Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Chapter 338 – Choices

Cora

“It’s all right,” Roger says, his eyes going wide as he takes in my pale face, my scared expression and realizes that he’s freaked me out for the third or fourth time today. “It’s not – it’s not bad, I was just kind of a dick – it was a misunderstanding –”

“What?” I ask, more confused now than ever.

–

“Listen,” he says, leaning in towards me. “Just let me tell you, all right? II was going to tell you at some point, definitely not like this but…” he sighs, looking into my face and then down at my stomach, and then back up into my eyes. “I think that… if we’re going to start on this new part

–

–

of our lives – this parent thing – well,” he says, giving me a charming little half–smile and a

shrug. “We should be on the same page, right?”

I nod, agreeing, but looking at him a little askance. “Did you not think that we should…go into our mating? On the same page?”

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “It’s a little different, Cora – because it didn’t matter – I didn’t think we could have kids

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I frown at him – not mad or angry, but confused…

“Listen, let me just tell it,” he says, leaning forward and looking at me with pleading eyes.

“Okay,” I say, quite simply, taking his hands and leaning even closer to press a kiss to his mouthr letting him know that I’m listening with an open heart.

“Okay,” Roger says again, taking a deep breath before he begins. “Do you remember… when you and Ella went into the desert with her mother, Regina?”

“Reina,” I correct softly, and he laughs.

“Right,” he says, shaking his head. “Those names are so easy to mix up. Anyway – you three were out on your girls trip, and my choice was either to hang out with those priests in the temple, or go back on to the ship all alone.”

Ismirk at him, knowing precisely which one he chose. He sees my smile and laughs a little.

me. “I chose solitude. Or at least…I thought I

someone on the ship?” I ask,

precisely,” he replies. “I was standing at the bow looking out at the desert – honestly, a little pissed off at being left behind. Sinclair sent me to protect Ella, and there’s

smile when I hear this, but I don’t

to grow…brighter and brighter. And at first I thought that I was just

begging him to focus, and

he says, his voice faltering a little, looking down

but some part of me knowing

by the experience.

in the temple with Ella – Roger met her, and me, but she had only spoken

to Ella in the temple, and then went to Roger

little through my nose, disappointed. Why does she want

why I didn’t

she do?” I ask, pushing past my jealousy and

sighs, looking off into the distance a little as he continues his story. “She didn’t come in her bodily form,” he says, “like she did in the temple. Instead, it was just…a vision of sorts, more like the baptism but…not

again, letting him know that it’s okay. That he can tell me. So Roger

me,” he says, “that I was chasing the wrong destiny. That my future was not in war and politics, as my brother’s was – and you have to realize, that that was devastating to hear at the time, considering

concentrating on nothing

it – because

having children, and being a dad, and raising my kids well

surprise. And then I lean forward, finally getting it.

he whispers, clutching my hands tightly. “And it fucking broke my heart to do it because I loved you I was obsessed with you, you know that

при

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didn’t even care about kids – didn’t even really

–

was dying to be a dad, not

I say again, my eyes

it all up, Cora – I’m thrilled that you’re pregnant, and not just because the goddess told me to be. I want –” He pauses He pauses his confused language for a moment and steadies himself, choosing his next words carefully

much want this child, Cora” he tells me, pausing to ensure that I hear him, “and I can’t

–

kind of in the same boat – I was likewise unsure if I wanted kids. But the moment I really understood that this

wanted in

I whisper, “because you thought…my mom

–

to, but when a goddess tells you to do something you feel compelled to do it – and I thought