Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Cora

My heart is pounding as I follow my mother into the chamber beyond, as Roger shuts the door behind us. My mother crosses the room with ease almost seeming to float. And then I blink in surprise as I realize that…she probably is floating. I mean, she’s here she’s corporeal – but it’s all a show, isn’t it? She doesn’t need to walk on her feet if she doesn’t want to.

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And something about that idea makes me laugh a little, easing my tension. My mother turns when she hears the sound of my laugher and smiles at me, at both of us, before sitting down. before a tiny table with a tray of tea on it.

Roger and I cross the short room together, sitting down across from her. Thoughtfully, Roger pours two cups of tea, which is hot and smells minty and fresh. Then, hesitating at the sight of the third cup, he raises an eyebrow at my mother.

She laughs a little too, and I’m shocked to hear that her laugh sounds just like my own the same rhythm, the same cadence. Something about that makes me smile.

“Yes, Roger,” she says, nodding towards it. “I can’t drink the tea but it is nice to have an offering.

of it.”

Nodding, Roger pours the cup of tea for the Goddess and slides it across the table towards her.

Then he places a sugar cube in my teacup – knowing I’ll want it – and sits back in his chair, folding his hands in his lap.

“You’ve had a long journey, Cora,” my mother says, looking at me warmly. “In more ways than

one.”

“Yes,” I reply, smiling at the understatement in her words. And then I look down at my stomach. and place my hands on it, shaking my head. “A journey that has raised…a lot of questions for us.”

“I understand,” she says. “It will bring me a great deal of joy to help you answer those questions,

if I can ”

“How much do you know?” I ask, looking back up at her, wondering if I need like, do I need to tell her that I’m pregnant? Or…

“I know everything,” she says, smiling at us. “Your lives are open to me. As well as your hearts. I’m very pleased that you have found each other, little mates,” she says, and I grin to hear her use Roger’s pet term for me as if she’s heard it before Then she turns to smile at Roger, Though I’d

have preferred to see it happen sooner. I believe it would have saved you both a great deal of pain”

Roger, to his credit, blushes and looks down “Cora’s the smart one,” he sighs, glancing at me You should have sent her the visits. *

worry about,” the Goddess says easily. “You can’t

your mate.”

blush deepens, but he looks up at both of us

and we both know that he

to me then. “You wish to

leaning forward, eager. “Do you

Cora,” my mother says, looking down at my stomach. “I can

now. Your child is

we suspected that, but to hear it from a Goddess’ lips…. Roger beams a wide smile at me

to palm.

my baby a wolf?” I ask, turning back to my

my mother says,

–

And in my disappointment I realize that we were both hoping very much that our child would be

place in our family…

mother laughs again, snapping our attention

smiling and shaking her head. “You misunderstand me. What I mean to say here is that…hmm,” she looks up at the ceiling as if thinking it through. “It

pound again as she sorts through her

for it,” she continues, still looking up, “might be

Roger looks between

ask, dropping Roger’s hand as I lean forward in my curiosity. “But you said –

my face “Lovely Cora,” she says, a smile spreading across

suddenly as I stare at her, trying trying

about my confusion makes her laugh not in a cruel way but in the

do you mean?” I ask, my voice hardly louder

Cora,” my mother says, leaning forward to make sure

– your father was a human. But your mother – I am

among other things.” She smiles at me as I begin to understand. “Your soul

quietly.

I stare at her,

for a long moment before

myself, and then closing

But it’s nowhere.