Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

I roar as I stumble through the doors of the hospital, my bleeding mate clutched in my arms.

Everyone in the emergency room freezes – doctors, nurses, patients. Everyone. The noise that comes from me is unending, a demand, a plea, a threat. I am halfway between states now – my eyes filled with the wolf’s flame, my hands ending in razor-sharp claws.

She breathes against my chest, barely. Blood drips from her.

The bond – I can barely feel it, between she and I –

And my child –

I take a breath, then, glaring around the room, and open my mouth to shout again. “DOCTOR,” I cry. “Get me a doctor! NOW!”

The room collectively jumps at this, patients clearing away from the desk and heading towards the sides of the room, the nurses leaping to their feet. A doctor strides forward – one I don’t recognize – but he’s here, damn it, he’d better be good –

“Come,” he commands, stopping a few feet from us and then gesturing backwards towards the door to the treatment rooms. He doesn’t need to look any closer to know that she needs immediate care. “This way, fast.”

I stride after him as he shouts out commands on his way. In my arms, Ella is deathly pale, passed out, hardly breathing. I glance down at her, at her beautiful face, her rose-gold hair falling across it.

She’s strong – I know she’s strong –

But she’s given so much. I grit my teeth, growling, livid with the universe for asking this much of her. I will not lose her to this.

entrance taking lead and giving

months?” The doctor asks, looking closely at Ella’s face as I lay her down on

exact number of days, but frankly I don’t think it

he murmurs, and then glances up at me. “Too soon for an early cesarian.

to mine. “And she as well. You will do everything – you will move

doctor, to his credit, does

his eyes angry as he grabs my offending

blink, surprised, and then release him. The doctor takes a step away from me and brushes off his coat, keeping his eyes on mine. “I will move mountains for her, sir,” he bites out, his voice still low. “I will do everything I can

us. “You dare take that tone with me?” I ask, my voice low with warning.

up into my eyes. “You may be our King, sir, but I am the Alpha in this surgery. And

turn my head to look at her. So small – so fragile, in that bed

work,” I snarl, folding my arms across my chest and stepping to the head of her bed. The doctor holds my gaze for a moment more and then does as I say, getting down to the business

beeping machines and IV’s and tanks of oxygen. They work quickly. Almost before I can comprehend it, Ella has a mask over her face to help her breathe, wires and tubes plugged into her arms. The nurses cut the clothes from her

can do to stand still, helpless. I have basic medic experience, of course, but I know that her life is in their hands, not mine. And it kills me to realize that, to stand here and watch her fight knowing that there’s nothing I can do. As I watch, a nurse comes forward with an ultrasound machine, plugging it in as another quickly

screen. My stomach drops and I hear a moan. A moment later, I

to me. “Her uterus is torn, leaking blood at the cervix, and her organs are in failure – she needs immediate surgery

focusing my

nods. “There’s a heartbeat,” he says, turning back to me. His voice is apologetic as he utters his next

two instinctual steps forward. “You will