Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 234 - Ella Shares her News

Sinclair

If I'd thought getting out of bed with my mate was difficult yesterday, it's nothing compared to the struggle facing me today. Now that Ella and I have decided to undergo another separation, my wolf is even more on edge than before. All night I slept with my precious mate wrapped so tightly in my arms she couldn't move an inch - a fact which became apparent when she pinched me awake in the middle of the night so that she could go pee. Of course, the moment she returned to my arms I wasted no time making love to her again, but it only appeased my wolf temporarily.

Now, as I watch her snuggle closer to me in the cool morning air, I wonder if I can truly go through with this. Right on cue, Ella opens her glorious gold eyes, and I fall into the bottomless pools. "Good morning." She murmurs, yawning and stretching before leaning in for a kiss. Her lips meet mine with familiar ease, but the taste of my delectable mate sets my wolf to howling, and fire sparks in my blood. It’s further proof of what I already know - that no matter how much time passes or how often we come together, my passion for this she-wolf will never dim.

"I changed my mind." I rumble when we finally part. "I can't let you go, Ella."

My sweet mate sighs, frowning deeply as she caresses my muscular arm." Dominic, we talked about this. It's for the best.”

"How can it be for the best when we aren't together?" I posit stubbornly, not caring one bit that I sound like a lovesick pup.

'The same way it was for the best for us to divide and conquer when you went visiting the Vanaran territories and I stayed behind." Ella reminds me, kissing my shoulder and drawing my hand to her belly to feel our pup. Rafe is wide awake and alight with energy, though he clearly senses our tangled emotions. There's an edge of confusion and anxiety in his otherwise content consciousness, and I know the clever minx is directing my attention to this on purpose.

"Stop being so rational." I huff, letting my wolf take over. "What happened to the little hellion who made me feel like a murderer for leaving her behind?"

"She learned from her mistakes." Ella answers steadily. "I didn't understand then, I let my hurt feelings and anxiety blind me - but I know better now." A door opens in our bond, and she lets me feel the pain she's struggling to overcome herself - pain she kept hidden last night. I suspect she did so to prevent me using it as an excuse to stay together, but now she shares it to let me feel how she hates this every bit as much as I do.

"What about Rafe?" I demand, "you remember how angry he was with me when I finally returned? How abandoned he felt?”

that you'll always be there for him - even when he doesn't want you to be." Ella counters

be missing me and cross

him once we're back together so he can retroactively hate me... and we will be back together, Dominic.

to hate you." I grumble, running my hand over her tummy as Rafe rolls around inside of her, sending visible ripples over her taut skin. "I just want there

happen eventually anyway." Ella reminds me, "I know you weren't going to take us with you into battle. You were going to leave us here in

impossible creature knows it. Her beautiful face is the picture of innocence, but there’s a knowing glint in her shining eyes that betrays her calculation. "I didn't think it would be this soon." I grumpily explain, nibbling her mating mark. "And it's one thing for you

running her fingers through my hair - soothing me against my will. I'm well aware that she's giving me a taste of my own medicine, and I have to admit it's rather infuriating. Clever mate, my wolf growls through our bond, though it's not clear whether

our reunion will be. Her wolf answers suggestively. We're not going to have any big scares this time. We're just going to run - or waddle, in my case

before you can find the answers we need, or before I have to go into battle. My wolf sulks. It's not as if we can control

will come to you before he arrives. Even if I have to turn around and leave immediately afterwards, I'm not going to let this child come into the world without you. A flash of fear seeps through our connection, and I

might not want to,

She insists, because we’re going to

and will go awry, and that’s when all else is normal - which our lives are certainly not.

sitting room, expectantly anticipating an explanation for our mysterious summons. The day’s summit events are about to kick off and I'm sure they all assume we’re here to talk about that, so it comes as no small shock when Ella declares she's leaving

demands, nervously

my own power." She explains soberly. "It wasn't an easy decision by any means, but the more time that passes, the clearer it becomes that I can't fulfill my destiny unless I discover the secrets of my past... and if anyone has those

demands, surging to her feet.

don't want to go, especially not when everything is so tense. But I