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 a

is too deeply ingrained to

Sinclair does – and I’m definitely

also dressed, though much

Sinclair carrying me despite my

more every day, but it isn’t

around the

and me

understand. It’s not that they exclude me, I just

of my depth.

think, Ella?” Sinclair asks,

around in circles for more than half an hour,

respond to this

my lower lip thoughtfully, trying to ignore

as he observes the nervous habit. Releasing my swollen lip, I sigh, “Do we

with Lydia’s husband?I mean the

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

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

to be gallivanting around another territory with

good point.” Henry praises,

that he’s not giving out false compliments.

this the

motivations,

respond without

some sort of countermove to challenge

to spin ourselves out of the

onto them – where it

pack by

nods approvingly.

when I look over, his features

it. I think it’s the

situation just doesn’t seem

course not.” Hugo scoffs, “You don’t

tell you this is

I feel

bothering me and I just can’t

on it.”

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

a political scheme.” I contribute

one the Prince is too

imperceptibly, and

hand into a fist and swearing

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

faces.

Henry supplies easily. “And while Prince Damon

he’s not the type to

have any reservations about getting the Princess

of the way.”

you saying what I think you are?”

believe

other explanation do we have?” Sinclair

pacing back and forth behind the dining

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

case for rogues or vengeance for some

Damon. But poison? That’s a

political scheme you would think the royal

and spun the details in a way that benefitted the campaign

Damon looking sympathetic.”

it just seems…

was planned, then