Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 296 – Morning in the Palace

Ella

I groan when I wake up, but I don’t open my eyes. Not yet. I feel like I just closed them ten minutes ago anyway – my poor eyeballs need more rest.

Instead, I take a moment to feel my body from the inside out, to check in with myself and see what hurts, what feels good. I’m surprised to find that I can feel remnants of my mother’s gift running through me – what feels like little sparkling tendrils of sunlight, working through my limbs, perhaps healing me. I smile to think of it, smile to think of my mother giving me something that lasts after so many years of her absence.

She is a mother goddess, after all the mother to us all, not just me. But still, as my actual mother, it feels nice to finally have…a piece of her.

I hear my little baby give a little cry and my eyes fly open, searching for him. I sit up in bed, a hand going to my head, and look blearily around..My eyes are drawn instantly – unsurprisingly – to the huge werewolf standing across the room, bouncing a little bundle of blankets in his arm. I smile at my mate’s turned back and quickly climb out of bed, moving towards him.

Sinclair hears me coming and quietly turns, our little boy still fussing a little in his arms.

“Has he been like this long?” I ask, yawning, reaching for my child. Sinclair transfers him into my arms and I feel a quick rushing thrill at the feel of my baby returned to me.

“No,” Sinclair replies with a smile. “He’s been sleeping well – he just started crying now. Do you think he’s hungry?”

I shrug and look up at him. “Probably. I know I am.”

Together we carry Rafe back to the bed and I climb in, rearranging my top so that Rafe can try to eat. Sinclair quietly watches as I work and I let out a little sigh of relief when Rafe quickly latches and begins to suck. I watch him for a moment, instinctually doing a little check on our bond and receiving a little push of happiness and satisfaction back from him.

to wonder something.

have a bond with him?” I ask

nods easily, his eyes still on

father?” I press further,

with my father, certainly,” Sinclair responds. “But no – as you grow, the bond between parents and their children fades a bit. Once a child is able

and reaches out a hand to cup

don’t want to lose my bond with my child,” I say, my voice trembling. “I can’t

ways. Besides, when he grows up and meets his own mate, do you really want to be feeling what he’s feeling?” Sinclair

eyes at Sinclair and then down at my little baby. “No mates for you, Rafe,” I scold. You’re mama’s boy, forever. I’m keeping

differently when he’s a big hulking

”

closing his eyes. “Whatever you say, trouble.” I smile at him, watching him drift off to sleep as the sunlight starts to brighten at the edges of the curtains. I suspect that he stayed up all night, rocking the baby in his arms, in order to let me sleep. So it’s the least I can do now to let him have his

–

I begin to drift off into a little half–daze as well. About an hour later, though, a little knock comes at the door, waking me. I hesitate and stand, not knowing what to expect, but as I move towards the door I see it creak open a little crack, someone

Dr. Hank!” I whisper, cheerful, stopping in the middle of the room and waving him forward. Come in!”

and glancing at Sinclair asleep in the bed. “How are you, Ella?” he asks, curious. He comes and looks down at the baby, reaching out a finger to

I reply, heaving a big yawn. “He’s been surprisingly

The ambulance is outside waiting – are you ready to go to the hospital