Accidental Surrogate

Chapter 156 - Sightseeing Ella

The Vanaran capital feels like a different planet.

Everywhere we look crystals tower over us, carved into the most intricate forms I’ve ever seen.

The shifters populating the city are friendly and open in their curiosity, and we frequently stop so Gabriel can chat with the locals and introduce us.

It’s all so easy and peaceful, no lies, no secrets, just wolves living openly together in harmony.

Watching Gabriel, I see a leader who is strong but compassionate, ruthless but open-minded.

He’s intelligent and has as much raw power as my own mate, though he lacks Sinclair’s dangerous edge.

I expect Gabriel would be quite deadly if pushed, but he’s much more easy going than my own brooding Alpha.

Then again, he’s not the one exiled and preoccupied with planning a revolution.

Still, for a moment I envision a future world where Sinclair is the King of the united packs, and Damon’s regime is a long-forgotten nightmare.

In my heart I know this is the kind of society my mate could create as leader; Gabriel’s utopian world n.ovelebook could be our own, if only we could take back our home.

Maybe it’s naive to think a traumatized society could recover completely and achieve this sort of easy comfort...After all it’s not like Sinclair could simply snap his fingers and undo all the suffering caused by his predecessor.

No, if we can win this war we’ll have a monumental task ahead of us in terms of healing and rebuilding the united packs, and earning the trust of an oppressed people.

But I believe that if anyone can achieve this goal, it’s Sinclair.

I turn to look up at the man in question, so inspired by this vision that I want to share my hope with him.

However when I see his face he looks a million miles away.

His granite jaw is clenched and his gaze is hawkishly scanning our surroundings.

He manages to smile and greet the various people we meet, but his grip on my waist never loosens, and he never loses the hardness in his eyes.

I lean into his side as a cool breeze flutters through the square, carrying the scent of rain.

"What good is coming out if you’re not going to actually be present?"

I inquire, poking his muscular chest.

The huge Alphe looks down at me with dry amusement, closing his powerful hand around my offending finger.

"I said I would come along, I didn’t promise to forget my worries."

"That's cheating." I inform him, narrowing my eyes to a scowl.

"Is it now?"

his brow in response to

how dangerous unfamiliar territories can be? Especially for mischievous little wolves

agreed to take a

counter, ignoring the bait he put out for my

then I don’t see

doesn’t

to him, never go out of sight

just being cautious — and rightly so after everything we’ve been through, but now those

in an instant I realize that the best way to get my mate out of his

"Ella—"

using my name as if it’s an

shift." I suggest, cutting

the people here are in their wolf form." I say, gesturing to the people custling

the Vanarans are so comfortable and secure in their secret lands that they feel no danger shifting in public,

be around so many strangers." Sinclair cautions, shaking his

not a good

doesn’t care for this one

possibility, she’s clawing at my skin, begging

grips

sings defiantly, and my body

shields me as I tremble, jerk and

over quickly, and soon I’m sitting in front of him

as I look up at my mate, who stands their with his arms crossed over his chest, disapproval rolling off of him

brace my paws on his rock-hard abs, wishing I was tall enough to lick

and nuzzle his chest with my snout, Come on,

play with me! I

amused by

grumpy voice sounds in

I jump down and bound around his legs, nudging him and repeating my

nip his ankles that the stoic Alpha finally caves, his massive wolf bursting

in charge, and she only

cries, pouncing on him the moment

foreboding energy is tinged with humor now, and I

for a moment before he pins me beneath him, plopping his heavy

this what you wanted, trouble? He

run! I whine, squirming under

Hmm, I don’t know.

of like having you right here, your little paws in the air, completely at

He informs me huskily.

do what? Suffocate me? I complain, trying to dislodge his

be this heavy? Sinclair doesn’t budge one bit from my efforts, but he does release my neck and shift his weight so he can investigate my

Look at this tummy.