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

་་

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.

he says, grinning at me. “I chose solitude. Or at least…I thought I

there someone on the ship?” I ask, curious.

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 frankly nowhere I wanted to be except at your side

I hear this, but I don’t

grow…brighter and brighter. And at first I thought that I was just crazy or drunk I mean, the captain gave me a little of his whiskey when he

a little, begging him to focus, and he looks at me again and

suddenly,” he says, his voice faltering a little, looking down at our joined hands, “she

ask, a little breathless, but some

eyes wide and still a little startled by the experience. “Your mother,

steady but honestly…some part of me is a little jealous. We all met the goddess that night in the temple with Ella – Roger met her, and me, but she had only spoken to Ella beyond a brief introduction that Ella insisted on giving

only spoke to Ella

through my nose, disappointed. Why does she want

know,” Roger murmurs, reaching forward and brushing my cheek with his thumb. “It’s half of why I didn’t want to tell you, Cora,” he continues, his face all sympathy.

do?” I ask, pushing past my jealousy and truly wanting to know.

the temple. Instead, it was just…a vision of sorts, more like the baptism but…not quite.” He shakes his head a little, at a loss to

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

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,

nod, understanding, concentrating on nothing

know how to phrase it – because it wasn’t precisely words – but

mate, and having children, and being a dad, and raising my

I lean forward, finally getting it. “Oh, so you stopped

hands tightly. “And it fucking broke my heart to do

при

7

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

–

it was always Dominic who was dying to be

say again, my eyes going

told me to be. I want –” He pauses He pauses his confused language for a moment and steadies himself,

Cora” he tells me, pausing to ensure that I hear him, “and I can’t wait to build a family with you.”

–

do. I really get it. Honestly, I’m kind of in the same boat – I was likewise unsure

nothing else I wanted in

me,” I whisper, “because you thought…my mom told you to.”

–

Roger murmurs, his eyes going wide as he again runs his hand through his hair. “I was totally freaked out I didn’t want to, but when a goddess tells you to do something you feel compelled to do it – and I thought she was telling me to run from