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.

disappear into the restroom to change. I

my human modesty is too deeply ingrained to allow me to strut around

definitely not

is also dressed, though much more formally than

go downstairs together, Sinclair carrying me despite my protests.

improving more and more every day, but it

all gather around the breakfast

low, serious voices, and me feeling like an

understand. It’s not

of my depth.

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

around in circles for more than half an hour, debating

respond to

gnaw on my lower lip thoughtfully, trying to ignore the flash of

the nervous habit. Releasing my swollen lip, I sigh, “Do

with Lydia’s husband?I mean the Princess is

right?” I clarify. When

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

her to be gallivanting around another territory

a good point.” Henry praises, maintaining

that he’s not giving out false compliments. “Maybe

the wrong

their motivations, we can simply leave it

corrupt and respond without playing into their

expecting some sort of

ourselves out of the hot

them – where

and distract the pack by

approvingly. “Good

but when

I think

entire situation just

Hugo scoffs, “You don’t

you this is all

mean, I feel like I’m missing

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

on it.”

from the beginning that Princess

political scheme.”

the Prince is too unimaginative

imperceptibly, and then he

fist and swearing up a

who isn’t too unimaginative?” Sinclair

faces.

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

than a trophy, he’s not the type to impulsively destroy one

Lydia wouldn’t have any

of the way.”

you are?” I gape, both

to believe my

other explanation

back and forth behind the dining table. “If

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

case for rogues

poison? That’s a woman’s

was a political scheme you would think the royal family

death and spun the details in a way that benefitted the campaign

Damon looking sympathetic.”

it just

planned, then why haven’t they jumped