Accidental Surrogate

#Chapter 173 — The Heart of the Pack

Ella

It takes me a while to drag myself away from the orphans once they're settled in the palace.I know I have about a thousand things to do, but seeing so many little ones in need of love and care is simply too much for me to resist.I stay for a few hours to help Isabel and James set up, glancing furtively in their direction every now and then to see how things are going.

Isabel is as standoffish with James as she is with me, but he’s gentle and steady, not seeming to mind her cold demeanor.

Every now and then I find the she-wolf returning my glances, but there’s a distinct tinge of jealousy in her observation.I can't blame her — in her shoes I’d probably hate me for being so happy too.

After a while she marches over to me, interrupting me as I make up cots for the pups.

"You should let us finish this.You must have more important things to do." I shrug.

"Actually this is about the time I’d usually be taking a nap."

I share, wondering if it was a mistake to reference my pregnancy or point out the easy comfort of my life, then hating the fact that it feels necessary to overanalyze my words this way.I’ve been through enough traumas to know that people walking on eggshells around you only makes things worse.

"Then go nap."

Isabel instructs brusquely, gesturing towards my middle.

"You need your rest and you won’t have the luxury in a few months."

There's a strange undercurrent in her words, and I have the sense that she would give anything to go back to the sleepless nights and overwhelming days of being a new parent.

"Wf it’s alright with you, I'd like to stay." I reply simply, fluffing a pillow before tucking it under the soft blankets of my current cot.

"I was thinking the pups might like to make this space their own.We could build a fort or —"

"They aren't your practice dolls." Isabel cuts in, her hands on her hips.

"They’re real pups who are hurting badly, they need comfort and safety right now.Getting attached to another adult who’s just going to disappear as soon as she has her own pup to cuddle, isn’t going to help them."

Taking a deep breath, I carefully consider my next words before speaking.

"I don’t need practice, Isabel.I've been raising babies since I was one myself — children who, like these pups, have lost everything and need all the support they can get.Now I can’t promise that I’1l always have time to give — whether it's because of the war or physical distance or whatever else might happen.But I can tell you that my son’s arrival isn’t going to make me forget about these children, I’m here because I care and I want to help."I pause, studying the other woman closely.

"And I might not be a mother yet, but that doesn’t mean I have no wisdom to share."Isabel's mouth twitches, dangerously close to a quiver.

"Well you are wrong about one thing."

She answers stiffly, turning her nose up.

"You’re already a mother...more of one than I am, at least."

I want to hug her so badly that it takes all my strength to hold back, but I know she won’t welcome it.

Isabel has so many walls up at the moment she’d probably bite me just for trying.She starts to turn away, but I raise my voice, imbuing it with some of my newfound alpha female authority.

"Once a mother, always a mother.Your love for your child doesn’t end with their life, Isabel."

She freezes, stopping dead in her tracks.She doesn't turn back or say a word, but I see her shoulders cave and her head hang.

Isabel retreats into the bedroom we arranged for her, and a minute later I hear her muffled sobs floating through the door.

James appears at my side, with the helpless expression of an alpha faced with a crying she-wolf.

"What happened?"

of accusation in his voice, and I realize just how quickly he’s bonded with the

her story when

her

a stubborn one, and she’s hurting.You’ll need to give her

at me sharply, and I can

I

but I’m still aching for the other

"No."

"nothing can ever

can get past her teeth and claws, you might be able to give her a shoulder to cry on."He

too soon?" I

never too soon for a hug

shoulder with the expression of a warrior going into battle, then marches determinedly towards Isabel's

I can still hear Isabel’s outraged snarls and a small

and a

efforts to

I’m so glad

but I can’t help but feel as

refugees, need someone to look out for them, and I can help but think I’m the person for the

the heart of a

on my senses as

right about me staying behind in the capital, but we never even got to discuss all

of myself A little while

are you doing

beside him at one

"I’m scheming."

He reports slyly.

she was able to eat the ice cream she ordered, so the pastry chef is going to help

himself that I have to laugh despite

she's going to be

"Bad idea?"

apparently having second thoughts

idea.That’s why she’s going

finds the strength to resist she'll be grumpy because she won’t get to enjoy

Roger chuckles darkly.

"Excellent."

smirks, looking at

don't mind? My interest in her, I

"No," I share honestly.

might be good together, but you’ve got your work

"Don’t I know it."

sounding the least

rip your arms off and beat you with them until you’re dead from blood loss or blunt force trauma." novelebook I add

would expect

He nods, solemnly adding.

no intention

my eyes exploring the room

you?" Roger inquires, watching my

Afternoon snack? Pregnancy