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.

the restroom to change.

too deeply ingrained to allow me to

I’m definitely not

I emerge, Sinclair is also dressed,

carrying me

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

the breakfast

voices, and me feeling like an outsider

I can’t begin to understand. It’s not that they exclude me, I just feel

of my depth.

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

more than

respond to

lower lip thoughtfully, trying to

the nervous habit. Releasing

with Lydia’s husband?I mean the Princess is

other Alpha, right?” I clarify. When

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

to be gallivanting around another

Henry praises, maintaining a

he’s not giving out false

the wrong

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

and respond without playing

expecting some sort of countermove to challenge the

be able to spin ourselves out

– where it

them busy and distract the pack by rustling up her husband and

approvingly. “Good idea,

when I

think it’s

this entire situation

course not.” Hugo scoffs, “You don’t need to convene a

to tell you this is all fucked six ways to

mean, I feel like I’m missing

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

on it.”

been saying from the beginning that Princess Angeline’s death felt off

a political scheme.” I contribute

is too unimaginative to have

eyes widen almost imperceptibly, and then

hand into a fist and swearing up a

isn’t too unimaginative?”

faces.

supplies easily. “And while Prince Damon might

not the type to impulsively destroy one of

have any

of the way.”

what I think you are?”

to believe

other explanation do we have?” Sinclair inquires, rising

and pacing back and forth behind the

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

could make the case for rogues or vengeance for

by Damon. But poison?

scheme you

in

Damon looking sympathetic.”

agrees. “Instead it

confirms. “If it was planned, then