Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Ella

“Goddess, Cora, what’s wrong with me?” I moan, burying my head in my hands. “I’ve been thinking Sinclair is too good to be true all along. There cannot be a bigger red flag and I just ignored it. I let him love bomb me and I bought every manipulative word out of his mouth.”

I’m seated in my sister’s living room, rocking back and forth in my seat while she looks on anxiously. After I received Sinclair’s text last night, I didn’t waste any time getting out of his house. I went out onto my balcony and waited until the patrolling guards passed by, then climbed down the trellis and out the back gate. There was a vicious thunderstorm roiling at the time, but I barely noticed. I ran through the pouring rain, not stopping until I reached Cora’s apartment.

In hindsight I’m sure I scared her half to death – turning up on her doorstep in the middle of the night, looking like a drowned rat. Nonetheless, she immediately ushered me in and got me a change of dry clothes and a cup of hot tea, but I wasn’t calm enough to actually explain what happened until this morning.

“Ella just slow down, I didn’t think anything had even happened between you two?” Cora asks, watching me with obvious concern.

“I mean, nothing huge.” I clarify. “We’ve flirted and kissed and fooled around a bit… and I’ve insisted that things not go any further. At least, I had enough sense to ensure we didn’t start an actual relationship.”

“And he agreed? You said no and he didn’t push you?” Cora presses.

“Yeah, I mean it’s been hard because we’re attracted to each other, but he’s been trying to respect my wishes.”

“Then how can he have love bombed you?” She inquires, looking confused.

“I guess that’s the wrong expression.” I concede. “It’s just, you should hear the way he talks to me, and the way he behaves. He’s so affectionate and warm that I got completely lulled into complacency. He just lavishes attention and compliments, and he actually listens and takes criticism. He takes my thoughts and opinions into account, and he has this silly side where he can be so fun and playful, but at the same time he doesn’t let me get away with murder. He calls me on my shit and holds me accountable. Like I said, he’s just too good to be true.”

Cora is frowning deeply, keeping her expression guarded while she processes my words. “Ella…”

“What? Why are you looking at me that way?” I burst, instantly regretting my sharp tone. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you…” Suddenly I want to cry. “I didn’t mean it. I’m just really out of sorts.”

you from your child. You had to learn to get along, and sure that happened fast once you decided to trust each other, but… I’m sorry Ella, but it honestly just sounds like you like each other.” She leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees

takes me a moment to absorb that. Is she right? Am I so unused to receiving genuine affection and compliments that I somehow mistook them for Sinclair grooming me for abuse? Even as I think this, I recall the other things that have happened between us. “That’s not all.” I confess, blushing scarlet.

he is, he’s an Alpha.” Cora remarks

in charge

rolls her eyes. “Ella, stop beating around the bush, just

he holds me to them.” I confess. “Once, he even spanked

as though she’s waiting

the attack on the wild hunt.” I explain, offering the information freely now. “I mean… I slapped him first and he said all this crap about catharsis, but I didn’t even question it because

slapped Dominic Sinclair?” Cora

should stay home

Cora begins, clearly struggling to wrap her mind about this. “You were in shock, being obstinate and refusing to take

I grimace, rubbing the back of

injure you?” She inquires,

really did help me to cry… plus, well I

chuckles. “So

find that strange!?”

lot longer than you have.” Cora explains, sighing as though she’s not sure how to make me understand. “Power dynamics are a big part of their culture and from a scientific perspective it makes perfect sense. Dominance means strength and strength means survival. And if you liked it, who cares whether or not other people think it’s strange. You’d hardly be the only human who’s ever

“Just that it helped me…and turned me on… and I did like

it again?” She asks,