Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Ella

The morning of the moon ceremony finds me, unsurprisingly, in the kitchen. Eating.

Rafe is with me this time, giggling happily as I dance happily around the room with him, singing about how delicious carrots are as I pour some baby carrots out from their bag onto a plate and begin to munch on them..

–

I’m just getting to the part of the song – which I’m making up as I go along about how they’re good for your vision and help you make friends with rabbits when I hear an odd, familiar sound out in the hall.

I gasp, spinning towards the door as the mechanical hum grows louder, and I’m nearly run over when Henry wheels into the room.

“Henry!” I gasp, tears instantly lining my eyes, stumbling in my hurry to hug him close, almost falling into his lap.

“Steady, girl!” Henry laughs, putting out his hands to catch me and help me find my feet, laughing a little. He beams up at me and I’m laughing too, shaking my head at myself as I lean down to give him a proper hug and then a kiss on both cheeks.

“We missed you so much!” I gush, my heart in my throat as I pull away. “I’m so glad you’re home and in time! A miracle!”

“Certainly took some doing,” he says, raising his eyebrows at me. “I rode in a cargo plane to get here – this little man had better impress.” He shifts his gaze, then, to the baby in my arms.

“Oh!” I say, standing up straight and remembering my manners. “Henry, may I please have the pleasure of introducing you to your grandchild?”

“Nothing would give me more joy,” he replies, his own eyes wet now.

first time, trying hard no to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the

son. Though I’m overwhelmed by the moment, part of me reflects that I’m glad Henry met Rafe while the baby

on the stairs and look towards the door, smiling when I see Sinclair

1. it.

booms, a huge smile on his face. I step back as Henry turns his chair, raising one arm towards his son, the baby still held in the other. Sinclair bends down low to give his father a long, warm hug and

as we all buzz around

1/3

laugh after a minute, raising

Sinclair, “go into the living room, take the baby, and relax. I’ll bring in coffee in a

a silver tray heaped with coffee and

Henry says fondly, looking down at his grandchild when I enter the

room.

easily persuaded of that,” I say casually, putting the tray down on the coffee table and sitting close next to Sinclair. “Would you like me to take

Henry says quickly, looking up at me. “I mean if it’s all the same to you,

deeply to see the bond

like you,” Henry says, smiling at my mate. “You, too, were a little bowling ball when you were

us all about the harrows of his travel back to us, how much

gasp,

us. “It wasn’t a

until we knew for sure,” Sinclair says, smiling at me. “I didn’t want you to

filling with tears again at the thought of seeing my

torn, I know, between wanting to spend time with his dad and the duties I know are pressing on him to finish

say, giving him a nudge and a smile. “We’re perfectly all right here on our own.”

asks, glancing at

his hand at his son. Then he smiles and pats the arm chair next to him. “You come sit by