Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate by Caroline Above Story

Chapter 136- Ella’s dilemma

Ella

I gaze around at the icy mountains, squinting up at the sky. The sun is high overhead, only halfway through its daily journey from East to West. That means it’s about noon… three hours from when I found the pa*sage, according to the bedroom clock. The Prince’s deadline isn’t until dusk, which means there’s still time to get word to Sincalir, a*suming I can figure out how to get back to the city.

Suddenly I’m kicking myself for leaving my go-bag behind. My coat wasn’t there because it had been stained and damaged, but I had other clothes inside, things I could layer onto my body to try and provide myself some warmth. I might move faster without the weight, but lightness won’t help me if I drop dead from hypothermia.

Just keep your blood moving. My wolf advises, as long as your heart is pumping it will keep you warm.

Not if I’m sweating. I counter, the liquid will just freeze and kill me faster.

Then stay active, but not so active that you’re sweating. You don’t want to stress the baby anyway. She advises,

Alright. I agree. How far do you think the valley is?

so we must be on the wrong slope of

horror, looking up at the snow covered peak. There’s no way I can make that sort of climb without gear, and it would certainly take more time than I have to spare. Besides, I’d probably fall into a creva*se or get

us… we need him to come after us. All we can do is try

he already has, but beggars can’t be choosers, and right now I’m certainly a beggar. So do I stay put and walk in circles, or try to descend? I wonder. I don’t want to stay out

I’d have a better chance if… My thoughts trail off as I turn and see

and try to open it again, looking around for anything that might trigger the internal mechanism and finding nothing. In the end I’m throwing my body into the rock, tears of frustration streaming down my cheeks. “No!” I cry out angrily. “No, no, no! It isn’t

we’ll really be screwed. Knowing she’s right, I jump back onto my feet. The tears from frost

know the sun will keep me warmer than the shaded forest, it’s also lower elevation and I might find shelter for the night. Even as I

voice heavy with regret for making the suggestion. If you wake me fully we’ll be able to

argue immediately clutching my belly. Not unless we have no other choice. Those herbs

do. She remarks sorrowfully, but this is life and death. If you don’t

up before it’s too late. Maybe there’s a cabin somewhere in that forest… in fact, I bet there is! If the Royal Family uses this tunnels in emergencies I bet there’s some sort of emergency shelter nearby! It would be crazy not to when things get like this

We keep moving and we

give a word of comfort to my growing pup. “It’s okay, angel. Daddy’s going to come for us, and until then I’m going to keep you safe and

I force my tired legs through the deep snow drifts, sinking down into feet of fresh powder with every step I take. I try to use my sharpened senses to detect a path or signs of opening in the dense trees, but I can’t seem to decipher anything but ice and snow. I’m already exhausted, and my skin stings with the bite of the glacial wind. I experience some relief when I move into the dense woodland, scenting the air for any

isn’t as deep in the forest, and it isn’t as cold as it had been on the exposed snowpack, but it’s getting harder and harder to keep moving.

I realize that it has, in fact, been far longer than I understood. I haven’t found any signs of shelter, and the air around me grows more frigid as the darkness sets in. “Where are you, Dominic?” I ask aloud, my breath coming out in a white fog around my face. I try to comfort myself with the knowledge