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

deeply ingrained to

does – and I’m definitely not changing in front

dressed, though much more formally than

Sinclair carrying me despite my protests. My

more every day, but it

yet. We all gather around the breakfast table,

serious voices, and me feeling like an outsider

It’s not that they exclude me, I just

of my depth.

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

for more than half an hour,

to

lower lip thoughtfully, trying to ignore the flash

Releasing my swollen

with Lydia’s husband?I mean

to some other Alpha, right?” I clarify.

in all this? Even if he doesn’t want

be gallivanting around

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

he’s not giving out false

the wrong

of trying to understand their motivations,

respond without

some sort of countermove

but we might be able to spin ourselves out of the hot seat and refocus

– where

pack by rustling up

approvingly.

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

with worry.”I still don’t like it. I think it’s the best hope we

situation just doesn’t

course not.” Hugo scoffs, “You don’t

you this is all fucked six

feel like I’m missing

me and I just can’t put my

on it.”

the beginning

a political scheme.” I

the Prince is too

widen almost imperceptibly, and

fist and swearing up a

unimaginative?”

faces.

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

he’s not the

Lydia wouldn’t have any reservations about getting the

of the way.”

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

believe my

seems, what other explanation do we

the dining table. “If the Prince

question it. And if there was some

you could make the case for rogues or

Damon. But poison? That’s

political scheme you would think the royal family

in a

Damon looking sympathetic.”

it just seems…

was planned, then why haven’t they jumped on