Surrogate For Alpha Dom

Ella

I take deep breaths, working to breathe through the contraction. Sinclair is seated on the bed next to me, one hand on my lower back, the other clutching my left hand as I squeeze his fingers, hard.

“You’re doing great, Ells,” Cora says, there on my right, coaching me through it. She was the obvious choice to help me deliver my baby, even though three other doctors wait patiently behind the door to our living room, as well as a small team of delivery nurses.

It’s all overkill, I know – but, well, why not have them on hand just in case. But in the room? It’s just the three of us for now. Roger and Henry are out there too, taking care of Rafe and probably drinking brandy and smoking cigars, for all I know.

The contraction ends and my head falls back as I pant, pressing my eyes shut and working hard to save my energy. Babygirl – she’s taking longer than Rafe, which is fine, it’s just…a completely different experience. While I was physically battered last time, this time I’m just…exhausted.

I can feel Sinclair’s anxiety for me down the line of our bond, even if he tries to hide it. He releases my hand, shakes his out a little bit, and then raises a cool washcloth to my head, patting away the sweat there.

“Thanks, baby,” I murmur, turning my face to him a little bit.

“Almost there, Ella,” he replies, supportive.

“He’s right,” Cora says, bending down low to check on my progress. “We’re going to start pushing on the next one.” She raises her head and grins at me. “You ready?”

“Are you kidding?” I say, raising my head to glare at her a little. “I’ve been ready for hours.”

My sister’s smile deepens as she stands up, moving over to the door to call the delivery nurses in so that there are some extra hands to help with the baby.

“Little Princess,” Sinclair says, giving me a squeeze. “She’ll be here soon.”

“I’m going to be jealous,” I mutter, glancing at him and working hard for a joke, even though I can feel the next contraction coming on, “when there’s another girl in your life, stealing all your attention.”

“Never,” he replies, kissing me on the side of the head. “You’re always my best girl.”

“Better be,” I gasp, but then all jokes are put aside, because the contraction comes on in full force. I groan as the pain grasps me and Cora moves quickly to the bedside, helping me better position my legs as she coaches me through it.

“Okay, Ella!” she says, her voice eager. “Let’s start to push!”

full

a shout as I push, my world turning dark at the edges. I keep pushing, still hearing Cora’s encouragement, feeling Sinclair

a breath back in the contraction fades

coming fast now,” Cora says, her voice excited, “you’re almost there, Ella! A few more pushes

shadows at the edge of my vision, they

my vision that I’ve felt

you…” I ask, my voice panting as I whip my head,

turning it towards him

from his hand, looking around the room again. The

voice shaking with worry. “Cora – what’s

” Cora says, looking at me. “Ella?

fades out, and the room

shadow of itself, looking like…like

the man who stands at the center of the room, who looks like he’s made of shadow itself. Except his eyes,

he says, his voice low and rolling, like

he moves a few steps forward and shadows clear from him, revealing a tall, broad-shouldered man with an angular face, impeccably dressed in rich fabrics, each a darker shade of black. “Congratulations,” he continues, giving me a short, teasing little bow,

still in a great deal of pain, though my birth process is somehow…paused – I’m in the middle of it, but it’s not progressing – I gasp, and my hands fly to

side so that he looks down at me with that burning gaze. ” I’ve transported you, temporarily, to a pocket realm – only taken a second of your

I stutter, starting to get mad, “who

mother has neglected you, then, if she hasn’t bothered to teach you

mother – goddess of the light,

better term. You wolves with your

afraid now than I was before what on earth is he here for is he -is he going to try to take