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 in the same gentle tone. "Besides, I'll tell him

be missing me and cross with you at once - it's too much

I’ll tell him once we're back together so he can retroactively hate me... and we will be back together, Dominic. We're going to get

as Rafe rolls around inside of her, sending visible ripples over her taut skin. "I just

me, "I know you weren't going to take us with you into battle. You were

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 to be under lock and key with Gabriel, and

know, my love." She croons, 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 it's intended as praise

wonderful 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 - into each other's arms

before you can find the answers we need, or before I have to

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

nothing you cannot do, Ella. You might not want to, but you'll get through it whether I'm

be there. She insists, because we’re going

go through with the separation. Children have a way of proving that even our best laid plans can and will go awry, and that’s when all else is normal - which our lives are certainly not. Even so, these gentle pacifications are enough to calm my wolf, and a few hours later we're sharing our decision with

our mysterious summons. The day’s summit events are about to

you mean, you're leaving?" Cora demands, nervously looking back and forth

"It wasn't an easy decision by any means, but the more time that passes, the clearer it becomes that I can't fulfill

to leave?" Isabel demands, surging to her feet. "Just

like that." Ella sighs, "I don't want to go, especially not when everything