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."

hands, "I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.I just didn’t get a chance to nap and I was sleepy and the nest smelled like you

my hands away from my face,

"Baby, it’s okay."

insist, furious with myself

and every time you need me to

words are met with a deep growl, and I know Sinclair is warning me to stop this,

"I’ve been such

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

a hard time for being stressed

forth while the huge Alpha patiently waits out the storm, watching me with the bearing of a wolf about to pounce, his hands in

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 being hard on myself and you’re getting ready to comfort me and tell me I’m wrong and I won't have it, Dominic!" I command, pointing

because I’m breeding or new to being a wolf! Yell at me, or walk

control.I’m prepared

over

to me, but then

aback

"Why?"

one which

and I don’t need to tap into our bond

in charge

the pure dominance

out of him freely, and maybe for the first

his veins, the reason why all the other wolves on the continent

fierce, I’ve always understood that he’s clever and kind, but before now I never quite realized how much more raw power he

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

have challenged him, but

are." I

not showing

who decides how I feel? Who gets to choose whether

my wolf squirming with the desperation to cease the onslaught

back, belly up with her tail between her legs, but still Sinclair does

tell me how to deal with

your wo—- no

cut off my defiant response when Sinclair unleashes yet another wall of power, disproving my earlier assumption that I was feeling all

"That's right, little wolf."

affirms, finally uncrossing his arms so he

"On all counts."

and I shiver

feeling guilty, and if you ask me nicely, I can help you work through

"I'm sorry." I sniffle.