Accidental Surrogate

Ella

Hugo, Sinclair and I are all staring at the television with wide eyes and slack jaws,

unable to process the images flitting across the screen. It seems like every time we

manage to take a few steps forward, Lydia and the Prince find a way to send us

reeling back – and this is no exception.

“This doesn’t make any sense.” Hugo expresses, obviously overwhelmed. “Why would

he risk losing the pack’s sympathy by parading around another Woman so soon after

his wife’s death?”

“Trust me, Hugo – Damon isn’t the one calling the shots here. This is all Lydia.”

Sinclair states gruffly. “She’s going to force her way onto the throne one way or

another. Right now she’s playing the doting friend, but mark my words, by the time the

election ends she’ll be in his bed.”

“How bad is this?’ I ask, looking up at Sinclair’s handsome face, “Does she have

information that could hurt you?”

Sinclair Squeezes my shoulders, “She knows some secrets.” He relates, “but luckily

nothing I could imagine as a smoking gun. In fact most of what she knows would be

more harmful to the Prince things like my father’s attack, Things the public believes

were accidents but our private investigators proved malicious.” His mouth flattens into

a hard line. “The real danger is that she knows how we think, how we operate. Not to

mention that the Prince doesn’t have more than two brain cells to rub together, but

Lydia has plenty.”

“So what do we do?” I ask anxiously, my head replaying the news reel over and over

again. “My bed rest isn’t common knowledge, and they’re making it sound like my

absence from the public eye is suspicious. Do we tell everyone about my condition?

Or do we make an appearance?”

“I’m afraid making an appearance might play right into their hands. This could be

some sort of attempt to lure us out of hiding.” Hugo advises, looking very grim indeed.

In the distance I hear the front door open and close – a fact which comes as quite a

surprise, since my hearing has never been so sharp before.

Wheels roll over the door jam, and then Henry’s voice floats up toward us, “Good

Morning!”

“Henry!” I exclaim, both taken aback yet unsurprised we stayed in bed so long.

Sinclair’s father has been coming over almost every day since we agreed to be

invalids together, and he’s been an invaluable help, since I learned my true identity.

disappear into the restroom to

modesty is too deeply ingrained to allow me to

I’m definitely not changing

Sinclair is also dressed, though much more formally

Sinclair carrying me despite my protests. My

and more every day, but it isn’t

the breakfast table, the men analyzing these

and me feeling like an

not that they

of my depth.

Sinclair asks,

been going around in circles for more than half an hour,

respond to this

lower lip thoughtfully, trying

as he observes the nervous habit. Releasing my

happened with Lydia’s husband?I mean the Princess is

other Alpha, right?” I clarify. When

this? Even if he doesn’t want her anymore, it must make him

be gallivanting around

Henry praises, maintaining

me that he’s not giving out false

the

motivations, we

respond without playing into their

sort

might be able to spin ourselves out

them –

pack by rustling up her husband

nods approvingly. “Good idea,

hand in support, but when I look over,

with worry.”I still don’t like it. I think it’s

this entire situation just doesn’t

“You don’t need to convene

tell you this is

I mean, I feel

bothering me and

on it.”

from the beginning that Princess Angeline’s death felt

scheme.” I

but one the Prince is too

imperceptibly, and

hand into a fist and swearing up a

know who isn’t too unimaginative?” Sinclair growls, scanning our

faces.

Prince Damon might have seen his mate

not the type to impulsively destroy one of

have any

of the way.”

think you are?” I gape, both certain I’ve understood and

to believe my

crazy as it seems, what other explanation

back and forth behind the

beat her to death, I wouldn’t question it. And if there was some

attack, you could make the case for rogues or

poison?

if it was a political scheme you would think the royal

the details in a way that benefitted the campaign

Damon looking sympathetic.”

it

it was planned, then why haven’t they jumped