Accidental Surrogate

Ella

When I open my eyes, Sinclair is already gone, despite the fact that he got maybe five hours of total sleep last night. He was gone as soon as his head hit the pillow when we got back to bed. I had taken a moment to nibble on a little madeleine cookie that I’d snuck into the pocket of my robe, but I hadn’t been far behind him.

I stretch leisurely on the bed now, enjoying the ability to extend my legs and arms all the way across it with no gigantic wolf–man to block my path. Of course, I’d rather have him here than not, but we must accept life’s small luxuries when we are granted them.

I take a minute to check in on the baby – still asleep, wrapped in contentment – and then glance around the room, wondering how I want to spend my day. I’m hit with a little pang of despair, though, as I realize that… this is going to be how every day starts for the next three months. And that my options are honestly limited to television, and reading, and whatever I can find on my phone. (4)

I sigh, scolding myself a little for hesitating at a luxury that I’m sure a thousand people would jump at. And it’s not that I would prefer, at all, the sturm and drang of the past couple of months – trying to seize the country back from a mad prince, trying to end a war, worrying if Sinclair was dead, worried if I would die…

No, this was better but….damn it. I have to admit that the boredom is going to be a problem for me. I’ve always been one to spring out of bed, to leap for whatever the day has in store. Even when I was a little girl, I was always up before Cora –

I feel myself perk up at the thought of her. Yes, Cora! I grab my phone, hastily pushing the buttons and giving her a call.

“Cora?” I burst out as soon as she answers the phone.

“Ella!” she shouts, making me laugh. I hope she hasn’t just scared the hell out of one of her patients, screaming in the middle of the office. She’s been busy, I know, seeing a lot of pregnant women whose healthcare was interrupted by the war. “How are you – is everything okay?”

“I’m fine,” I laugh, cheered by the sound of her voice. I lean back against the pillows, getting cozy. Do you want to come over? Hang out?”

“Um ya,” she replies, as if it’s obvious. “But I can’t today, I have a double shift here. But tomorrow, maybe? You don’t have plans to hang out with Sinclair then, do you?”

14

I sigh, and she laughs at my disappointment. “I’m sending him off to, you know, run his kingdom.” She laughs again and I can’t help the smile that spreads over my face. There’s nothing quite like making your

attention to some stuff, complaining that the

murmur, biting my lip and feeling guilty. “That’s all my fault – he’s been paying way too much attention to me –”

Cora interrupts, stern. “You

can go save the world or whatever. And tell me all about what’s going on with you and Roger. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you two

time, one

on the other line

I add, worried. “What’s

she hesitates. “I just…since you’ve been home, he’s been

beg, a little breathless, worried

more time

the hell is

doctor, Ella,” she states as if it’s obvious. I grimace, realizing that I really never thought to ask and just called him “doctor” in my head. “You know, the one

back against my pillows, my eyes going wide. “Wait,

the first place, Ella,” she lies, sounding rushed and embarrassed. Then, I hear someone calling her from

to black. Cora wasn’t into Roger any more?

name was

Sinclair

away from Ella’s side. It’s not that I don’t want to do

know,” Roger grunts, giving me a little glare. “You’re distracted. But you have to do this, Dominic! It’s bad timing to take over a nation when you’re mate’s halfway through a difficult pregnancy,

sighing and slumping down in my chair. “Let’s just get on with it.” He nods and brings the papers forward, explaining their contents

was hospitalized, Roger really stepped up and took control of leading this nation, securing my position when it had been vulnerable. He had negotiated the cease–fire with the human forces, organized the Alphas and assured them of the forthcoming peace, and, perhaps most importantly, had ended any ambitious grabs for the temporarily vacant

couldn’t have done it without him. My brother really stepped up for

find a way to show my gratitude properly. But