Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Chapter 157

Cora Confides in Roger

3rd Person

As Sinclair and Ella raced away through the winding streets of the Vanaran capital, Roger found his gaze lingering on Cora. The human was staring after her sister in amazement, as if she couldn’t believe her own eyes. The wind fluttered through her black hair, carrying her now-familiar scent to the rugged wolf.

Roger had been sticking close to Cora ever since they fled Moon Valley. When he first turned up on her doorstep telling her they had to flee the territory, she’d been too stunned to respond. He’d ended up packing a bag for her while she looked on in shocked silence, only speaking in response to direct questions. In the car he and Henry had explained the situation to her in as much depth as they could manage, but he could feel her fear as if it was his own. It called to his protective instincts, and he felt a strange affinity for this woman – like him, she was watching her younger sibling take the world by storm, and though she never expressed any dissatisfaction with her lot in life, Roger did wonder.

Moving beside her, Roger watched as the frolicking pair became no more than tiny dots in the distance, “Amazing, isn’t it?” He remarked, startling the preoccupied woman. “A month ago we didn’t even think she had a wolf – and now this.”

Cora shook her head, “I can’t even wrap my head around it. I’ve known Ella my whole life… and she’s always been different, but I thought that was just… Ella being Ella.”

“What do you mean?” Roger inquired curious now.

Her mouth stretches into a wry smile. “I don’t need to tell you what it’s like growing up in someone’s shadow.” She murmured after a thoughtful beat. “And don’t get me wrong, Ella made incredible sacrifices for me, she cared for me through thick and thin. But I’d be lying if I said I never resented her for being so much better at everything, for being strong or brave enough to face the things I couldn’t.” Cora paused, clamping her eyes shut for a moment with obvious regret. “I’m not proud of it but sometimes I even blamed her for protecting me rather than letting me suffer – how’s that for ungrateful?”

your own battles.” He empathized, catching her gaze, “and just because

watched her so intently? As if they were looking straight through her to the very core of her being? Roger’s wolf perked up when he sensed a spark of interest in

one more time before turning away and encouraging Cora

Cora chuckled, wondering why she’d followed the man’s movements so naturally. “And the funny thing is that the wolf isn’t even the strangest part – it’s how

Cora towards an ice cream parlor with

was sure he was seeing some now, some past darkness that hung over the sisters even in their happiest moments. “I always knew our lives… the way we grew up… took a toll on Ella, but she’s always kept it bottled up.

mate keeping him at a distance or facing her troubles alone. “I knew all that, but I didn’t realize how it weighed her down… trapped her. The Ella I grew up with wasn’t playful or free-spirited. She was brave, defiant and darkly funny at times, but this Ella? The one who throws off her humanity in the street and goes running off into the sunset to play, even though the world

the doorway of the parlor, and Roger studied Cora closely, trying to read between the lines of her words. “Do you feel guilty? That you

mate in order to feel safe coming out of her shell. That’s

slyly, guiding her to the service counter. “What would it take to

in surprise. “What makes you think

pink at the

exactly easy.” Cora hedged. “I’m on the run

“So?

love.” Cora reminded him. “Dreams she never

growing more and more predatory by the moment. He wasn’t sure what it was about this human, but the more she spoke the more intriguing he found her. The more he wanted to push her buttons, just to

ordered, and Roger followed Cora to a table out front, keeping his father and Gabriel in his periphery. The old Alpha and the King were in deep conversation, and though Roger felt he might be slacking off his pack duties, he simply couldn’t drag