Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Ella

Tears are streaming down Sinclair’s face as he relives his Mother’s death, and I’m

doing my best not to burst into outright sobs. My heart aches for the little boy he once

was, and for the burden he obviously still carries today. Hearing this story, I

understand that his last conversation with his mother had truly stayed with him over

the years, shaping him into the man before me now.

“Afterwards, I leaned that she’d gotten Roger out of the house only to realize that I

wasn’t there.”

Sinclair Continues, wiping his eyes. “She ran back in to get me, even though the

guards tried to stop her.” Sinclair relates, “So you see, that’s why Roger always

blamed me… he wasn’t wrong. If I’d listened to her the first time, if I’d gone outside

when she told me to, she would still be alive now.”

“But Pancake wouldn’t.” I remind him thickly.

The corners of his mouth quirk up, “It was almost thirty years ago, baby. Pancake is

long gone.”

“You know what I mean” I chide him. “And your mother understood because you were

doing exactly what she was trying to teach you – to protect those more vulnerable

than yourself.”

“I know.” He confesses. “I spent years in therapy,

Just trying to come to terms with the fact that it was her choice. I was a child and

couldn’t have understood the danger, and she didn’t have to come after me.”

“But she was your mother, it wasn’t even a question for her.” I murmur, twining my

limbs with his so he can feel my solid weight in his arms. “She wanted you to live

much more than she cared about her own survival.”

He nods wordlessly, his eyes still distant, as if he hasn’t truly returned to the present.

“I understand that, but sometimes I still think that if it wasn’t for me, she never would

have needed to make a choice in the first place. My decision that day took her from

Dad and Roger and the pack.”

“Did you ever find out how the fire started?” I ask softly, running my fingers through

the dark, thick locks of his hair.

“In the weeks after the fire, it became clear that it was arson.” Sinclair explains

and it was well known that Mom

We were never able to prove

on the throne

All the politics that are

under way back then.”

– the

less potent now that we’ve

baddest wolf

thing is that you’re so hard to kill and

of taking you on directly, that they go

as effective as killing you, but Alphas who

pups rarely recover fully.”

caress my belly, as

safe. “It could have been anyone, but I actually think Xavier is

current king – my father was younger

clear he would be soon. Xavier didn’t

still had a lot of time left to try

My father was too strong and too well

it was arson then it wasn’t your decision

whoever was responsible. It wasn’t some tragic

hating the guilt still dominating

tenderly. “You don’t have to worry, Ella. I’m okay – I

long time

forgive.” I insist, near tears again.

far enough to look into his emerald eyes. “I can tell you

if it came down to me or Rafe, I would choose him every time

want him to think that my sacrifice wasn’t

himself”

head under his chin, stroking my spine. “It’s okay,

know.”

comforting me! I’m supposed to be comforting you.” I complain. Trying

failing to wriggle free.

are.” Sinclair lies – the rat. “It comforts me just holding you

I decide to change tactics. “Do you have any

be, if she could see you today?” I ask him softly, hoping

with complete honestly. “You became exactly the man

lost sight of what matters most, even when

love instead of fear, and you

strength with cruelty.”

just flattering me.”

bite back. “Do you remember when we first

a scheming gold digger?”

sure that would have made my mother very proud.” Sinclair

were wrong, you

I was hurting, your first instinct was

remember being so shocked, because

– and you held me more gently and with more

in my entire

vibrates beneath my hands. “You make me sound like my father,

could go from being

of

confirm. “I wish you could see yourself the way I do, Dominic. If

to pump up your ego – which, for the record, I

I quip, yelping