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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2023

never been on a vacation like this

I can barely

door to the living compartment of the RV and

a little metal platform that lowers itself

wheel onto it.

Sinclair’s side. “Is it nice? Are there enough beds? Is there a kitchen? How

his head as Henry maneuvers himself onto the lift. “Just go in, Ella,” he says, nodding towards the

surprised.”

steps and gasping with excitement again as I look around. It’s absolutely gorgeous inside, and everything is so

wow,” Cora says, her eyes as wide as mine as she climbs in after me. “This

comes after that, the adorable, cleverly designed bathroom that makes the most of the minimal space allotted to it. But I really

his carrier and groaning as I sit down with him on the bed which is as

me from the doorway. “What

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

she says,

and then I groan as I remember Sinclair’s promise to her – a

in the doorway behind Cora. “The couches transform – one into a queen for me and you, and the other into a twin,

“Can I sleep in here. with Cora and Roger? I won’t take up much space you can take the baby

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 fingers at me when he straightens

23

2023

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

then, glaring at her for playing the

huff my way back to the

bed better be comfortable,” I say to my mate as

he says, following me back into the main living area of

Cora a moment

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

someone in

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

big smile. “How long do

To the temple?”

get there sometime tomorrow,” Henry calls

agreement.

say with surprise. “So where

It’s part of the adventure, and part of staying anonymous.

be staying.”

you think,” I say, glancing out the windows. “That