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 change. I might

deeply ingrained to

and I’m definitely not changing in

dressed, though much more formally than

Sinclair carrying me despite my

and more every day, but

all gather around the breakfast table, the men analyzing

and me feeling

not

of my depth.

asks, turning his blazing

been going around in circles for more than half

respond to

on my lower lip thoughtfully, trying to ignore the flash

Releasing my swollen lip, I sigh, “Do

happened with Lydia’s husband?I mean the Princess

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

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

to be gallivanting around another territory

point.” Henry praises, maintaining a straight-faced expression

out false compliments. “Maybe we’ve been

the

trying to understand their motivations, we

corrupt and respond without playing

some sort of countermove to

we might be able to spin ourselves

them – where it

pack

approvingly. “Good

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

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

situation just

“You don’t need

to tell you this is all fucked six ways to

mean, I feel like

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

on it.”

beginning that Princess

scheme.” I contribute

is too unimaginative to have orchestrated.”

almost imperceptibly, and then he clenches them

and swearing

who isn’t too unimaginative?”

faces.

easily. “And while Prince Damon

not the

wouldn’t have any reservations about getting

of the way.”

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

believe

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

back and forth behind the dining table. “If

to death, I wouldn’t question

attack, you could make the case for rogues or

by Damon. But poison?

a political scheme you would think the royal family would

spun the details in a way that benefitted the campaign

Damon looking sympathetic.”

it just seems…

planned, then why haven’t they