Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 302 – Old Friends Home Again

Ella

The morning of the moon ceremony finds me, unsurprisingly, in the kitchen. Eating.

Rafe is with me this time, giggling happily as I dance happily around the room with him, singing about how delicious carrots are as I pour some baby carrots out from their bag onto a plate and begin to munch on them..

–

I’m just getting to the part of the song – which I’m making up as I go along about how they’re good for your vision and help you make friends with rabbits when I hear an odd, familiar sound out in the hall.

I gasp, spinning towards the door as the mechanical hum grows louder, and I’m nearly run over when Henry wheels into the room.

“Henry!” I gasp, tears instantly lining my eyes, stumbling in my hurry to hug him close, almost falling into his lap.

“Steady, girl!” Henry laughs, putting out his hands to catch me and help me find my feet, laughing a little. He beams up at me and I’m laughing too, shaking my head at myself as I lean down to give him a proper hug and then a kiss on both cheeks.

“We missed you so much!” I gush, my heart in my throat as I pull away. “I’m so glad you’re home and in time! A miracle!”

“Certainly took some doing,” he says, raising his eyebrows at me. “I rode in a cargo plane to get here – this little man had better impress.” He shifts his gaze, then, to the baby in my arms.

“Oh!” I say, standing up straight and remembering my manners. “Henry, may I please have the pleasure of introducing you to your grandchild?”

joy,” he replies, his own eyes wet

his grandfather’s arms for the first time, trying hard no to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the moment. “This is Rafe Henry Sinclair,” I say

at my son. Though I’m overwhelmed

he booms, a huge smile on his face. I step back as Henry turns his chair, raising one arm towards his son, the baby still held in the other. Sinclair

kitchen is filled with happy noise for the next few minutes as we all buzz around each other, trying to do nice things for each other and make sure everyone’s

Henry and Sinclair, “go into the living room, take the baby, and relax. I’ll bring in coffee in a moment.

room. A few minutes later I follow them carrying a silver tray heaped with coffee and food. My stomach rumbles as I look down at it all and I roll

Ella,” Henry says fondly, looking down at his grandchild when I enter the

down on the coffee table and sitting close next to Sinclair. “Would

Henry says quickly, looking up at me. “I mean if it’s all

to see the bond

mate. “You, too, were a little bowling ball when you were born. With the same

me next time I’m over. We spend a pleasant half hour catching up, with Henry telling us all about the harrows of his travel back to us, how much he wanted to get here in time for the ceremony. He also catches us up on the lives of our friends who we unfortunately had to left behind, and surprises us by telling us that

“Really?” I gasp, excited.

Henry says, looking between us. “It

Sinclair says, smiling at me. “I didn’t want you to be disappointed

filling with tears again at the thought of seeing my friends.

my hair, but I also see him glance at the door. He’s torn, I know, between wanting to

I say, giving him a nudge and a

sure?” he asks, glancing at me first