Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

I can hear Ella’s heart racing at a mile a minute, and the baby is starting to become stressed in accordance to his mother. I’m worried too, Ella is small even for a human, and I’m big even for a werewolf, but I don’t believe the Goddess would have chosen her to carry my heir if she couldn’t handle the toll. I need to calm her down quickly.

I begin to purr, petting her sides in long, soothing strokes. “Easy, little one. It will be alright.”

I can feel her nerves begin to settle, but it seems Ella’s mind is still in full revolt. “Stop that!” She whimpers, “I don’t want you to just soothe this away, I’m right to be afraid!”

“Of course you are.” I croon, not letting up on the purrs. “Childbirth is always scary, and it always seems impossible – that’s why it’s a miracle. You’re going to have the best doctors in the country, Ella. I promise you’ll get through it in flying colors.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” She grumbles. “You don’t have to push a watermelon out of your privates in five months! Oh god, what have you put inside me?”

“Well technically, I didn’t put it there.” I remind her, trying to lighten the mood.

“Sinclair, I’m serious!” She snaps, “I don’t think I can do this!”

“Ella look at me,” I instruct gently. She shakes her head, refusing point blank, so I stop caressing her long enough to catch her chin and turn her beautiful face up to mine. “I’m going to take care of you.” I promise. “If that means we have to induce the baby to come a couple of weeks early or do a cesarean, we will. We’re not going to put your body through anything it can’t handle.”

Ella is gradually submitting to my purrs, though I can tell she still wants to fight. I can see that keeping my little human calm and relaxed through this pregnancy is going to be even more difficult than I anticipated, but I’m not the least bit disappointed if that means we have to spend more time snuggling and talking this way. I like taking care of Ella – It’s in my nature as an Alpha to care for others, and I need to give this comfort every bit as much as Ella needs to receive it – whether she realizes it or not.

Ella sniffs sullenly, nestling into my warmth. “It really isn’t fair that you can influence my emotions this way.”

“I know.” I commiserate, glad she can’t see my smile. The stubborn little thing clearly isn’t used to having help solving her problems, and I’m sure she doesn’t feel comfortable giving anyone else that power. I don’t tell her how much influence she has over my own feelings, however. The more time that passes, the more I realize how much my own mood depends on whether Ella is content – something I haven’t experienced with anyone but my mate.

it was very different, my wolf was never settled unless hers was – and she fully expected me to manage her emotions for her, making every complaint in her life loudly and dramatically known. Ella is a very different creature, hiding her upsets most of the time and never expecting or even want me to fix them for her, but my

wolf is in this heightened state given our situation.

sweet human is not the only first time mother in the room insisting the task ahead of them is impossible, and I’m not the only mate purring. Still, when I stop for a moment to test whether the other men’s purrs soothe Ella, her heart rate begins to increase again, and

who’s strutting around with masculine pride in my head.

_____________________

night I wake alone in

what woke me, it’s not until I realize my arms are empty and I reach for Ella that I understand she’s missing. I sit up, instantly alert. She’s not in the room, and the bathroom is dark and empty. I surge out of bed, scenting the air. I don’t smell an intruder or sense anything off – not that I would. If anyone got close enough to snatch her from my

I piece together the puzzle in my

later I push inside, finding Ella stationed over the stovetop in the dim light. I flip the light on and she leaps half a foot in the

promise, coming forward to wrap my arm

want to feel her body against mine, but I catch her hand before she can escape my

nods, flushing, “I didn’t want

“I want you to wake me when you get up in the middle of this night.” I tell her, “whether it’s to satisfy

blinks, and I wonder if she expected us to sleep apart after she delivers. “But you can’t help me nurse. Why

eyes, “because we’re in this together. If you have to wake up ten times a night, then I should have

say that now,” Ella snorts, “We’ll see if you’re still singing

not be able to

her eyes. “Are all shifter men like you? Or

thinking for a moment. “I don’t know – honestly. And I really don’t care