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 – ”

Cora calls, and, grinning, I peer beyond Roger to see her starting up the steps, leaning hard against the banister. “Everything is fine, please

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

use the stair lift chair?”

growls as she continues

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

“Okay, good,” she says. “Someone sane is here. Can you please have Dominic just tie the other one up downstairs until this is

talk some sense into her, Ella?” Roger calls from the bottom of the steps, and I turn

them, baffled. Because honestly Cora looks fine to me just very pregnant and in the early stages of labor. And she would know if anything were

the hospital!” Roger insists as Sinclair 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 freaked out. “This idea of a home birth was a terrible

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

to follow us up the stairs. Sinclair comes

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

healthy – there’s no reason to not do it at home, and I’ve got doctors

crossing his arms as

just how she wants them. “My sister,

and gesturing to Rafe, who gives a happy little squeak. “Or, well, a palace birth, even if it wasn’t our

stares at me. “You

to the side as I remember it. “Oh yeah!” I laugh a

always forget

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

clench his jaw to keep from laughing as he pats

smiling at Roger’s turned back, but I turn

Cora answers tightly, taking a deep breath. “About five minutes

“Did your water break?”

her teeth through the pain. I murmur to her consolingly and reach for her hand, Rafe

I hear Roger murmur, coming quickly to