Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

My wolf is half-mad with guilt and worry. I’ve been waiting for Ella’s call all day, but when the clock strikes four and I still haven’t heard a peep from my mate, I call my father. The line rings for what feels like ages, but then Dad’s familiar face appears on my screen. “Is she still asleep?” I inquire, before he even has a chance to greet me.

“I haven’t seen her.”‘ Dad replies, his brow crinkling in the video. The image is jostling slightly, his background shifting and changing as he wheels himself forward with one hand. But I’ve been at the airfield all day. I’m just getting back to the palace now. I’ll check on her now.”

I gnash my teeth impatiently, not really wanting to talk about anything until I know how my mate is doing. Still, I ask, “How was it today?”

More of the same, I’m afraid.” Dad reveals sadly.

The average number of refugees making the trip each day hasn’t increased, but it hasn’t decreased either.”

What about their conditions?” I ask, weary to the bone amidst so much misfortune. “Are there more injuries? More unaccompanied pups?”

“Everything seems stable.” Dad reports, but I can tell he doesn’t consider this any victory. “How did it go with the FrostFang Alpha?”)

“Well, I think.” I answer, looking out the windows of my suite in the FrostFang pack’s headquarters. A mountain range spreads out on the horizon, the majestic towers of volcanic rock covered in verdant peat moss. It’s green and glorious, but there are almost no trees. I feel a deep pang as I think about the dense forests back home, wondering how these wolves can be so content without any woodlands.

Gabriel said Alpha Aiden would be an easy sell, and so far he’s been very supportive. He hasn’t officially pledged his alliance, but I think we can count him among our friends at the summit.

“And you? How are you holding up?” My father inquires, a knowing timbre in his rich voice.

“It’s cold up here, more like back home.” I muse aloud, my train of thought momentarily derailed by my wolf’s agitated energy. If Ella’s still out I may let my wolf out for a run, he’s been bl00dy stir crazy with all the travel and the situation with Ella isn’t helping. He’s on edge and I’m not going to be able to keep a handle on him much longer.”

(You might consider doing that even if she is awake – before you two talk.” Dad advises, but despite his wisdom I’m tracking the interiors of Gabriel’s palace as he moves through the halls, measuring the distance between him and my mate. “Depending on how she’s doing, seeing her might push you over the edge.”)

you’re right.” I concede, “But I don’t think I can stand it. It’s one thing if she’s still resting. it’s another if she’s trying

a gift from the Goddess, sent to see us through the

couldn’t quite keep it to themselves. I promise you she’ll have lots of support when

breath, c0cking my ears for sounds of movement

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the sitting room and switching the camera view so I can see

smother a growl. “Okay, check with the guards – then try the kitchens, the nursery, Cora’s rooms and the camp

to find my mate, but I’d be lying if I said I bore the wait well. My mind races with the unknown.

course when my father wheels into the nursery, Isabel meets us at the

be up half the night! I tried to tell her they’d already napped but no, she couldn’t

masterful blanket fort as Dad crosses the room. And then she’s there on my screen, curled up at the center of a puppy

of limbs. My heart melts, and suddenly I don’t care why she didn’t call me. It’s one

mate seems to sense my virtual presence, because she blinks her

at Dad, as if her instincts drew her to the phone in his hand like a magnet. Raw vulnerability transforms her features from sleep, as

peeks up at me from beneath her lashes, untangling herself from the pups enough to sit up glance warily at the other adults in the room. A I can

a word, so I continue. How are you doing, little mate?” I inquire tenderly, “I’ve been worried about

she slumps back down against the piled pillows, “They told you.” She m0ans, frustration and just a little resentment lacing her

the screen, and I can imagine my father gesturing a warning to her. A wordless rumble rises

to mean you planned on

tone, “That isn’t what I meant.

need a moment alone.” I state, “Can you please clear

the sleeping pups, clearly worried about waking them. “No – she object, at the same moment Isabel