Chapter 443 – Falling for the Alpha as a Surrogate Novel

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

“It’s all right, trouble,”

 he murmurs, kissing my hair.

“This was better. It was you.”

 I almost purr with happiness then, pressing my face briefly to his chest and letting him hug me before taking a deep breath and standing straight at his side.

Because he’s right – as much as I thought the people of this nation wanted me to be their dignified queen… Well. They’ll just have to make do with regular old me.

And maybe that’s all they really want anyway.

I’m smiling, warm and happy, as I watch my sister and her mate come down the aisle, walking slowly behind Henry, who really does manage to look strong and dignified as he makes his way towards us. When he reaches the end Henry makes a short detour up the little ramp that we had built for him as Cora and Roger come up to stand at our side – Cora next to me, and Roger next to his brother, presenting a united front.

The next bits go as fast as the previous meeting was slow.

The mayor of our fine city – a human – comes forward along with the head of the largest pack – a wolf – to together perform the ceremony. Sinclair and I turn towards them and he goes to one knee, reciting an oath to dedicating his life to protecting this nation and its people.

I smile, watching him make his vow, especially the words that we had changed, which promise explicitly to protect and serve both wolf and human kind together.

One that is done the mayor hands Sinclair a scepter that marks his sovereignty, and then the pack leader comes forward to reverently place a crown on his head, declaring him King.

When Sinclair stands, the crowd roars their approval. He faces them all and looks around smiling, nodding deeply to let them know that he accepts his new position with the gravity that it is due. The cheer goes on for a long time and I send Sinclair a little pulse of joy. He turns to me then, taking my hand and beaming his own happiness at me.

It takes a few moments, but when the crowd dies down Sinclair turns towards the throne, accepting from one of the aids another crown from atop a blue velvet pillow.

I find my face settling into serious lines now as I see it, finally, in his hands.

Because while I’ve joked about wanting to wear this crown and it really is very pretty – I’m well aware that it’s not a piece of costume jewelry to be played with.

That it is, instead, a very real promise that I’m making to the people of this nation to care for them, and protect them, and fight for them.

And I intend to live the rest of my life making that promise come true. I tilt my chin up to my love, my mate, holding his gaze as he lifts the crown above my head with both of his hands.

“I crown you, Ella Sinclair,”

 he says, his voice booming through the room. ”

 As my mate and my Queen. You are my whole heart, my conscience, my peace, and my will. You are the greatest joy of my life and the best gift I can give to my people is to have you by my side. Do you accept?”

 Slowly, I lower my head and bend my knees, just a little, impulsively pressing a hand again to my heart that I hope shows how much his words have meant to me. And then, as I bow to my King, my mate, and before my people I feel the crown come to rest on my rose-gold hair.

And the crowd cheers again.

I stand, beaming out at all of the people who shout my name, a few tears coming to my eyes as I realize that their support is genuine – that maybe… maybe they’re starting to see how much I love them, and love me back.

Overwhelmed, I wrap an arm around my mate’s waist, leaning into him.

“A little more, trouble,”

 he murmurs into my ear, and I look up at him, surprised.

Because whenever we’ve practiced this before that was the end of it. Just a little procession back down the aisle and then the party

“What?”

 I ask.

“A surprise,”

 he murmurs, and then his face bursts into a grin as he turns away from me. I follow the direction in which he reaches, turning backwards to see And I gasp when I see another velvet pillow, and on top of it A teeny tiny golden crown, just a little precious circlet unadorned by any jewels, just big enough for a baby’s head-

Ella

I can’t help it, not at all. I burst immediately into tears. The crowd, when they realize what’s going on and when I think they see my over-emotional reaction to it – begin to again shout their approval. Sinclair laughs when he sees me crying, shaking his head at me as he returns to my side with the little crown in his hands.

“Well, if you didn’t want me to cry!”

 I say, stamping my foot lightly,

“you should have told me!”

“Nah,”

 Sinclair says, smiling at me, his voice soft but somehow still audible over the cheers of the crowd.

“This is way better. It was worth it to see your face.”

“Okay well,”

 I say in a rush, wiping hastily at my cheeks before raising Rafe a little so that he’s sitting straight up in my arms, looking up at his father with a happy smile.

“Get on with it! I want to see how he looks!”

 Sinclair laughs at me, shaking his head, and the crowd quiets, eager to hear what their King will say.

“Rafe Sinclair,”

 my mate says, looking seriously at his son. But Rafe frowns and waves his hands at him, confused by the seriousness of his voice, which makes Sinclair instantly laugh and have to start over.

