Accidental Surrogate

King and Queen Ella “I’m glad we did that,” I say later that afternoon as Sinclair pulls our car around to the front entrance of the palace.

“I couldn’t stand to say goodbye to that house if it was to a stranger.

Too many memories there.” ” I agree,” Sinclair says, parking directly out front in what feels…well, feels too informal for the future King’s first entrance to the palace, his new home.

” Doesn’t this place have like, a garage?” I murmur, looking into the back seat to check on little Rafe, who is happily chewing on the sleeve of his little baby hoodie and staring at himself in a mirror attached to his car seat.

“I… think so…” Sinclair says, and I look up in surprise to see him grimacing at me a little.

“I’ve only really been here for state occasions,” he says, shrugging.” And the birth of our child,” I point out.

“Well for that,” he says, “wealsojust parked out front.” “True true,” I say, turning away to my door.

“I guess we’ll figure it all out.

Yes, we will,” he murmurs, getting out of the car and opening the back seat to lift out Rafe’s carrier.

While I wait for them to come around to my side, I stare up at the gorgeous palace in front of me.

“I can’t believe this is going to be my home,” I murmur.

“I can’t believe I’m going to be a King,” he sighs.

I look up at him, studying the lines of his handsome face.

“Yeah,” I agree.

“Me neither.” Sinclair laughs and shakes his head down at me.

“Well, I would hope thatyouwould try to chuff me up a little bit there.” I laugh and take his arm, squeezing it.

“Well, you know I think you cando it,” I say, grinning, “and that I don’t think anyone else could do it any better.

I just,” I consider it for a moment, shaking my head.

“I don’t know.

I’m not going to be able to get used to people calling you King.” “Will you be able to get used to people calling you Queen?” he asks, brow arched.

I laugh up into his face at the ridiculousness of it.

“Absolutely not,” I reply.

“They’ll all just have to call me Ella, or I’ll walk right past them without realizing that they’re talking to me.” “You don’t do so poorly responding to Luna,” he says, pulling his arm from my grip and wrapping it around my shoulder to pull me close.

Yes, but that feels more real,” I say quietly.

“I…know what a Luna’s supposed to do.

I want to protect my pack, help them in all things.” “I imagine Queen is much the same,” he says softly.

“You’ll get used to it.

at him, but then my face falls slack

seriously?” I say, my eyes

get acrown?” “It’s technically not

the nation to be passed

at me, seeing the excitement on my face, “you get a crown.” “Well

take me immediately to the vault with the crown jewels and let me wear my tiara while I

coronation, my ass,” I murmur angrily as I use a box cutter to cut the tape on probably my fortieth box and

feet away from me in his little playpen, Rafe lets

you, Prince Rafe,” I call to

“I agree.

Sinclair laughs, coming into the room with a little tray of

“I’m just following the.

rules.

precisely anymore the jewels belong

until the people have officially given

the tray down on the bed, “onlyon state occasions.” “Again,” I sigh, pausing to look up at him, “this is a rule that I will choose, in my wisdom as Queen, not to follow.” And then I

just how good I’ll look wearing

then huffs a

“Fine,” he says.

exception can

say primly,

and eat,” he says, taking the fancy lids off of our plates of sandwiches, like

to refill the palace with workers and get it back to fully functioning, hired

where the kitchens are and it feels strange already

going to do when I’m pregnant again? Just… wander the halls, starving, searching for the kitchens? “I’m not hungry yet,” I say to Sinclair, laying out Rafe’s clothes on the floor in neat piles

get us moved in.” I do take a

I ask

replaced with that which suits our taste a bit better, but still…I’ll never

into his sandwich and watching

bedroom? We have

“I’m sure.

fitting.” I smile at

bedroom for sure – and you are a King!” “Not yet, he says, shaking his

keep saying that,” I reply,

something wrong? Are you… doubting the fact that the coronation will go through or

everything to

head, a little angry, “they took liberties with the privileges of this position that they

quietly,

better.” “I hope I can be,” he

he looks over

as well, when his turn comes.” “Rafe?” I say, turning

face bursts into a

wonderful King!” And then I laugh, crawling over to his little playpen and peeking over the edge,

he’s so sweet!” Sinclair smiles at me but then

they were too cute to do anything wrong.” Yes,” I sigh, standing and reaching down to pick up my baby and carry

his head, sending a little love down the bond to him that makes him smile and

very best, Rafe,” Sinclair says to our boy,

you that.” “So,” I say, after a moment as I raise my baby to my shoulder and