Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

#Chapter 272 – The Baby in the Forest

Ella

Sinclair and I both gasp at the same moment, and my eyes fly open, finding his. We are both frozen in place, but then another cry sounds and we are instantly in motion, bolting through the forest, searching for our son.

“Rafe!” I cry, my voice desperate as Sinclair pulls ahead of me on his long legs. “Rafe, baby! We’re coming!”

Rafe’s cries are louder now, more solid, the sound of a real baby crying real tears. And then

suddenly something catches my vision out of the corner of my eye and I skid to a stop, turning left while Sinclair continues ahead.

And suddenly, I see –

A bassinet, of all things, sitting alone in the middle of the forest. And in it, I know, is my baby.” Dominic!” I call, wanting him back, wanting him at my side, but I don’t wait. Instead, I hurry to the side of the white basket, gripping the edge of it in my hands as I pull myself closer to it, desperately looking inside –

And then.

There he is.

My baby boy, my pup, my child–looking exactly as I knew he would be – not how I imagined he would look, but how I knew he would be.

I am breathless, wordless, as I reach for my child, who mews quietly with discontent in his little bed, swaddled in a clean white blanket. Slowly, softly, I left him into my arms, just staring at him as I hear heavy footsteps pounding behind me.

“Ell-“I hear Sinclair start, but then, as I turn, he forgets the rest of the word. He stutters to a stop, his mouth falling open as he takes in the sight of us – both of us – mother and child. But I barely spare him a glance, returning my gaze to my infant son.

“Hey, baby,” I murmur, my throat choked with my joy and my tears. “Hey, baby Rafe. We’ve been looking for you.” Slowly, I begin to rock and bounce him, soothing him, letting him feel me holding him against me, letting him know that I’m here, and I’m so sorry, and how I love him with the entirety of my being.

I hear Sinclair take a few steps closer and I tilt the still–crying baby towards him, letting my mate have a look at his son. I look up into Sinclair’s face as I hear him choke. I’m a little shocked – but honestly, not surprised – when I see tears streaking down his face.

“Hey, kid,” he starts, his voice wavering, his hand shaking a little as he reaches out his giant mitt to touch him. But before he can lay a finger on him, I see Sinclair hesitate, pulling his hand back.

I ask, laughing

little boy’s perfect porcelain skin, his little

laughter shakes the baby a little, causing him to fuss and hiccough as I

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Dominic reaches out just the tip of his finger and brushes it against Rafe’s perfect little

murmurs, and I can hear his heart in this throat. “We’re so excited for you.

for a moment, unable to tear my eyes from him, but then I look up at Sinclair and fall in love with him all over again, seeing the hope and the joy and the wholeness in

towards him. “Do you

me with startled eyes and shakes his head. “Ella – he’s so

to put this little baby down, I want to hold him just like this forever. Instead, Sinclair takes a step closer to me and wraps his arms around both of us, encircling us with

his grey little infant eyes that I know will someday turn

to be so big and strong,” I whisper

can’t wait to watch you

to be strong, buddy,” Sinclair whispers, his voice catching. “Just hold on. Your mama’s

to endure. No wonder he had been hiding, had shrunk away from me and the horrors of this world. “It will be different now – it will be safe, and good – you’re my only job now.

little hand, which has just popped out from its swaddling. “Just…hold on.” And as we watch, Rafe’s little hand uncurls and wraps around his father’s giant

my face as I look between them, the two men who are the world to me. But even as I watch, I feel the dream

out of time,” I say to Sinclair, holding my baby

1. go.

well that there’s no reason to fight it. All dreams come to an end, even perfect ones like this. Hurriedly, he turns my face to his, pressing a kiss to my mouth. I savor it, the perfect contours of his lips which fit so perfectly to mine. He pulls

almost glaring into mine. “You come back to

will,” I promise. “I’m coming back to

to say something else, but before he can, the dream

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Sinclair

of the dream ringing through

But…

she’s just laying still, breathing those same shallow breaths, her pulse a slow