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?”

I laugh harder now to hear it, considering that it must be difficult having a wolf interrupting

the most frustrating times,” Roger continues. “Like when we’re 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 hall and I

I gasp, laughing. Roger do not

And then his voice shifts a little in tone. “I

my hand goes to my stomach and I think about the baby and all the things we

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

well, let’s not go that far,” I laugh, shaking my head. “Honestly, Roger only you would have the idea to ‘put the screws’ to

he growls, a little territorial but also a little kidding, “has to go through

puppy,” I murmur, patting him on the head and smiling. “Calm

my hand away. “Call me puppy again,” he warns, shifting his body again so that he looms

I say, cooing mockingly. ” Lil puppy get mad? Not like his new

growls again, snapping his teeth at me, and then he presses his lips to mine in a fierce kiss,

Ella

and I take an hour or two alone with Rafe, 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

Rafe’s carrier up onto

smile. And, sensing something, I lean closer to her, sniffing the air

into a wide

shocked, and then she bursts out laughing before giving me a little push. “Ew, Ella! If you can smell that on me, please do us

say, leaning on the counter and rocking Rafe’s carrier a little in an attempt to lull him to sleep – it’s time for him to take a nap, and he’s almost there, I can tell. “I’m glad you and Roger are

she sighs, but I can still see a smile on her face, “please remember that your sister is human

shaking her head as she pours boiling water

are you feeling?” she asks, looking me up and down. “Nervous about