Accidental Surrogate

#Chapter 174— Ella Apologizes

Ella

After my snack, I meet with the chefs to talk about menus for the summit, then ask to have dinner sent up to my rooms.I’m feeling too pensive and tired to be social tonight.

I’m still reeling from discovering how badly I handled my troubles with Sinclair, and I’m both dreading and eager to make amends.I know I won’t feel better until I do, but the prospect is more than a little daunting.I’m too much of a chicken to call him on the phone, and I don’t know where he is or what he’s doing right now anyway.So I decide to wait for our dreams, where I’ll be able to feel his touch and let my wolf take over if things get too hard.I know Sinclair probably won't be asleep for hours, but it was a long, emotionally draining day.

So as much as I want to put off our meeting I take a quick shower and climb into my nest.

It smells like Sinclair, and that blessed comfort is enough to whisk me off into my dreams.

When I arrive in the dream forest I have nothing but time to kill, and I spend it thinking about what I want to say to Sinclair when he appears.

Of course, the more I think about my mistakes, the worse I feel, and soon I’m fighting the urge to cry.

When my mate finally takes shape in the distant trees, I feel a deep pang in my chest.I can’t bring myself to look at him.I kneel at the foot of the bed, my hands resting on either side of my belly as I stare at my lap.I can perfectly picture his handsome face, rugged lines and bronze skin practically glowing in the light of the moon, his blazing wolf eyes piercing me through the darkness.

"Hello trouble."

Sinclair’s deep voice wraps around me like a warm embrace, and I can see his black-clad legs just in front of me.

Strong fingers catch my chin, and then he’s tilting my face up to his.He searches my features with lethal intensity, and his voice is husky when he speaks.

"What, no smile?" He asks, running his thumb over my lower lip, his longer fingers splayed across my cheek and delving into my hair.

"If I didn’t know any better I'd think you weren’t happy to see me."

I can feel his wolf prodding at our bond, trying to tempt my own inner animal to rise to the surface.

"What is it, little wolf? Talk to me."

"I owe you an apology." I admit, wide eyed and trying to stop my voice from quavering.

"Already?" He inquires, the corner of his lip twitching upward.

"I’ve only been gone a day, how much mischief could you possibly have made? Other than skipping lunch of course."My jaw drops, and in my surprise and outrage, I forget some of my shyness.

"He actually told you?! That rat!" Sinclair chuckles, stroking my hair back from my face.

"You missed our bedtime call, so I checked with Roger. He explained that you’d had along day and probably went to bed early."

A new stab of guilt assails me.

"I forgot."

sorry, I wasn’t thinking.I just didn’t get a chance

away from my face, his brow furrowed

"Baby, it’s okay."

insist, furious

for me and every time you need me to be

deep growl, and I know Sinclair is warning me

on, my voice thick, "I’ve been such a horrible

of the way — figuring out how to best use my talents while also looking out for the

did was give you a hard time for

me with the bearing of a wolf about to pounce, his hands

so much flack about communicating with me, but when you tried I refused to listen because I didn’t like what you were saying.I wasted our time together and whined and complained — and even now I can tell you’re pissed that I'm

be held accountable and I’m not going to let you smooth this over because I’m breeding or new to being a wolf! Yell at me, or walk out on me, tell me

my emotions swirling out of control.I’m prepared for the worst, and I even welcome it,

simply crosses his arms over his chest, his expression dark and

going to speak to me, but then he rumbles, "Get

blink, taken aback by his

"Why?"

which

in front of him again, he steps forward, and I don’t need to tap into our

in charge

the pure dominance in his

maybe for the first time,

of exactly how much magic courses through his veins, the reason

clever and kind, but before now I never quite realized how much more raw power he

much control he must employ every second of every day in order to keep it in check, to stop

challenged him, but now I have no

I

nods, not showing me

I feel? Who gets to choose whether or not I’m

squeak, my wolf squirming with the desperation to cease the onslaught

her legs,

to tell me how to deal with my

your wo—- no

wall of power,

"That's right, little wolf."

uncrossing his arms so he can grip

"On all counts."

wordlessly, and I shiver

nicely, I can help you work through those feelings.But you do not get to tell me how to

"I'm sorry." I sniffle.