Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 308 – How Dare You?

Ella

My guests surprise me by staying almost until noon. Well, at least, some of them – mostly those who started hitting the mimosas hard when we got back to the house and then moved to whiskey.

After the baby wakes up and has a little lunch, I come yawning back into the front of the house, where I smile to see that Sinclair has loosened his tie and is enjoying a little banter with Roger and some of the other Alphas.

–

Isabel and James have gone, back to their hotel to let little Sadie sleep in peace, but Cora is still here, curled

up on a couch and half dozing as Henry – I laugh to see him a little tipsy as well – tells her stories of his youth. I move over to them, tired but happy to see everyone enjoying themselves.

“How are you, Ella,” Henry asks, smiling at me warmly and peeking at the baby, who looks at him curiously when I hand him over.

“I am good, happy,” I say, grinning at both of them. “Though I wouldn’t say no to sometime soon –”

“Oh my,” Henry says, glancing up at the clock. “We’ve overstayed our welcome –”

my bed

“No,” I say, appalled at myself for such a rude comment, “It wasn’t a hint – I’m sorry, stay

“No, Ella,” Cora says, laughing and standing up. “Henry is right, and so are you – it is late. Or early or…” she screws up her face in concentration, “whatever. Time to go home!”

We both give Henry a kiss goodbye before he hands my baby back to me and wheels towards the door. Cora leans in to give me a kiss goodbye as well, but I hold her close and whisper in her ear before she can pull away, the baby fussing a little to be smushed, just a bit, between us. “Cora, why didn’t Doctor Hank come today?”

She frowns at me, a little chagrined, as she stands straight again. “Well, did you invite him?”

“Of course I invited him,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her. But then I hesitate. “Or…” I slap my hand to my mouth, realizing… “Cora! I thought you were going to bring him! I didn’t send him an invitation because I assumed he would come as your plus one!”

eyebrow at me, a little offended. “Ella,

hand down my face, confused. “Cora, if

room awkwardly in the hope that no one’s listening. I note that her

my chest. “Hank told me that he

with you

When did he –”

him because you’re holding a space open

wanted

echo around the room a little bit and I blush, realizing that our little tiff is…well, not exactly private anymore. I take my sister

happy, and then telling me you want me to be with Roger, and then kind of yelling at me for not bringing Hank into a literal pack of wolves for a magical

for you, Cora,” I say back to her, a little mad. “And I thought that you decided that that was Hank! But if you’re still keeping space for Roger…” I turn my glare on the back of his head now, angry again. “What happened out in those woods? Did

–

says, taking me by the shoulders and giving me a little shake, though I can see a blush on her cheeks. “Let it

I lie, still

and then back at me. “I’m going home, but I don’t want to leave

softening as I pull my sister close to me. “I’m sorry, Cora, you’re right. I’m – I must just be over–tired. It’s been a

for the door, stopping to say goodbye to

still mad.

1

who to take it out on.

the little bar we set up

Cora – “I say, stepping in front of him

tonight” – that’s a lie, but he doesn’t know that and I think you’re being

–

says, blinking at me, completely shocked. “Ella,

་་

–

getting deeper when he doesn’t immediately comply with my demands. I hold my baby tight against my chest as I take another step towards him. “ That’s my sister you’re messing with, and I’m not going to let you break her heart more