Filed To Story: Falling for the Alpha as a Surrogate Novel
“I don’t know,” Henry says, tilting his head and considering his grandchildren with interest.
“But,” Sinclair says, clearly thinking it through as he talks, “that’s not how bonds work, right? I mean, Cora and Ella are blessed with Goddess gifts, but Roger and I aren’t any stronger for it.”
I click my tongue, offended, and turn to glare at my mate over my shoulder. ” Excuse me, Dominic, but you have benefited many times from my gift – ”
“Yes, darling,” he says, rolling his eyes a little and shaking his head, “but you know what I mean. We aren’t physically stronger, or gifted ourselves.”
“True,” Cora says, looking between the two of them. “But…both of us did bond to extremely powerful Alpha wolves who just happen to be brothers “Baby,” Roger says, interrupting and beaming down at her, pressing a hand to his heart. “That is…the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me -”
“It’s just a fact, Roger,” she sighs, rolling her eyes, making me laugh.
“You think I’m powerful, and tough,” he whispers, sliding down the couch’s arm to squeeze in behind her, wrapping his arms around her and Jesse both, rocking them back and forth. Jesse squeaks and laughs as Cora tries to hold her own laughter back. “You’re amazed with me
“Oh god,” she sighs, even though her grin. “I take it back – ”
“Never, I’ll treasure this moment my whole life – ”
I’m shaking with laughter even as Sinclair raises his voice to cut through it.
“As amazing as this breakthrough is for the two of you,” he says, his voice not without humor, “what’s your point, Cora?”
“I don’t know,” she sighs, leaning contentedly back against Roger, who sweetly presses a kiss to her neck. “Just that perhaps there’s more to these bonds than just raw power being passed between them. I mean, I don’t think it’s really a chance that Ella and I figured out we’re sisters and ended up with brothers. We’re…kind of a powerful foursome, when we put our minds to it.”
I nod, considering that maybe Cora is right. That perhaps it’s less about the bonds themselves and instead what they create in combination.
“And those three,” Cora continues, gesturing between the children, ” they’re already bonded to each other, each with a goddess gift. And then Ariel with a Dark gift as well?” She shrugs. “I think, in combination, they could be… formidable.”
“Future of our nation, right here,” I say quietly, leaning to again kiss my little girl and reach out a hand to my son, who I suddenly want quite close. ” Whatever gifts they have, I hope they can be convinced to use them to protect themselves first, and then our people after that.”
Quietly, my family nods as we look around at each other. Because our family comes first – but our nation?
These children are going to have a huge role in it. I hold my breath a little, praying inwardly that we can raise them to be strong enough to use their gifts for good.
“Actually,” Henry says, making us all turn to him in surprise. “There’s some precedence there as well.”
And my eyebrows nearly shoot into my hairline. More news today?
I settle back against my mate, ready again to listen.
Ella
Henry takes a deep breath then, looking between the children. “I have been very intrigued,” he begins, “by the idea that the children have bonds with each other – bonds like that between siblings and cousins, it’s unusual. Indeed, I thought it was unique, but it is not.”
My brows go up as I listen with interest.
“The children have created between them…something of a triangle,” Henry murmurs, looking between the three of them. “There have been rare examples of individuals having multiple fated mating bonds – my son, interestingly amongst them – ”
I lean back against my mate, who wraps his arm more tightly around me.
“But this,” Henry says, gesturing between Ariel, Rafe, and Jesse, “three people bonded together naturally, each to the other two.” He shakes his head. ” I have not yet found any examples of it happening naturally. Though there are those who have…forged such connections.”
“Really?” Roger asks, his eyebrows going up.
“Usually in religious ceremonies,” Henry says, folding his hands in his lap and looking around at us, “in the wilds of the north. Two people already bonded – either by fate or by choice, usually through a mating – would each either willingly or by obligation magically forge a bond with a third.”
“For what reason,” Cora asks, shaking her head. “Like…plural marriage? Or something?”
“No,” Henry replies, shaking his head at her. “This is usually done in communities where those who undergo the ceremony have long taken vows of chastity. No, they do it for the power that results from the bond, which is said to be…unique.”
“This is so weird,” I murmur, looking down at my kids. I mean, I’m very aware that my children and my nephew are special, but…
“The magics of the north are strange,” Henry says on a sigh, shaking his head and giving a shrug. “They are also closed-mouthed regarding what the results of such bonding actually are. But I do imagine it’s closer to the kinds of powers wielded by the dark priests we spent so much of our time defying last year. Spells cast at a price, rather than goddess-given gifts freely used with little effort.”
“But since the bond between the kids was…natural,” Sinclair murmurs, speaking his thoughts aloud, “can we assume that whatever power results from them would…be easier to wield?”
“I have no idea,” Henry says on a sigh, smiling down at his grandsons and granddaughter again. “Though I hope for their sake that it is. Those forged bonds and the resulting magic – they didn’t come without a price.”
“Oh geeze,” I murmur, sighing and looking down at my precious new baby. She can barely stay awake, let alone wield great and powerful magics. ” What are you going to get up to, little girl?”
“All sorts of good things,” Sinclair murmurs to me, though I can hear the worry on in his voice.
“I’m sorry I don’t have more definitive answers,” Henry says on a sigh, his face truly apologetic.
“That’s all right, dad,” Roger says, smiling at him. “It’s more than we knew before. Besides – these kids, they’re going to have to lean how to figure it out.”
“And the Goddess said to trust them,” Cora says, shrugging and standing, hoisting Jesse up in her arms and smiling at him. “So, I’m just going to let them worry about it.”
I grin at my sister, realizing that this honestly is probably the best method. I mean we’re moms, there’s definitely no way we’re not going to worry. But what can we do? Cora and Roger are right – we just have to raise them well, and trust them to figure it out.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” I ask, sitting up straight as I see Roger get to his feet as well. “Don’t, stay! We can get food!” But I yawn even as I finish my sentence.
“We’re leaving,” Cora says, with a gentle smile, “because Jesse needs a nap, and so do you. And lil miss Princess over there is already asleep.”
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?