Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

If I’d thought getting out of bed with my mate was difficult yesterday, it’s nothing compared to the struggle facing me today. Now that Ella and I have decided to undergo another separation, my wolf is even more on edge than before. All night I slept with my precious mate wrapped so tightly in my arms she couldn’t move an inch – a fact which became apparent when she pinched me awake in the middle of the night so that she could go pee. Of course, the moment she returned to my arms I wasted no time making love to her again, but it only appeased my wolf temporarily.

Now, as I watch her snuggle closer to me in the cool morning air, I wonder if I can truly go through with this. Right on cue, Ella opens her glorious gold eyes, and I fall into the bottomless pools. “Good morning.” She murmurs, yawning and stretching before leaning in for a kiss. Her lips meet mine with familiar ease, but the taste of my delectable mate sets my wolf to howling, and fire sparks in my blood. It’s further proof of what I already know – that no matter how much time passes or how often we come together, my passion for this she-wolf will never dim.

“I changed my mind.” I rumble when we finally part. “I can’t let you go, Ella.”

My sweet mate sighs, frowning deeply as she caresses my muscular arm.” Dominic, we talked about this. It’s for the best.”

“How can it be for the best when we aren’t together?” I posit stubbornly, not caring one bit that I sound like a lovesick pup.

‘The same way it was for the best for us to divide and conquer when you went visiting the Vanaran territories and I stayed behind.” Ella reminds me, kissing my shoulder and drawing my hand to her belly to feel our pup. Rafe is wide awake and alight with energy, though he clearly senses our tangled emotions. There’s an edge of confusion and anxiety in his otherwise content consciousness, and I know the clever minx is directing my attention to this on purpose.

“Stop being so rational.” I huff, letting my wolf take over. “What happened to the little hellion who made me feel like a murderer for leaving her behind?”

“She learned from her mistakes.” Ella answers steadily. “I didn’t understand then, I let my hurt feelings and anxiety blind me – but I know better now.” A door opens in our bond, and she lets me feel the pain she’s struggling to overcome herself – pain she kept hidden last night. I suspect she did so to prevent me using it as an excuse to stay together, but now she shares it to let me feel how she hates this every bit as much as I do.

“What about Rafe?” I demand, “you remember how angry he was with me when I finally returned? How abandoned he felt?”

“And he recovered, because you’re a wonderful father and you showed him that you’ll always be there for him – even when he doesn’t want you to be.” Ella counters in the same gentle tone. “Besides, I’ll tell him every day that it’s my fault and if he should be angry with anyone, it’s me.”

sharply. “He can’t be missing me and

so he can retroactively

rolls around inside of her, sending visible ripples over her taut skin. “I just want there to be some way for us to do it all: find your mother and fight this war, and have our pup without ever

take us with you into battle. You were going to

knowing glint in her shining eyes that betrays her calculation. “I didn’t think it would be this soon.” I grumpily explain, nibbling her mating mark. “And it’s one thing for you to be under lock and key with Gabriel, and another entirely to send you out into the unknown without

a taste of my own medicine, and I have to admit it’s rather infuriating. Clever mate, my wolf growls through our bond, though

wolf answers suggestively. We’re not going to have any big scares this time. We’re just going to run – or waddle, in my case

have to go into battle. My

or where I am, I will come to you before he arrives. Even if I have to turn around and leave immediately afterwards, I’m not going to let this child come into the world without you. A flash of fear seeps through our connection, and I understand that this possibility terrifies her even more than it terrifies me. I couldn’t do it on

there is nothing you cannot do, Ella. You might not want to, but you’ll get through it

She insists,

have a way of proving that even our best laid plans can and will go awry, and that’s when all else is normal – which our lives are certainly not. Even so, these gentle pacifications are enough to calm

Gabriel, Isabel, James and Philippe are all gathered in our sitting room, expectantly anticipating an explanation for our mysterious summons. The day’s summit events are about to kick off and I’m sure they all assume we’re here to talk about that, so it comes as no small shock when Ella declares she’s leaving Vanara next

leaving?” Cora demands, nervously looking

means, but the more time that passes, the clearer it becomes that I can’t fulfill my destiny unless I discover the secrets of

you’re just going to leave?” Isabel demands, surging to her feet. “Just like

don’t want to go, especially not when everything is so tense. But

snaps, cradling Sadie in