Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

“Oh geeze,” I say when we pull up to Cora and Roger’s house in the pre- dawn morning and see that every light is on. “You ready for this?”

“Sure!” Sinclair says, grinning at me as he puts the car in park at the end of the driveway. “It will be a nice role reversal – this time Roger can be the one worried sick and I can be in the background cracking jokes.”

“Aww, sweetheart,” I say, grinning at my mate and putting a soft hand on his cheek. “It’s cute that you think you’re funny enough to crack jokes.”

Sinclair’s brows knit together as he frowns at me. “What are you talking about? I’m very funny.”

“Okay, baby,” I murmur, patting his shoulder as I turn to climb out of the car.

“I am!” he insists as he gets out of the driver’s seat and starts around the car.

“Dominic,” I sigh, hiding my teasing grin as I lean into the car and unbuckle Rafe, pulling him into my arms. “You have so many blessings. Why do you need to be funny too?”

“Because I am funny!” Sinclair says, crossing his arms and glaring at me.

“Okay!” I say cheerfully, not contracting him but moving quickly towards the front door of the house without confirming either.

“Ella!” he scoffs, striding after me.

“What!?” I laugh, knocking on the door for once instead of just striding in because I want to give Cora and Roger their privacy if they’re not ready for us. We did get here really fast, after all the roads were empty this early.

“I make you laugh all the time,” Sinclair says, still frowning down at me.

“Yes, sweetheart,” I say, grinning with mischief as I gaze up at him, “but I’m laughing at you, not your jokes.”

He growls at me, starting to get a little miffed, and I burst into laughter. Sinclair opens his mouth to protest more but both of our attention snaps forward when the door flies open, revealing a harried Roger staring at us with the fingers of one hand already tangled in his own hair.

“Come in,” he says, his voice frantic and full of dread. “I need you to talk sense into her – ”

to see her starting up the steps, leaning hard against the

and I pat him on his shoulder as I hurry past him and up the stairs to Cora, taking the plate of toast she’s carrying out of her hand, Rafe perched on my hip. Cora

don’t you just use the stair

Cora growls as she continues to lift herself up one

duh,” I say, rolling my eyes at her. “It’s

me. “Okay, good,” she says. “Someone sane is here. Can

bottom of the steps, and I turn to see him standing at the bottom, looking desperately up

ask, looking between them, baffled. Because honestly Cora looks fine to me just very pregnant and in the early

closes the front door and stands at his brother’s side at the bottom of the stairs, radiating support but unable to keep a little smile from his mouth, clearly enjoying seeing his big brother all

we get to the top of the steps because I can tell that this is an argument they’ve been having all night, and one that she thinks is getting old. “We’re not changing plans

growls, starting to follow us up the stairs. Sinclair comes with

the bed, where I place her toast on the side table before lifting Rafe more securely into my arms. Cora climbs into bed and then puts her hands out for Rafe, who I lower for a, kiss, though I don’t pass him to her. She’s already got one baby to

a sigh after she gives Rafe a sweet kiss and musses his hair. “I’m perfectly healthy – there’s no reason to not do it at home, and I’ve got doctors coming

crossing his arms as he comes into the

flicking him a little glare as she settles the blankets just how she wants them. “My sister, the magical healer, is here. It’ll be fine I couldn’t be

and gesturing to Rafe, who gives a happy little squeak. “Or, well, a palace

stares at me.

as I remember it. “Oh yeah!” I laugh a little, giving a shrug.

always forget

hands. “He’s watched too much Little House on the Prairie,” Cora murmurs, rolling her eyes at me. “He thinks a home birth is all boiling water and screaming and blood everywhere –

this time, and I see Sinclair clench his jaw to keep from

turn back to Cora when I hear her moan a little. ” Contraction?”

Cora answers tightly, taking a deep breath. “About

“Did your water break?”

doesn’t answer, clearly gritting her teeth through the pain. I murmur to her consolingly and reach for

I hear Roger murmur, coming quickly to my side. “Is she…is