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

were never able to prove it, but we

on the throne then, and

and next in line. All the politics that are playing out today

under way back then.”

– the current one, I mean?”

sighs, his emotions less potent now

baddest wolf around is that

worse thing is that you’re so hard to kill and people

afraid of taking you on directly, that they go

effective as killing you, but Alphas who lose their

pups rarely recover fully.”

my neck and caress my

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

suspect than the current king – my father

he would be soon. Xavier didn’t have heirs

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

father was

if it was arson then it wasn’t your

was responsible. It wasn’t some tragic accident,

still dominating my mate’s

me tenderly. “You don’t have to

a long

I insist, near tears again.

to look into his emerald eyes. “I can

came down to me or Rafe, I would choose him every time – even

that my sacrifice wasn’t worth it,

himself”

his chin, stroking

know.”

supposed to be comforting

failing to wriggle free.

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

I decide to change tactics. “Do you have any

be, if she could see you today?” I

honestly. “You became

You never lost sight of what matters

lead with love instead of fear, and

strength with cruelty.”

flattering me.” Sinclair rumbles

not.” I bite back. “Do you remember when we first met,

a scheming gold digger?”

that would have made my mother very proud.” Sinclair

you realized you were wrong, you owned up to your mistake.” I

“And when you saw I was hurting, your first instinct

I remember being so shocked, because here was this

predator – and you held me more gently and with more compassion

my

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

He could go

blink of an

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

I’m not just trying to pump up your ego – which, for the record,

I quip, yelping when