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.

get a crown?” I ask grinning up at him, but then my face falls

I say, my

“It’s technically not yours,” he replies,

nation to be passed from

as you’re alive and we’re on the throne,” he grins widely at me, seeing the excitement on my

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

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

lets out a little squeal that I choose to interpret

Prince Rafe,” I call

“I agree.

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

“I’m just following the.

rules.

a Kingdom precisely anymore the

right to wear them until the people have officially given

that I will choose, in my wisdom as Queen, not

good I’ll look wearing that crown, and only

and then huffs a

“Fine,” he says.

can be

I say primly, turning back to my task at

the fancy lids off of

to hire people to refill the palace

are and

halls, starving, searching for the kitchens? “I’m not hungry yet,” I say to Sinclair, laying out Rafe’s clothes on the floor

I do take

were here?” I ask quietly, taking in

which suits our taste a bit better, but still…I’ll

murmurs, biting into his

our bedroom? We have options.” ” Yes,” I say with a little sigh, looking

“I’m sure.

fitting.” I

– and you are a King!” “Not yet, he

saying that,” I

there something wrong? Are you… doubting the fact that the coronation will go through or something?” “No,” he replies, cocking his

just…want everything to be

his head, a little angry, “they took liberties

I know,” I say quietly, watching my

better.” “I hope I can

then he looks over at the

be as well, when his turn comes.” “Rafe?”

then my face bursts

King!” And then I laugh, crawling over to

he’s so

baby whose mother thought they were too cute to do anything wrong.” Yes,” I sigh, standing

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

do our very best, Rafe,” Sinclair says

that.” “So,” I say, after a moment as