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

023

2023

been on a vacation like this with a whole fancy vehicle reserved just for

incredibly excited I can

Sinclair asks, opening the door to the

little metal platform that lowers itself

wheel onto it.

side. “Is it nice? Are there enough beds? Is there a kitchen?

the lift. “Just go in, Ella,” he says, nodding towards the door with the short flight of stairs. “Explore. Let yourself

surprised.”

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

as wide as mine as she climbs in

the adorable, cleverly designed bathroom that makes the most of

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

me from the doorway. “What

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

says, her wicked smirk

remember Sinclair’s promise to her – a

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

tossing my head back and settling deeper into the pillows. “Can I sleep in here. with Cora and Roger? I won’t take up much space you can take the

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 fingers

23

2023

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

sigh then, glaring at her for

as I huff my way back to

comfortable,” I say to my mate as I pass

says, following me back into the main living area of the RV and

a moment

gives me a little wave before turning back to a set of maps. I take a moment to admire the ingenuity of the vehicle and how

someone

at Rafe, still

smile. “How long do you think it

To the temple?”

calls over

agreement.

surprise. “So where will we

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

be staying.”

glancing out the windows. “That we’ll