Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Chapter 313

#Chapter 313 – Cora at Home

Cora

When I wake up it’s almost eight at night and I groan, realizing that my sleep schedule is

completely wrecked. I’m reminded, suddenly, of my years as a medical resident when this sort of thing was normal – sleeping all day, taking night shifts, living moment to moment rather than a steady, scheduled life.

And quite frankly, right now? That sounds really wonderful, compared against a whole night of empty hours in which I have nothing to do but… think.

Think about what I’m doing in my life, think about my career which has gone in a really weird direction, think about my relationship…s.

About a certain kiss in the woods.

About a sweet doctor who, apparently, wants to build a life with me.

I sigh and sit up, looking around at my sterile little apartment. I never really decorated, I realize as

I look around at the grey and beige furniture, the simple linens, the charmless curtains. Everything is functional and high quality but none of it is… me?

Or is it?

I frown at my space, thinking of Ella’s sweet home that – even though Sinclair picked out most of the furniture before she moved in – still sings Ella Ella Ella in every corner. It’s warm and sweet

and comfortable. What does my space say about me?

I mean, I’m an orphan – I never had any possessions or any control over the environments in

which I lived, so where would I have learned to decorate? I never had a mother to show me how

So where did Ella…

I groan, rolling my eyes at myself, sick, again, of being jealous of my sister.

I love her so, so much – and I’m so happy she has what she wants in her life. But sometimes she’s just so….perfect. That it makes me realize how unhappy I am, when I stand next to her.

I roll over, reaching for my phone, seeking some kind of distraction from these disquieting- thoughts. But when I pick it up the first thing I see is one of those relationships I’m trying to avoid leaving me an assortment of messages. I sigh and click open my message app.

Hank: Hey, Cora – how did the baptism go? Dinner later?

Hank: Cora? You okay?

2

Hank: Hey, send me a text when you get up – I know you were up all night but I’m worried that I

haven’t heard from you.

Sighing, I swipe the messages away and click through the rest of my phone, trying, determinedly,

to not let it bother me that there’s nothing at all from Roger. Not a peep. As I take a deep breath and check my email, another message from Hank pops up.

Hank: Hey, are you home? I’m… I mean, this is a little pathetic, but I’m outside. Can you let me in? I

your apartment door…

My heart twinges a little bit when I see that. Hank. He’s being so sweet and I’m…well, I’m not being fair to him, am I?

Ella’s right. I’m holding a space for Roger, one he doesn’t even want – despite what might have passed between us last night, it doesn’t change anything. And there’s a man standing outside my door with mooshoo pork, dying to love me.

God, what’s wrong with me? Quickly, I jump out of my bed and dash for the front door of my apartment.

When I get to it, I yank it open, hoping

Hank jumps a little, his eyes going wide, accidentally dropping the large bag of Chinese on the little mail table I keep outside my door. “Gah!”

“I just woke up – we were up all night.

okay,” Hank says, giving me his rare, warm smile.

my door frame and gesturing towards my little apartment.

his lips turning up a bit at the corner. “That sounds great,

supplied chopsticks, Hank tells me all about his day. He held down the fort at the little free clinic we both work at, seeing both prospective mothers as well as general ailments from humans and wolves who currently don’t

I watch Hank closely as he tells me his story, my eyes flicking

him, something that makes me…well, makes- me

he asks, making me blink and focus on him. “Did you hear

I

a little wink and reaching out to grab my hand, squeezing it a bit before sitting back. “I was just curious if you think Ella would

a morsel. “But she doesn’t have any

”

need most.”

says, swirling some noodles around his chopsticks. “And it’s true that she doesn’t have medical experience, but

head at him,

powers,” Hank clarifies quietly.

gift?” I ask, raising my eyebrows

before my eyes, almost instantly heal wounds that should have incapacitated her for days. If she were able

power for the practice of medicine. It seemed somehow… too sacred, too special, to be used to heal bumps and bruises. But could it, should it, be used to cure people on the edge of death, like Ella had

things like terminal cancer, or deadly wounds?

starts to tingle at the possibilities, but I’m wary. I mean, I gave the gift back to Ella – and our mother gave it to her in the first place. It’s hers to use as

I had it, would I use it

“Did I…was it

I say, snapping my attention back to him. “Um, but it’s a bigger question than just I can answer. We’ll have to

can have that conversation

say, grinning at him, excited. “And it’s not like

the container of food out of my hands and putting it on the table next to me. “At least, not for the next twelve hours or

laugh lightly as he moves his body over mine, bringing his face close to me and slipping a hand

do?” I murmur, happy as I let Hank use that hand on my back to lay me flat on the couch. Then I

–

Cora

other about nothing, when

–

is that,” Hank gasps, sitting up and whipping his head to look towards the

my apartment.

fear racing through me. The pounding halts for a moment and we both sit there, frozen, not knowing

jaw drops a little because…well, because

damn door, Cora!”

my sheets – weirdly bashful in this moment. As I do, the

asks, hurriedly getting out of

I breathe, quickly switching the sheets for my robe hanging on the back of

the living room.

Hank, standing at the doorway to my bedroom, sees for himself the moment I

open.

flies open, but he drops it as he glares

Cora,” he growls, storming past me into the apartment, “don’t you ever check

pho-

doorway to my bedroom, pulling on his shirt. And then Roger turns slowly and looks at me, taking me in from head to toe

the door shut and stalking forward to give him a shove. “You scared the

shock and turning his attention to me as he blatantly ignores Hank. “It’s a crisis – Ella and Sinclair have been blowing up

hour –”

—

my phone, wedged between the pillows of the couch. I dash to it and grab it and see that Roger

  1. do.

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heart suddenly in my throat. I can’t grasp the whole

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