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

business, and it was well

able to prove it, but we always suspected

political. King Xavier was on the throne then, and my father

line. All the politics that are playing out today – they were

under way back then.”

it was the King – the current one, I mean?” I

now

wolf around is that it

is

of taking you on directly,

effective as killing you, but

pups rarely recover fully.”

and caress my belly, as if reminding

and I are safe. “It could have been anyone, but I actually

suspect than the current king – my father

to rule, but it was clear he would

still had a lot of time left to try and make them, I think the

father was too strong

was arson then it wasn’t your decision that took

or whoever was responsible. It wasn’t some tragic accident, it was murder.”

still dominating my mate’s

down at me tenderly. “You don’t have to worry, Ella. I’m okay

long time

I insist, near tears

into his

Rafe, I would choose him every time

want him to think that my sacrifice wasn’t worth

himself”

chin, stroking my

know.”

supposed to be comforting you.”

failing to wriggle free.

lies – the rat. “It comforts me just

to change tactics. “Do you have any idea how

see you today?” I ask him softly, hoping

with complete honestly. “You became exactly the man she hoped

You never lost sight of what matters most, even when the whole

love instead of fear,

strength with cruelty.”

flattering me.” Sinclair

bite back. “Do you remember when we first met, and you still

a scheming gold digger?”

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

were wrong, you owned up to your

hurting, your

I remember being so shocked, because here was

you held me more gently

my entire

pleased purr vibrates beneath my hands. “You

I used to think of him. He could go from being a grizzly to a teddy bear

blink of

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

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

big enough.” I quip, yelping when