Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“I’m very worried about this, Ella.” The doctor pronounces grimly. He’s just taken my blood pressure, and it’s the same high reading we recorded this morning with the home kit. “I know you’re in the middle of a campaign and you’re going through a lot, but you’ve got to find a way to de-stress. If you don’t, we’ll have to put you on bed rest.”

“Bed rest?” I repeat anxiously. “For how long?”

The doctor’s grave face speaks volume, “the duration of your pregnancy.”

Sinclair stiffens beside me, moving the hand at my nape to massage my tense shoulder muscles. “What can we do, other than avoiding high pressure situations?”

“I’m going to prescribe you some medicine that will be safe for you and the baby. Be sure to take it every day, and otherwise just keep up the things we’ve already talked about – healthy eating, regular exercise, activities you find calming or relaxing.” The doctor continues, listing off suggestions. “You can try meditation or breathing exercises, pregnancy yoga is getting very popular. Sticking to a daily routine can really help when things are uncertain and you’re going through all these changes. And Alpha, help her however you can.”

“The instructor at our parenting class advised us not to coddle our mates– is that still good advice given Ella’s risk level?” Sinclair inquires.

“Yes.” The doctor agrees, smashing the small surge of hope I’d felt to pieces. “Human or wolf, your mate needs to feel like you’re in control, especially in cases like this where so much is out of your hands. She needs you to ground her if she starts to spiral – to show her she can rely on you no matter what.”

I can’t see the logic underpinning his words, but I still don’t like it. What’s so wrong with a bit of coddling? I’ve never been coddled in my entire life. As if he can read my thoughts, Sinclair’s warm breath flutters over my neck, “Just remember how much you hated it when I kept you out of the loop, trying to protect you.”

Oh. I guess I have been coddled after all. I’m about to acknowledge this, but when I look up at Sinclair, he’s smiling at me so affectionately that my heart stops beating.“Besides,” He continues indulgently. “Just because I don’t coddle you, doesn’t mean I can’t pamper you the way you deserve.”

I find myself giggling like a schoolgirl, and the doctor steps out, clearly feeling as though he’s intruding on something even though we’re only talking. When we get home, Sinclair tucks me in for a nap and returns to work, making me promise to call on the servants if I need anything and vowing to be home as early as he can.

as I am, I find it very difficult to sleep without Sinclair. I swear he’s becoming like my security blanket – my body won’t relax fully unless he’s with me and my nightmares always surge in his absence. I’m getting too attached to him. I think sadly, climbing out of bed after half an hour of tossing

– he’s going to be in your life forever. Why

way. He’s not going to be sleeping with me when he finds his second chance mate – and I have to be able to survive on my own. I can’t become so codependent

his mate at all. The voice suggests, sounding much too hopeful

Ella! You can’t start thinking that

an afternoon snack when one of the guards appears at the top of the stairwell.

tracks. “Who is it?

for her.” He shrugs. “I tried to get her name but she wouldn’t tell me. Should

like the idea of an unidentified woman entering his home. I don’t like the idea myself – especially after Roger’s

skin – maybe 40?” He lowers his voice

sounds like the heartless woman who fired me so callously after I tried to beg Sinclair for Cora’s job. “No, let her

to apologize, don’t be rude just because you’re feelings were

hungry gaze on her face. She looks me up and down as I enter, something distinctly spiteful in her open perusal. She speaks before I can say a word of welcome. “Well, you’ve certainly come

longer feeling any need to play nice. She clearly set the tone of this conversation and though I’m sorely tempted to kick her out now, I need to find out what she

when I saw your picture plastered across the society section of the paper I could scarcely believe it. I had to come and find out if the rumors

figure for all his philanthropic work. I should have realized this might happen – my social circle had been very small before discovering the werewolf world and most of the people from

now that you’ve seen that they were true, you can be leaving.”

are locked on the curve of my belly. “It’s no wonder you were begging outside his gate that day. No doubt trying to

for help on behalf of my sister – she was going to lose her job over a misunderstanding,