Accidental Surrogate

Accidental Surrogate Chapter 381-– Persistence

Sinclair

I wake up frowning, knowing immediately that something is…well, not wrong,

but certainly off. I reach out an arm, seeking Ella, but my hand passes over cold

sheets. My frown deepens as I sit up and realize that she’s not here. A glance at

Rafes bassinet makes it clear that he’s not here either.

Where the hell is my family?

I sigh, swinging my legs out of the bed, wondering how much time has passed.

As I scrub a hand down my face I consider that it can’t have been much –

there’s still no daylight peeking around the blinds. So, a few hours a most. But

why the hell hasn’t she come to bed?

I stand and head for the door, wondering what the hell trouble is getting up to

now. I smirk a little to consider it. Ella…well, it’s part of her appeal, isn’t it? She’s

always up to something. I’ll certainly never be bored by her side.

The hallway outside my room is empty but I head down it towards where I hear

a few murmuring voices. But when I turn into the room, I’m surprised because

the first person I see is my father, sitting quietly in his chair by the door, staring

into the room.

We don’t say anything to each other as I lean against the doorway by his side,

because we’re both aware that I didn’t come here seeking him. I give him a nod

and place a hand on his shoulder as my eyes turn to her – Ella, across the

room, my infant son sleeping pressed against her chest while she holds her

hands out over one of my wounded men, healing him.

“She’s going to wear herself out,” my father says quietly.

“How long has she been at it?”

“Hours,” he says, shaking his head. ” She’s been burning her candle at both

ends for days, Dominic. She’s…very dedicated, she wants to do good. But she

gives too much.”

I nod, understanding, agreeing silently. My kind mate with her big heart she

can’t stop giving, even if it means giving all of herself. But that’s where I come

take care of her, when she’d burn herself out

world if I

moments with my father, watching

good to interrupt her in the middle of her task. I’m

father surprises me with his next

sorry, Dominic,” he says, his

look down at

his head slowly, looking up at me

everything. I played right into the

your mate, your child -” He covers his

at me. “I

that,” I snap, tightening my hand

you away

coming, that of course they would follow us

the sewer that of course they were just biding

has

to get angry with him. “This was not your

my plan –

plan!” My voice comes out louder, harsher

up at me, more helpless than I’ve seen him…maybe

continue, working hard to bring my

Roger, Ella, Cora – all

for it, we were all…” I sigh, shutting my

flooded me the moment I realized that Xander

in that house, that he was going after the

ourselves everything.

to protest, to continue, but

his head,

this?” I hear Ella ask, and I look up from my father to see

eyes wide with worry as she

fuzz

to figure out what to say,

nothing, Ella,” I respond, not wanting to add to her plate.

her eyes that she’s exhausted

my incomplete explanation, and focuses her eyes on

been through this already?” she asks

her, looking down at my father for a

at us. “Let an old man have his guilt,” he

tired smile. ” It gives

he shifts

“You have better things to worry about. You should get

bed.”

little guilty, starting to unstrap the baby carrier.

kept him out

waking you if he got up in the middle of the

stern, and she looks up at me

baby. Come on.” I step forward

her head and backing up a step. “I

there’s – there are more

I need to

closing the distance between us and putting

voice so that

than a rumble in my chest.