Chapter 435 – Falling for the Alpha as a Surrogate Novel

Filed To Story: Falling for the Alpha as a Surrogate Novel

Time moves quickly once the four of us have made our plans, and my days and weeks quickly fill with tasks. I wake up early earlier than Sinclair, even to take care of the baby and begin to make my plans.

He scolds me for it every morning, telling me I need my sleep or that I should wake him up to help but every morning I brush him off.

Because I feel the same way about him and I’m happy he gets to sleep an extra hour while I take care of things. He needs it.

Sinclair is busier than he’s ever been. He reminds me, in some ways, of the cold, brooding, discerning business man I met at the beginning of all of this. In some ways I lost track of that man I fell in love with in all of our odd adventures in Vanara, and in the bunker, and in the RV, and everywhere else.

But now, as our life comes back together to resemble what it looked like before?

Steady days, routines, living in our own home (even if it is a palace now )? I see flashes of him come back. And it’s not that he’s lost the sides of him that he’s shown to me over the past months but…well, he’s just more complex now, isn’t he?

And, if at all possible, I love him even more than I ever have.

Sinclair made his formal claim for the throne a few days ago, and no one contested it. Now all that’s left is for the governors to ratify the claim, and the packs to demonstrate their support by paying fealty at the coronation. It’s all gone smoothly, as Sinclair predicted it would, and so we’ve moved forward with the plans. Delegations from all the neighboring countries are set to begin arriving in our beautiful Moon Valley over the course of the next few days.

Of course, I’m most excited about the delegation from Vanara including King Gabriel – but I’m also very curious to meet our other neighbors.

But the thing I’m most worried about predictably is that the Atalaxians have indeed signaled their intent to attend, and they’re bringing a large delegation.

I do my best to spend a little time every day with Sarah and Jessica, usually in the evenings, bringing Rafe with me to chat and play. They’re thriving now, and I think that they’re happy and excited about the future that they’re building for themselves but… Well, I haven’t had the heart to tell them that Xander is in Atalaxia, and that they’re sending a delegation. It’s not that I’m keeping it from them – if they asked, I’d tell them in a minute, of course. But they’re safe here, and moving forward, and I don’t want Sarah to have to worry about the past unless she absolutely has to.

So, I keep putting it off, and she keeps not asking so…we’re at a happy little stalemate, I suppose.

“What do you think the Atalaxians be like?” I ask Sinclair one night, laying naked with my belly p**ssed to his, a little sweaty and still catching my breath after our evening activities.

“Really, Ella?” he murmurs, tracing a lazy hand down my back. “I do my best work, and you want to ask about the Atalaxian delegation?” I giggle a little and rest my chin on his ch*st, looking up at him. “If you wanted to keep me from asking complicated questions, Dominic, you shouldn’t have gone and become King, making me a Queen. Should have just stayed a businessman and lived in our old house, kept me locked away in the bedroom as your happy little mate – ” He growls, sliding his hands down my body to grip two firm handfuls of my ass.

“Don’t tempt me, trouble,” he murmurs, and I bite my l*p as I feel warmth pool at my core, again. “But you’re right,” he sighs, using his grip on me to pull me upwards so that my face is even with his, so that I can dip my head and p**ss t**sing k**ses to his mouth. “You’re a Queen now, and these are good questions.” “So?” I murmur, each of my k**ses getting longer and longer. I can’t help it.

“What do you think?” “I think they’ll be strict,” he says, giving me a healthy smack on the ass to illustrate his point, making me flinch and then laugh.

“And?” “And distant. They’ll want to seem neutral on everything, even though they’re decidedly not.” “The women too?” I ask, curious, dropping my head further to trail k**ses down the length of his jaw as

Sinclair’s hands idly explore my body.

“They won’t bring any women,” he murmurs, which makes me sit up in surprise.

“What?” I ask, a little shocked. Sinclair opens his eyes, a little hazy with desire, and blinks up at me. “This isn’t new news, Ella – the Atalaxians don’t understand women as equal citizens. They won’t see them as useful participants in a party of ambassadors.” “But even…their wives? Their daughters?” He sighs, raising a hand to my face and stroking gently at my cheek. ” Their wives and daughters are those they will seek to protect most. And by protect, yes, I mean isolate. They wouldn’t even think of bringing their women out of their homes, let alone allowing them to see the rest of the world.” My mouth drops open in horror and surprise.

“I know, darling,” he says, shaking his head as he looks up at me. “It’s horrible.

But…it’s their nation and their customs. We have no control over it.” I sigh then, laying back down on top of my mate and resting my head against his warm ch*st. “This is going to be difficult for me, Dominic,” I murmur.

“I know, sweetheart,” he sighs, wr*pping his arms tight around me, letting me know that he understands and takes my side. “For me as well. We’ll get through it together.” I nod, understanding, believing him but suddenly my earlier jokes about being happily locked away in his bedroom aren’t as funny as they were before.

Ella

Cora comes early the day that the festivities begin – if they can be called that.

Because while the atmosphere is supposed to be festive, I know that simmering beneath it is a great deal of political tension that my mate is hoping goes just precisely right.

I throw my arms around my sister the moment I open the door to my bedroom, letting her in. “Thank you thank you thank you!” I cry out, the words all mushing together as one.

