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.”

over my c.hest. “That hardly seems then what, you’re doomed to be poor and

isn’t how it works.” Gabriel chuckles. “Plenty of other traits prove more useful than brute strength, which is why some other bl00dlines have died out because so-called weaker wolves outsmarted them. And the fact remains that fair

girl who asked me if I’m a princess pops into my head, and I grapple with the discomfort of this idea. “I guess, though I don’t think I like the idea of being part of a long line

on,” Roger jokes, “we’re not all

entire way through the bl00d draw. When the doctor departs I try to sneak in 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

the ether, the world swirling around me in a hallucinogenic haze. Henry’s hands are warm around mine, and I try

by a couple of priests when you were a girl. I understand that was a somewhat

and

in the starbursts dancing

with those men again?” Leon inquires. “Can you recall meeting other men or women

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.

nonchalantly as if we’re talking

not really wanting to move deeper into the possibility – after all, if my first incident with

not easy, but we need to know this. This is

to refocus myself as he continues, “try to picture the setting. Where were they when you saw them again,

in my ears as adrenaline floods

understanding setting in as my breath comes in pants. There is no light in the woods save the moon, and as I

back, Ella. Who is chasing

you start running?” Leon prompts,

it, I’m transported to a dim alleyway a few miles from the orphanage. I’m thirteen, and it’s the first 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 slowly learned the tricks of the trade – how to stay hidden from the authorities and enterprising gangs who might recruit us; how to hide our shelters out of sight and stay warm on the cooler nights; even