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 –

me, rich with joy. “Baby!” I

him onto his back and throwing a leg over his hips

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

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

and giggling as I lean forward.

confused for a second – “Ella,” he

suddenly go wide and

little so that I’m sitting in his lap, his arms going tight around me as he stares down into my face. “Oh my god,” he murmurs, still shocked, still feeling it out- making sure that it’s really

throwing my hands in the air above

suddenly flooding with tears as a mystified smile finds his lips.

head against my neck and takes a few shaky, happy breaths, passing

and pride, and a

and wiping away his shocked and happy tears. “A little baby, Dominic,” I murmur, beaming into his face. “A brand

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 baby

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

kisses me back with all the love in his heart, holding me close and rocking me back

he says, his voice eager and thrilled, “let’s

I breathe, suddenly curious and a little anxious

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

it, almost as if he puts a mental

in a glowing rush, I suddenly know…so,

but also has a line of sweetness and determination within it not that that Rafe lacks those traits, but there’s just

open my eyes they’re filled with tears and my

I ask quietly, completely overwhelmed. “When Rafe was still growing? When he

Slowly, Sinclair nods.

I ask, smacking him