Accidental Surrogate

Ella

Forty–five minutes later, I back out of the bedroom, snicking the door shut behind me. Then, I stand up, closing my eyes and exhaling a long breath.

“Is she all right?” a voice hisses, right behind me.

I leap about a foot in the air, managing to muffle my shriek as I spin to see my mate standing about six inches from me, looking down with a worried expression. I smack him, hard, against the chest – more to get my adrenaline out than to actually hurt him – and glare up at him, mad at him for scaring me like that. Sinclair just blinks at me, waiting, my smack having had no effect on him at all.

“Back up,” I whisper, putting my hands on his wide, muscled chest and pushing backwards. “She’s asleep, finally – where is the baby?”

“He’s here,” Roger says, standing at the end of the hall with his godson in his arms. I smile, a little, at the sight as I move forward with my arms open. Roger quietly passes my baby to me and I smile down at my son, something in my body that has been anxious without him in the same room as me finally coming to rest.

“Seriously, Ella,” Sinclair says, looking back towards the closed door of our guest room. “Is Cora okay?”

“I don’t know,” I say, looking towards the door anxiously. “Leon came back about ten minutes later, offering a sedative so she could sleep. I told him to give it as long as it wouldn’t give her bad dreams. Or any dreams.”

“Did she…say anything?” Sinclair asks, still facing the door.

I frown up at him, a little annoyed by his singular focus on information. “You know she’s your sister too now, Dominic,” I snap, my own emotions a bit on edge. “You could show a little more concern for her welfare, and not just see her as a source of information.”

Sinclair swiftly turns his attention to me, anger and frustration immediately on his face, but then he softens “I’m sorry, Ella,” he says, sincere. “I didn’t mean it like that. You know her health and safety are my first priority. I was just curious if you learned anything new.”

I sigh, stepping forward closer to my mate, leaning my body against him. “I’m sorry,” I murmur. “I

“You’re tired, and stressed,” he murmurs against my hair. “You haven’t had any sleep in about forty -eight hours…”

with her,” Roger says suddenly, striding towards the

the knob, giving me a look so

going to do anything, Ella,” Roger bites out, his voice stern but with an undercurrent of strong emotion. “I’m just going to…be there, all right? In case she needs

to sit with

with tears at the sweet sincerity of my brother–in–law and, seeing them, Sinclair wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Come on, trouble,” he murmurs to me, nodding to Roger – who disappears into the bedroom –

can I sleep,” I gasp, my voice shaky, wiping a tear from my face. “How can I sleep when someone is coming for

the door behind us. Then he takes me by the shoulders and moves me towards

me down on the mattress, tugging off my leggings. When I’m in my underwear he leaves me for a moment, disappearing into the closet and

basically eye- level with mine. “You trust me, right?” he asks, and, sniffing,

let anyone hurt

Again, I nod.

lifting a hand to my face

so you can be strong for them.”

to me like a child, and resents it, but a larger part of me…god, it needs it. It needs the simple reassurance, the

sleeps in the bed with us, okay?” I

to his underwear and climbing into the bed with us. Then, he leans forward, kissing Rafe softly on the head before laying his

open, meeting mine calmly. “You’re safe, Ella,” he whispers. “We all are. Go to sleep.” And so, comforted, I obey.

Cora

stark straight in the bed in the strange

and flinch away from it – spinning to see

my surprise, it’s just…Roger, starting awake in an armchair by the

voice still thick with sleep. “You