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

—

“(

there’s a flare in the light from the pool, and Roger and I turn to it, surprised, both of our mouths falling open. I don’t know how I know it but…well, somehow, I get the sense that the pool –

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

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 that there’s magic in the world, but sometimes when you’re

start to say that words that

letting my voice ring out across the smooth surface of the silver pool. “We bring

the spirit of your grace,” Roger continues, his own resonant voice sending

through the trees and am treated by the sight of the full moon itself, beaming brilliantly down on us from above.

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

really see anything – his vision hasn’t developed well enough yet – but he’s certainly curious. I put my hands out for him and this time Roger does hand him to me, letting me

see Rafe looking up into the sky, to see the light surrounding him as it falls from

Rafe Sinclair,” Roger says softly, reverent. “His parents, Ella and Dominic, have asked us to bring him here to dedicate him to you. We do so in their

I open my mouth to say something, to tell Roger that

Roger brings a quick hand to my waist, steadying me.

pull the baby back,” he says, peering into the white light of the moon, likewise trying to make it out. “If you do, we won’t

holding the baby out, my arms trembling a

visual. Like, it’s not like watching a movie projected into smoke in the air. Instead, it’s…felt as much as it is seen, communicated

older, but still young.- running across a battlefield, fear on his face but courage in every line of his

–

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

–

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

–