Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 133

Ella

.“I’m in the Royal Palace.” I finally burst out. “The third floor, my windows look out over the southern gate… it’s a corner suite.”

At once the crushing weight of his orders dissipate, and I’m left a puddle in his arms. “Good girl.” Sinclair praises me, and I feel positively sick to my stomach. “It’s all going to be okay.”

I can’t stop crying. I’m beating my fists against Sinclair’s chest, angrier than I can ever remember being with him. “How could you, how could you?” I moan, my entire body shaking with the force of my weeping.

“I’m sorry, Ella.” He lets me attack him and never moves to defend himself, only holding me steady as I vent my feelings onto him. “When this is all over, I promise I’ll make it up to you, but I stand by what I said. You’re done hurting yourself for the sake of others.”

“But the world needs you! Not me!” I explode, finding it more and more difficult to take in air. “And what do you think they’ll do to me if you die? How is that going to help anything?”

“I need you, Ella.” Sinclair argues, “I need you as my mate, as the mother of my pups – my Luna. I’m not going to die, Ella.” Sinclair promises. “And neither are you. We’re not going to let him win, sweetheart.”

“You don’t know that!” I combat, heaving in another sob. “I will never forgive you for this, Dominic. Not for as long as I live.”

“The point is that you will live, trouble.” He murmurs, his lips against my temple. “ That’s what matters most. I’d rather you hate me and live, than love me and die – and for that, I won’t apologize.”

“Well I do hate you!” I try to say, but it sounds about as fierce as a wounded butterfly.

“Do you really?” He inquires, a teasing note in his voice. “You don’t sound convinced.”

“Just don’t die.” I beg, and I realize that I stopped fighting him at some point. Now I’m clinging to him the same way I had been when he first arrived in my dream, and part of me wishes we could never leave this fantasy realm. We’re both safe here. I can be my wolf here without harming my baby, he can claim me and we can be together forever – just the three of us.

“Shh,” Sinclair croons, cuddling me to his chest. “We can work with the Palace, Ella. There are passages in and out of the building intended for Royal emergencies. There’s a chance there might be some in your rooms, and even if there aren’t, I might be able to find some in order to get inside.”

“But how are we supposed to tell each other if we’re able to find one?” I sniffle, more confused than anything else. “It was hard enough to fall asleep the first time – I’m in a cupboard.”

“A cupboard?” Sinclair repeats, a note of amusement in his voice.

“It felt safer than anything else.” I defend hotly, knowing he probably can’t understand the logic of my swirling hormones and trauma. “The point is that I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to fall asleep again, and neither of us has any time to waste. You can’t plan if you’re asleep.”

“Well, I can tell you this much,” Sinclair muses aloud. “The safest option for everyone would be if you can find a passageway. Often the royal family are the only ones who know they exist, which means they won’t be guarded. Moreover, they’re used for evacuations, which means they lead outside the palace walls.”

“Really?” I whisper, my tears slowing now.

“You see, sometimes telling me the truth has its benefits.” Sinclair states, only slightly smug. The worst part is that he’s right. I always feel better after I’ve come clean to him about my secrets, and the cocky bastard knows it.

“How do you know all this?” I inquire curiously.

“You forget that my father was almost King once, and we keep very close ties with the pack elders. Besides, the royal family and the Moon Valley Alpha are supposed to function as each other’s backup in times of emergency – we know the protocols for evacuation and everything else in case the worst happens, even if we don’t know the specifics.”

“But what if there aren’t any passages in my room?” I ask nervously, knowing it will mean I have to wait for his rescue.

“Then I come to you.” Sinclair shrugs. “Hopefully you’ll be able to get out before that’s necessary. If you can escape then you can get in contact and let us know to call it off.”