Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Ella

Forty–five minutes later, I back out of the bedroom, snicking the door shut behind me. Then, I stand up, closing my eyes and exhaling a long breath.

“Is she all right?” a voice hisses, right behind me.

I leap about a foot in the air, managing to muffle my shriek as I spin to see my mate standing about six inches from me, looking down with a worried expression. I smack him, hard, against the chest – more to get my adrenaline out than to actually hurt him – and glare up at him, mad at him for scaring me like that. Sinclair just blinks at me, waiting, my smack having had no effect on him at all.

“Back up,” I whisper, putting my hands on his wide, muscled chest and pushing backwards. “She’s asleep, finally – where is the baby?”

“He’s here,” Roger says, standing at the end of the hall with his godson in his arms. I smile, a little, at the sight as I move forward with my arms open. Roger quietly passes my baby to me and I smile down at my son, something in my body that has been anxious without him in the same room as me finally coming to rest.

“Seriously, Ella,” Sinclair says, looking back towards the closed door of our guest room. “Is Cora okay?”

“I don’t know,” I say, looking towards the door anxiously. “Leon came back about ten minutes later, offering a sedative so she could sleep. I told him to give it as long as it wouldn’t give her bad dreams. Or any dreams.”

“Did she…say anything?” Sinclair asks, still facing the door.

I frown up at him, a little annoyed by his singular focus on information. “You know she’s your sister too now, Dominic,” I snap, my own emotions a bit on edge. “You could show a little more concern for her welfare, and not just see her as a source of information.”

Sinclair swiftly turns his attention to me, anger and frustration immediately on his face, but then he softens “I’m sorry, Ella,” he says, sincere. “I didn’t mean it like that. You know her health and safety are my first priority. I was just curious if you learned anything new.”

I sigh, stepping forward closer to my mate, leaning my body against him. “I’m sorry,” I murmur. “I

“You’re tired, and stressed,” he murmurs against my hair. “You haven’t had any sleep in about forty -eight hours…”

in with her,” Roger says suddenly, striding

he turns to me with his hand on the knob, giving me a look so fierce it steals the

just going to…be there, all right? In case she needs anything. You two go get some sleep,” he says, his face softening. “The house

someone to sit with

fill with tears at the sweet sincerity of my brother–in–law and, seeing them, Sinclair wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Come on, trouble,” he murmurs to me, nodding to Roger – who disappears into the bedroom – and guiding

gasp, my voice shaky, wiping a tear from my face. “How can I sleep when someone is coming for

me by the shoulders and moves me towards the

to me and – to my surprise – beginning to undress me, tugging my shirt up over my head and arms and then sitting me down on the mattress, tugging off my leggings. When

head basically eye- level with mine.

never let anyone hurt or take Rafe, yes?

Again, I nod.

sleep, darling,” he says, lifting a hand to my face and gently cupping my cheek. “Because

so you can be strong for them.”

it, but a larger part of me…god, it needs it. It needs the simple reassurance, the warm reminder

underneath the blankets, taking the baby with me. “Tonight he sleeps in the bed with us, okay?” I murmur, laying the swaddled baby down flat on the mattress between where Sinclair and I sleep. I move all of the pillows and blankets away from him so he’ll be safe. “I want him close.”

stripping down to his underwear and climbing into the bed with us. Then, he leans forward, kissing Rafe softly on the head before laying his own head back on

when, scared, I open my eyes again, looking around. But all I see is Sinclair’s eyes, open,

Cora

and I sit stark straight in the bed in

side and flinch away from

awake in an armchair

with sleep.