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

pack business, and it was well known that

We were never able to prove it, but we

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

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

under way back then.”

think it was the King – the current one, I

his emotions less potent now that we’ve moved on to

baddest wolf around is that it puts a

And the worse thing is that you’re so hard to kill

of taking you on directly, that they

“It might not be as effective as killing you, but Alphas who lose

pups rarely recover fully.”

to nuzzle my neck and caress my belly, as if reminding himself

“It could have been anyone,

than the current king – my

was clear he would be soon. Xavier didn’t have heirs

time left to try and make

wall. My father was too strong and too well

then it wasn’t your decision that took your

responsible. It wasn’t some

still dominating my mate’s

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

long time

Dominic, there’s nothing to forgive.” I insist, near tears again.

look into his emerald eyes. “I can tell

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

want him to think that my sacrifice

himself”

Sinclair tucks my head under his chin, stroking my spine.

know.”

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

failing to wriggle free.

rat. “It comforts me just holding

I decide to change tactics. “Do you have any idea how proud your

if she could see you today?” I ask him softly, hoping to help ease his

speaking with complete honestly. “You became

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

with love instead of fear, and you don’t

strength with cruelty.”

you’re just flattering me.” Sinclair rumbles with

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

a scheming gold digger?”

I’m sure that would have made my mother very

were wrong, you

you saw I was hurting, your first

remember being so shocked,

and you held me more gently

in my

purr vibrates beneath my hands. “You make me sound like

could go from being a grizzly to a

blink of

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

to pump up your ego – which,

big enough.” I quip, yelping