Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

I’d been ready to storm the Royal Palace when I learned the Prince had taken Ella, and if I had been sure of her location, I would have already done it. It would be the very definition of hubris to imprison her within his own home, though I don’t put anything past the Prince. More importantly, my mate and my pup’s lives hang in the balance, and I can’t be too careful.

After I calmed down enough to stop envisioning all the ways I’d like to maim the other man, I had Hugo call in my best warriors, even though they’ve only just come off the battlefield. Next to Gabriel, Sean and the rest of the slaughtered team, the chosen men are the best fighters I can assemble at my back – and I have no doubt I’m going to need them. When they arrived I was still too rabid to conjure actual words, so Hugo explained the situation to them. I watch the horror and outrage spread across their weary faces and I’m touched when – one by one – they all stand and promise me their allegiance in the fight ahead.

I didn’t even have to ask, and a tiny part of me had been afraid they would view the assault on my mate as a reflection of my own weakness. It was bad enough that the Prince was able to find enough rogues to take on the city, and now this? What kind of Alpha can’t even protect his mate? I feel like an utter failure for not keeping Ella and Rafe safe, for not considering that the royal family might declare the danger passed in order to target my mate.

My wolf hasn’t stopped howling in my head, in between bursts of deadly snarls and pitiful whines, he simply howls and howls as if he’s hoping her own wolf might hear him telepathically. He’s drowning in his pain, but I’m drowning in my guilt. I promised she would always be safe and I couldn’t do it. Goddess only know what they’re doing to her at this very moment.

My father is here too – he came at Roger’s request after we arrived home, and I’m grateful for his steady presence. My own wolf might be on the verge of going completely berserk, but I know my father will talk me down if I start to truly lose it. He must think I’m nearing that point, because he wheels over and rests his hand over mine. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop. Beating yourself up about this won’t help anything.” He frowns sympathetically, letting me know he understands even though he’s not going to condone my wallowing. “Ella needs your strength, not your self-pity.”

I nod, appreciating his calm reminder. Feeling sorry for myself won’t fix anything. “I’ve already called the Prince’s beta.” Hugo is explaining to the men. “They’ve asked for a meeting, and we agreed to let them set the time if we set the place. We won’t release the location until fifteen minutes before the rendezvous.”

“What’s the plan once we’re there?” The biggest wolf in the group asks. “Are they bringing her along?”

“Unlikely.” Hugo sighs, “This is just to collect intelligence. They’re probably going to request a ransom, and we need to try and glean as much information as we possibly can in the meantime. Everybody needs to be observing every detail possible – the words he uses, the way he organizes his own guards. Watch their facial expressions as the Alpha’s speak, try to pick up on any ticks or body language that might hint at a clue to her location or their plans.”

is the meet?” The same guard

I know it’s soon, but we didn’t want to give them any time to scheme further or try to figure out the destination in advance. It means we don’t

for backup.” Another wolf suggests, “I bet you they’ll do exactly the same thing once

in the event that the Prince doesn’t return from

make sure that everyone here is up to another fight if things come to a head. This isn’t the time to play the hero – if you’re too exhausted, injured or simply unable to be at your best, tell

best fighters I’ve ever seen, and he saved my life more than once over the years. That cowardly bastard probably had to outnumber them five to one just to take him out. And targeting

all want to make him pay, and we’ll

feeling genuinely touched by their

waiting to move in or track the Prince after he leaves. When Damon enters, sniffing at our surroundings – a

wolf is clawing at my

me. “If

of guards at his back. He’s got about a dozen men around him, but I know his guards are

My wolf suggests hungrily. He could be dead in an instant, and then we could hold his men hostage and torture them until they tell

in with your mate’s guards every fifteen minutes

from my ex-wife.” I remark harshly, hoping to piss him off enough to put a dent in their alliance. “I didn’t think you had it in you to take a woman’s advice… then again, when she’s ten times smarter than you are, you’d be a fool not to. Still, it’s a