Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

Sleeping with my pregnant mate is becoming increasingly challenging as her body grows with our pup. Even though Ella takes as many naps as the pups in the nursery these days, she’s still exhausted by the end of the night and I’m not faring much better amidst all this stress and activity. Still, exhaustion isn’t enough to get us off to dreamland when getting Ella comfortable enough to rest is a nightly struggle.

The nest is a blessing, as the incredible abundance of pillows surrounding her on all sides can easily be shifted and fluffed to perfectly cradle her precious form – the difficulty is figuring out where I fit into the cozy retreat. Most of the time Ella just treats me as an extra large body pillow. More than once, I’ve woken in the middle of the night to find her sneakily trying to rearrange my limbs to her liking. Each time I’ve told her to simply wake me so I can help, or to turn the light on for her late night bathroom trips so she doesn’t risk running into something or tripping in the dark. Of course, my instructions go in one ear and out the other because Ella feels too guilty to willingly rob me of my sleep.

This morning is worse than most, because I have to be up at the crack of dawn despite the fact that Ella managed to completely sprawl herself over my body last night. If it wasn’t for my prior engagement, it would be picture perfect: she’s on her side with her arms and legs tangled around my own, her round belly resting on my torso. Her long rose-gold hair cascades over my chest, and her heartbeat is in perfect sync with the baby’s. Rafe and Ella’s sweet smells overtakes my senses, and my groggy wolf sighs with utter contentment.

I mentally curse this summit. The last thing I want to do is get out of this bed, shortly followed by waking the angel on top of me. I try to extract myself as carefully as I can, rolling her small body away from me and attempting to replace my mass with pillows. I almost manage it, but every time I manage to free one limb from her clutches, she latches onto a different part of me. Eventually she stirs and I emit a hushed swear, knowing the battle is lost.

“See is not nice waking your mate.” She mumbles, her words slurred with speech as she nuzzles my bare chest.

“I’m sorry baby, I have to get up.” I confess, kissing her her hair. “I have to meet with Roger before todays’ events get started.”

Ella sighs, snuggling closer, “uh-huh.” She sighs, her soft breath fluttering over my skin. “Stay.”

“I wish I could.” I answer honestly, once more trying to pry her determined paws from my body. “I’m so sorry little wolf, but you have to let me go.”

“But you’re my pillow.” She murmurs. Her wolf begins whining pitifully in my head, which only upsets my own wolf and sends my temper spiraling further downward.

Exhaling miserably I make a third escape attempt, to no avail. “Goddess you’re like an octopus, when did you get so strong?”

stay closed as a glorious smile splits her cheeks. “I’m not. You just don’t have the heart to deny me.” She’s right, I could easily overpower her and walk away, but that is a last

make matters worse, Roger has clearly slept through his alarm. The

door swings open and Roger appears. He squints at me in the low light, looking

war. The bloody delegations. Take

his lips and nods, “Fair enough.” He swings his door wide and ushers me inside, yawning and stretching. “Care to tell me why you wanted to meet at this

disaster. All the furniture is broken, now neatly leaned against the walls and leaving a huge empty space in the middle of the room. And though someone has clearly been sweeping, there is still a layer of

expression I don’t recognize on his face. “It didn’t feel right to have Gabriel’s servants to clean up after me, so I’ve been trying to put it to rights slowly – but

forest pack alive and well. And without asking, I know exactly what caused Roger to lose his temper. I feel a deep pang in my chest, and without thinking I pull him into my

tease in a

complains, pushing me away. “Enough of that, tell me what’s

wish I

lips quirk, “you’re going to have me take the oath at five o’clock in the morning, without

a better way?” I question, hating that I can’t honor him the way he

head.

forged this bond with Hugo, and I can’t bear

out. He may have felt confident he could go through with this arrangement in the high emotions following my near death, but reality may seem colder now that the shock and grief have passed. “As my second in command, it will be your duty to support and balance my wolf. But it will also be your responsibility to carry out my orders, even when you don’t agree

soberly. “I’m committed to

is past. ’You will be my right hand in all things, and the pack will rely on you as a cornerstone of our leadership. If anything should ever