Accidental Surrogate

The Wedding Ella Even though Cora got ready in my room at the palace, we did a great deal of work to make this wedding as public as possible as public as our coronation, if not more so. In order to do that, once Cora was dressed we escorted her down to the garage-level of the palace to where a beautiful open- top vintage Rolls Royce was waiting to drive her around to the front.

“Are you serious?” she had said, rolling her eyes, but she was laughing at the same time – because, honestly, it was very cool.

Roger had his doubts about the plan, wanting to know if it was safe, but all the security details that Sinclair had put out had assured us that there were no major threats to our safety. The majority of the humans who objected to a wolf King had either been satiated by Sinclair’s sincere promises that humans and wolves would be on equal footing or have taken their complaints underground.

And, as Cora suggested to me last night, actually a great number of people humans and wolves alike are very excited about the reality of having a royal family to call their own.

Sinclair and I see the proof of this when we finish welcoming the hundreds of guests who will be inside our Hall for the ceremony and step forward towards the doors, where we can see Cora’s car turning down the road.

The crowds lining the streets in front of the palace go wild when they see us, shouting and cheering for Sinclair, for Rafe, and – I blush when I hear it – for me as well. Sinclair starts to wave to everyone so, smiling, I do too, and then – I hold the baby up so everyone can see, and the roar goes louder.

Sinclair and I laugh at that as I tuck Rafe again securely by my side, pleased as I think any parents would be when people show affection for our child.

But my smile grows when the cheers turn towards Cora, their duchess, as she waves to them from the car that drives her down the road.

Cora’s name has been in print quite a bit lately, and this morning a huge piece was published on the two of us the two sisters who were raised human and have found themselves at the center of all of this drama. It was a flattering piece that focused the majority of its attention on my sister only fitting, as it’s her wedding we’re celebrating today – and our struggles as orphans, her time putting herself through medical school, her rather unknown and private relationship with Roger Sinclair.

show it to Cora this morning, fawning over the pictures, but she had waved it away, not wanting to see

in a beautiful wedding gown, her long veil trailing down her back as she waves eagerly to the people who have come to see her off on her wedding day, who call her name

the front of the room the place where an altar would be, were this a religious ceremony. Roger gives me a thumbs-up

Cora whispers, laughing as Sinclair offers a hand to help her step

sister in a hug. “You look beautiful, Cora,” I add, tears filling my eyes as I take in my sister in her incredibly gorgeous wedding gown, which manages to flatter while making no secret of

you think this is her first time crying,” Sinclair says, smirking and reaching for Rafe, “then you’re woefully mistaken,

the rest of

says, giving

we get to the top of the stairs, we turn to wave

says, kissing her on the cheek

but none she felt close to or comfortable enough asking to be a bridesmaid. So, we decided to keep it short and sweet, perhaps reflecting more wolf tradition than

who process before the bride, and I

mate and child reach the front of the room, the music changes, turning into the classic wedding

toes to kiss my sister’s cheek, knowing that

more,” she murmurs as