Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“How are you feeling?” Sinclair asks, standing in the doorway of my bedroom. The wild hunt is tonight, and I know he’s not merely asking about my morning sickness or fatigue.

“Nervous.” I confess. “Do you think…” I trail off, blushing and unsure if I can actually speak the question I need to ask.

“What is it Ella?” He inquires, coming forward with an encouraging smile.

“Do you think I could see your wolf before we go tonight, just so that I’ll recognize it when I see you?” I whisper, barely loud enough to hear myself, but knowing Sinclair’s wolf ears will be more than capable of picking up on the sound. And so I won’t be scared. I add silently in my head.

“Of course.” He chuckles, “That’s a great idea. I should have thought of it myself.”

His powerful hands move to the buttons on his shirt, and I find myself taking a step back. “What are you doing?”

“You wanted to see my wolf, I don’t want to ruin this shirt.” He shrugs. “It’s one of my favorites.”

“Right.” I breathe, “Right, of course.”

He continues stripping off his clothes, and I work hard to avert my gaze. So far I’ve been very successful in avoiding temptation by not looking at his body in these vulnerable moments, and I’m not about to change that now – on the day when it’s more important than ever that we practice self control.

“Does it hurt, shifting?” I ask, staring at my fidgeting fingers.

first time.” Sinclair shares, “The first time is almost unbearable, it takes hours and hours, but once you’ve gotten it over with it happens fast as lightning, too quickly for you to feel the

lightheaded, “How old are you when you

the change when they go

my son – eventually suffering through this sort of grisly shift, and I don’t

painful as anyone else’s. But my father was with me, he got me through it, just like I’ll do

can imagine Henry was a very gentle

with my own body covered. I never realized until now how vulnerable it is to be undressed and exposed when others are not, but Sinclair doesn’t

“Yes, sorry.” I flush.

murmurs, “and don’t get close to me until after I’ve shifted, you don’t want to be within reach of my claws when I

my pulse pounding in anticipation. Sinclair backs away from me, holding my gaze the same way he did last night at the stone circle. I keep my eyes on him, watching with horrified fascination as he ensures he’s not near anything breakable, then disappears. There’s a loud crack and the air seems to go blurry, I even feel a bit nauseous trying to keep track of the rapid movement. However when my eyes adjust and I’m able to take in the familiar room again, I see that where Sinclair was standing a moment before, now there is only a huge, black wolf with glowing green

and I feel my jaw going slack. “That’s not a wolf that’s a bear!” I

too large – far larger than any natural wolf and probably almost as

still trying to reconcile the fact that the beast in front of me is actually the man who spends every night wrapped around me like a very muscular heated blanket. “But how are you bigger as a wolf than you are

and rolls his eyes, sitting on the rug

point out, my head filled with images of me mounted on his

that! You know what I mean.” I’m amazed that anyone could manage to be so suggestive without speaking a word, or even possessing human features. “I… what do I do, how do you communicate with other wolves when you’re like this. Do you have mental links like you do

something so very doglike, but then again his silly side always surprises me. Suddenly it seems positively hilarious that

– Can I touch

a minute for me to find the courage to move my