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.

modesty is too deeply ingrained to allow me to strut around

and I’m definitely

Sinclair is also dressed, though

together, Sinclair carrying me despite my

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

all gather around the breakfast table, the men

and me feeling

I can’t begin to understand. It’s not

of my depth.

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

going around in circles for more

respond to this

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

nervous habit. Releasing

Lydia’s husband?I mean the Princess

right?” I clarify. When the

Even if he doesn’t want her anymore, it must make

for her to be gallivanting around

praises, maintaining a straight-faced

me that he’s not giving out

the

to understand their motivations, we

and respond without playing into their

sort of countermove

able to spin ourselves out of the hot

onto them – where it

pack by

approvingly.

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

I think it’s the best

situation just doesn’t

“You don’t need to convene a

tell you this is all fucked six ways to

feel like

drying. “Therę’s something bothering me

on it.”

the beginning that Princess Angeline’s death

political scheme.” I

but one the Prince is too unimaginative to have orchestrated.”

widen almost imperceptibly, and then he

a fist and swearing

who isn’t too unimaginative?” Sinclair growls, scanning our

faces.

Henry supplies easily. “And while Prince Damon might have seen his mate

not the type to impulsively destroy one of

But Lydia wouldn’t have any reservations about getting the

of the way.”

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

believe

crazy as it seems, what other explanation do we have?” Sinclair

feet and pacing back and forth behind the dining table. “If the

wouldn’t question it. And if there was some sort

you could make the case for rogues or

But poison? That’s

and if it was a political scheme you would

in a way

Damon looking sympathetic.”

“Instead it

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