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.

with a shrug. ” Honestly, I don’t think he’s my mate, Cora. I am not…into him, in that way that mated pairs are supposed

head to the side. “I mean,

and Sinclair glowers, which makes me

says, shrugging and reaching across the couch, clearly seeking her baby. I hand 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

to hear her say this detail. But she

Sinclair says that…when you meet your fated mate, your wolf knows it, and you’re like…very attracted to them. Like, tear your clothes off attracted to them.” She pauses for a moment, her eyes moving between me and Roger. “Is

was so tucked away for so long. But as soon as her wolf…woke up? For the first time?” I look over my shoulder

did you come here? I mean, it’s a crazy story and I’m glad

lip a little. “We

I say, blinking in surprise a little.

little. “You just like…call

see him smirking. “Like, she just puts her hands to

seriously?” Sinclair snaps, drawing all of our eyes

Ella murmurs, narrowing her brows at her mate and scooting forward on the couch. “You come sit

and slips in behind Ella, wrapping his arms around her. My heart goes out to him as I watch him tuck his head against hers, because as much as Ella says Calvin is not her mate? I can tell that he’s stressed and wants

I want it, but I just want

the man who is undeniably her mate. But…well, Sinclair had two. I guess it’s

ask myself,” Ella says with a shrug, “but I burned up

sweet sister has gone through in the fight for her family. And suddenly, all I want to do is contact mom

myself,

Mom?