Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Sinclair

“Dominic?” My beta, Hugo, stands behind me, watching me with a worried expression. “We need you in the war room.”

“I want to be here when she wakes up.” I insist, keeping my gaze locked on Ella. She’s asleep in my bed, her small body curled beneath the covers. Her arms are bandaged from shoulder to fingertip, and bruises dot her fair skin in too many places to count.

Guilt ties my insides into knots just looking at them – some of those bruises were my doing, the results of my efforts to restrain her. Ella had remained unconscious as I carried her out of the forest, but when she woke, she fought me as hard as ever. The doctor was forced to give her a strong dose of a sleeping draft in order to treat her wounds, though he promised the potion would help break her shock.

“I understand, but we’re still cleaning up the scene and we need to make sure no one finds out about this.” Hugo sighs. It was thanks to Ella’s quick thinking and endurance that the attack happened so deep in the forest, far deeper than other couples would be running on the hunt.

I was able to evacuate her on the opposite side of the park, free from the prying eyes of the pack or the media, and my men had immediately rushed in to clean up the bodies before they could be discovered. “Until we can prove the prince was behind it, rogue attacks will just make you look weak.”

“I am weak.” I state hoarsely, wallowing in more than a small amount of self-pity and loathing. “It’s my fault. I didn’t see them coming. I knew the Prince was plotting against us and I still didn’t see them coming.”

“That isn’t fair Dom.” Hugo growls, his voice very stern. “You can only prepare for so much and none of us can foresee the future. I’m sure Ella doesn’t blame you.”

“Well she should.” I bite back, emotion clogging my throat. “You know, she was so traumatized she couldn’t even recognize me? That our baby was beside itself after weathering all her fear?”

“I know.” Hugo confirms grimly. “But she’s heavily sedated. It will be some time before she wakes, and if you want to make her safe, then the best thing you can do for her is to come to the war room and deal with the fallout. Help us strategize against the Prince. We’ll place extra guards at her door.”

“Not at her door.” I correct, seeing the sense of his words even though I hate hearing logic at the moment. “I want them posted in here with her. And I’ll come to the war room, but there’s something I have to do first.”

“Dominic –”

“If anyone has an inside track on the Prince’s plans, it’s my brother.” I interrupt, scrubbing a hand over my face. “We need intel if we’re going to effectively strategize – and he has it.”

“Alright.” Hugo agrees. “Just try not to lose your temper. Murdering your brother isn’t the kind of PR we need right now.”

huff a humorless

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exercises to try and stay calm. In my current mood it wouldn’t take much provocation for me to kill anyone who crosses my path, and Roger is more

would be. I know it’s ironic that

so genuinely shocked to see me, I

what do I owe the pleasure?” He drawls, making it

shoulder and forcing him back from the doorway as I go. “Were you involved?” I demand, my voice little more than a growl, “Did you

blinks, “what are

play dumb with me, Roger.” I scowl, “I

humorless laugh.

up in the same back alley where Ella was being attacked in the middle of the night by coincidence? Or that the Prince mysteriously discovered I

– your guards, your doctors, Hugo and

loyal – you are the only person who knew who also has a

of.”

was almost killed last night.” I thunder, “I understand you hating me, but how could you be so cruel to

paling. “Back up,

words Dominic! “I suppose you ran in to protect her the first time to

idea what you’re talking about!” Roger shouts back, losing his own temper. “On my life, Dominic, I

should I believe you?” I grumble, clenching and unclenching

I wonder if I underestimated his interest in Ella. “Look, I admit I knew about the first attack in advance. The Prince planned on killing her outright, but I thought saving her might get me some leverage with her. I… I thought if she trusted me I

her for yourself?” I bite, fighting the urge to reel back. I’ve never known Roger to

so you would lose the campaign. And yes, I told the Prince she hadn’t been claimed, but I swear on my life,

a tyrant take over the realm just to spite me? Do you have no concept of the damage he’ll