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 slack with shock when he slowly

I say, my eyes

technically not yours,”

nation to be passed from Queen

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

extreme disappointment, Sinclair does not take me immediately to the vault with the crown jewels and

cutter to cut the tape on

away from me in his little playpen, Rafe lets out a little squeal that I choose to interpret as

you, Prince Rafe,” I call

“I agree.

coming into the room with a

“I’m just following the.

rules.

a Kingdom precisely anymore the jewels

not right to wear them until the people have officially given them to

then,” he says, putting 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,

wearing that crown, and only that

huffs

“Fine,” he says.

can

primly, turning back

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

hire people to refill the palace with workers and get

don’t even know where the kitchens are and it feels strange already to be waited

I’m pregnant again? Just… wander the halls, starving, searching for the kitchens? “I’m not hungry yet,” I say

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

time we were here?” I ask quietly, taking

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

murmurs, biting into his sandwich

sure you still want us to be our bedroom? We have options.” ” Yes,” I say with a little

“I’m sure.

I smile at

you are a King!” “Not yet,

that,” I reply,

coronation will go through or something?” “No,”

everything to

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

I say quietly, watching my whole-hearted mate

better.” “I hope I can be,”

looks over at

well, when

my face

I laugh, crawling over to his little playpen and peeking over the edge, grinning

How could he not be, he’s so sweet!” Sinclair smiles at me but

whose mother thought they were too cute to do anything wrong.” Yes,”

sending a little love down

Rafe,” Sinclair says to our boy, smiling at

as I raise my baby to my shoulder and hold him