Accidental Surrogate

Ella

“We have to go,” Sinclair commands, looking at his brother and then at me, both of our eyes trained on him. “To one of the bunkers. Where we’re better prepared for a siege, if need be.”

I don’t know what he means – not entirely – but I just give my mate a single nod, agreeing to his plan, trusting him. Roger nods as well, and I’m sure he knows more about it than I do. Sinclair shifts his gaze to the team standing wide–eyed behind Roger and nods to them. Understanding Sinclair’s command to prepare to move, they turn away, instantly in action.

Roger, however, stays perfectly still. “Cora,” he says, looking into Sinclair’s eyes, his intention perfectly clear. He won’t go without her.

“We’ll find her,” I answer, my voice assured. “She’s coming, Roger. I won’t have it any other way.”

Roger looks between us for a moment, his mouth tightening, and then nods once before turning to leave the room to make his own preparations.

“Ten minutes!” Sinclair calls after him. “Less, if we can!” I see the back of Roger’s head nod in

understanding, though he doesn’t turn to say anything else.

Then, my mate turns his attention to me, loosening his arms around me and the baby and coming around to look down into my face. “You’re a mess, little mate,” he murmurs, smiling a little.”

Though I have to admit that I rather like the sight of you covered in the blood of your enemies,

“Thanks,” I say, tossing my hair over my shoulder and pretending a casual air I don’t feel. “I hear it’s the next big thing in fashion. Very chic.”

He laughs a little at my joke and shakes his head at me, but still looks down at me. “Are you all right, darling?” he asks, and something about his voice – the worry in it, the need for me to be

okay, loosens the resolve in me. I feel my face fall then, my knees go a little weak –

Because, really, I can be weak now with him here. My baby needed me before – I don’t regret a moment of it – but I have Sinclair at my side now to keep me safe and I’m free to be vulnerable again.

“I’m not okay,” I say honestly, shaking my head, my voice trembling a little. Sinclair looks

steadily into my eyes, listening. “But I will be.”

placing a single kiss on my

say, zipping myself back up a little and squaring my shoulders as I look my mate up and down. “Um – all

he says, shaking his head a little bit and looking around the

it from our faces and hands? But the rest

we need to pack the essentials and get downstairs.”

a little, heading to Rafe’s changing station with Sinclair in tow, tugging a few baby

wipe my own face. “To think, when I bought these,” I

”

–

a little but we both move on quickly, heading together

bags with the essentials – a bit of our clothing, and Rafe’s,

essentials as we can fit. Neither of us put Rafe down

passing him between our arms when the other needs both hands. It is an instinct,

keep him

we came out of this horrible day largely unscathed, we are both, I know,

a few minutes and head for the

shattered off its

we need anything else?” Sinclair asks, passing

remains of

him. “But we

as we hurry down the stairs, not wanting to leave my side for a

with a backpack over his shoulder, a group of soldiers next to him carrying boxes of whatever they could quickly gather

tugging Sinclair into the living room quickly, where I grab it off

out of the house. Sinclair, the baby, and I move towards

There are second cars behind each of these

teams fill. I don’t ask about the plan, trusting that Sinclair and

this kind of