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

I say,

“It’s technically not yours,” he

the nation to be passed from Queen

the excitement on my face, “you get

we waiting for!” To my extreme disappointment, Sinclair does not take me immediately to the vault with the crown jewels and let me wear my tiara while I unpack all of our

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

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

Rafe,”

“I agree.

“I am not,” Sinclair laughs, coming into the room with

“I’m just following the.

rules.

really a Kingdom precisely anymore the

not right to wear them until the people have officially given

I will choose, in my wisdom as Queen,

good I’ll look wearing that crown,

huffs

“Fine,” he says.

can be

primly, turning back to my task at

fancy lids off of our plates of sandwiches, like we’re in some kind

to hear that Sinclair, in starting to hire people to refill the palace with workers and get

kitchens are and it feels strange already to be waited on

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

moved in.” I do take a moment,

ask quietly, taking in the tall windows, the gorgeous

much of the furniture replaced with that which suits our taste a bit better, but still…I’ll never forget the day we

into his

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

“I’m sure.

fitting.” I smile at

a King’s bedroom for sure – and you

saying that,” I reply, frowning at

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

everything

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

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

“I hope I can be,”

then he looks

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

then my face bursts

a wonderful King!” And then I laugh, crawling

be, he’s so

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

sending a little love down

do our very best, Rafe,” Sinclair says to

as I raise my baby to my shoulder