Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Ella

“I’m very worried about this, Ella.” The doctor pronounces grimly. He’s just taken my blood pressure, and it’s the same high reading we recorded this morning with the home kit. “I know you’re in the middle of a campaign and you’re going through a lot, but you’ve got to find a way to de-stress. If you don’t, we’ll have to put you on bed rest.”

“Bed rest?” I repeat anxiously. “For how long?”

The doctor’s grave face speaks volume, “the duration of your pregnancy.”

Sinclair stiffens beside me, moving the hand at my nape to massage my tense shoulder muscles. “What can we do, other than avoiding high pressure situations?”

“I’m going to prescribe you some medicine that will be safe for you and the baby. Be sure to take it every day, and otherwise just keep up the things we’ve already talked about – healthy eating, regular exercise, activities you find calming or relaxing.” The doctor continues, listing off suggestions. “You can try meditation or breathing exercises, pregnancy yoga is getting very popular. Sticking to a daily routine can really help when things are uncertain and you’re going through all these changes. And Alpha, help her however you can.”

“The instructor at our parenting class advised us not to coddle our mates– is that still good advice given Ella’s risk level?” Sinclair inquires.

“Yes.” The doctor agrees, smashing the small surge of hope I’d felt to pieces. “Human or wolf, your mate needs to feel like you’re in control, especially in cases like this where so much is out of your hands. She needs you to ground her if she starts to spiral – to show her she can rely on you no matter what.”

I can’t see the logic underpinning his words, but I still don’t like it. What’s so wrong with a bit of coddling? I’ve never been coddled in my entire life. As if he can read my thoughts, Sinclair’s warm breath flutters over my neck, “Just remember how much you hated it when I kept you out of the loop, trying to protect you.”

Oh. I guess I have been coddled after all. I’m about to acknowledge this, but when I look up at Sinclair, he’s smiling at me so affectionately that my heart stops beating.“Besides,” He continues indulgently. “Just because I don’t coddle you, doesn’t mean I can’t pamper you the way you deserve.”

I find myself giggling like a schoolgirl, and the doctor steps out, clearly feeling as though he’s intruding on something even though we’re only talking. When we get home, Sinclair tucks me in for a nap and returns to work, making me promise to call on the servants if I need anything and vowing to be home as early as he can.

swear he’s becoming like my security blanket – my body won’t relax fully unless he’s with me and my nightmares always surge in his absence.

my head challenges. He’s the baby’s father – he’s going to

going to be sleeping with me when he finds his second chance mate – and I have to be able to

his mate at all. The voice suggests, sounding much too hopeful

scoff at my own naivete, get it together, Ella! You can’t start thinking

of the guards appears

in my tracks. “Who is it? I wasn’t expecting

shrugs. “I tried to get her name but she wouldn’t tell me. Should I make

entering his home. I don’t like the idea myself – especially after Roger’s warning. “What does she look

hair, tan skin – maybe 40?” He lowers his voice to

sinks, it does sound like a former employer and if she’s human then it’s probably true. In fact, she sounds like the heartless woman who fired me so callously after

instruct myself sternly. Maybe she came to apologize, don’t be rude just because you’re

mother is gazing around Sinclair’s sitting room, a hungry gaze on her face. She looks me up and down as I enter, something distinctly spiteful in her open perusal. She speaks before I can say a word of welcome. “Well, you’ve certainly come up in the world, Ella. Lord

nice. She clearly set the tone of this conversation and though I’m sorely tempted to kick her out now, I need

of the paper I could scarcely believe it. I had to come and find out if the rumors were true.” She explains

with Sinclair created clearly didn’t stop with the shifter news. Everyone in the human world thought Sinclair was just a handsome billionaire, and he was still a public figure for all his philanthropic work. I should have realized this might happen – my social circle had been very small before discovering the werewolf world and most of the people from my past wouldn’t have any reason to be suspicious of my relationship with Sinclair. This woman, however, knows

seen that they were true, you can be leaving.” I suggest,

and I have much to discuss, Ella.” Her eyes are locked on the curve of my belly. “It’s no wonder you were begging outside his

was asking for help on behalf of my sister – she was