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.

into the restroom to change. I might

human modesty is too deeply ingrained to allow me to

definitely not

emerge, Sinclair is also dressed, though much

go downstairs together, Sinclair carrying me despite my

improving more and more every day, but it isn’t enough

all gather around the breakfast table, the men

serious voices, and

to understand. It’s not that they

of my depth.

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

around in circles for more than half an hour, debating

to this

my lower lip thoughtfully, trying to ignore the

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

Lydia’s husband?I mean

right?” I

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

her to be gallivanting around another territory with

Henry praises, maintaining a straight-faced

out false compliments. “Maybe

this the

their motivations, we

without playing

all, they’ll be expecting some sort of countermove to

but we might be able to spin ourselves out of the hot seat

onto them – where it

and distract the pack

nods approvingly. “Good

but when I look

don’t like it. I think it’s the best hope we have, but

situation just doesn’t seem

Hugo scoffs, “You don’t need to convene

tell you this is all fucked six

feel like I’m

“Therę’s something bothering me and I just can’t put my

on it.”

from the beginning that Princess Angeline’s death felt off

political scheme.” I

one the Prince is too unimaginative to have

imperceptibly, and then he clenches them shut,

into a fist and swearing

too unimaginative?” Sinclair growls, scanning

faces.

Henry supplies easily. “And while Prince

not the type to

But Lydia wouldn’t have any reservations about getting the Princess

of the way.”

what I think you are?” I

believe my

what other explanation

and pacing back and forth behind the dining table.

and beat her to death, I wouldn’t question it. And

could make the case for rogues

Damon. But poison? That’s a

was a political scheme you would think the royal family would

her death and spun the details in

Damon looking sympathetic.”

“Instead it

planned, then why haven’t they jumped