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

away on pack business, and it was well

We were never able to prove it, but

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

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

under way back then.”

think it was the King – the current one,

less potent now that we’ve moved on to politics.

with being the biggest and baddest wolf around

your back. And the worse thing is

on directly, that they go after

as killing you, but Alphas

pups rarely recover fully.”

my neck and caress my belly, as

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

the current king – my father was younger and not

rule, but it was clear he would be soon. Xavier didn’t have heirs

lot of time left to try and make

My father was too strong and too

it wasn’t your decision that took your mother,

wasn’t some tragic accident, it was murder.”

still dominating my

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

a long

forgive.” I insist, near

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

would choose him every time – even tiny

to think that

himself”

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

know.”

supposed to be

failing to wriggle free.

rat. “It comforts me just

“Do you

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

speaking with complete honestly. “You became exactly the man

sight of what matters

you. You lead with love instead of fear, and you

strength with cruelty.”

flattering me.” Sinclair rumbles

“Do you remember when we

a scheming gold digger?”

would have made my mother very proud.”

you were wrong, you

when you saw I was hurting, your first instinct was to

remember being so shocked,

you held me more gently and with

my entire

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

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

blink of

see yourself the way I

know I’m not just trying to pump up your ego – which,

because it’s already big enough.” I quip,