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 – ”

grinning, I peer beyond Roger to see her starting up the steps,

Cora, taking the plate of toast she’s carrying out of her hand, Rafe perched on my hip. Cora smiles her thanks at me and presses her hand to the small of

don’t you just use the stair lift chair?” I ask, gesturing

Ella,” Cora growls as she continues to lift herself up

rolling my eyes at her.

at me. “Okay, good,” she says. “Someone sane is here. Can you please have Dominic

the bottom of the steps, and I turn to see him standing

Cora looks fine to me just very pregnant and in the early stages of labor. And she would know if anything were actually

stairs, radiating support but unable to keep a little smile from his mouth, clearly enjoying seeing his big brother all freaked out. “This idea of

Roger!” Cora calls over her shoulder, sighing as she does. I grin at her as 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

idiots months ago,” Roger growls, starting to follow us up the stairs. Sinclair comes with him as Cora and I walk

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

musses his hair. “I’m perfectly healthy – there’s no reason to not do it at home, and I’ve got doctors coming to stand by just in case! Ridiculous,” she mutters, pulling the blankets up over

says, crossing

she wants them. “My sister, the magical healer, is

home birth, Roger,” I say, turning to him and gesturing to Rafe, who gives a happy little squeak. “Or, well, a palace birth, even if it wasn’t our home yet. And everything turned out

face goes slack as he stares at me.

I remember it.

I always

“He’s watched too much Little House on the Prairie,” Cora murmurs, rolling her eyes at me. “He thinks

again, louder this time, and I see Sinclair clench his jaw to keep from laughing as he

back, but I turn back to Cora when I hear her moan a

a deep

“Did your water break?”

through the pain. I murmur to her consolingly and reach for her

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