Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Cora

“It’s all right,” Roger says, his eyes going wide as he takes in my pale face, my scared expression and realizes that he’s freaked me out for the third or fourth time today. “It’s not – it’s not bad, I was just kind of a dick – it was a misunderstanding –”

“What?” I ask, more confused now than ever.

–

“Listen,” he says, leaning in towards me. “Just let me tell you, all right? II was going to tell you at some point, definitely not like this but…” he sighs, looking into my face and then down at my stomach, and then back up into my eyes. “I think that… if we’re going to start on this new part

–

–

of our lives – this parent thing – well,” he says, giving me a charming little half–smile and a

shrug. “We should be on the same page, right?”

I nod, agreeing, but looking at him a little askance. “Did you not think that we should…go into our mating? On the same page?”

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “It’s a little different, Cora – because it didn’t matter – I didn’t think we could have kids

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I frown at him – not mad or angry, but confused…

“Listen, let me just tell it,” he says, leaning forward and looking at me with pleading eyes.

“Okay,” I say, quite simply, taking his hands and leaning even closer to press a kiss to his mouthr letting him know that I’m listening with an open heart.

“Okay,” Roger says again, taking a deep breath before he begins. “Do you remember… when you and Ella went into the desert with her mother, Regina?”

“Reina,” I correct softly, and he laughs.

“Right,” he says, shaking his head. “Those names are so easy to mix up. Anyway – you three were out on your girls trip, and my choice was either to hang out with those priests in the temple, or go back on to the ship all alone.”

Ismirk at him, knowing precisely which one he chose. He sees my smile and laughs a little.

“Yeah,” he says, grinning at me. “I chose solitude. Or at least…I thought I did.”

on the ship?” I ask, curious.

“I was standing at the bow looking out at the desert – honestly, a little pissed off at being left behind. Sinclair sent me to protect Ella, and there’s

hear this, but I

then, as I was looking at the sky, staring at the moon, it started to grow…brighter and brighter. And at first I thought that I was just crazy

a little, begging him to focus, and he

voice faltering a little, looking down at our joined hands, “she

little breathless, but some part of me

the experience. “Your mother, Cora. Except…at the time,

to keep my face steady but honestly…some part of me is a little jealous. We all met the goddess that night in the temple with Ella – Roger met her, and me, but she had only spoken to Ella beyond a brief introduction that Ella

she’s my mother too? And that she only spoke to Ella

Why does she

thumb. “It’s half of why I didn’t want to tell you, Cora,” he continues, his face all sympathy. “I

ask, pushing past my jealousy and truly wanting

it was

tell me. So Roger turns back to

my brother’s was – and you have to realize, that that was devastating to hear at the time,

concentrating on nothing

because it wasn’t

my mate, and having children, and being a dad, and raising my kids well

then I lean forward, finally getting it. “Oh, so you stopped

we could have kids, Cora…” he whispers, clutching my hands tightly. “And it fucking broke my heart to do

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and before she said anything to me I didn’t even care about kids – didn’t even really want

–

was dying to be a dad,

say again, my eyes going wide.

that you’re pregnant, and not just because the goddess told me to be. I want –” He pauses He pauses his confused language for a moment and steadies himself, choosing his next

tells me, pausing to ensure that I hear him, “and I can’t wait to build a family with you.”

–

nod, because I do. I really get it. Honestly, I’m kind of in the same boat – I was likewise unsure if I wanted kids. But the moment I really understood that this was our child –

wanted in the world.

“because you thought…my mom told

–

you to do something you feel compelled to do it – and I thought she was telling me to run from you, when she probably was telling me to run to you to take you directly to my stupid tiny bunk in