Accidental Surrogate for Alpha by Caroline Above Story Chapter 20
Chapter 20 – Shower
Ella
I dream that I’m on a boat, rocking gently in a starlit sea. I stare up at the night sky, bathed in the light of the full moon. My belly is swollen with my pup, and Sinclair is beside me, telling me stories about shifters – all the myths and legends of his people. His voice carries me along the waves, until he begins describing the life we’ll have together with our baby. He paints a picture of perfection, a happy life as a family of three – my child and I pampered and cared for while he rules his empire, wanting for nothing.
It all seems too good to be true, and it’s not until I realize I’m dreaming that I understand why. When I blink my eyes open, I realize that there are tears in them. I really am rocking, but not in any boat. Sinclair is carrying me inside from the car and clearly trying very hard not to wake me.
I must have fallen asleep. I realize dazedly.
“You don’t have to carry me.” I murmur, hoping the emotion in my voice can be pa*sed off as grogginess.
“Hush now.” He croons, “I don’t mind. You just rest.”
Another time I might argue, but I’m so sleepy, and his arms feel so good around me that I just snuggle in. To my surprise, Sinclair leans his face towards my hair and inhales a deep breath. “You smell more like a wolf every day.” He shares. “The baby must be very healthy.”
This idea makes me smile, “Will I be able to feel it move soon, if pregnancy is so much shorter?”
“After a couple of months, yes.” He confirms.
This is still sooner than human babies quicken, but I feel so impatient. “Hmph, that’s so long to wait.”
Sinclair chuckles. “Maybe, but it will be so worth the wait, sweet Ella.”
“Do… do shifter pregnancies ever have complications?” I ask, finally feeling brave enough to voice this hidden worry. It’s been on my mind ever since the doctor told me the baby was developing slowly, but Sinclair seemed so confident that I told myself everything was fine.
cautious with you – I don’t want
my nose to his chest and inhaling his own scent. “I think you just like telling people what to do
it up you naughty thing, and I’ll show you what strict really is.” Before I
I want a shower first.”
It’s very
not feeling clean.” After a childhood of almost always
helps me with the zipper on my dress, and within minutes I’m standing beneath a steaming cascade of water, feeling more and more myself as more of the day washes away. I felt like a different person with
close by. It isn’t Sinclair, and it isn’t coming through the men tal link with the baby. I don’t know how I can recognize his growl from anyone elses, but in my heart, I know
to stay quiet. I don’t think ten seconds pa*sed before the door slams
in a ball in the corner. “I swear someone was in here with me.”
I’ll have the guards search anyway, just in case” He charges out of the room only long enough to bark some orders at his guards, telling them to begin searching the grounds. While he’s away, I wrap a towel around my naked body, trying to
pulls me into his arms.
I don’t know what’s
stress piling up on you.” He reasons. “But if you don’t
his chest, realizing it’s bare for the first time. He must have
up into his arms, or think about stopping to grab night clothes, I simply let Sinclair carry me back to his rooms. When he sets me down I realize I didn’t bring anything to sleep in. I pause, trying to decide if I
ask anxiously, spinning around and searching for a
I’m painfully aware
my scent.” He frowns,
sleep. No one is
his head. “We can’t take
what risk?” I murmur, feeling my
office, there won’t be time to mark you before I
“Your wolf?” I squeak.
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