Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Ella

I pace back and forth outside Gabriel’s chambers, absolutely beside myself over Phil!ppe’s fate. I have the worst feeling that Sinclair is going to fire or demote the guard because of my actions, and I’m already preparing a furious speech to deliver to my mate if he does so. I can’t hear a single word of their conversation because the King’s chambers are soundproofed – a luxury I decide Sinclair and I should definitely invest in when we return home.

The waiting is horrible, but eventually my faithful guard emerges, looking thoroughly dejected. I can’t stop myself from racing up to him with man energy. “Did he demote you? Is he still on the call –I’ll talk to him-“

“Woah,” He catches me by the shoulders. “It’s okay, Ella. He didn’t demote me, he just did a lot of yelling”

“Im so sorry.” I profess wringing my hands.

“Don’t be.” Phil!ppe says evenly, staring me straight in the eye so I can see the honesty in his expression. “You were right. Being someone’s guard is a really intimate relationship. You have to trust me with your very life, with all your secrets

He sighs, shaking his head. “Most people get to choose their guards but you didn’t pick me, you didn’t even know who I was when Dominic a.ssigned me to you.”

“So?” I protest, still feeling indignant on his behalf.

“So it’s right that I should have to prove myself to you.” He chuckles. “Trust has to be earned.”

Phil!ppe pauses, giving me an assessing look. “But I have to tell you that if it had gone on much longer. I don’t think I could’ve kept it up.. part of protecting you means looking out for your health and well-being even when you don’t want me to do it. You weren’t doing well and I’m glad Dominic got through to you. I don’t want to be in that position again.”

“I respect that.” I reply contritely. “And Ill try to do better.” I promise, wondering if my sudden urge to explain myself is actually to help him understand, or to make myself feel better. I have a terrible sense that it’s the latter, but I forge ahead anyway as we begin walking down the opulent corridor.”

These last few months have gone by in such a whirlwind. My entire life is different now and I’m still struggling to catch up.”

mother, and I have a mate and a pack, and I’m in charge of a world I didn’t know existed, and I’m in the middle of a war, and I might even have parents out there somewhere.” I know I’m rambling, and Goddess love Phil!ppe for standing beside me and listening without judgment. “I love it,

closely. He leans back on his heels,

sure about all the

but I think maybe we were so distracted by

eyes widen, and suddenly I feel very vulnerable. I wrap my arms around myself. “What

safety. But they left us together so we wouldn’t have to be alone.” I smile at the bittersweet memory. “But we grew up… and we realized that we just weren’t wanted. We weren’t any more special than any

confess. “Ive been saying I have to find out where I came from – which is true. But in my brain finding out where I came from is one in the same as

why I’ve kept Cora out of it too.. because for the first time since I was eight, I feel like there’s hope I might find the answers… and that’s

nods. “It’s funny the things that can motivate

why therapy is

gr0an, thinking

“Not you too!”

hands in self defense, “hey, I’m just following

I deride, throwing my arms

back in the sitting room with Leon, Henry, and my small

to leave Leon and me in private for the therapy session following today’s ether trip – a fact

Leon to travel into the past. As soon as the walls come down in my mind, I’m taken even farther

six years old, and for the first time ever, I have

find it hard to take in all of her features at once. I can only focus on one aspect at a