Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Sinclair

“This is the weirdest thing I’ve ever done!” Ella exclaims, shifting restlessly beside me. We’re just arrived at the festival, and though she’s only wearing a silk robe, she looks stunning. She’s also nearly beside herself with anxiety, and getting increasingly feisty the closer we get to the big event.

“Poor darling, you’re shaking.” I croon, pulling Ella into my arms and rubbing her back. She’s all sharp edges, stiff and grumbling unhappily into my chest, but snuggling into my warmth despite her grumpy mood.

“Of course I’m shaking, it’s freezing. I’m wearing next to nothing and it’s winter!!” She exclaims, gesturing to the snow falling around us. “How are we even supposed to do this ridiculous ritual without getting hypothermia!”

“First because wolves run much hotter than humans.” I answer, catching her hands and tucking them between our bodies so they’ll get warm too. “Second, because the stone circle is surrounded by thermal pools and the base is heated from below by hot springs. I promise you’ll be plenty warm. And if you’re not then there’s always body heat.”

I’m waggling my eyebrows suggestively, but Ella doesn’t laugh. She pouts, peeking up at me, “I thought you were going to respect my wishes.”

“I’m doing my best.” I share, “but it isn’t easy. Especially when you’re so beautifully responsive.”

This much is true, I might have an easier time respecting Ella’s boundaries if she didn’t react so openly and passionately to my advances. But the reality is that she’s obviously affected by me, and it’s hard not to feel encouraged when she melts into my arms like hot honey.

“That’s just my hormones.” Ella insists. “You have to listen to what I say, not what I do.”

“Ah, so ‘actions speak louder than words’ doesn’t count in your book.” I tease.

Ella answers stiffly, “My body isn’t my own right now, it’s the baby’s. That

give me a little slack when I

thought being an Alpha was about always being

my warm hands. “But my wolf is in charge when it comes to mating, and

Ella objects, “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m human!” Her whispered words are barely audible even to my own ears, but I still glance

answer. I wish I could. It seems if I’m not thinking about romancing Ella, I’m thinking about how vulnerable she is living among shifters. Even now, I’m painfully aware of how fragile she is in comparison, surrounded on all sides by vicious predators. The poor thing is still shivering and I’m worried she might have been right, without a wolf’s resilience to the elements, it might be too cold for her to participate. Though in truth, I

and discomfort, but asking her to tell so many lies. Asking her to perform an elaborate fraud, to go against her own honest nature to deceive and trick people. I don’t believe it’s possible to corrupt Ella, or her life would have already done it, but it feels very hard to forgive myself for forcing her into this situation. In hindsight I can clearly see that’s what I did – it might have been her idea, but she’d felt like she had no other choice, fore I told her I would take her child

the throne, saving countless lives. And there’s no way of justifying ending all this just to save one human some distress – yet I want to. I want to go back in time and tell Ella I will

Ella presses me sullenly, “Why are

done we can go home and curl up in front of a warm fire,

the cameras! We should just say I’m ill and make our apologies.” Her tone goes from exasperated and sharp, to sounding so

murmur, tucking her head to my chest and stroking her long, silky hair. “I promise we’ll leave as

trying to pull away from me. I know she’s only lashing out because she’s feeling so much emotional turmoil.

tone that makes her visibly squirm. “I know you’re cold and afraid Ella. Honestly, I would spare you this if I could – but missing this isn’t like missing

doubt consumed with battling thoughts of duty and unhappiness.Her eyes begin to shine, and I fear she might

My wolf complains, not that he needs to remind me. He whines like a pup any time Ella sheds so much as a single tear, even for silly reasons like eating all of her

it.” I answer sternly, and

you. It will be over before you know it. I won’t make us stay a minute longer