Accidental Surrogate

Ella

It takes us longer than I know Sinclair would prefer to get out of Roger and Cora’s house that morning, mostly because Cora spent so much time freaking out, hugging me, and scolding me for not telling her immediately. But in the end they let us go, Cora wiping her eyes and Roger giving us a big smile, baby Jesse asleep in his arms.

I hold Sinclair’s hand the whole ride home, squeezing it, so happy and excited. We’re just so blessed right now, and I’m doing everything I can to bask in that glow. My mate, my baby boy, my baby girl on the way?

What more could I ask for?

When we get back into the palace, Sinclair walks me back to our suite of rooms, though I can tell his mind is already on other things.

“You can go,” I say, balancing my little meatball Rafe against my elbow while I give Sinclair a little shove on the shoulder. “You don’t have to walk me back into the rooms – I’m already inside our house!”

“Indulge me, Ella,” he says, giving me a little glancing smile as he pushes open our door and holds it open for me. “I can feel my instincts kicking in already – I’m not going to want to leave your side for the next six months.”

“Oh sure,” I say, rolling my eyes at him and carrying the baby over to his changing station. “Like overprotective pregnancy Alpha is so different from overprotective new dad Alpha.”

“It is different,” he says, smirking at me as he leans against the wall, watching me make quick work of Rafe’s dirty diaper, our little baby happily babbling as I do. “Or at least, it feels different to me.”

“Well, whatever keeps you eagerly at my side,” I say, smiling at him with a wink.

“What about you?” he asks, raising his chin towards me. “Are you feeling any different yet? I feel almost bad, honestly – you barely got finished breastfeeding. You didn’t even get to do any of the fun non-pregnant things, like shots of tequila. Or a whole lot of sushi.”

“That’s okay,” I say with a sigh, snapping Rafe’s onesie shut and lifting him back up into my arms, where he squeals and reaches for me, grabbing fistfuls of my hair. “I’ll just take a raincheck on those,” I say, stepping close to my mate and letting him wrap me in my arms. “After this next one is born and ready for solid foods, you owe me two children’s worth of debauchery.”

a little kiss on my mouth. “Except, knowing you, you’ll probably be

a happy little sigh. “But do you know? There is one

is it?” he asks, genuinely

say, throwing one hand in the air. Sinclair bursts into laughter as I start tugging at the blankets, arranging them into a

the second version of the nest,” Sinclair comments, and I can tell by his happy tone that he’s pleased. “Next 2.0. Are you

a Queen’s nest now,” I say, sinking happily down onto my bed, taking Rafe with me. “And it has to accommodate a Prince as well as a growing Princess,” I say, grinning at my son. “So yeah, I’m going to need some funds,” I continue with a sigh, looking seriously up at my mate. “Like, five

pillows?” he protests,

budget, and the snacks. The pillows are going

but comes over and again takes my

I ask, a little mournful. I mean, I just made this nest, and it

you christen the nest later.” He sighs and steps away, handing me a tablet off the bedside

sigh as I start to click through the tablet, Rafe starting to crawl around in the blankets next to

Two Weeks Later

call into our little closet. “Is

Ella!” Cora calls back, though I can hear her

Rafe sitting calmly on my hip. He also looking curiously towards the closet where Cora and getting Jesse dressed in his own little tuxedo. Jesse’s two weeks old now,