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. I might be a

too deeply ingrained to allow me

I’m definitely not changing in front of

I emerge, Sinclair is also dressed, though

go downstairs together, Sinclair carrying me

more every day, but it isn’t enough

gather around the breakfast table, the men analyzing

serious voices, and me feeling

It’s not that they exclude

of my depth.

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

circles for more than half an hour, debating

respond to this

gnaw on my lower lip thoughtfully, trying

the nervous habit. Releasing my swollen lip,

what happened with Lydia’s husband?I mean the Princess

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

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

gallivanting around another territory with another

Henry praises, maintaining

giving out false compliments. “Maybe

this the wrong

trying to understand their motivations, we can

without playing

they’ll be expecting some sort of countermove

ourselves out of the hot seat and refocus

– where it

the pack

approvingly. “Good idea,

when I look over, his features

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

situation just doesn’t seem

“You don’t

to tell you this is all fucked six

I feel like

something bothering me and I

on it.”

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

political scheme.” I

one the Prince is too unimaginative

eyes widen almost imperceptibly, and

into a fist and swearing up

too unimaginative?” Sinclair

faces.

“And while Prince Damon might

he’s not the type to impulsively destroy

any reservations about getting

of the way.”

think you are?” I gape, both certain I’ve understood and

to believe

seems, what other explanation do we have?” Sinclair

and pacing back and forth behind the dining table.

her to death, I wouldn’t question

could make the case for rogues or vengeance for some

poison?

scheme you would think

the details in a way that benefitted the campaign

Damon looking sympathetic.”

it just seems…

“If it was planned,