Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Ella

“So you two,” Cora says, flicking her gaze between Roger and Sinclair, ” you’re all right now? After fifteen minutes, it’s all cleared up?”

Sinclair shrugs. “We kept it pretty cut and dry. He’s on probation.”

“No, I’m not,” Roger murmurs, dismissive, shaking his head to Cora.

“He is,” Sinclair growls. Roger just leans down, pretending to whisper in Cora’s ear but speaking loud enough for all of us to hear, “probation doesn’t mean anything. But it made him happy to slap a word on the lack of consequences.”

Cora laughs, her face turned up to her mate, and I bite my lip to stifle my own giggle, wanting to be loyal to Sinclair, who just sighs behind me.

“Either way,” Sinclair says, moving on. “Congratulations, Cora,” he says, his focus on her now and his voice sincere. “I’m very happy for you – for both of you. It’s a big event.”

“Thank you, Dominic,” Cora says, smiling at him softly and turning her head to the side, clearly touched. I beam at my sister as well. It’s not that I’ve let her off the hook for keeping the baby name a secret when I want to know so terribly badly – but? Well. I’ll bug her about it later.

“We are sorry though,” Cora says, reaching up to take Roger’s hand. “I know that…the wedding meant a lot to you, and that it was going to do good things for the nation. But…” she bites her lip, hesitating, and I can tell that she feels selfish. I open my mouth to protest against this but she continues before I can start. “But – I needed it to be like this, to be personal. I hope that you’ll forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Cora,” Sinclair murmurs, smiling at her warmly. “I completely understand you’ve done nothing wrong.”

And quite suddenly, something comes to me. “Cora,” I say, turning my head to the side and leaning forward. “Does.. anyone else know? About your mark, or your little personal ceremony, besides us four?”

She frowns at me, confused. “Well, no,” she says quietly. “I mean, neither of us really have social media or anything -”

“Or any friends,” Roger murmurs, a little chagrined, which makes me laugh. They don’t need friends, they have us!

I say, a big smile breaking out on my face. “Would you consider…doing

“What?” Cora asks, confused.

smile growing – because this could work! “Why not just have the wedding/ mating ceremony publicly, like

she says, surprised, and then she starts to laugh, I think a little inspired by the idea. But then she realizes that she already has

cover it up,” I suggest with a little shrug. ” I’m sure they can do it – they do magical things in

clearly communicating that it’s her choice. And then she grins, turning back to me. “Really?” she says, “You think it would work?

Cora,” Sinclair says warmly behind me. “I think it’s precisely the message we want to send to both our people and some of our honored guests: that humans are equals in our eyes, that they’re part of our family. But, if you’d rather not – if you’d rather just keep the

smile on her face. “No, I want to do it – I think…it will be

Roger murmurs, drawing a finger down the opposite side of her throat and shoulder. “See if I

had nearly enough of Roger, and I doubt she ever will. I hug my baby

throw

care of the baby and begin to make my

him and I’m happy he gets to sleep an extra

discerning business man I met at the beginning of all of this. In some ways I lost track of that man I

if it is a palace now )? I see flashes of him come back. And it’s not that he’s lost the sides of him that he’s shown to me over the past months but…well, he’s just more complex now,

possible, I love him even

and the packs to demonstrate their support by paying fealty at the coronation. It’s all gone smoothly, as Sinclair predicted it would, and so we’ve moved forward with the plans. Delegations from all the

about the delegation from Vanara including King Gabriel – but I’m also very curious to meet our

is that the Atalaxians have indeed signaled their intent to attend, and they’re

and Jessica, usually in the evenings, bringing Rafe with me to chat and play. They’re thriving now, and I think that they’re happy and excited about the future that they’re building for themselves

and that they’re sending a delegation. It’s not that I’m keeping it from them – if they asked, I’d tell them in a minute, of course. But they’re safe here, and moving forward, and I don’t want Sarah to

it off, and she keeps not asking so…we’re at a happy

the Atalaxians be like?” I ask Sinclair one night, laying naked with my belly pressed to

down my back. “I do my best work,