Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

“This is the weirdest thing I’ve ever done!” Ella exclaims, shifting restlessly beside me. We’re just arrived at the festival, and though she’s only wearing a silk robe, she looks stunning. She’s also nearly beside herself with anxiety, and getting increasingly feisty the closer we get to the big event.

“Poor darling, you’re shaking.” I croon, pulling Ella into my arms and rubbing her back. She’s all sharp edges, stiff and grumbling unhappily into my chest, but snuggling into my warmth despite her grumpy mood.

“Of course I’m shaking, it’s freezing. I’m wearing next to nothing and it’s winter!!” She exclaims, gesturing to the snow falling around us. “How are we even supposed to do this ridiculous ritual without getting hypothermia!”

“First because wolves run much hotter than humans.” I answer, catching her hands and tucking them between our bodies so they’ll get warm too. “Second, because the stone circle is surrounded by thermal pools and the base is heated from below by hot springs. I promise you’ll be plenty warm. And if you’re not then there’s always body heat.”

I’m waggling my eyebrows suggestively, but Ella doesn’t laugh. She pouts, peeking up at me, “I thought you were going to respect my wishes.”

“I’m doing my best.” I share, “but it isn’t easy. Especially when you’re so beautifully responsive.”

This much is true, I might have an easier time respecting Ella’s boundaries if she didn’t react so openly and passionately to my advances. But the reality is that she’s obviously affected by me, and it’s hard not to feel encouraged when she melts into my arms like hot honey.

“That’s just my hormones.” Ella insists. “You have to listen to what I say, not what I do.”

“Ah, so ‘actions speak louder than words’ doesn’t count in your book.” I tease.

isn’t my own right now, it’s

hope you’ll give me a little

being an Alpha was about always being in

chafing her chilled limbs with my warm hands. “But my wolf is in charge when it comes

here!” Ella objects, “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m human!” Her whispered words are barely audible even to my own ears,

could. It seems if I’m not thinking about romancing Ella, I’m thinking about how vulnerable she is living among shifters. Even now, I’m painfully aware of how fragile she is in comparison, surrounded on all sides by vicious predators. The poor thing is still shivering and I’m worried she might have been right, without a wolf’s resilience to the elements, it might be too cold for her to participate. Though in truth, I think it’s only

this. Not only these events that throw her so far out of her comfort zone and into a world she doesn’t yet understand, or even asking her to suffer through the cold and discomfort, but asking her to tell so many lies. Asking her to perform an elaborate fraud, to go against her own honest nature to deceive and trick people. I don’t

save one human some distress – yet I want to. I want to go back in time and tell Ella I will keep her and the baby a secret so that they’ll never be in danger from my enemies, and never have to adopt this facade. I want to call off our arrangement so that she want shiver anymore. Now not only

sullenly, “Why are you looking at me that

that when this is done we can go home and curl up in front of a warm

I’m ill and make our apologies.” Her tone goes from exasperated and

my chest and stroking her long, silky hair. “I promise we’ll

I know she’s only lashing out because she’s feeling so much emotional turmoil. I’m sure the pregnancy hormones aren’t helping, but it’s clear she needs me to help ground her, to calm her down because

to purr even as I rumble. “This is an important ritual.” I explain, in a tone that makes her visibly squirm. “I know you’re cold and afraid Ella. Honestly, I would spare you this if I could – but missing this isn’t like missing the feast. It would be seen

her mind no doubt consumed with battling thoughts of duty and unhappiness.Her eyes begin to shine, and

like a pup any time Ella sheds so much as a single tear, even for silly reasons like eating all of her snack. I increase my purrs, and

you don’t want it, but you need it.” I answer sternly, and

to take care of you. It will be over before you know