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, crossing his

and nods, making me laugh. I can tell that he’s on edge, fighting his new dad instinct to do everything he can – absolutely everything to

hand on her back between her shoulder blades. I blink, a little surprised, when she simply nods and flinches away from his touch

being happy that there might be discord in my sister’s new relationship. You’re team Cora, I remind myself. Team Cora, whatever that means for her. That’s what side you’re

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

I’m dozing quietly in a hospital bed,

some time to rest, but I find that I’m restless without him near me. Still, my exhausted body takes advantage of the quiet and I do find myself dozing in and out

qualms about the baby being out of the room, and snores lightly

door opens and Dr. Hank comes back into the room. “Sorry,” he says, giving me a little grimace. “I didn’t mean to wake you when you

snoring next to me and sit up in his chair. “It’s all right – I didn’t

better if they have

he says, “you spent hundreds of dollars on bassinets – now you want to put the baby

I exclaim, excited, clutching my hands under my chin with glee. Sinclair murmurs something about us being wolves, not birds, but I ignore him, turning

my bed, reading through some of the doctor reports there, and then nods 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 can be

the mystery for what it is.

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

then I