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?"

in his voice, and I realize just how quickly he’s bonded

tell you her story when she's

palpable anguish of her cries making me want to

and she’s hurting.You’ll need to

at me sharply, and I can sense his

I

I’m still aching

"No."

"nothing

past her teeth and claws, you might be

it’s too soon?" I shake my

a hug when someone

with the expression of a warrior going into battle, then marches

still hear Isabel’s outraged snarls and a small scuffle before James rumbles a

there’s stillness, and a

keening grows louder then, no longer dampened by her efforts to

joined by purrs, and suddenly I’m so glad that I

was a very small thing, I know, but I can’t help but

need someone to look out for them, and I can help

I remember what Sinclair told me about Lunas being the heart of a pack, and then Henry’s explanation

as I

staying behind in the capital, but we never even got

A little while later I find Roger in the palace

are you doing

taking a seat beside him at

"I’m scheming."

He reports slyly.

the ice cream she ordered, so

that I have

going

"Bad idea?"

having

good idea.That’s why she’s going

resist she'll be grumpy because she won’t get to enjoy it, and

Roger chuckles darkly.

"Excellent."

smirks, looking

don't mind? My interest in

"No," I share honestly.

together, but you’ve got your work

"Don’t I know it."

the least bit bothered by this

you with them until you’re dead from blood loss or blunt force trauma." novelebook I

expect

He nods, solemnly adding.

no intention of hurting her,

reply shortly, my eyes exploring the room for food

you?" Roger inquires, watching my curious

snack? Pregnancy