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.

grab some loungewear and disappear into the restroom to change. I might

modesty is too deeply ingrained to allow me

I’m definitely not

I emerge, Sinclair is also dressed, though much more formally

carrying me despite

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

yet. We all gather around the breakfast table, the

low, serious voices, and me feeling like

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

of my depth.

Ella?” Sinclair asks, turning his blazing emerald eyes

going around in circles for more than half

to this

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

observes the nervous habit. Releasing my swollen lip, I

happened with Lydia’s husband?I mean the Princess

right?” I clarify. When the men nod,

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

be gallivanting around another territory with another

good point.” Henry praises, maintaining

not giving out false compliments. “Maybe we’ve been

the wrong

understand their motivations, we can

and respond without playing into their

all, they’ll be expecting some sort

spin ourselves out of the hot seat and

onto them – where it

and distract the pack by rustling up her husband

approvingly. “Good idea,

support, but when I look over,

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

situation just

course not.” Hugo scoffs, “You

tell you this is all fucked six

I mean, I feel

drying. “Therę’s something bothering me and I just

on it.”

the beginning that Princess Angeline’s

scheme.”

Prince is too

and then he clenches them

hand into a fist and swearing up a storm.

unimaginative?”

faces.

while Prince Damon might have seen his

he’s not the type

Lydia wouldn’t have any reservations about getting the Princess

of the way.”

you saying what I think you are?” I gape, both

believe

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

pacing back and forth behind the dining

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

attack, you could make the case for rogues or

poison? That’s a

if it was a political scheme you would think the royal family would

spun the details in a way that benefitted the

Damon looking sympathetic.”

“Instead it just seems…

confirms. “If it was planned, then why haven’t they jumped on