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?

be on the wrong slope of the mountain.

and it would certainly take more time than I have to spare. Besides, I’d probably

he can come after us… we need him to come after us. All we can do is try to stay warm and hope he attempts a rescue sooner rather than later. She

it, but I 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

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 the rock wall where I’d emerged is tightly shut. Like the fireplace, an interior lever had opened the exit to the pa*sage, but unlike the fireplace,

safe house. I try 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

I end up collapsing into the snow with a wordless scream of outrage and misery. Get up! My wolf orders sharply, lying in the snow is going to soak your clothes and then we’ll really be screwed. Knowing she’s right, I jump back onto my feet. The tears from frost on my cheeks, and I rub away the crystalline particles, trying to keep my wits about me even though I want nothing more than to rage at the Goddess and the universe for putting

the shaded forest, it’s also lower elevation and I might find shelter for the night. Even as I think it, I know I won’t make it through the night… not

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

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

more than you do. She remarks sorrowfully, but this is life

find another way. Maybe Sinclair 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

keep moving and

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

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

as it had been on the exposed snowpack, but it’s getting harder and harder to keep moving. I want to rest so badly, but I just keep my mind on Sinclair and Rafe, and force my body to

what seems like hours, and when night falls, 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 that he will certainly know I escaped by now, and he’s probably on his way… but that tunnel was so long,