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.

loungewear and disappear into the restroom to

is too deeply ingrained to allow me to strut

Sinclair does – and I’m definitely not changing in

I emerge, Sinclair is also dressed, though much more formally

together, Sinclair carrying me despite

more every day, but it isn’t enough

yet. We all gather around the breakfast

and me feeling like

begin to understand. It’s not

of my depth.

think, Ella?” Sinclair asks, turning his blazing

more than half an hour, debating

respond to this

on my lower lip thoughtfully, trying to ignore the flash of emotion

nervous habit. Releasing my swollen lip, I sigh, “Do

husband?I mean the Princess is dead, but

to some other Alpha, right?” I clarify. When the men nod, I

all this? Even if he doesn’t

gallivanting around another

praises,

me that he’s not giving out

the

of trying to understand their motivations,

without

they’ll be expecting some sort of countermove to challenge the

be able to spin ourselves out

– where

and distract the pack by

Hugo nods approvingly. “Good

squeezes my hand in support, but when I look over, his

don’t like it. I think it’s

entire situation just doesn’t

Hugo scoffs, “You don’t need to

tell you this is all fucked six

feel like I’m missing

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

on it.”

the beginning that

a political scheme.” I contribute

too unimaginative to

widen almost imperceptibly, and then

fist and swearing up a storm.

isn’t too unimaginative?” Sinclair growls,

faces.

while Prince Damon

not the type to impulsively destroy one of

any reservations

of the way.”

what I think you are?” I

believe my

seems, what other explanation do

behind the dining table. “If the

beat her to death, I wouldn’t question it. And if there was

attack, you could make the case for rogues

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

political scheme you would

in a way

Damon looking sympathetic.”

agrees. “Instead it

“If it was planned, then why