Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Ella

I can’t help it, not at all. I burst immediately into tears. The crowd, when they realize what’s going on and when I think they see my over-emotional reaction to it – begin to again shout their approval. Sinclair laughs when he sees me crying, shaking his head at me as he returns to my side with the little crown in his hands.

“Well, if you didn’t want me to cry!” I say, stamping my foot lightly, “you should have told me!”

“Nah,” Sinclair says, smiling at me, his voice soft but somehow still audible over the cheers of the crowd. “This is way better. It was worth it to see your face.”

“Okay well,” I say in a rush, wiping hastily at my cheeks before raising Rafe a little so that he’s sitting straight up in my arms, looking up at his father with a happy smile. “Get on with it! I want to see how he looks!”

Sinclair laughs at me, shaking his head, and the crowd quiets, eager to hear what their King will say.

“Rafe Sinclair,” my mate says, looking seriously at his son. But Rafe frowns and waves his hands at him, confused by the seriousness of his voice, which makes Sinclair instantly laugh and have to start over.

The crowd laughs along with us, pleased, I think, to see their serious King look so human, to see how much he loves his son.

“Rafe Sinclair,” my mate tries again, his voice lighter this time, and Rafe lets out a little squeal of joy that threatens to make me cry again. Sinclair grins, leaning over a little. “I crown you as my Prince and my heir, to ascend to this throne when it is your time to rule. I promise to raise you to understand this responsibility, to grow to be a good man, and to deserve it.”

And then, when I think my heart will burst with love, Sinclair gently places the little crown on Rafe’s tiny head.

I watch eagerly to see what Rafe will do and then I burst into laugher when he reaches his pudgy hands up touching it experimentally, trying to get a grip on it so he can pull it off.

bursts into cheers, charmed – I know – by their little

true. I lose myself to the

I know Sinclair has his arm wrapped around my shoulders, and he’s leading me back down the aisle, and

private little room at the front of the great hall, and

only look up at my mate,

love you, little Queen,” he murmurs, an arm around my waist pulling me close, Rafe snuggled between us. Sinclair uses his other hand to tilt my chin up towards him.

later,” I murmur,

he asks, quirking an

I say quietly, wanting to keep it between us, “that I promised to show you what I look like in

head, and he kisses me. And I stand on my toes and kiss him

of our citizens are celebrating out

invited to celebrate with us, along with many of our most honored

I’m nearly overwhelmed by all of the guests and the attention. Sinclair and I spend hours turning to each new person who comes forward to greet us, to congratulate us,

still packed with people, and our job isn’t nearly done, so I squeeze Sinclair’s hand, and kiss Rafe’s

to see little Benny from the human refugee camp rushing towards me at the head

my enthusiasm this time as I crouch down

a week ago encouraging some caretakers and children to attend, but I hadn’t received any word back. I look over Benny’s head

Queen,” Benny says, frowning up at my crown after he pulls

my nose at him.

crown curiously. Then he turns to look at Rafe, who is dozing a little, his own little crown still perched on his head.