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.”

the story.” She explains. “I had to sign a thousand confidentiality documents, because certain secrets came along with running tests on Mr. Sinclair’s

I demand, feeling as if everyone around

the huge man nervously.

I burst out

whispers urgently. “He’s a

her, almost certain I’m

it is because there’s two sides of the business. Half of our bank is dedicated to shifter samples, in fact very few humans work here, because so few

to truly worry for my sister. “Are you high?”

full of light. The evidence is right in front of me, but my brain can’t figure out how to process it. Instead it shuts down. I feel

Of course it doesn’t take long for me to recall the strange events that caused me 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

you feeling, Ella?” He asks

my mind.” I answer weakly. “This can’t be

never have agreed to let you try to entrap

didn’t let me do anything, and I wasn’t trying to entrap you. I just wanted a baby.”

bankrupt. Obviously you thought that if you were pregnant with my child I would pay your debts for you. You simply miscalculated – you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into, or expect Cora to lose her job for the “mistake.’” The horrible man has the nerve to use air quotes around his final

I didn’t even know about it until after the insemination. I’m not an irresponsible person, or the type of woman who expects a man to solve

excuses.” He answers

don’t even know that it’s your child!” I remind him. “Maybe it isn’t…” I have to give myself a shake before I can continue. “Maybe it isn’t human, but that doesn’t

fear. “I can smell it, I can sense my bloodline in your

a different universe. “This is crazy.” I can feel

While I watch, five claws extend where his fingernails were a moment ago. I stare at the odd and