Accidental Surrogate

Chapter 423 – Wedding prep

Cora

“Ella,” I sigh, turning to my sister, who is standing behind me with her hands clutched together, tears rimming her eyes, not breathing because she’s trying so hard not to burst into tears

“You look so beautiful!” she squeaks, and I can’t help but laugh because she looks like a little cartoon character, standing there, completely undone by the sight of me in a wedding gown.

“Ells!” I laugh, taking a few steps towards her and reaching out my hands. “You can’t do this for every new dress!”

“But you look so differently beautiful in each one!” she shouts, and then a sob breaks from her and she burries her face in her hands, letting loose. I burst into laughter at this, raising my own hands to my cheeks and taking a deep breath.

“I’m sorry! I can’t help it!” she cries and I just shake my head, pulling my hands away and smiling as I turn to look at myself in the mirror.

I mean, she’s not wrong – I look damn good in this sparkling white gown that hugs my body all the way to the floor and then spreads out behind me in a beautiful beaded train. But honestly – Ella is so much more sentimental than me. She has gotten choked up at every single one I’ve tried on so far – and they’re all beautiful but …I’m just not having the same reaction as she is.

“You don’t like it?” she gasps, scurrying to my side and meeting my eyes in the mirror. “But Cora – you look amazing – you look so romantic-

“I know, Ella!” I say, turning and putting a hand on her shoulder. “But I think the problem is that I’m not I’m not very romantic! You are, for sure, but-”

“Ohhh,” she says, frowning and swatting my hand away, “you are too romantic. You confessed your love for Roger in a rain storm! He swept you off your feet and carried you inside! You – ”

“Okay,” I say, raising my hands as I give in, “I will admit that that part of our story is romantic – ”

you conceived your little baby that very

a romance novel heroine! You’ve got me!” I laugh, “But Ella! I never craved any of that – I’ve never, ever been the girl who thinks about her wedding day, or what her first dance would

you care if we do it?” she asks, wiping away her

mating does matter,” I murmur, turning back to smile at myself in the mirror. My wolf raises her sleepy head inside me and gives a little yip of confirmation, making my smile deepen. I run a mental hand over her fur, letting her know not to worry that I’m

stare at me in the mirror.

know, right?” I murmur, turning and admiring the way the dress hugs my

a little, throwing her arms around my

always liked

in case. And… maybe the ballgown too?” She gives me a big grin

with a sigh and a shrug. “It’s on the

to put up with her new queen’s hysterics while watching me try on twenty gowns. But while Ella

this…this just

and take off the dress, folding it

say softly, glancing over at Ella, who is still consulting. “Can you have this one sent to me,

says, hesitant, because she knows

assuring her. “And if she gives you any heat about it, you can tell her it was me. I promise it will be all right, but…could you please do this?

then lets out a sharp breath and smiles at me, nodding. “Sure,” she says. “I…I

my step and an idea in my head, I go to give my sister a kiss goodbye. Because

hangs his head as he presses the door shut

take a step back, trying to like…melt into the

his wolf hearing

side as he sees me standing in the living room, fully dressed with my shoes on, standing next to two tiny suit cases and a certain white box wrapped in a silver bow.