Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 132

Ella

“What do you mean, you won’t tell me?” Sinclair rumbles, full of foreboding. He’s glowering down at me, emitting raw Alpha authority and unflinching disapproval. The idea that anyone would keep me from him – even me myself – seems to be more than he can handle. Still, I know I have to – if he comes after me the Prince will kill him.

I set my jaw trying to look fierce and determined, even though my wolf is whimpering in the face of his ire. “I won’t! I don’t care what you do or what you say, I’m not going to tell you.”

“Ella, what are you talking about? Why not?” Sinclair demands, his hands tightening reflexively on my body and then easing when he realizes how tightly he’s holding me.

“I heard the Prince and Lydia talking, they know you won’t give them their ransom. They think you’ll try to stage a rescue instead, and when you do, they’ll be waiting. It’s all a set up. If you come here they’ll kill you.” I whisper frantically, knowing this won’t dissuade him, but hoping my explanation will at least help him understand why I can’t answer his question.

Sinclair’s eyes glow neon green, and he bares his fangs, “So what would you have me do, Ella? Just leave you as his prisoner?” Before I can conjure any kind of response, he continues, “Not fucking likely, trouble.”

“I don’t have the answers.” I moan, leaning into him in hopes that he’ll calm down. Unfortunately he knows what I’m about, and keeps me at arm’s length, “I just know that rescue is not an option. I’m not going to let anyone else die for me – especially not you!” My throat is itching, my voice thick with emotion as I look up at my mate. “I can’t lose you, Dominic.”

“Sweetheart, if I know there’s an ambush waiting I can prepare for it.” Sinclair reasons, sounding gentler now. I think my upset has calmed his own temper, because he tucks my head under his chin and begins stroking my spine in long, soothing strokes. “I know you’re scared and you probably feel horribly guilty about your guards, but their deaths were the most honorable kind for a warrior. They joined my ranks because they wanted to defend the pack at all costs.”

“You didn’t see them.” I hiccup, “it wasn’t – they thought they’d failed. They died believing they hadn’t done their jobs, that they hadn’t protected me.”

He tsks, pressing his lips to my hair. “They will be remembered as heroes, Ella. They fought until the very end, even when the odds were so stacked against them that they knew they couldn’t win.”

“But I don’t want you to die too!” I cry. “I need you, the united packs need you.”

“Shhh, I have no plans of dying anytime soon.” Sinclair promises, caressing the curve of my belly. “But you need to tell me where you are so we can make a plan… so we can avoid that at all costs.Did you overhear Damon and Lydia because you’re in the Palace?”

I stubbornly shake my head. “I’ve made up my mind, Dominic.” I insist. “I’m better off in captivity than I would be if we lost you. Fear of you is the only thing keeping them from hurting me.”

Sinclair growls low and deep, brushing his thumb over the bruise on my cheek. “Is this what you call unhurt?”

I lean my face into his hand, nuzzling and nibble his palm, “it’s not so bad.” I insist, “A few bruises are nothing in the grand scheme.”

He grumbles, “They’re something to me, and he’s threatening to do much worse if I don’t end my campaign in the next 24 hours. We don’t have time to waste.”

“I’m sure he threatened to kill me, but even Damon isn’t that foolish. As long as you’re out there making life difficult for them, they’ll need to keep me as leverage.” I reason, hoping that I’m right.