Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“Your pup?” I parrot, realizing I must sound like an idiot the way I keep repeating him – but it’s all too strange and surreal. I feel like I’m having a dream – one that may or may not be a nightmare. “What are you talking about?”

I might have been admiring his physical prowess a little while ago, but now I’m back to thinking Dominic Sinclair is just plain terrifying. I’ve known my fair share of bad men, but none of them have ever intimidated me the way he does. It’s like he’s superhuman, giving off waves of energy that make me want to curl up into a little ball at his feet.

“You.” He narrows his eyes at Cora, then gestures to me. “Is this what you did with my sperm, you inseminated your friend?”

“Of course not!” She objects hotly, though there’s a noted shake in her voice. “Yes, I inseminated Ella last week, but not with your sperm. She chose a donor from our client dossier.”

“You’re lying.” He accuses, stating the accusation as if it’s fact. “Ella clearly knew about the samples – since she came to plead your case –”

“You did that?” Cora blinks at me.

“Yes, but I was only trying to help. I thought he might show you mercy if he realized you would never do anything to risk your career.” I apologize, “I’m so sorry, I just wanted to help.”

“It’s okay.” She tells me gently, patting my hand and turning back to Sinclair. “That doesn’t mean anything… I mean, yes I inseminated her on the same day your sample disappeared but… no – it’s not possible, your sample was in a separate fridge…” She trails off again, looking back at the ultrasound screen with wide eyes. “Oh my god…”

“What?” I inquire, beyond confused.

“It’s not human.” She murmurs again, so quietly I can barely hear her. Suddenly she whirls around, looking up at Dominic Sinclair with true fear. “I swear, I didn’t do it on purpose. I don’t know how it happened!”

“Why do you keep saying that it’s not human?” I question, beyond exasperated. “What else could it be – an alien?”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know.” The infuriated man growls. “Don’t pretend like you two didn’t plan this precisely for this reason.”

shaking on mine now. “Ella, when I told you about the samples, I only told you half the story.” She explains. “I had to sign a thousand confidentiality documents, because certain secrets came along with running

secrets?” I demand, feeling as if everyone

huge man nervously. “He’s

out into laughter. “No really, what is

whispers urgently. “He’s a

almost certain I’m dreaming

confesses, “until I started working here. This lab is as renowned as it is because there’s two sides of the business.

sister. “Are you

The evidence is right in front

to faint, because Dominic Sinclair is sitting in front of me, watching me closely. His eyes aren’t glowing anymore, but I remember the way they’d lit up from within. I also remember the way he’d moved faster than should have been possible to rescue Jake. At the time I wrote it off as adrenaline, but now I’m not so

are you feeling, Ella?” He asks

my mind.” I answer

assures me. “Your friend should never have agreed

I wasn’t trying

for you. You simply miscalculated – you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into, or expect

I hiss. “I didn’t bankrupt myself – my identity was stolen and I didn’t even know about it until after the insemination. I’m not an irresponsible person,

want to hear your excuses.” He answers harshly. “The

give myself

snarls, making me tremble with instinctive fear. “I can smell it,

it? Sense his bloodline? It’s like I’ve left reality and entered a different universe. “This is crazy.” I can feel myself sliding

plate. While I watch, five claws extend where his fingernails were a moment ago. I stare at the odd and slightly sickening sight with abject disbelief. “How