Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“What do you mean, it was a memory?” Sinclair asks carefully. “I thought the priests came to you in the orphanage? I don’t remember anything about humans attacking you in the woods.”

I stare at my lap, cradling my belly and trying to figure out how to explain my deceit. I knew this conversation was inevitable -I even prepared for it, but these are not the circ.umstances I expected. I didn’t imagine I would be so emotionally fragile, or that Sinclair would be wrapped around me purring, fresh off of rescuing me from a traumatic nightmare. I thought I would be able to present my case and apologize, acknowledging my wrong doing with confidence and strength of conviction.

Now I fear it’s going to tumble out as a mess of excuses and tangled feelings.

“Ella?” Sinclair presses, his voice taking on a dominant tone.

When I finally look up at him, tears pour from my lashes. “Ive still been doing the hypnosis.” I confess, my l!ps quivering with every word. “I went behind your back and convinced the others to help me.”

Sinclair’s glowing emerald eyes bore into me as me.”

Sinclair’s glowing emerald eyes bore into me as his jaw clenches tight, the muscles twitching dangerously. I open my mind to him, showing him everything that happened through our bond, both the lead up to the second session and the events we uncovered through the ether. I even show him the conversation afterwards, not wanting to hold anything back now that the game is up.

Slowly, carefully, Sinclair sets my body away from his, even as I try to cling to hìm. “No, please don’t leave, Dominic.”

“Im not leaving.” He assures me gruffly. “I just need to think a minute and I can’t do that clearly when you’re snuggled up giving me those puppy dog eyes.”

I sniffle, and I can feel his wolf’s continued agitation over me tears, even as the possessive Alpha struggles with his temper. I Wrap my arms around my knees, clamping my hand over my wrist in a death grip so Il stay still. I’m finding it very difficult not to squirm in the face of my mate’s disapproval.

Sinclair paces back and forth, growling wordlessly as he works through his thoughts. He doesn’t let me feel his emotions, but a few slip out, giving me flashes of anger, frustration and… heart wrenching disappointment. I’m shocked at how powerfully the last affects me. I’ve heard people who grew up in happy families say that disappointment can be worse than anger, something I’ve never understood until this moment. I didn’t believe anything could be more họrrible than the violence and pain wrought by a perSon’s rage, I didn’t realize how different things are when love is involved.. when a person is your entire world and you let them down. I start to cry again, and hide my face in my knees so he can’t see my tears.

After a moment his footsteps fall silent, and I lift my face to find my mate looming above me, a cold expression on his face. “What am I supposed to say to this Ella?”

I croak. “Whatever you’re thinking, whatever you’re feeling. I know

“Because it seemed to me you were so convinced you were right you were willing to betray my trust. To ask my family, friends and guards

it, hiding it.” I amend softly.

up to him. Let me show him how sorry

We

his arms over his c.hest. “That you’d uncover the secret to Winning the war and that would excuse what you did? That you could come to me when I got home, tell me everything you

head, absolutely miserable. “I just needed to know. We needed to know. But I don’t

me a

be able to resist touching me. He slides his powerful hand around my nape, applying gentle pressure

insist, l!cking my l!ps. “I tried to talk to you

pure dominant affection.

sparks in my c.hest, and I notch my chin up, trying

control, and in the next moment he’s pulling me

rumbles, dragging me into his arms and claiming my mouth in a searing k!ss. I don’t resist, I throw my arms around his neck and let myself be taken. His hands are rough on my body, and so are his l!ps. Sinclair nips my lower l!p with his fangs and takes advantage of my gasp, sliding his tongue into my mouth. His big hand stays locked on my nape, holding me in

long I’m breathless and overwhelmed with liquid heat. When Sinclair pulls back, I try to follow him and whimper in disappointment when he doesn’t let me. “I won’t lie to you, mate.” He remarks huskily, our breath mingling.”This has hurt us. How am I supposed

you made when you left? To have me safe and hating you,

“I chose to lose your trust and help the

sighs, stroking my spine in long, soothing lines. “Hugo was right.” He says, baffling

two sides of the same coin, you

nose with my own. “we’re mates. If I have to deal with you being stubborn and impoşsible and infuriatingly