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 –

suddenly I’m laughing – the sound bubbling out of me, rich with joy. “Baby!” I say again, sitting up in

I spin to him, pushing him onto his back and throwing a leg

shriek, thrilled, almost in pieces because of it, completely unable to contain myself, or think

at me, confused – worried but one look at my thrilled face makes him realize that nothing is bad is

and giggling as I lean forward. “Don’t you feel

me confused for a second – “Ella,” he murmurs,

eyes suddenly go wide and I know, instantly, that he

position as well, shifting me back a little so that I’m sitting in his lap, his arms going tight around me as he stares down into

shriek, throwing my hands in the air

eyes suddenly flooding with tears as a mystified smile finds his lips. “Oh my

my arms around his shoulders, as he tucks his head against my neck and takes a few shaky, happy breaths, passing all of his emotions to me along

joy, and pride, and a thrilled sense of

cheek and pull his face up to mine, grinning at him with abandon and wiping away his shocked and happy

Ella,” he murmurs, staring at me like I’m a marvel as he sniffs his tears away, still laughing a little in shock. He pulls away from me just

all my own joy down the bond. Because this moment – I’ve been waiting for it my whole life. A little surprise baby, much desired

love in his heart, holding me close and rocking me back

his voice eager and thrilled,

and a little anxious – is the baby all right?

“Close your eyes,” he murmurs, his voice excited, if soft. I do as he says, loosing a deep breath and draping my arms lightly around his neck before I close my eyes. I feel Sinclair connect to me down our bond, and then together we turn to the little silver bond that runs between both of us, just as Rafe’s

he puts a mental finger out and strokes it, just

a glowing rush, I suddenly know…so, so much about

sweetness and determination within it not that that

with tears and my lower lip

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

Slowly, Sinclair nods.

you tell me!?” I ask, smacking him on