Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate by Caroline Above Story

#Chapter 274 – Bonded

Ella

My head feels…so heavy. I groan, trying to move my hands up so I can press them against my temples, but I can’t move them.

“Easy,” I hear him say beside me and instinctually I turn towards his voice. Where –

“Easy, Ella,” he murmurs, his words thick with emotion. “It’s all right…”

I peel my eyelids apart, then, confused at the effort. It’s like I haven’t opened my eyes for weeks…

My vision comes back to me slowly, the room around me coming into focus with effort. I blink rapidly, looking around at Sinclair, and Cora, and Roger all standing around me, peering at me with worried faces. I feel very suddenly like Dorothy, when she wakes up from her trip to Oz.

“What?” I murmur, my voice thick and my throat scratchy. Suddenly anxious, I try to sit up, pushing at the bed beneath me but –

What the hell were all these wires, tied to my arms?

“Easy, trouble,” Sinclair whispers, pressing his hand to my shoulder, keeping me down. My body responds to his command, relaxing backwards as I look up at him. But…

“Where am I?” I ask, staring at him, and then I press my eyes closed. It’s all just too much.

“You’re in the hospital,” I hear my sister explain. “After the gift, at the temple…”

But her voice fades, almost as if I can’t hear it. I feel my heart start to pound, my breath ratchet up as my memories start to come back to me. Of being on the temple steps of Cora there, and what we learned about each other of Sinclair’s warm arms around me –

–

–

–

And then, nothing – and then clouds – and Sinclair again, and my baby –

Oh my god, where was my baby?

“Rafe?” I gasp, spinning towards Sinclair as my eyes fly open, desperate. “Where is Rafe?” Then I start to look all around me, searching for him – he’s here, he has to be, I remember him, my little baby, wrapped in white swaddling, holding him in my arms

“A dream,” Sinclair says hurriedly, “it was a dream, Ella – we met him in the dream –”

on the swell of my stomach then, drawing my attention to it, reminding me that he’s here – of course he’s here, I haven’t given birth yet

they rest on either side of my baby. Then I close my eyes, resting my head back on the pillow, and search for him. And

out to him, sending all the love I have in my heart down our bond, and feeling a little pulse back. He hears

I open my eyes again, feeling a rush of sudden and unexpected joy. I look up to Sinclair

of my hands and lowering

long minute as tears start to

to take in in just a few minutes. To come flying back to reality after such a hard few weeks, after days of struggling in the dream state to get

there’s no where else I’d

and then his footsteps move to the door, heading out

room.

Sinclair straightens at my

laughing through the tears that are falling

her, unable to help myself, and then glance down at my poor beat up little body. “Um, I think so?” I feel so weak but there is

mom’s the Goddess’s – the gift, I gave

working to sit up straighter in my bed. “Cora!”

”

–

–

you were dying – of course I

frantic and frankly a little mad now. “It’s a gift from a Goddess – from our mom – I worked so hard to get it here, the least you could do is

”

my eyes snap to him as I feel suddenly guilty and a little childish, arguing with my sister like this in front of him, especially when I’m clearly so sick. I look up at him, my eyes apologetic, and I see his face instantly soften. “Please, Ella,” he begs.” You’re so weak – and she saved you with it – it

up at him and then turning to Cora. “Okay,” I repeat, raising a finger to point at her. “But as soon as I’m

these terms, wiping the tears off of her cheeks. “Whatever you say,

—

on his heels. It’s a man I haven’t seen before certainly not one of my normal

his expression worried. “I have to say, I’m shocked to see you awake –” He quickly grasps my wrist, feeling for a pulse and turning towards the monitors behind them, scanning them for new information. “It shouldn’t be possible…” he mutters, his brows drawn together. “Earlier

I say, hesitating, looking up at Sinclair. “Not

confused, and I just shrug. Sinclair stands stoically beside me, still holding my hand. “An intervention from the Goddess, if you will,” he observes, a little humor in his voice. The doctor’s

to the monitors. “Whatever it

a sharp pain spikes through my back.

the larger ones. “He’s fine,” he mumbles, almost to himself. “Better, if anything, than he was the last time I was in here.” “Good,” I say, almost under my breath, pleased to have my suspicions confirmed. My baby and I… we are going to make it. “Can I go home?”

and frowning. “You’re still incredibly weak. You

slowly shakes his head too, letting me know he agrees with the doctor. “I want you home as well, baby,” he murmurs, “both of you. But he’s been good,” Sinclair says,

decision making to someone else. I turn to look

on my chart, almost ignoring me to concentrate on his work. “I’m the best. And I’m not letting you go until you’re ready.” He glances at me then, raising an

huff a little laugh and raise my hands. “All right,” I agree. “If both of you say so, then I’m sticking around. For as long as it takes. But um,” I hesitate, looking up