Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“Goddess, Cora, what’s wrong with me?” I moan, burying my head in my hands. “I’ve been thinking Sinclair is too good to be true all along. There cannot be a bigger red flag and I just ignored it. I let him love bomb me and I bought every manipulative word out of his mouth.”

I’m seated in my sister’s living room, rocking back and forth in my seat while she looks on anxiously. After I received Sinclair’s text last night, I didn’t waste any time getting out of his house. I went out onto my balcony and waited until the patrolling guards passed by, then climbed down the trellis and out the back gate. There was a vicious thunderstorm roiling at the time, but I barely noticed. I ran through the pouring rain, not stopping until I reached Cora’s apartment.

In hindsight I’m sure I scared her half to death – turning up on her doorstep in the middle of the night, looking like a drowned rat. Nonetheless, she immediately ushered me in and got me a change of dry clothes and a cup of hot tea, but I wasn’t calm enough to actually explain what happened until this morning.

“Ella just slow down, I didn’t think anything had even happened between you two?” Cora asks, watching me with obvious concern.

“I mean, nothing huge.” I clarify. “We’ve flirted and kissed and fooled around a bit… and I’ve insisted that things not go any further. At least, I had enough sense to ensure we didn’t start an actual relationship.”

“And he agreed? You said no and he didn’t push you?” Cora presses.

“Yeah, I mean it’s been hard because we’re attracted to each other, but he’s been trying to respect my wishes.”

“Then how can he have love bombed you?” She inquires, looking confused.

“I guess that’s the wrong expression.” I concede. “It’s just, you should hear the way he talks to me, and the way he behaves. He’s so affectionate and warm that I got completely lulled into complacency. He just lavishes attention and compliments, and he actually listens and takes criticism. He takes my thoughts and opinions into account, and he has this silly side where he can be so fun and playful, but at the same time he doesn’t let me get away with murder. He calls me on my shit and holds me accountable. Like I said, he’s just too good to be true.”

Cora is frowning deeply, keeping her expression guarded while she processes my words. “Ella…”

“What? Why are you looking at me that way?” I burst, instantly regretting my sharp tone. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you…” Suddenly I want to cry. “I didn’t mean it. I’m just really out of sorts.”

to get along, and sure that happened fast once you decided to trust each other, but… I’m sorry Ella, but it honestly just sounds like you like each other.” She leans forward, resting her elbows on

think this, I recall the other things that have happened between us. “That’s not all.” I confess, blushing scarlet. “Yes he’s affectionate and that feels strange to me, but he’s also bossy and domineering. He always expects to be in

he is, he’s an Alpha.”

charge in… well,

stop beating around

just that he doesn’t stop at giving orders, he holds me to them.” I confess.

Cora responds, looking as though she’s waiting for me to say

explain, offering the information freely now. “I mean… I slapped him first and he said all this crap about catharsis, but I didn’t even question

Dominic Sinclair?”

kept saying I should stay home and rest but I wasn’t

me get this straight…” Cora begins, clearly struggling to wrap her mind about this. “You were in shock, being obstinate and refusing to take care of yourself, then you attacked

rubbing the back of my

he injure you?” She inquires, “Traumatize

of my shock and it really did help me to cry… plus, well I was really turned

chuckles. “So what’s

that

around shifters a lot longer than you have.” Cora explains, sighing as though she’s not sure how to make me understand. “Power dynamics are a big part of their culture and from a scientific perspective it makes perfect sense. Dominance means strength and strength means survival. And if you liked it, who cares whether or not other people think it’s strange. You’d hardly be the only human who’s ever wanted that

me on… and I did

do it again?” She asks,