The crowd laughs along with us, pleased, I think, to see their serious King look so human, to see how much he loves his son.

“Rafe Sinclair,”

 my mate tries again, his voice lighter this time, and Rafe lets out a little squeal of joy that threatens to make me cry again. Sinclair grins, leaning over a little.

“I crown you as my Prince and my heir, to ascend to this throne when it is your time to rule. I promise to raise you to understand this responsibility, to grow to be a good man, and to deserve it.”

 And then, when I think my heart will burst with love, Sinclair gently places the little crown on Rafe’s tiny head.

I watch eagerly to see what Rafe will do and then I burst into laugher when he reaches his pudgy hands up touching it experimentally, trying to get a grip on it so he can pull it off.

But I move his little hand away and the crowd again bursts into cheers, charmed – I know – by their little Prince, who deserves every moment of their adoration.

I step close to Sinclair, turning my head up to him, and he bends a little and kisses me, warm and real and true. I lose myself to the kiss, loving him so much I can hardly bear it, and I have no idea, really, if the crowd cheers to see us because I’m lost in him.

The next thing I know Sinclair has his arm wrapped around my shoulders, and he’s leading me back down the aisle, and we’re waving to our people.

Before I know it, we have left all the people behind, and we’re back in the private little room at the front of the great hall, and Henry and Cora and Roger come in smiling and laughing behind us.

But I have no eyes for them – instead, I can only look up at my mate, my Alpha, my King, my love for him shining and beaming down our bond.

“I love you, little Queen,”

 he murmurs, an arm around my waist pulling me close, Rafe snuggled between us. Sinclair uses his other hand to tilt my chin up towards him. ”

 You look just as good in that crown as I thought you would.”

“Wait till you see me later,”

 I murmur, feeling a mischievous.

“Later?”

 he asks, quirking an eyebrow at me.

“I believe,”

 I say quietly, wanting to keep it between us,

“that I promised to show you what I look like in nothing but this crown.”

 A growl reverberates in his chest, and my King lowers his head, and he kisses me. And I stand on my toes and kiss him right back.

The party that night is a big one. The guest list isn’t completely open the majority of our citizens are celebrating out on the street – but there are certainly hundreds of people here.

Everyone from each of the foreign delegations were invited to celebrate with us, along with many of our most honored citizens.

I admit that I’m nearly overwhelmed by all of the guests and the attention.

Sinclair and I spend hours turning to each new person who comes forward to greet us, to congratulate us, to shake our hands and tell us about their excitement for the future of the nation. I do my best to give each of them my full attention and to match their enthusiasm.

The result, of course, is that after three hours of the party I’m totally exhausted.

But the ballroom is still packed with people, and our job isn’t nearly done, so I squeeze Sinclair’s hand, and kiss Rafe’s head, and turn to the next person who claims our attention.

“Hey!”

 A familiar voice shouts, and my face bursts into a grin as I turn to see little Benny from the human refugee camp rushing towards me at the head of about five children, some of whom I recognize from the same place.

“Hey, Ben!”

 I say, not needing to force my enthusiasm this time as I crouch down and open an arm to welcome him into a hug.

“I’m so glad you could come!”

 I sent an invitation to the children’s home about a week ago encouraging some caretakers and children to attend, but I hadn’t received any word back. I look over Benny’s head and smile warmly at the other children and at the caretakers who brought them, who each give me a shy wave.

“I didn’t know you were a Queen,”

 Benny says, frowning up at my crown after he pulls back from my hug.

“Well, that makes sense,”

 I say, wrinkling my nose at him. ”

 Considering I just became one today.”

“I thought you had to be born a Queen,”

 Benny replies, turning his head and studying my crown curiously.

Then he turns to look at Rafe, who is dozing a little, his own little crown still perched on his head.

“Like him.”

“Well,”

 I say, considering.

“I guess it happens all sorts of ways.”

“So, can I become a king?”

 Benny asks, curious.

“Is someone already trying to take my job?”

 Sinclair asks, coming up behind me, and I laugh, looking up at him.

“I think you’ve got some stiff competition,”

 I reply, and then I stand up, gesturing towards Benny and the other children, introducing them to their King, who graciously leans down and shakes each of the orphans’ little hands. Afterwards, we greet the caretakers warmly, telling them how much we appreciate their work.

“I know that Ella intends to be more deeply involved in the future,”

 Sinclair says, smiling at me.

“If you’ll allow her to.”

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