Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 165

3rd Person

When Cora walked into the palace’s opulent dining room, she expected to find the table packed with people. Ever since they’d arrived in Vanara, Gabriel had been entertaining different statesmen and potential allies for the war, in addition to their own party. However this night the dining room was almost entirely empty. Not only were Gabriel and his coterie of powerful friends absent, but so were Ella, Sinclair and Henry. Only Roger sat at the long, shining table, a glass of amber liquid in his hand.

“Where is everyone?” Cora asked, standing frozen in the doorway.

“The King had a prior engagement – some charity gala for the hospital.” Roger answered, not looking the least bit surprised to see the lovely human. “Dad was exhausted and decided to take supper in his rooms, but I don’t have any idea about Dom and Ella.”

“Oh.” Cora replied simply, relieved by the thought that her sister would probably arrive any moment. After he’d badgered her with personal questions on their excursion into the capital, the last thing Cora wanted was to be alone with Roger all evening long. She didn’t like the way he looked at her, the way his eyes darkened and his attention lingered with unnerving focus. He made her feel as if she were a particularly scrumptious rabbit bound for his hungry wolf belly, but only after he’d chased and taunted her to exhaustion.

She gingerly crossed to the table, painfully aware of the way his eyes followed her every move. She sat down and made a show of spreading her napkin over her lap, refusing to look at the wolf seated across from her. “So, how was your day?” She asked, striving for some semblance of small talk to kill the time.

When Roger didn’t respond, Cora finally dragged her eyes from her empty plate to look up at him. When her gaze finally reached his face, he offered her a knowing smirk. “Oh, so you can look at me.” He teased, “I was beginning to worry.”

She narrowed her eyes, not caring for being called out when she was only responding to his behavior. Still, not one for confrontations, she muttered a sulky, “sorry.”

“Are you?” Roger inquired slyly, “because you look annoyed.”

“I’m trying to be polite.” Cora replied, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. She glanced to the door for the dozenth time, willing Ella and Sinclair to appear and rescue her.

“Why?” Roger asked, flashing his fangs. “I hope not for my sake – I’d much rather have your honesty than some fake nicety.”

Cora wasn’t sure what to do. Unlike her sister, she had never been the sort to offer up her opinions to people whose reactions she could not predict. She didn’t mind sharing complaints or venting with Ella, who she knew would always love her unconditionally, but this man was another matter entirely. It wasn’t that she was afraid of him per se, but she certainly couldn’t foresee how he would respond to her criticism – and that was a dangerous thing, especially knowing how violent some men could be when challenged.

Roger watched the emotions flitting across Cora’s face, listening to the way her heart pounded and raced. He recalled her words about Ella respressing her feelings and trying to do everything on her own, and it struck him that while their struggles might be different, Cora was far from unscathed by their difficult upbringing. He decided to give her a push. “Come on, what’s the worst that could happen?” He purred, his wolf sitting up at attention, curious and eager for her response. Roger mentally shook his head, why was his inner animal so fascinated by the woman?

Cora’s eyes widened, and her cinnamon skin blanched slightly. Belatedly Roger realized this might have been the wrong question to ask – knowing what the human orphanages were like, it wouldn’t surprise him if honesty was sometimes met with terrible things. Luckily Cora recovered rather quickly. She crossed her arms over her chest, unintentionally pressing her breasts together, and notched her pert chin upward. “You know, I think you’re trying to provoke me. Politeness is a perfectly normal default among people who don’t know each other very well.”

“We’re hardly strangers, Cora.” Roger replied easily, his wolf flashing in his eyes. “We’re practically family – in-laws for all intents and purposes. If you can’t be honest with family, then who?”

“My family is Ella.” Cora answered stubbornly, flipping her raven curls over her shoulder. She couldn’t believe the gall of the man, he betrayed his father and brother but somehow he saw fit to lecture her about family? Besides, she doubted he even believed his own words, the way he’d been looking at her lately was far from brotherly.

Roger arched his brow, “And she’s all you’ve ever needed, hmm? You’ve never wanted more?”

Cora was beside herself. Why was it that every time they were alone together, Roger seemed intent on interrogating her deep personal feelings? “Why do you keep asking me these things?” She exclaimed, staring at her lap. “I’m just trying to mind my own business here, so why won’t you let me?”

“Because I want to know you.” Roger shrugged, ducking his head to try and catch her eye, but failing. “Is that so wrong?”