Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

I gasp a few hours later when I see the gigantic RV that rolls up out front of the clinic.

“Seriously?” Hanks says, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at it, somewhere between

impressed and revolted by the extravagance. “The gas mileage on that thing must be horrible -”

“Ohhh,” I say, laughing and swatting him on the arm with one hand, the other holding Rafe’s carrier where he’s already bundled and ready. “Don’t spoil my fun, Hank – you’re just jealous

because you’re not coming.”

“Yes,” Hank murmurs, giving me a good-natured side eye. “Yes, there’s absolutely nothing I want more in the world than to be cooped up in a tin can with Roger and Cora for forty-eight hours.

You’re right.”

I laugh when I consider this point, stepping closer to Hank and wrapping him in a one-armed hug that he’d probably rather avoid. But we’ve grown a lot closer in the past few days, working

–

together, and well? If he’s going to be my friend, then he’s going to have to get used to a great

deal of affection.

“You’ll be all right here when we’re gone?” I ask, pulling away.

“Ah, don’t worry about me,” Hank says with a little smirk and a shrug. “You guys have bigger

things on your plate.”

“When I come back,” I say, looking at him seriously now, hoping he understands how much he means to me to all of us. “We’re going to do big things, okay? Help a lot of people. With the gift,

and with your skills.”

“That’s all I want, Ella,” Hank says seriously, giving me a nod and a little smile that’s likely the most emotion I’m going to see from him anytime soon. But then his eyes drift to Cora and Roger who come through the door of the clinic and I know…well, I know that what Hank says about this being all he wants is a little bit of a lie. And my heart aches for him because I know now, for sure, that he’ll never get it.

I purse my lips a little, trying not to let him see me pity him. But he catches me in the act.

“Don’t,” Hank sighs, shaking his head at me. “I’m good, Ella I really am.”

“I know,” I say, putting a hand out to his shoulder. He gives me a sad little smirk before turning back into the clinic intent, clearly on busying his mind so that he doesn’t have to think about her Cora and Roger call brief goodbyes to Hank before coming to my side to admire the RV

“It’s huge,” Cora says, her eyes wide

“It’s not so big,” Roger says ich & shrug But Cora and I both all our eyes at him as Sinclan parks

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never been on a vacation like this

I can barely

the

that lowers itself to the ground

wheel onto it.

taking Cora’s hand and pulling her with me to Sinclair’s side. “Is it nice? Are there enough beds? Is there a kitchen? How do

at me, shaking his head as Henry maneuvers himself onto the lift. “Just go in, Ella,” he says, nodding towards the door with the short flight

surprised.”

as my mate suggests, hurrying up the steps and gasping with excitement again as I look around. It’s absolutely

as mine as

sister comes with me as we wander around the space, admiring the gorgeous kitchenette with its white leather table space, the little living area that comes after that, the adorable, cleverly designed bathroom that makes the most of the minimal space allotted to it. But I really gasp when I see the bedroom tucked away

I say, quickly unbuckling Rafe from his carrier and groaning as I sit down with him

me from the doorway. “What

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

she says, her wicked

to her – a big bed for her and Roger. “Well then where

behind Cora. “The couches transform – one into a

in here.

chance in hell,” Roger declares, pushing past Sinclair into the room with little travel bags filled with his and Cora’s stuff which isn’t much, considering we haven’t had access to any of our possession since we left the bunker. Roger places the bags on the ground and snaps his

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2023

the mischief out of her eyes even though she pretends she’s serious. “I’m pregnant. I need my

glaring at her for playing the

laugh as I huff my way

bed better be comfortable,” I say to my

he says, following me back into the

a moment

already settled himself at the front of the RV, locking his chair into a space where the passenger seat should be. He gives me a little wave before turning back to a set of maps. I take a moment to admire the ingenuity of

for someone

two ready?” Sinclair says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and looking down at Rafe, still in my arms and looking happily around at all of the

him a big smile. “How long do you think it will take

To the temple?”

sometime tomorrow,” Henry calls over his shoulder

agreement.

surprise. “So where

somewhere,” Sinclair says with a shrug. “We have to see how far we get. It’s part of the adventure, and part of staying

be staying.”

I say, glancing out the windows. “That we’ll be