“Whoa!” Cora says, catching me and laughing, giving me a hug in return. ” It’s fine, Ella – honestly, where else would I be on a day like this?” “I don’t know, sleeping?” I say, looking at her with wide eyes. “Its 4 am!” “True,” she says, giving a little shrug and grinning at me. But then she sl*ps a hand to her belly. “Not like I wasn’t up anyway, though.” “What?” I gasp, tugging her into the room. Cora is about two full months pregnant now, which isn’t much according to a human pregnancy, but if this is a wolf pregnancy? Then she’s probably just getting into her second trimester.

But…is this her second trimester? With a hybrid baby… She laughs at me, watching me try to do the math in my head as I stare down at her belly, which is juuuust barely starting to swell.

Which is so, so cute “Yeah,” she says, giving a little shrug. “The morning sickness is starting to hit hard. I got away with it in my first trimester but,” she sighs. “It mostly hits at night for me too. So, I was already up.” “Poor sister,” I murmur, looking up into her face and meaning every word of it. I reach for her then, wanting to put a hand on her cheek, but she laughs and pushes it away, which makes me laugh as well. Cora isn’t one for coddling or pity.

“What can I get you?” I ask, the smile returning to my face. “I’ve heard ginger tea does good things?” “Distraction,” she says, nodding firmly. “That will be the best.” “Well distraction I’ve got,” I say, grabbing her hand and leading her towards my gigantic closet.

She gasps a little when she steps inside because even though it’s 4 am? It’s already chaos – clothes and supplies everywhere. Even a little cart with coffee, tea, and breakfast snacks.

“Oh, hey, Cora,” Sinclair says, turning and grinning at her as he stands at the mirror, tying his tie for the fourth time. He wants to get it absolutely, perfectly correct. “Thanks for coming early. We’ve got a long day. Did Roger come too?” “No,” she sighs, sitting down in the poufy arm chair next to Rafe’s littleplay pen, smiling down at him and patting his head to say hello. “He is lazy, and wanted more sleep. He says he’ll be here at the more reasonable hour of seven.” “That’s too late,” Sinclair murmurs, shaking his head and reaching for his phone.

“I need him here by six…” “Good luck,” Cora murmurs, accepting the little cup of tea that I hand her.

“It’ll be fine,” I say with a sigh. “Boys are lucky – they have so much less to do on mornings like this. Just throw on a suit! Run a hand through your hair!

Gorgeous, ready to go!” “Oh, come on, Ella,” Cora laughs, sipping at her tea, grinning when she detects that I’ve given her something with ginger in it anyway. “Like it’s so hard for you to get gorgeous.” “She has a point!” Sinclair calls out, tossing his phone back onto a side table after he finishes texting Roger and turning back to his tie.

“Oh, you both flatter,” I murmur, giving them both a pleased little glare and flapping my hands at them. “But we’ve got appointments, Cora – hair, nails, the works. It’s going to be a lot.” “I’m kind of looking forward to it,” she says, giving me a smile. “I haven’t been pampered like this in a long time. Plus, the outfits you’ve picked out for me for this weekend…” she whistles, imp**ssed. “They’re stunning.” “Well, you’re the bride,” I say, turning and giving her a grin. “You’re supposed to steal the show.” “On Sunday,” she says, rolling her eyes, “I’m supposed to steal the show. But tonight? And then the coronation tomorrow? That’s supposed to be all you, Ella.” “Or him!” I say, pointing to the man who is going to be you know crowned King.

“All eyes will be on you, my Queen,” Sinclair says, coming my side and tugging me close, p**ssing a k**s to my cheek. I smile when I note that his tie is indeed perfect. “Or,” Sinclair continues, considering and turning to the baby. “On Rafe.” “He is very cute,” I say, likewise turning my eyes to the baby, who burbles in the playpen, swatting at some toys hanging above him.

Cora laughs at us, taking a sip of her tea. “Guys, he’s very cute, but…you’re looking at him with parents’ eyes. I’m sure people will be much more focused on the two of you.”

“Not when they see his outfits,” I say, bursting into a smile. And I dash over to the little dresser where we keep Rafe’s things, but before I can pull anything out another knock comes at the door to the room.

“Your first appointment,” Sinclair murmurs, moving away from me to answer the door. “Ready?” “As we’ll ever be!” I sigh, turning to give Cora a wink. “Let’s get started.” “Gabriel!” I laugh, throwing my arms around the King of Vanara as soon as he mounts the four short steps up to the dais on which Sinclair and I stand, greeting each of the delegations as they arrive.

He laughs, catching me in his arms and giving me a warm, lingering hug.

“Ella,” he murmurs, his voice low and pleased. “It is such a joy to see you we were all so worried when you left. It is a joy to see you again, healthy and happy.” “And the baby!” I say, laughing and pulling away, reaching to take Rafe from Cora’s arms in a hurry so my son can meet the King who was so kind to me during such a large part of my pregnancy. Cora smiles, handing him over willingly, Roger at her side likewise looking eagerly at the Vanaran delegation, which holds so many familiar faces. Henry declined to attend this part of the ceremony, citing long hours and boredom, though he’ll be at the dinner tonight.

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