Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Cora

“What?” I ask, laughing a little, thinking that he’s kidding. “What are you talking about?”

“Go see your mom,” Roger continues, giving a little shrug. “Like we did with Ella, in the desert. Honestly, I think it was kind of rude of your mom at that moment to focus all on Ella and pretend that she wasn’t your mom too

“Roger,” I sigh, shaking my head. “You can’t call a goddess rude. We were on a mission and honestly, Ella went there to speak with her mother. I didn’t know – and I wasn’t ready. She’s a goddess you have to assume that she does things on her own time. For her own reasons.”

“I don’t know why you’re being so nice about it,” Roger growls, a little perturbed. “If I were you I’d be mad.”

“Yes, baby,” I murmur, “but you’re always mad.” This earns a little laugh from him, but I continue after a moment. “It’s hard to explain it,” I say quietly. “But when I held the gift – when I gave it to the world…Roger, I felt her love for me then. It was very rich and very real. She doesn’t love Ella more than she loves me. She’s just waiting for me to be ready.”

“Well?” he asks, nudging me with his nose. “Are you ready?”

I laugh a little, again thinking that he’s not serious.

“Really, Cora,” Roger urges, pulling back a little. “I think we should do it. We have all of these questions – about you, about the baby, about her and her plans for you. Why not? When this is all cleaned up when we have a minute to spare, let’s go on a little pilgrimage to one of your mother’s temples, like we did when we went to go find Reina. Let’s go…have a chat.”

I stop laughing when I consider it – consider if I want it.

“Plus,” he adds, tracing a finger over the soft skin between my shoulder and neck. “We can ask what will happen if I give you my mark. Because my damn wolf won’t shut up about it.”

I laugh, pleased. “What does he say?”

it, considering that

just having dinner – like I’m going to jump across the table and grab you or something. Or when you’re just walking down the

I gasp, laughing. Roger do not bite me

won’t,” he growls, shaking his head. “But it’s seriously annoying – he wants you to have it.” And then his voice

my stomach and I think about the baby and all the things we need to know. “All right,” I whisper. “We’ll do it. When we’re able to get back to a more normal life, when this is all fixed? We’ll

the screws to her,” Roger murmurs, and I can feel his smirk. “Ask her what the hell is going on with this mark, and this crazy hybrid baby. And why those priests were following you as well as Ella

laugh, shaking my head. “Honestly, Roger only you would

little territorial but also a little kidding, “has to

murmur, patting him on

puppy again,” he warns, shifting his body again so that he looms

cooing mockingly. ” Lil puppy

presses his lips

Ella

we part ways so that he can get himself and his troops ready and I can go back to the medical room to continue healing. I’m on my way there, Rafe’s little carrier in my hands, when I spy Cora in the kitchen making a cup of tea. And suddenly, that’s precisely what I

up

a little smile. And, sensing something,

say, my face breaking into a wide grin.

giving me a little push. “Ew, Ella! If you can smell that on me, please do us

carrier a little in an attempt to lull him to sleep – it’s time for him to take a nap, and he’s almost

smile on her face, “please remember that your sister is human and not

but letting it drop. She laughs along with me, shaking her head as she pours boiling water into two mugs. Then she stirs a tea bag into each and turns to

looking me