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?

wrong slope of the mountain. My wolf reasons, making my

make that sort of climb without gear, and it would certainly take more

up on the idea of reaching Sinclair before he can come after us… we need him to come after us. All we can do

know she’s right. I’d wanted to prevent Sinclair from encountering any more danger than 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

could just go back into the tunnel and hope that the Prince doesn’t figure it out. I realize, a light bulb bursting on in my head. It’s a risk, but the tunnel had been warmer at least, surely I’d have a better chance if… My thoughts trail off as I turn and see that

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

I jump back onto my feet. The tears from frost on my cheeks, and I rub

I 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 think it, I know I

My wolf reminds me softly, her voice heavy with regret for making the suggestion. If you wake me fully we’ll be able to handle the elements. Wolves are made for the wilderness… you’ll be ten times harder to

clutching my belly. Not unless we have no other

but

can catch 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!

then. My wolf approves. We keep moving and we

pup. “It’s okay, angel. Daddy’s going to come for us, and until then I’m going

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

been on the exposed snowpack, but it’s getting harder and harder to keep moving. I want to rest so badly, but I

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 that he will certainly know I escaped by now, and he’s