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.

“I chose

the ship?” I

bow looking out at the desert – honestly, a little pissed off at being left

I hear this, but I don’t

that I was just crazy or drunk I mean, the captain gave me a little of his whiskey when he saw how upset

squeeze his hands a little, begging him to focus, and he looks at

his voice faltering a little, looking down

I ask, a little breathless, but some part of

still a little startled by the experience. “Your mother, Cora. Except…at the time,

me, but she had only spoken to Ella beyond a brief introduction that Ella insisted on giving us. And at

my mother too? And that she only spoke to Ella in the temple, and

little through my nose, disappointed. Why does she want

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

I ask, pushing past

form,” he says, “like she did in the temple. Instead, it was just…a vision of sorts, more like the baptism but…not quite.” He shakes his head

it’s okay. That he can tell me. So Roger turns back to 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 that we were in a war

on nothing else but his

to phrase it – because it wasn’t precisely words – but that for the future of the world, I had to focus on

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

then I lean forward, finally getting it. “Oh, so

could have kids, Cora…” he whispers, clutching my hands tightly. “And it fucking broke my heart to do it because I loved you

при

7

to me I didn’t even care about kids – didn’t even really want

–

dying to

I say again, my

to be.

me, pausing to ensure that I hear him, “and I can’t wait to build a family with

–

likewise unsure if I wanted

else I wanted in the world.

“because you thought…my mom

–

goddess tells you to do something you feel compelled to do it – and I thought