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.

great.” “Do I get a crown?” I ask grinning up at him, but then my face falls slack with shock when he slowly begins

seriously?” I say, my eyes going

get acrown?” “It’s technically not yours,” he

to the nation to be passed from Queen

the throne,” he grins widely at me, seeing the excitement on my face, “you get a crown.” “Well then let’s go!” I shout,

not take me immediately to the vault with the crown jewels and let me wear my tiara while I unpack all of our

angrily as I use a box cutter to cut the tape on probably my fortieth

playpen, Rafe lets out a little squeal that I choose to interpret as

Prince Rafe,” I

“I agree.

am not,” Sinclair laughs, coming into the room with a little tray of food for our

“I’m just following the.

rules.

a Kingdom precisely anymore the jewels

wear them until the

to look up at him, “this is a rule that I will choose, in my wisdom as Queen, not to follow.” And

wearing that crown,

then huffs a laugh, grinning at

“Fine,” he says.

exception can be

to start,” I say primly, turning back

lids off of our

starting to hire people to refill the palace with workers and get it back to fully functioning, hired a

and it

the kitchens? “I’m not hungry yet,” I say to Sinclair, laying out Rafe’s clothes on the floor in neat piles and then disassembling

get us moved in.” I do take a moment, though, to look around

ask quietly, taking in the tall

with that which suits our taste a bit better, but still…I’ll never forget the day we brought our baby

biting into his sandwich and

us to be our bedroom? We have options.” ” Yes,” I say

“I’m sure.

I smile

King’s bedroom for sure – and you are a King!” “Not yet,

that,” I reply, frowning

doubting the fact that the coronation will go through or something?” “No,” he replies,

everything

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

” I know,” I say quietly, watching my whole-hearted mate

you’ll be better.” “I hope I can be,” he

he looks over at the

can convince him to be as well, when his turn comes.” “Rafe?” I

face bursts into

crawling over to his little playpen and peeking over the edge,

not be, he’s so sweet!”

to do anything wrong.” Yes,” I sigh, standing and reaching down to pick up my baby and carry him over to his poor worried

on his head, sending a little love down the bond to

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

moment as I raise