Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate by Caroline Above Story

Chapter 352 – Duke

Ella

“D-duke?” I stutter out, completely overwhelmed by the information, my eyes going wide. “There are dukes? And I had I have an uncle!?”

“I’m sorry,” Henry says, and I can see the guilt written all over his face. “I overlooked this – honestly, no one has heard from him in years – and, considering what we think he was actually getting up to, it makes a great deal of sense that he wanted everyone to believe that.”

“Who,” I say, frantic now, looking between Henry, and Sinclair, and Roger – Cora, I see, looking at me with worried eyes, but I know she doesn’t have any answers – “who is he?”

“Relax, Ella,” Sinclair murmurs to me, leaning close. “It’s all right -”

“It is absolutely not all right -“I snap, not wanting to be mean but completely panicked right now. “My father is dead but I have an uncle? Seriously? And no one told me?”

Henry continues to hang his head, shaking a little, and I instantly feel guilty. It’s not his fault – it’s so complicated, the politics, and why would he tell me about an uncle if he hadn’t spoken to the man in 30 years had genuinely a*sumed he was dead –

“I’m sorry, Henry,” I say quickly, leaning forward to put a hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry – I’m behaving so poorly – ”

his attention back up to me. “Your reaction is absolutely correct. I have failed you in this.” His eyes shift to Sinclair now. And

you, dad and Ella, you don’t have anything to apologize for. We all know this is a lot.

and give Henry’s arm a little squeeze to let him know I don’t blame him for any of it, and that I love him dearly and am grateful for him every day. At least, I hope he gets all that from a squeeze, but

on the table now so that we can decide to do something, instead of just talking about it. I smile at him a

biological father. Either way, Xander was recognized, but he was never the favored son. That is why Xavier – stronger, faster, smarter, better-liked – took the

smile on my mouth as he delicately raises his brows, looking up

stomach to get him to stop, I grin at my brother-in-law, grateful for the laugh which has drained some of my tension away. He gives

very much the King’s sullen brother rather than a real player. When Xavier died, Xander…he wasn’t even considered for the throne. No one said his name, not even him, as a potential

adds, “was perhaps… the mistake. That started all of

I

a contender for the throne when his brother died but he coveted it anyway 1 that Xander wanted it, perhaps his

back against my chair. “To – to reclaim the throne.

Rafe now, cooing gently in his father’s arms. My baby, the grandson of a King. The nephew of a Duke that,

so much sense that we were fools not to consider it before now. Who benefits from Rafe being born? The man who intends to kidnap him and put him on the throne as a puppet, acting as regent for eighteen years before Rafe is old

heard Xander’s name since I was a child – I, too, thought he died in quiet obscurity. He’s taken great pains, I think,

exhale quickly, closing my eyes and gathering my thoughts, “is the a*sumption that we’re making here that Xander wanted

a way, somehow, to communicate your existence to his brother

didn’t he come for me?” I ask, brisk. “To be the