Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Home with Baby Ella

I hear Sinclair sigh heavily next to me, murmuring “Ella…”

But I ignore him, my eyes fasted on Hank, who blushes a deep red at the door and looks down at his shoes. I don’t say a word, though, or make this any easier on him. Instead, I wait patiently for an answer.

“Cora is,” he murmurs, awkward, “very special to me…

“I would imagine so,” I reply, my voice harder than I think I expected it to be. “She’s a very special person.”

Hank sighs and raises his eyes seriously to mine. I hold his gaze steadily.

“I’m very serious about Cora,” he says evenly. “I want to build a life with her. But we are moving…slowly. We both want to make sure that this is right.”

My heart warms when I hear him say that he wants to build a life with her, but still – what does that mean? I hold my baby closer to me and shift in my seat.

“And do you want to have childre-”

“Ella!” Sinclair bursts in, his voice angry, a hand on my arm.

“What!” I cry, turning to him with a frown. “It’s a legitimate question!”

“It’s none of your business!” He hisses back to me, his eyes wide and appalled.

–

my sister’s business is

My frown deepens as I open my mouth to object to my mate business, after all – but Hank clears his throat, bringing my attention back to him.

says, his eyes flicking between Sinclair and I now, clearly hoping

questioning is at an end. I sigh, nodding, as Sinclair speaks.

with finality, letting Sinclair know he’s free from

as Hank leaves the room, my eyes

Sinclair says slowly, admonishing. I look into his eyes, still mad.

can’t have. If Hank also isn’t on the same page with her about kids, then

go up in surprise as he processes this information. “And what’s Cora’s page about kids?” he asks. “Does

I ask, still bristling that he didn’t let me get information that I very much wanted.

staring into space and considering it. “Actually, I don’t know…” He brings his eyes back to me, though. “Either

all too stupid enough to not talk to each other about it, then I am

back on the chair. “I guess I shouldn’t have expected any different.”

on his little head. “Don’t worry, baby,” I whisper to him. “I’ll teach you

his chair, but doesn’t bother to counter me.

day. But Cora finally gave us the go–ahead when Rafe’s final

we cross the threshold into our home, I gasp a little when I see the variety of gift baskets and flowers waiting for us. “Oh,” I say, fascinated, moving forward

says, his eyebrows also raised in interest as he checks some tags on a few of them. “ They look to be presents from friends and well–wishers. See?” He points to one filled with hand–drawn cards set neatly around a fluffy teddy bear. “This one’s

my eyes suddenly filled with sharp tears. “Oh, I miss them…” I bite my lip against the sudden rush of feelings, overwhelmed by all the love in the room when I’ve been so distracted – I haven’t

moving the baby and I towards the stairs. “We’re way too tired for this – if you get into all

looking over my shoulder at it as Sinclair guides me up the stairs, a steady hand on my back. “Rafe’s first teddy – we have to get

in the morning,” Sinclair

be shepherded upstairs. When we reach the door to our

fingers, exhausted but wanting to

looking between him and the baby. “Just…we’re bringing him home for the first time, Dominic. Putting him to sleep in his own little bed. It’s just…” I shrug,

so I rest my body against him – against the warm, steady bulk of him, grateful – again – to have a mate who

And that every moment of it – even one as simple as this is a miracle.