Accidental Surrogate

Ella

After hanging up with Sinclair, I return the King’s cell phone and look around at the gathered men.”

When does Leon arrive?”I inquire, forcing down a shiver.

“Within the hour.” Gabriel replies, solemn-faced.

Though they’d all agreed that the developments back home warranted accelerating my hypnosis sessions, none of them are happy about keeping them secret. I’m not happy about it either, but I’m also dreading another traumatizing visit to my past.

“Before he arrives I think we should take some bl00d samples from you, Ella.” Henry suggests. “I know the doctors in Moon Valley didn’t find any genetic matches for you, but there’s a chance that we can trace your ancestry by looking at genetic traits which have historically been doc.umented in certain bl00dlines. It won’t help us if the inherited genes aren’t expressed through ancestral phenotypes, but certain markers in your DNA might still allow us to draw important connections”

“But surely that would only work if my ancestors come from a bl00dline deemed worth doc.umenting.” I object uncertainly. “I mean if I come from a long line of nobodies then there won’t be anything to find.”

Phil!ppe, Henry, Gabriel and Roger exchange meaningful glances. They appear to have a full on silent conversation, trading shrugs and expressions as if batting the responsibility of answering back and forth between one another. “

What?” I finally prompt them, feeling exasperated.

“It’s just, Ella,” Roger sighs, “it’s highly unlikely that you come from random nobodies. It’s not impossible, but the fact that you survived having your wolf bound and have proven yourself a match for Dominic… that indicated a level of power that has to be passed down over centuries, getting stronger with every generation. It would explain why the Goddess chose you.. she blessed certain wolves with more magic than others from the beginning.”

I look between them curiously. “Does that mean that all of you have the same sort of lineage?” I inquire, “Given that you’re among the most powerful Alphas alive today?

“That’s exactly what it means.” Henry confirms, not sounding the least bit boastful. “The Sinclairs, Gabriel’s bl00dline, even Phil!ppes, they’re all incredibly distinguished and can be traced back to the first wolves.”

hardly seems then

strength, which is why some other bl00dlines have died out because so-called weaker wolves outsmarted them. And

grapple with the discomfort of this idea. “I guess, though I don’t think I like the idea of being

Roger jokes, “we’re not all

a power nap before Leon arrives, much good that it does me. I end up lying awake and staring at the ceiling, dreading the session about to come. I tried to tell myself it would be okay, but I knew better… and I was

the familiar drug-induced stupor of the ether, the world swirling around me in a hallucinogenic haze. Henry’s hands are warm around mine, and I try to focus on the good feelings, rather than the

visited by a couple of priests when you were a girl. I understand

mildly.” Henry mutters under his breath, and I squeeze his hand to

I answer, delighting in the starbursts dancing

want to ask you if you ever saw or spoke with those men again?” Leon inquires. “Can you recall meeting other men or women in similar clothing, who

been ready to say no, but the more I focus on the details of their robes and the timbres of their voices, I realize that isn’t true. “Yes.” I say, even as I realize it. “I did see them

inquires, as nonchalantly as if we’re talking about the

don’t know.” I stammer, not really wanting to move deeper into the possibility – after all, if my first

“Just let it carry you. I know it’s not easy, but we need to know this. This

trying to refocus myself as he continues, “try to picture the setting.

my ears as adrenaline

pants. There is no light in the woods save the moon, and as I race away from

back, Ella.

did you start running?” Leon

summer that Cora and I attempted to live on the streets. After fleeing the orphanage and the Doctor’s a.buse, we’d lasted two whole months picking pockets and hustling to keep our bellies full. We’d