Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Ella

Dawn lights the horizon when the door creeks open and Sinclair comes back into the room. My eyes go immediately to him from my place sitting up in bed where I’ve spent way, way too many hours alone gazing down at my little baby.

Sinclair pushes the broken door shut and sighs before he raises his eyes to mine. “I’m sorry,” he says, his voice thick with guilt.

“You’d damn well better be,” I murmur to him, because honestly? I’m pissed.

He moves closer to me now and I can see that he’s absolutely exhausted, but my eyes rove over him, looking for blood. Because if he killed Calvin, surely there would be –

“I didn’t kill anyone,” he murmurs with a sigh as he sinks onto the bed next to me, burying his head in his hands. “Though I wanted to, and I would have.”

“He didn’t do anything, Dominic,” I say, my voice determined.

“He did, Ella,” Sinclair snaps, glaring at me. “I get that we’re in uncharted territory here with the possibility of both of us having two fated mates, but honestly? It’s not like there isn’t some precedent. If a couple are chosen mates and one of them meets their fated mate? There’s a protocol to be followed.”

I pause for a moment, a little shocked. “Really?” I ask, curious. “What is it?”

“Well it’s damn well not keep it a secret from everyone and take her out on a romantic date where you touch her face -”

And I can’t help myself from laughing a little at this, a dark, angry little laugh.

He turns to glare at me but I just shake my head. “Dominic, if the man thinks that he’s my fated mate and all he does is touch my face – is that honestly a crime worth his death?”

“Yes,” he growls, completely sincere, “when it’s my mate it sure as hell is.”

“Did you find him?” I ask, because I have a lot I want to say to this man, but I need the details first.

“I did not,” he murmurs.

“Did you try?” I ask, pushing him.

yes,” he confesses. “And then I came to my senses and realized that I cannot kill an Atalaxian

realized that you

“I was not overreacting

minutes in,” I continue, ignoring him, letting my sharp tone let him know precisely how I feel about this. “And then you just…stayed out all night? And left me here, all alone, even though you

and I see his shoulders slump with guilt. “That’s why I

because you

“He is very lucky I didn’t find

as I realize that

do all this

went to Conner and…kind of

“What!?”

could smell him on you,” he growls, and I groan

“Was he there?”

nods. “I…owe him an apology too. I frightened him, but I just… confirmed the details you

you think

a glare. “I just worried that you missed something, Ella

a little, unhappy, but I nod. “Then what did you do with the hours you

continues, turning to look at me, “I do regret leaving you here all alone. I honestly don’t know how I could have stayed, Ella – I’m not…I wasn’t strong enough of a man

because – I mean, because I know we’re going to get through this, and I understand that he was completely overwhelmed by the idea that I might have another mate, that

baffled, and so confused, and I needed him to hold me and talk

“For me, for your children,” I shrug, looking down at sleeping Rafe. “Because this isn’t going to be the only challenge we face, and your only solution can’t be to shift into your wolf and go out to murder the world

he nods, because he

clenching my teeth against my own instinct to comfort him. When

done?” I

turns to me,

we finally have the conversation that we should have had hours ago? Because I have just been sitting here,

it, even though I tried to be tough, the tears come back to my eyes now and my lower

out across the bed and cupping my cheek in his palm. Instantly, wanting his touch, I press my face into his hand. “Yes,” he says quietly, moving now to climb fully into the bed with me. “I am sorry, Ella you’re right. You needed me and

to lay down. He does as I say as I sniff back my tears and we both lay down on our soft mattress, the baby between