Accidental Surrogate

When we climb out of the ambulance, it seems like a whole team of doctors are waiting for us. I smile at them, a little anxious, as they come forward to escort us into the hospital and run us through our battery of checks. At my side I feel Sinclair shift into his Alpha protection mode, looking at everyone warily, glaring at anyone who comes even close to me and the baby.

I smirk when I notice it, glancing’up at his stern and dangerous expression, but I don’t dissuade him. Honestly, I kind of like it.

We are escorted quickly into a private room where Hank quickly consults with a panel of experts, clearly ordering a ton of tests. As he works, a smile breaks onto my face as I see Cora turn the corner.

“Cora!” I call, waving to her, Rafe fussing in my arms. Sinclair even glares at Cora as she approaches, though she gives him a curious little look that makes him check his expression.

“Sorry,” he murmurs. “I’m feeling…protective.”

“Understandable,” she says, smiling and reaching for the baby. “Where is my little boy!”

“Heeere,” I sing, carefully handling over the little bundle to his auntie. We dressed him, before we left, in the little cream sleep sack that we had packed in the hospital bag.

“Cutieee,” Cora coos, holding the baby close and peering down at his little face. She beams at him for a moment before looking up at me. “First night go okay?”

I tell her the details of our first night while Sinclair stands firmly at my side, letting me communicate everything. As I speak, Hank and his team begin to break up, preparing the various checks and treatments that I’ll be receiving today. Then, he comes over to us.

“Okay, Ella,” he says, giving me a smile. “The plan is that me and my team are going to ensure that you’re perfectly healthy. And Cora and hers are going to make sure that Rafe is in top shape. It’s going to take awhile but,” he glances up at Sinclair quickly and shrugs, “I thought it best to check everything, rather than skimp.”

everything,” Sinclair growls,

“You need to cool it, Dom,” I murmur, giving him a little smile. He sighs and nods, making me laugh. I can tell that he’s on edge, fighting his new dad instinct to do everything he can

all right,” Hank says, smiling between us. “You’re in good hands.” Then, he nods at Cora, pausing a moment to place a warm hand on her back between her shoulder blades. I blink, a little surprised, when she simply nods and flinches away from his touch a little

a little happiness building in my stomach. But then I chide myself for being happy that there might be discord in my sister’s

smug little circle, nudging me to let me know that she, at least, knows that I’m lying to myself. But I

later, I’m dozing quietly in a

in the newborn room next door with other babies who were born at the hospital yesterday and today, apparently to be monitored and to give me some time to rest, but I find that I’m restless without him near me. Still, my exhausted

baby being out of the room, and snores

room. “Sorry,” he says, giving me a little grimace.

as I hear Sinclair stop snoring next to me and sit up in his chair. “It’s all right – I didn’t sleep well without

if they have physical contact with their child.” He glances between my mate and me. “You two may want to consider systems of

but he just blinks blearily at me.” Ella,” he says, “you spent hundreds of dollars on bassinets – now you want to put the baby in

murmurs something about us being wolves, not birds, but I ignore him, turning my attention back to Hank. So, am I okay? Can

happily to me. “I’m happy to report that you’re doing beautifully, Ella. Strikingly healthy – perhaps more than can be expected, after a traumatic birth experience. But perhaps that

understanding and accepting the

only all mothers had access to such a gift,” Hank says, smiling at me warmly. “That would be quite a boon, wouldn’t

nod, agreeing heartily, but then I freeze, suddenly struck with an idea…