Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Cora

I’m a little out of breath when I finally catch up with Roger and Rafe, having had to work hard to keep up with his long wolf stride.

“Rude,” I say when I finally come to a stop next to them. “You couldn’t have waited for me?”

“I’m being rude?” Roger says, raising his eyebrows at me in disbelief. “Cora, you’ve been nothing but unpleasant since the moment we stepped into the forest –”

–

I open my mouth with a little squeak of protest but Roger just rolls his eyes and ignores me, going on anyway. “This is supposed to be a sacred experience for Rafe and for us and you’ve done nothing but moan and complain. So yeah, forgive me if I wanted to get away for a moment and concentrate on the magic of this place

“Oh whatever,” I mumble, reaching out my arms so that he can hand me the baby.

“No

from you

way,” Roger retorts, holding the baby closer to his chest and turning a little away from me. “You don’t get to hold the baby now that we’re at the pool

“Yes I do!” I cry, “the priestess gave him to me!”

“I’m his godparent just as much as you are

—

“(

our mouths falling open. I don’t know how I know it but…well, somehow, I get the sense that the pool – or whatever magic is in it – is irritated

a step closer, a little embarrassed. Honestly, it never occurred

murmurs his own apology, coming closer to the edge. We look at each other, then, united anew at being…well, a little freaked out, suddenly. We’re both very aware

nodding to him, and start to say that words that the priestess taught us

pool. “We

and bring him into the spirit of your grace,” Roger continues, his own resonant voice sending shivers down my

trees and am treated by the sight of the full moon itself, beaming brilliantly down on us from above. Hey, mom, I say quietly in my mind, my heartrate

emotion of the moment. Because she is here, now, with us – ready to meet her grandchild.

put my hands out for him and this time Roger does hand him to me, letting me take the baby and unwrap his swaddling blanket. Then, when he’s free of it, Roger and I slowly walk as close as we

the baby, growing brighter as the moments pass. My heart fills to see Rafe looking up into the sky, to see the light surrounding him as it falls from the moon above and reflects upwards from the mirrored surface of the pool.

asked us to bring him here to dedicate him to you. We do

I open my mouth to say something, to tell Roger that I’m sorry, and that I’m glad I’m here with him to

a quick

into the white light of the moon, likewise trying to make it out. “If you do, we won’t be able to see…

out, my arms trembling a little, and watch the story

smoke in the air. Instead, it’s…felt as much as it is

a little boy, tall, with warm green eyes bending down to take the hand of a dark–haired little girl who has fallen to the ground, helping her up and brushing the tears from her face. Then, I see him again – older, but still young.- running across a battlefield, fear on his face but courage in every line of his limbs as he pushes himself to do what is right. We’re passed that quite quickly, though, and I see him again with that girl – though she’s older now too – laughing.

–

head as well. She smiles up at him with such love in her eyes and then the door to the room bursts open,

–

children – and a light–haired boy I don’t know, just about Rafe’s age- and more children, so

–