not as if it was personal. Besides, as Ella's eyes and ears in the camp, part of her job was getting a sense for the climate among local staffers and refugees alike. The others only saw her as a medical trainee, but the Luna had realized the value of having her sister on staff here early

say that?" The second nurse inquired, unpacking

enforcers this time." The first replied, in the tone of someone quite pleased to be in the know. "My friend in aviation saw the manifests and apparently the new Moon Valley Beta

the handsome one?" The second questioned,

interested

lost, I can't believe the Alpha would risk sending his brother without a damned good reason. Especially not with the summit kicking off

It was four forty five, and if she remembered correctly, the first flights

or why. She acted on pure instinct, driven forward by the relentless pounding of her heart. When Cora reached the tarmac she searched for Jame's plane first. He was the most experienced soldier and the highest ranking pilot, so he was the most-likely

eyes landed on the two familiar figures just as they left the hanger and began approaching the aircraft, their bearing tired but alert. She set off at a run, and when she was within shouting distance, she called out

the arms before she could barrel straight into him, "Cora!"

trying to catch her breath. Roger leaned over her rubbing her back, "Easy now, it's okay, you caught

you- why..." She gasped, frustrated with her inability to handle the brief exercise,

relaxed slightly, taking full advantage of the opportunity to soothe her. "I've got you, just take

finger at him. "You're... flying back... to the

He guided her over to the rolling staircase leading up to the plane, "Sit down.” He instructed, easing her down onto the steps and kneeling

are you going?” Cora managed to

security concerns and I can't very well address them if I don’t see them for myself." Roger replied, still not understanding

exasperation, unable to comprehend her own irrational

would be perfectly safe. However, before he got the chance, the pieces of this sudden puzzle clicked together in his mind. He realized that Cora was

he took her cheek in his large

affronted. "Of course not. I just..." She trailed off again, looking confused. The big wolf almost felt