Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Ella

Hugo, Sinclair and I are all staring at the television with wide eyes and slack jaws,

unable to process the images flitting across the screen. It seems like every time we

manage to take a few steps forward, Lydia and the Prince find a way to send us

reeling back – and this is no exception.

“This doesn’t make any sense.” Hugo expresses, obviously overwhelmed. “Why would

he risk losing the pack’s sympathy by parading around another Woman so soon after

his wife’s death?”

“Trust me, Hugo – Damon isn’t the one calling the shots here. This is all Lydia.”

Sinclair states gruffly. “She’s going to force her way onto the throne one way or

another. Right now she’s playing the doting friend, but mark my words, by the time the

election ends she’ll be in his bed.”

“How bad is this?’ I ask, looking up at Sinclair’s handsome face, “Does she have

information that could hurt you?”

Sinclair Squeezes my shoulders, “She knows some secrets.” He relates, “but luckily

nothing I could imagine as a smoking gun. In fact most of what she knows would be

more harmful to the Prince things like my father’s attack, Things the public believes

were accidents but our private investigators proved malicious.” His mouth flattens into

a hard line. “The real danger is that she knows how we think, how we operate. Not to

mention that the Prince doesn’t have more than two brain cells to rub together, but

Lydia has plenty.”

“So what do we do?” I ask anxiously, my head replaying the news reel over and over

again. “My bed rest isn’t common knowledge, and they’re making it sound like my

absence from the public eye is suspicious. Do we tell everyone about my condition?

Or do we make an appearance?”

“I’m afraid making an appearance might play right into their hands. This could be

some sort of attempt to lure us out of hiding.” Hugo advises, looking very grim indeed.

In the distance I hear the front door open and close – a fact which comes as quite a

surprise, since my hearing has never been so sharp before.

Wheels roll over the door jam, and then Henry’s voice floats up toward us, “Good

Morning!”

“Henry!” I exclaim, both taken aback yet unsurprised we stayed in bed so long.

Sinclair’s father has been coming over almost every day since we agreed to be

invalids together, and he’s been an invaluable help, since I learned my true identity.

grab some loungewear and disappear into the restroom to change. I

ingrained to

does – and I’m definitely not changing in front of

Sinclair is also dressed, though much more

Sinclair carrying me despite my

but it

around the breakfast table, the

serious voices, and me

matters I can’t begin to understand. It’s not that they exclude me, I just feel so

of my depth.

you think, Ella?” Sinclair asks, turning his blazing emerald eyes

circles for more than half an hour, debating how

respond to this

on my lower lip thoughtfully, trying

as he observes the nervous habit. Releasing my swollen lip, I sigh,

with Lydia’s husband?I mean

other Alpha, right?” I clarify. When the

in all this? Even if he doesn’t want her anymore, it must make

her to be gallivanting around another

good point.” Henry praises,

giving out false compliments. “Maybe we’ve been

this the

trying to understand their motivations, we can simply leave it at

without playing into

they’ll be expecting some sort of

ourselves

onto them – where

them busy and distract the pack by rustling

nods approvingly. “Good idea,

hand in support, but when I look over, his features are

like it. I think it’s the best hope we

situation just doesn’t

“You

tell you this is all fucked six ways to

I feel

replies drying. “Therę’s something bothering me and I just can’t

on it.”

been saying from the beginning that Princess Angeline’s death felt off

a political scheme.”

but one the Prince is too

and

fist and swearing up a storm.

unimaginative?” Sinclair growls, scanning our

faces.

easily. “And while Prince Damon might have seen his

he’s not the type to impulsively

Lydia wouldn’t have any reservations about getting

of the way.”

you saying what I think you are?” I gape, both certain I’ve understood

to believe my

it seems, what other explanation do we have?” Sinclair inquires, rising

the dining table. “If the Prince had

I wouldn’t question it. And if there

the case for rogues or vengeance for

by Damon. But poison? That’s a woman’s

scheme you

spun the details in a way that benefitted the

Damon looking sympathetic.”

it just

it was planned, then why haven’t they jumped on