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. *

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

your mate.”

and Roger’s blush deepens, but he looks up at both

know that he doesn’t mean

turns to me then. “You wish to know?”

eager.

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

Your child is

in relief. I mean we suspected that, but to hear it from a Goddess’ lips…. Roger beams a wide smile at me and reaches out to take my hand. I slide my hand into his,

to palm.

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

baby is like you,” my mother says, turning her head to

–

glancing at Roger, who is unable to keep the crestfallen expression from his face. And in my disappointment I realize that we were both hoping very much that our child would be a wolf. Not that I would mind raising a normal human baby – but for him, for

place in our family…

laughs again, snapping our

says, 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

heart starts to pound again as she

still looking up, “might be hybrid?

and Roger looks between us both,

lean forward in my curiosity. “But you said – like

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

open suddenly as I stare

laugh not in a cruel way but in the

ask, my voice hardly louder than

are human, Cora,” my mother says, leaning forward to make sure I understand.

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

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

quietly. “Can you not

I stare at her,

long moment

and then closing my eyes and searching…searching

But it’s nowhere.