Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 231 - Not Okay

3rd Person

Cora's eyes followed her sister's retreating back as the delegation exited. Ella kept looking back over her shoulder, concern and apology clear on her beautiful face. It was clear she wanted to stay, to talk about what had just happened and offer comfort, but her responsibility was to remain with the group. She mouthed "I love you" just before disappearing around the corner, but Cora could only manage a tremulous smile in response, 1

She wrapped her arms protectively around herself, all too aware of Roger's presence behind her. He was so close Cora could feel the heat radiating off his powerful form in waves, and it was all too tempting to imagine his arms around her. She didn't know why she'd admitted her hurt feelings to him, but she suspected it was the same reason she found his proximity so comforting. "You should go ahead," She tried to say, "they must need you."

'Tm not leaving you like this." Roger answered firmly, shifting close enough that Cora's shoulder blades brushed against his chest.

"Well I have work to do." Cora answered hoarsely, trying to pull away.

A heavily corded arm snaked around Cora's middle before she could take a single step. 'Talk to me.” Roger encouraged in a tender purr. He pulled her back against him completely, and Cora could see his handsome face in her periphery, watching her intently. 'You're clearly upset, little one."

Cora was desperately trying to ignore the sensation of having the wolf wrapped around her like a security blanket, and she hated the way his nickname played on her psyche. Next to tiny Ella, Cora had always felt a bit gangly and ungainly, even though she was a perfectly average height and weight. She'd never been considered "little" compared to her sister, but she certainly was next to most wolves. It was often intimidating, but with Roger? She secretly loved how small and safe it made her feel. "I already have a support system." She told him dismissively, but her voice shook and her lower lip quivered dangerously. "I don't need you."

"Maybe not, but I’m here and I care." He answered gently, cupping her cheek in his free hand and turning her face towards him. It was an odd angle: at once sideways, backwards and upwards; but it was undoubtedly effective. The wolf's dark eyes were boring into her own from only a few inches away, and Cora felt as though he was looking straight through her. " Tell me how to make it better, Cora."

next thing he knew tears were spilling from her lashes. Heart-wrenchingly vulnerable, Cora admitted. "I don’t know. I don’t know what I

turned her to face him. 'That's okay.” He assured her. " Because, I do." Wrapping Cora in a proper hug, he tucked her tear-stained face against the curve of his neck. He stroked her spine and began to purr, pressing soft kisses to her hair. Cora broke the moment his purrs began, clinging to Roger and sobbing into his collar. 'That’s it, sweetheart." Roger encouraged. "Just let

distracted. As soon as the irate beast was no longer occupied with Cora, he was going to be so aggressive and bloodthirsty that it would take all of the Beta's strength not to go rip the other wolf to shreds -

against his shoulder. "I d- don't kn-know why I'm

apologize for crying." Roger scolded, holding her just a bit tighter. 'You have every reason to be upset. That

cried. "As far as shifters are c-concerned I'm n- nothing more than a pet. I w-wouldn't even

if you ever suggest such a thing again, I swear to the Goddess I will put

up. Though she did her best to sound affronted,

how responsive the lovely woman was proving to be. Holding Cora felt so impossibly right, and she clearly responded to his dominance. "He wasn't right. No one thinks of you that way, Cora. Kieran is

way do you?" Cora inquired. 'The others might not have jumped on board, but they didn't object either." She shook her head, frustration taking hold now that the worst had passed. "I hate the way I always freeze up that way! Why can't I break myself

you spoke up

what it felt like." Cora confessed. "I felt like a mouse standing up to a lion. Ella and Gabriel were the ones who actually put an end to the matter. And I just stood there and let them defend me,

instincts alerting

her voice was barely audible. "If I'd been alone, if I hadn't had... all of you... beside me." Her phrasing was stilted and uncomfortable, and Roger immediately understood that she’d

smiling to himself and breathing in her scent. "And is there

leave Roger's arms. Instead she leaned into him and closed her eyes.