Accidental Surrogate

Ella

My mind goes blank at first. Sinclair is too close to the truth, to figuring out that I’m not as immune to him as either of us would like to believe. The voice in my head is panicking, but I try to keep it together. Praying for calm, I take a deep breath, and as I exhale I recall the ability to speak.

“Because we’re supposed to be in this together, and you played me.” I murmur, speaking the truth – but not the whole truth. I can’t admit to him that I feel utterly rejected by his ploy, that I feel unwanted on a visceral level and it’s tearing me up inside for reasons I don’t yet understand. “You played me like I’m one of those reporters, or the Prince.”

Sinclair’s face twists into a grimace, and the next thing I know he’s reaching for me, “Please, come here Ella.”

“No.” I insist stubbornly, preparing to move away if he tries to approach me.

“I’m sorry.” He expresses, looking truly remorseful. “I didn’t mean to do that. I care about you, I don’t want to hurt you that way.”

“Well you did.” I reply petulantly. I don’t know where this comes from. With anyone else I would have accepted the apology and moved on, whether I actually felt better or not. I’ve always chosen peace over my own feelings – but I find it very hard to pretend with Sinclair. I think he would know that I don’t actually feel better, so why should I fake it?

“I know.” He nods grimly. “I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”

“I don’t need some sort of reparation.” I insist, “Just… do better, Dominic.”

“I will.” Sinclair vows soberly, “You have my word.”

I breathe a sigh of relief, but Sinclair is surveying me closely. I can tell he wants to metaphorically kiss and make up, but as I suspected, he senses my upset is not wholly resolved. “What else?” He prompts.

“Nothing important.” I shrug, not feeling brave enough to ask the questions I’m most curious about.

“Ella,” He says my name as an admonition, scolding me for not being honest with nothing but those two familiar syllables. “Come on, tell me what’s on your mind.”

my answers. “Alright, what was all that about discipline? Those things the Prince said about my insolence? It didn’t just sound like Alpha stuff… I mean it’s one thing to be insubordinate to a leader, but the way you

quirk at the edges, and the energy in the limo abruptly shifts. The air around us goes taut, feeling suddenly tense and electric despite the fact that nothing has actually changed. Neither one of us have moved a muscle. Still I know Sinclair feels it too – it’s all too

dominance thing? But that’s so backwards! You just said that strength and all that doesn’t

power dynamics, and that dominance isn’t a virtue

get to boss around their mates?” I

and clearly enjoying my indignation. “You have to remember that shifters are very primal beings. Whatever instincts humans once possessed have been socialized out of you. You’ve been completely detached from your inner

guess, feeling a shiver run down my spine. “Even to

they’re safe, to satisfy their own inner animal. Only then will they submit.” Sinclair

discipline… that was serious? Literal?” I squeak

I don’t know why, but for some reason, his ominous

______________________

Sinclair

wolf howls in triumph. The gendered nature of shifter power dynamics might outrage Ella’s human values, but she clearly craves a strong

tries to wrap her mind around this idea, “if a she-wolf does something her mate doesn’t agree with, she just gets

Ella into my lap. “Only weak men assert their authority through violence or mistreatment. That isn’t our

“But you said –”

not abuse.” I

I wish I could read her thoughts right now, but it’s enough to see the blend of eagerness and apprehension

wolf from treating her like one of our own, especially when she shows so many wolfish qualities. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping this

things like time outs and no screen time – groundings for the older kids.”

much the same with our pups.” I say, to Ella’s obvious relief. “But

frowns, fidgeting nervously. Her silky thighs are still clenching and it’s all the more obvious now that she’s settled in my lap. The sweet little human probably thinks I don’t have a clue what she’s up to, but I know perfectly well that she’s

the first thing that comes to