Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Cora

“All right, Ella!” I call as I troop down the stairs, dressed for the day, Roger following behind.

“In here!” she calls, peeking out from the living room and giving me a big smile. “Also, sorry,” she adds, grimacing a bit. “We were very rude, bursting in here like that, weren’t we?”

“I’ll forgive you as soon as you give me my little nephew to hold for a few minutes,” I say, smiling and reaching for Rafe, who my sister happily hands over to me. I’m instantly gratified when he gives a squeak of happiness and reaches out his own hands, clearly recognizing me and wanting to see me as much as I want to see him.

“Yes,” Ella sighs, crossing her arms as she observes me with the baby.”

Rafe makes everything better.”

“That can be his slogan,” I say, grinning at the baby, “when he’s King.”

Ella laughs and I turn to smile at her as Roger comes into the room after me. I shift my gaze to Sinclair, who stands behind Ella, quiet with his arms crossed over his chest.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking between the two of them. “First you tell Roger not to come to the palace this morning, and then you’re bursting in here this afternoon? What’s up?”

“We had kind of a crazy night,” Ella says with a grimace, moving to the couch and sitting down on it. Sinclair moves to stand by her, clearly tense and still not adding anything to the conversation.

“Oh?” I ask, sitting across from my sister. Roger sits behind me on the arm of the couch, paying close attention and sending a little pulse of wonder and curiosity down our bond. He, too, is very intrigued by this.

Ella sighs and then begins to tell me all about her evening last night – first the dinner with Calvin, and then his claim to being her mate, and then Sinclair turning into a wolf and bursting out the door, seeking to hunt him down.

My eyes go wider and wider as Ella continues.

a shrug. ” Honestly, I don’t think he’s my mate, Cora. I am not…into

side. “I mean, he’s really good looking Ella –

behind me and Sinclair glowers, which makes me

Rafe back to her and she pulls him into her lap, clearly deriving a lot of comfort from having him near. A little excitement twists in me, because I can’t wait to hold my baby just like that. “It’s not like that, Cora

Sinclair now, who growls behind Ella to hear her say this detail. But she just rolls her eyes

attracted to them. Like, tear your clothes off attracted

soon as her wolf…woke up? For the first time?” I look over my shoulder to see him nodding vigorously.

“But Ella,” I say, frowning a little, “why did you come here? I mean, it’s a crazy story and I’m glad to know it.

lip a little. “We were

I say, blinking in surprise a little. “How…how do

little. “You just like…call

and I look up again to see him smirking. “Like,

seriously?” Sinclair snaps, drawing all of our eyes

her brows at her mate and scooting forward on the couch. “You come sit here with me. It was just

arms around her. My heart goes out to him as I watch him

why I want it, but I just want him close. “So, like, inside? Where the gift is? I just…call

says, giving me a little smile as she leans into the man who is undeniably her mate. But…well, Sinclair had two. I guess

Ella says with a shrug, “but I burned

her family. And suddenly, all I want to do is contact

steady place within myself, where my gift

Mom?