Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“What the hell are you doing?” The Prince snaps, his usually cold features alight with rage.He storms forward, aggression pouring off him in waves.

“Nothing!” Lydia squeaks, whirling around and adopting an innocent expression. “I–she…” The she-wolf stammers, red faced and shaking.

“You’re the one who went on and on about leaving the bitch unharmed so as not to further provoke Dominic!” Prince Damon rumbles furiously. He looks down at me with cold disinterest, and I immediately recognize that I’m dealing with two very different kind of monsters here. Lydia is pure cunning and lacks any sense of conscious, she’ll do anything and hurt anyone to achieve her goals. The Prince however, he gives off the energy of a man who enjoys hurting others – not as a means to an end, but for the pure pleasure it inspires.

I look back to Lydia, still too angry to bite my tongue and wanting his attention anywhere but on me. “Or maybe she just meant those rules for you. I get the sense she expects special treatment – even above royalty.”

I watch as my word lands, feeling more than a little smug when Prince Damon sneers. “Leave us.”

Lydia gapes, horrified to be ordered away. “But–”

“I said leave.” He repeats fiercely. Lydia hurries out grumbling under her breath, and my heart clenches with newfound anxiety. Maybe it was my inner wolf, but I felt the strongest compulsion to challenge Lydia, to establish dominance. Of course, I feel no respect for the Prince, but my instincts warn me that he has no qualms about hurting me. In fact, I’m sure he would enjoy it. Lydia might want to harm me, but she attempted to show restraint in the interest of avoiding Sinclair’s wrath, but I have the impression the Prince has never had an impulse he didn’t indulge.

At the same time, I don’t want to show him any weakness. Next to Sinclair, he’s nothing, and the more my wolf comes out, the more determined I feel not to submit to anyone but my mate. So instead of cowering, I give him my defiance. Notching my chin up, I glare at the despicable man. “This won’t work, you know.” I tell him, wondering if I’ve lost my mind. “Dominic will never give up the campaign for me.”

“You doubt his devotion so much?” prince Damon remarks, arching a brow.

“Would you have given up the throne to save your mate?” I ask curiously, a new idea occurring to me now. If I can sow discord between Lydia and the Prince, maybe I can distract them enough to escape. He doesn’t have any clue that Lydia is probably responsible for the Princess’s death, but if anything could tear them apart – that will.

a sentimental fool.” The Prince

a shocking death – and poison!” I

in front of me. “And if you think you can help

thought it was interesting that she was killed

woman killed her?” His eyes narrow and too late I realize that he’ll probably assume I’m trying to take

why would I help

I don’t want to come out and accuse Lydia. He’ll assume I’m making things up to distract him or help myself somehow. Of course, that’s exactly

He inquires, as if I’m not the one who’s

would benefit?” I ask simply, folding my hands in my lap. I try to telepathically force Lydia’s name into his thoughts, but I’m not sure

Dominic. If he agrees to our ransom then you’ll be back home in no time, so just sit tight and behave yourself. We even brought your things for you from the scene of the accident.” He gestures to the

repeat coldly. “You mean the kidnapping? How did you even cover it

was under lockdown, and we it was

even know we’d be there?” I

got lucky with the route you chose. There were

odds are stacked against him. I once asked him why he didn’t publicly accuse the Prince of his crimes, and he merely answered that we didn’t have a leg to stand on without proof. The Prince would call it a smear campaign and Sinclair would look weak for lobbing accusations rather than taking action to stop him. There are just some things I’ll never understand about wolves, but I suppose I know better than to think an accusation can stand alone. How many

do anything stupid.”

says, looking me up and down one final time before stalking out. “And Ella,” he

you.” I reply, smothering