Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Ella

I’m groggy, a few hours later, when I wake up because I honestly haven’t gotten much sleep. But still, I’m instantly aware that I’m awake because something in my body is…different.

s my eyes crack open, I have absolutely no idea what it is, and no real interest in finding out. Because nothing feels wrong or off…just… different…

So, I yawn and snuggle my body back against my naked mate, my spine pressed to his warm stomach. Sinclair gives a deep, sleepy little growl as he tightens his arm around me, holding me close even as he sleeps. I smile at this, happiness sweeping through me as I think about how lovely it is to have a mate that holds me and protects me even when he’s mostly unconscious.

And he’s so warm, and the bed is so soft, and the sheets are so smooth under my bare skin that I almost…

Almost fall back asleep…

But then? My eyes suddenly fly open.

Because there is…there is something new within me.

As I start to put the pieces together, I am instantly, starkly awake – and so is Rafe, I realize, as I peer through the dark over the side of the bed. My sweet baby is peering at me curiously through the slats of his crib – almost as if he can feel it too

This new…new thing within me, a bond that wasn’t there hours ago – but which is there now, just a tiny silver thread of something new

My hands fly to my mouth and my eyes instantly fill with tears because even though I didn’t experience this with Rafe – my wolf wasn’t awake then, after all, to help me feel it – I suddenly know precisely what it is.

My voice is shaky as I breathe the word, hardly daring to voice it.

“…baby – ”

Rafe burbles something, smiling at me and leaning forward, grabbing the edges of his crib, trying to pull himself up so that he can be closer – almost like he knows it too –

sound bubbling out of me, rich with joy. “Baby!” I say again, sitting

murmurs, his voice foggy with sleep, his had slipping to my waist as I spin to him, pushing him onto his back and throwing a leg over his hips so that I’m straddling him, my hands on

it, completely unable to contain myself, or think coherently, or make any

his hands tightening on my hips as he stares up at me, confused – worried but

I breathe, laughing and giggling as I lean forward. “Don’t you

frowns at me confused for a second – “Ella,” he

his eyes suddenly go wide and

back a little so that I’m sitting in his lap, his arms going tight around me as he

shriek, throwing my hands in the air above our

flooding with tears as a mystified smile finds his lips. “Oh my god, Ella,

around his shoulders, as he tucks his head against my neck and takes a few

and joy, and pride, and a thrilled sense

his face up to mine, grinning at him with abandon and

as he sniffs his tears away, still laughing a little in shock. He pulls away from me just a little bit, looking down at my stomach almost like he will see a

kissing him, passing all my own joy down the bond. Because

kisses me back with all the love in his heart, holding me close and rocking me back and forth before he lets me go,

eager and thrilled,

curious and a little anxious – is the baby all right? –

I close my eyes. I feel Sinclair connect to me down our bond, and then together we turn to the little silver

feel Sinclair move forward to it, almost as if he puts a mental finger

a glowing rush, I

of sweetness and

filled with tears and my lower lip

you know all this?” I ask quietly, completely overwhelmed. “When Rafe was still growing? When he

Slowly, Sinclair nods.

didn’t you tell me!?” I ask, smacking