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!

smile breaking out on my face. “Would you

“What?” Cora asks, confused.

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

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

shrug. ” I’m sure they can do it – they do magical things in the

then she grins, turning back to me. “Really?” she says, “You think it would work? And – and

would, 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

face. “No, I want to

mark this side this time,” Roger murmurs, drawing a finger down the opposite

and swats his hand away. ” Enough of you,” she murmurs, though I know she doesn’t mean it. Cora hasn’t had nearly enough of Roger, and I doubt she ever will. I hug my baby

to throw them a

of the baby and begin to make my plans. He scolds me for it every morning, telling me I need my sleep or that I should wake him up to help but every morning I brush him

feel the same way about him and I’m happy he gets to sleep an

brooding, discerning business man I met at the beginning of all of this. In some ways

resemble what it looked like before? Steady days, routines, living in our own home (even 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

all possible, I love him even more than I

formal claim for the throne a few days ago, and no one contested it. Now all that’s left is for the governors to ratify the claim, and the packs to demonstrate their support by paying fealty at the coronation. It’s all gone smoothly,

delegation from Vanara including King Gabriel – but I’m

about predictably is that the Atalaxians have indeed signaled their

every day with Sarah 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

a delegation. It’s not that I’m keeping it from them – if they asked, I’d tell them in a

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

do you think the Atalaxians be like?” I ask Sinclair one night, laying naked with my

murmurs, tracing a lazy hand down my back. “I do my best work, and you want to