Filed To Story: Falling for the Alpha as a Surrogate Novel
It makes…so much sense.
My eyes move back to the images, which fly by even faster now – too swift to catch them all – and I see of our children training hard, laughing together, working to build their lives and help each other and serve our nation –
The last image, though, lingers.
Ariel, with Rafe and Jesse on either side as they always are and her two mates behind her. All standing together on a battlefield with Ariel at the center, magic welling between her hands and passing to her brother, to her cousin.
Their faces are serious as they look at something gathering above them some force I cannot see.
And then…
The image disperses. It disappears.
Roger and I stay still for a long moment, and I’m only shaken out of it by a little mewling cry from Ariel’s tiny mouth.
“Poor baby, you must be cold,” I murmur, pulling her close and wrapping her up in her blanket. Ariel tacks her little head against me, closing her eyes and opening her mouth in a wide yawn.
“Wow,” Roger murmurs as he stares down at our niece. “Wow, I was not expecting that…”
I laugh a little, looking up at him and shaking my head. “Neither was I.”
“Damn, Ariel,” he says, laughing and running a shocked hand through his hair. “Looks like you’ve got one hell of a story to tell.”
“Come on, baby,” I say, laughing and shaking my head at her. “Let’s go tell your mom…only the things she absolutely needs to know.”
“Really?” Roger asks, raising his eyebrows at me.
“What are aunties for?” I say, shrugging and smirking at him. “A girl’s got to have someone to keep her secrets.”
He laughs, wrapping an arm around me as we turn back. But before we go I cast one more look over my shoulder, smiling up at the moon and sending a mental thank-you to my mother for her gift, for this glimpse of the future.
And the moonlight flares, just once, and I smile. Because I know she heard.
Ella
“Oh, they’re back, they’re back!” I gasp, shoving my half-drunk glass of champagne onto a table and rushing forward when I see Cora and Roger emerging from the dark of the woods with Ariel sleeping in Cora’s arms. Our gathered family and friends shout a cheer, welcoming them back.
Cora smiles at me, her expression warm and rich as I hurry to her.
“Tell me everything,” I gasp, taking ny baby back and cooing to her as I rest her little head in the crook of my elbow, gazing down at her perfect, sleeping face.
“Well wait for me,” Sinclair says, laughing as he comes to join our little circle with Jesse on one hip and Rafe on the other. “Honestly, Ella, I’m her parent too – ”
“You should have been faster then,” I say, rolling my eyes at him.
“I’m carrying two kids – ”
But I just ignore him and turning back to Cora. “Go! Spill!”
“I don’t know, Ells,” she says, smiling at me and reaching to take Jesse from Sinclair. “Honestly, as a mother? I’m not sure you want to know.”
My face goes pale with shock and terror and Roger scowls at his mate.
“Cora, don’t say it like that,” he says, giving her a half-hearted glare before reaching out a hand and placing it on my shoulder. “Seriously, Ella, it was all fine – there’s nothing bad. I mean, both Jesse and Rafe showed us that there’s a war coming – and that affects Ariel’s life, as it will all of ours. But seriously – all good news from the Goddess. She’s going to have an incredible life.”
“Really?” I gasp, holding my daughter tight, and looking between my sister and her mate. “You wouldn’t lie to me? It’s really all okay?”
“It is,” Cora says, laughing and reaching out to gently touch my cheek.
I exhale a huge sigh of relief, looking down at my little girl. “You had me scared, baby trouble,” I murmur, tracing a finger over her soft little cheek. But then my mind traces back to what Cora said. “Wait,” I say, my head whipping back up. “What wouldn’t I want to know as a mother!?”
“I mean, I’ll tell you sis – but aren’t there some things a mom should be in the dark about?” Cora asks.
I tilt my head back and groan, honestly not knowing. “I don’t know, Cora – are there!?”
She laughs and I look first at Sinclair, who shrugs, and then back at my sister.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?