Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Travel Disruption Ella

The sound of gunfire rings out around us and I feel Sinclair lurch to cover me in the suddenly- still car. Trembling, I try to peek out from beneath his arm as he curses vehemently, his body tense over mine.

The gunfire ends and Sinclair moves, jolting back to the driver’s seat and hitting the gas, spinning the car and heading away from the bullhorn that’s suddenly blasting words in our direction.

“What’s happening?!” I shout, begging for information, doubled over in pain as my body continues its contractions, not caring about the fact that we’re suddenly, apparently, in a war zone.

“The insurgents,” Sinclair growls, glancing over his shoulder. “Picked fucking tonight to push forward with their rebellion – god damn it –”

I glance over my shoulder as well, suddenly seeing a road block in the middle of the street with figures standing behind it, wearing masks and holding guns.

“Humans?” I ask, desperate. “Who don’t want peace?”

Sinclair nods sharply, spinning the car around the city’s center square. I look around suddenly – hadn’t known where we were my eyes fixing on the temple, the palace, these familiar places I haven’t seen in weeks – since

Quickly, I dismiss the thoughts from my mind, not letting myself go there. “Can we go back? Can we get out of it?”

“No,” he growls, speeding across the square and skidding to a stop in front of the palace. “They’ll have us boxed in by now, and they saw my face. God damn it, I should have seen this coming. They’ll come after us now – we have to get you inside.”

With that, Sinclair jumps out of the car, coming quickly to my side and pulling my door open. I step out and he lifts me quickly into his arms, charging forward to the palace. There are guards waiting at the door who look at us with shock and surprise.

“Alpha,” the guard says. “We weren’t expecting

“Let us in,” Sinclair growls, barely stopping to let his command register and ready to burst through the door if the guard doesn’t open it in time, which, fortunately, he does. “Barricade this entrance all of the entrances – get as many guards here as you can, and let no one in except at my command. Is that clear?”

–

The guard nods quickly, all business, ready to follow through on Sinclair’s commands. As soon as we’re in the dark palace, though, I open my mouth, letting out the sharp cry I’ve been holding back. This contraction – it’s horrible, sharper than the others, and fast –

“Sinclair,” I pant, looking up at him. “The baby is coming – we have to get to a hospital –

”

He shakes his head at me, looking horribly repentant as he pounds up the wide marble stairs. I’m sorry, baby,” he says. “We can’t go anywhere until we know it’s safe.”

”

are we…” I look around, not recognizing what part of the palace we’re in now. But,

Sinclair knows where he’s going, throwing his shoulder into doors and bursting through them until, quite suddenly, we’re in a

the bed. “Well,” he says, grimacing a little, apology still in his eyes. “A King’s bedroom is as good as any a place for Rafe to be

around, the shock of the situation

bed by my side. “Ella,” he says urgently, taking my hand. “I need to go organize those guards, make sure that you are safe, make sure that

and doubt there.

every word. “But I have to go just for a few minutes – you text Cora, tell her where to come ” Sinclair pauses now, his eyes sweeping over me. “Ella, my

then nod, suddenly, knowing that he has to do it. I want him

– but I know that without him to

this palace could

put a little smile on my face. “We’ll be fine.” I

an anxiety beyond that which a new mother feels when she goes into labor. My

he, too, feels my guilt. But he leans forward, placing a steady kiss on my forehead, and whispers “I’ll be right back. Right back, Ella.” I nod, and then he’s striding away from me, leaving me alone here in

but I feel my breathing ratchet up anyway as I look around this gigantic dark room, at the lurking shadowy corners. Was this…was this where Damon slept? Where he lived his

squeeze themselves from my eyes. God damn

everything –

the

my phone from the emergency bag and begin to text my sister, letting her know that the plans have changed.

it

“Hello?”

Cora’s voice furiously demands,

Now.”

know who is out there or how many people there are

damn it, Ella, I’m going to kill him,” she

gasp, desperate and uncomprehending.

yours, for getting you

fault,” I growl, willing to defend Sinclair

–

have troops there in a few minutes – a whole wave of them – and they’ll be able to

to feel the pain rising again in me. “Um, Cora?” I ask, looking down at my stomach as the ache begins to intensify and