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.

I ask grinning up at him,

say, my eyes going

technically not yours,” he replies,

the nation to

we’re on the throne,” he grins widely at me, seeing the excitement

hell are we waiting for!” To my extreme disappointment, Sinclair does not take me immediately to the vault with the crown jewels and let

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

his little playpen, Rafe lets out a

Prince Rafe,” I

“I agree.

being cruel.” “I am not,” Sinclair laughs, coming into the room with a little

“I’m just following the.

rules.

Kingdom precisely anymore the

wear them until the

I will choose, in my wisdom as Queen, not to follow.” And then I send

wearing that crown, and only

huffs

“Fine,” he says.

can

to start,” I say primly, turning back

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

that Sinclair, in starting to hire people to refill the palace with workers and get it back to fully functioning,

kitchens are and it feels

am I 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

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

here?” I ask quietly, taking in the tall windows, the gorgeous

bit better, but still…I’ll never forget the day we brought

Sinclair murmurs, biting into his sandwich and watching

you still want us to be our bedroom? We

“I’m sure.

I smile

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

I reply, frowning at

the coronation will go through or something?” “No,” he replies, cocking his head to

everything

and his father…” he shakes his head, a little angry, “they took liberties with the privileges of this

wasn’t right.” ” I know,” I say quietly, watching my

you’ll be better.” “I hope

looks over at the

hope I can convince him to be as well, when his turn comes.” “Rafe?” I say, turning to my baby

face bursts

I laugh, crawling over to his little

not be, he’s so sweet!” Sinclair smiles

tyrant was once a well-loved little baby whose mother thought they were too cute to do anything wrong.” Yes,” I sigh, standing and reaching down to pick up my baby and carry him over

my baby on his head, sending a little love down the bond to him that makes him smile and wiggle with

do our very best, Rafe,” Sinclair

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