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.

and disappear into the restroom to change. I might be

too deeply ingrained to allow

and I’m definitely not

is also dressed, though much more formally than I

together, Sinclair carrying me despite

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

around the breakfast table, the men

low, serious voices, and

can’t begin to understand. It’s not that

of my depth.

asks, turning his blazing emerald eyes to

circles for more than half

respond to

on my lower lip thoughtfully, trying to ignore the

nervous habit. Releasing my swollen

happened with Lydia’s husband?I mean the Princess

right?” I clarify. When the

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

her to be gallivanting around

praises,

he’s not giving out false compliments. “Maybe we’ve been

the

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

respond without playing

expecting some sort

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

– where it

the pack by

Hugo nods approvingly. “Good

when I look over, his features are

don’t like it. I think it’s the

this entire situation just

“You don’t

tell you this is all fucked six ways

mean, I feel like I’m

“Therę’s something bothering me and

on it.”

beginning that Princess Angeline’s death felt off

scheme.” I

but one the Prince is too unimaginative to

eyes widen almost imperceptibly, and then he clenches them shut,

fist and swearing up a

know who isn’t too unimaginative?” Sinclair growls,

faces.

Prince Damon might have seen his

more than a trophy, he’s not the type to

Lydia wouldn’t have any reservations about getting the

of the way.”

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

believe

explanation do we have?” Sinclair inquires,

the dining

death, I wouldn’t question it. And if

could make the case for

poison? That’s a woman’s

political scheme you would think the royal family

in a way that benefitted

Damon looking sympathetic.”

it

Sinclair confirms. “If it was planned, then why