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

—

“(

surprised, both of our mouths falling open. I don’t know how I know it but…well, somehow, I get the

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

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

and start to say that words that the priestess taught us

out across the smooth surface of the silver pool. “We bring to you, tonight, this child, so that

wish to show him your light, and in doing so, let you see him and bring him into the spirit of your grace,” Roger continues, his own resonant voice

moon itself, beaming brilliantly down on us from above. Hey, mom, I say quietly in my

the emotion of the moment. Because she is here, now, with

out for him and this time Roger does hand him to me, letting me take the

moments pass. My heart fills to see Rafe looking up into the sky, to see the light surrounding him as it

is called 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

and at Roger, and at the moonlight. It’s a beautiful moment, introducing the child to the world and to all the magic within it. I

but Roger brings a quick hand

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

holding the baby out, my arms trembling a little, and watch the story form

projected into smoke in the air. Instead, it’s…felt as much as it is seen, communicated to our hearts and minds as much as

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

–

the girl’s head as well. She smiles up at him with such love in her eyes and then the door to the

–

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

–