Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

“I’m not jealous!” Ella explodes, almost as soon as the question left my mouth. Her heart is pounding in her chest, so fast and loud that I wouldn’t be able to tune it out if I tried. Her cheeks are consumed by a crimson blush, and my wolf is already celebrating in my head.

She’s jealous! She has feelings! She knows she’s mine! Mine, mine, mine!

He has a point. Ella is not a good liar, and though she may be able to disguise her feelings under usual circumstances, her emotions are much too turbulent to allow that now. She sounded about as believable as a fox caught breaking into a henhouse, insisting it only wanted to look at the tasty morsels inside.

I arch my brow skeptically and, seeming to realize how defensive she just sounded, Ella takes a deep breath and tries again. “I’m not jealous.” She repeats, and though she does sound more convincing now, her body is still betraying her. Her color is still so high, and her heart is still racing. “I’m angry because you lied to me.”

I know I should correct her right here and now, explain exactly what happened last night whether she wants to hear it or not. But my inner hunter knows I’m onto something, and there’s no turning off my prey drive. “Then you don’t care whether I sleep with other she-wolves, as long as I’m honest about it?”

Her plump, pink lip – still stained with blood – trembles dangerously, and her voice sounds suddenly tight. “That’s right.”

Liar, liar, pants on fire! My wolf chants, running triumphant laps through my consciousness. He’s zooming around like a puppy, though I can’t let Ella see how excited I am. As thrilling as this revelation is, she is lying to me. I might be able to forgive that since I know she’s trying to protect her tender heart, but forgiveness doesn’t mean acceptance. “Are you being honest with me, little human?” I rumble, pinning her with a stern glower.

part on a startled gasp. I can see her preparing to answer me, to tell me another falsehood, but

I growl, a clear

me over and over again in the name of protecting me, and you went back to your ex after promising that there was nothing between you.” She accuses. “Last night probably wasn’t even the first time! How long have you been sneaking around with her, Dominic? Has everything that’s happened since I got pregnant been some scheme you two orchestrated to get an heir and win the campaign?

depth of her mistrust. My wolf’s jubilance over her jealousy disappears immediately. He whimpers pitifully, devastated to see her so miserable

have been building up in her all along? Or is she simply spiraling because of the perceived lie? She’s had trust issues from the day we met, and it pains me to think she might have been tormented by such paranoia, but I

say firmly,

She snaps, stubbornly turning her head away from

asking.” I clarify severely, waiting for the power in my voice to do its work. Slowly she obeys, turning her head back and lifting her blazing, terrified eyes to mine. I press my hand to her belly, letting her feel the solid weight, praying my warmth will bleed through her skin and into

her hands over her ears, glaring at me with so much hurt and animosity that the gesture no longer seems childish. A world of pain and betrayal swirls in her brilliant irises, and I remember that she’s not only a woman who’s been deeply scarred by her past, but also one who is battling a thousand raging hormones. Exhaling heavily, I remove my palm from her tummy in order to pull her hands away from her ears. As soon as I do, her eyes fill with tears, and I realize how afraid

was just as shocked by it as you were. Sweetheart, you remember how angry and unreasonable I was at the time.” I remind her, biting back a smile. “I couldn’t fake that if I tried, nor is it how any sane human would act if they wanted to draw someone into a trap.” I forge on. “I am not,

unwinding the tension from her muscles with every sentence I complete. Of course, the more she unwinds, the closer she comes to falling apart. Soon her tears are falling freely, and she looks utterly ashamed of herself. “I’m sorry, I know I’m being crazy.” She hiccups. “I don’t even know why I said those things. I

gently, reflexively pulling her closer,

outrage, and she pushes my hands away. “I’m