Accidental Surrogate

Chapter 115

Ella

Tears are streaming down Sinclair’s face as he relives his Mother’s death, and I’m

doing my best not to burst into outright sobs. My heart aches for the little boy he once

was, and for the burden he obviously still carries today. Hearing this story, I

understand that his last conversation with his mother had truly stayed with him over

the years, shaping him into the man before me now.

“Afterwards, I leaned that she’d gotten Roger out of the house only to realize that I

wasn’t there.”

Sinclair Continues, wiping his eyes. “She ran back in to get me, even though the

guards tried to stop her.” Sinclair relates, “So you see, that’s why Roger always

blamed me… he wasn’t wrong. If I’d listened to her the first time, if I’d gone outside

when she told me to, she would still be alive now.”

“But Pancake wouldn’t.” I remind him thickly.

The corners of his mouth quirk up, “It was almost thirty years ago, baby. Pancake is

long gone.”

“You know what I mean” I chide him. “And your mother understood because you were

doing exactly what she was trying to teach you – to protect those more vulnerable

than yourself.”

“I know.” He confesses. “I spent years in therapy,

Just trying to come to terms with the fact that it was her choice. I was a child and

couldn’t have understood the danger, and she didn’t have to come after me.”

“But she was your mother, it wasn’t even a question for her.” I murmur, twining my

limbs with his so he can feel my solid weight in his arms. “She wanted you to live

much more than she cared about her own survival.”

He nods wordlessly, his eyes still distant, as if he hasn’t truly returned to the present.

“I understand that, but sometimes I still think that if it wasn’t for me, she never would

have needed to make a choice in the first place. My decision that day took her from

Dad and Roger and the pack.”

“Did you ever find out how the fire started?” I ask softly, running my fingers through

the dark, thick locks of his hair.

“In the weeks after the fire, it became clear that it was arson.” Sinclair explains

and it was well known

with the pups. We were never able

Xavier was on the throne then, and my

line. All the politics that are playing out today –

under way back then.”

think it was the King – the current

his emotions less potent now that we’ve moved on

baddest wolf around is that it

worse thing is that you’re so hard to kill

taking you on directly,

as effective as killing you, but

pups rarely recover fully.”

pauses to nuzzle my neck and caress my belly,

could have been anyone, but I actually think Xavier is a

king – my father was

to rule, but it was clear he would be soon. Xavier

lot of time left to try and

was too strong

it was arson then it wasn’t your decision that

whoever was responsible. It wasn’t some tragic accident, it

still dominating my

“You don’t have to

long

Dominic, there’s nothing to forgive.” I

back far enough to look into his

Rafe, I would choose him every time – even

I wouldn’t ever want him to think that my sacrifice wasn’t

himself”

my head under his chin, stroking my

know.”

comforting me! I’m supposed to be comforting

failing to wriggle free.

Sinclair lies – the rat. “It comforts me

I decide to change tactics. “Do you have any idea how proud your

today?” I

“You became exactly the man

matters most,

love instead of fear, and you don’t

strength with cruelty.”

just flattering me.” Sinclair rumbles

bite back. “Do you remember when we first met, and

a scheming gold digger?”

yes, I’m sure that would have

you owned up

was hurting, your

being so shocked, because here was

you held me

my entire

hands. “You make me

of him. He could go from being a grizzly to a teddy

blink of an

yourself the way

I’m not just trying to pump up your ego – which, for the

already big enough.” I quip, yelping when Sinclair pinches

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