Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Ella

“Cora tell me what happened.” I demand, crossing my skinny arms over my chest. I’m eight years old, glaring down at my surrogate sister with a stern expression. It’s always been this way between us. She’s a year older, but I’ve always had the dominant personality.

“It was nothing.” She insists, averting her gaze from my own.

“You’re lying.” I counter stubbornly. “I can always tell, you know.”

“No, you think you always know.” Cora answers sullenly, though we both know I’m right. I can read my sister like a book.

“Would you just tell me?” I press, sighing with exasperation.

“Fine, it’s not even a big deal, it was just some of the big kids being jerks.” She explains gravely.

“Which ones?” I respond immediately. “Point them out.” It could be anyone, considering the fact that even children our own age tend to be bigger than us. It seems like the orphanage physician labels us undersized and undernourished every year, though nothing ever changes.

Reluctantly, Cora points toward a familiar gang of kids, ranging from age eleven to fourteen. The ringleader is a beefy thirteen year old who always wears a cruel leer, as if he’s ever on the lookout for someone to bully to tears – just for the fun of it. “You see, there’s nothing we can do about it – they run this place.”

“I beg to differ.” I answer, tilting my chin up defiantly. “We don’t have to be bigger than them – just smarter. Now tell me what they said to you?”

Cora’s voice is so low I almost can’t hear her speak. She stares at the ground, her shoulders slumped in defeat. “They called me a worthless gutter rat and said no one would ever adopt me cuz I’m too ugly.”

to be wanted or unconditionally loved, and the only thing that keeps us going is the hope that we might get parents one day. As far as I’m concerned, targeting my sister’s biggest sensitivity deserves a serious punishment. “I’ll kill them.” I seethe,

“I mean, maybe they have a point. We’re getting old now, and you know how it is. Parents only ever want the babies. I mean you might have a chance – you’re so pretty… but

just as badly as you do, but I’m not gonna leave you for anything.” I vow. I’d

a way of taking the most skittish and rejected of our peers under my wing, but it’s not as if I can just stand by and let them be mistreated, or leave them to fend for themselves. We all need each

so mean. They’re mad that no one ever picked them and they take

to let them off the hook?” She asks, arching

not, I’m just gonna remind them that we’re in this together.”

a pearly grin. “And if

I’ll kick them in the pants.” I sniff, turning on my heels to march up to the bullies in question. Cora trails along behind me, whispering anxiously about what a bad idea this is. I don’t listen,

teach you to pick on someone your own size?” I call while we’re still a

the one who spoke. The ringleader rises to his

be mean to Cora just cuz you’re

stalks forward, looming over my small body with malicious intent. “A scrawny little thing like you?

him tooth and nail. He screams and flails his arms. “What – hey! Get her off me! What is this!”

back to the present, I realize how strange my behavior had been that day. Normal human girls don’t act

Sinclair asks, the corners of

the orphanage, just by being scrappy enough to take on the big kids. When it was over I tended his wounds, and from then on they were all loyal to

your own pack.” Sinclair observes, massaging my tense shoulders. His words sink into my mind slowly, but I gradually recognize the truth in them –

I’m a wolf… I mean I’m sure I wouldn’t have been any match for a

from the sounds of it you were a born leader, and that has nothing to do with being a wolf – not alone at least.” He praises, dipping his head to deposit a few