Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“And I am leaving immediately,” Roger adds in, making us all laugh. “Seriously,” he says, “I’m useless until the kid is old enough to throw a ball. Then, it’s all Uncle Roger.” (2

I smile at him, pleased, and take his hand to squeeze it, letting him know how glad I am that he came. His eyes soften as he looks at me, and I know he feels the same.

“All right,” I say, sighing and climbing into the bed. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

Then, everyone goes to their work, Roger and Hank leaving the room and Cora sitting next to me to help me through the first steps of breastfeeding. Sinclair sits close by, clearly interested, but not interfering as Cora shows me how to help the baby latch. I feel a whole new rush of emotion as I feel him begin to suck, as I feel the milk start to flow and feed my baby.

“There,” Cora says softly, and I look at her with tears in my eyes. “See? You’re a natural.”

“Where should he sleep?” I ask, looking around, suddenly desperate. We don’t have a basinet, of course.

Cora just shrugs. “You’ll figure it out. Use your mom instincts. People were having babies for thousands of years before hospitals came to answer these questions for them about how to have their first night.” She grins a little wickedly at Sinclair and me. “I don’t think you two are going to get much sleep anyway, but…you’ll figure it out.”

I laugh a little and return my gaze to my baby, whose eyes are closed as I hold him warm against my chest. “That’s right, baby,” I whisper. “We’re going to figure it out.”

“Okay,” my sister says, standing and giving me a kiss on the forehead. “You’re a marvel, Ella,” she whispers. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow.”

I nod, but don’t look at her, instead staring at my son. My new baby, this much- and long–desired child who is finally, finally here.

I feel the weight of Sinclair’s body on the bed next to me as the door clicks shut behind Cora, but I don’t take my eyes away from Rafe as Sinclair wraps his arms around me.

“Well,” Sinclair sighs, pressing a kiss to my hair. “This is the start of a whole new era. Are you ready for it?”

head to grin up at my mate, eager. “I’m ready for

the general happiness I feel after one of

done. I reflect, suddenly, that maybe it’s the knowledge that I have a new little nephew now, to raise and to help discover the world. There’s something wonderful

of the guards standing at the bottom of the steps, wanting to make sure that it’s safe to leave, and begin to take a

who it belongs to. I turn, meeting Roger’s eyes. “I hear we’re going to be godparents together.”

ask, watching him as he walks slowly over to me, his hands sunk deep in his pockets.”

close to me. Close enough that I can almost feel his words as breath on my cheek, as well as hear them. “But

the little laugh that spills out of me at that, and I look down at my feet. “Well,” I say, a little awkward. I haven’t talked to Roger in weeks, let alone this casually. “I suppose that’s up for debate, considering I’m a human amongst the wolves.”

says, hesitating, and I see his hand reaching for mine. I

“What are you even doing here? Weren’t you so eager to get home?”

riots, but that doesn’t mean that everyone went home and no one’s lurking in the dark wanting to make mischief.” He looks at me then, pausing before

turning away from him and heading down the steps to where my

he calls after me, his voice

“What, Roger! I don’t need

need what?” he asks, challenging me. “You don’t need help getting

him. “Seriously? Now? You want to dig into this now, after months of silence on the

he asks, his voice angry now. “The absolute nothing that is us?”

open my mouth to throw his words back at him, but

to,” Roger pushes, “how could I?

wide. “Is that the great barrier? Have you never heard of

phone, Cora?” Roger asks, closing the distance between us, his voice hurt now as well as mad.

the nothing that is us. There’s nothing to say.” I grit my teeth and turn then, heading back down the stairs, fast

see the new dampness