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 that

with the pups. We were never able to prove it, but we always

the throne then, and my father was his

All the politics that are playing out today

under way back then.”

the King –

potent now that we’ve moved

baddest wolf around is that it

And the worse thing is that you’re so hard to kill and people

on directly, that they go after

as effective as killing you, but

pups rarely recover fully.”

nuzzle my neck and caress my belly,

“It could have been anyone, but I

my father was younger

he would be soon. Xavier didn’t have

to try

wall. My father was

if it was arson then it wasn’t your decision that took your

wasn’t some tragic accident,

the guilt still dominating

have to worry, Ella. I’m

a long

there’s nothing to forgive.” I insist,

far enough to look into his emerald eyes. “I can tell

Rafe, I would choose him every time – even

I wouldn’t ever want him to think that

himself”

my head under his chin, stroking my spine. “It’s okay,

know.”

me! I’m supposed to be comforting you.” I complain. Trying

failing to wriggle free.

lies – the rat. “It comforts me just holding you

“Do you have any idea how proud

she could see you today?” I ask him softly, hoping to

“You became

You never lost sight of what matters most, even when the whole world

against you. You lead with love instead of fear, and you don’t

strength with cruelty.”

me.”

you remember when we first met, and you still thought

a scheming gold digger?”

I’m sure that would have made my mother very proud.”

were wrong, you owned up to your mistake.” I

was hurting, your first instinct was

I remember being

you held me more gently and with

in my entire

beneath my hands. “You

of him. He could go from being a grizzly

of

you could see yourself the way I do, Dominic. If

not just trying to pump up your ego –

enough.” I quip,

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