Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 19

3rd Person

Ella slowly untangled herself from Sinclair’s body as he returned her feet to the ground, feeling terribly unsure of herself. The audience was still making a huge racket, but the imposing Alpha was studying her as if she was some sort of curious anomaly – one he was desperate to figure out. Her cheeks were flushed scarlet, but she followed his lead. Sinclair hadn’t looked away from her to acknowledge their onlookers – so she didn’t either.

Ella couldn’t have known how much more meaningful it was for Sinclair to be watching her this way, rather than smiling. Shifters were creatures of raw passion and intense feeling, there were many lighthearted moments of course, but the look of a successfully mated Alpha and Luna was not the lovesick expressions humans so often displayed in relationships. To those around them, Sinclair’s laser focus on the little human looked like a devoted lover hungry for his mate, and her anxious energy was only further proof – a she-wolf who had just provoked her mate’s lust in public, and was going to have to face the consequences when she got home.

The tableau only made them cheer louder, and this eased Ella’s fears a bit. Sinclair might not be happy with her, but the crowd certainly was. It can’t have been a complete mistake, could it?

“How lovely, but not exactly the point of the game.” The Prince’s drawling criticism finally broke the spell, at last tearing Ella and Sinclair’s attention away from one another.

“Wasn’t it?” Ella asked innocently, feeling less intimidated by the Prince than the wolf still holding her in an iron grip. “He told me to kiss him – was I supposed to refuse?”

The spectators laughed and applauded, and Sinclair turned glowing eyes in their direction. “No doubt you’ll forgive us taking our leave.” He declared rakishly, earning a fresh surge of wolf whistles. “My mate is in need of some attention.”

Ella blinked, wondering if he meant what she suspected. Were wolves really so open about sex? Before she could think about the matter any further, the King stood and offered them a toast, “To the happy couple.”

Sinclair led Ella back through the flood of congratulations and well wishes, past the media frenzy and back into the safety of his limousine.

She slid into the far end of the vehicle, hiding from all the camera flashes behind blacked out windows. When Sinclair slid in a moment afterwards, he zeroed in on Ella immediately. The corner of his mouth tilted up when he saw her sitting as far away as possible. “Is there a reason you’re all the way over there?”

“Are you angry?” Ella murmured in reply, wrapping her arms protectively around her middle. She was painfully aware that if she messed up badly enough, it might cost her the baby.

“How could I be angry?” Sinclair exclaimed, truly shocked. “Ella, you saved the day. That was brilliant. None of the Alphas on the council will question me now. Even the King liked you. My campaign is safe because of your quickl thinking.”

“Oh,” she relaxed slightly, feeling silly now. “You looked so severe after the kiss, I just… I thought I messed up.”

“Far from it.” Sinclair announced as the car slowly began to move. “But I am curious what inspired you to kiss me.”

Ella stared at her lap. “It was the first thing that came into my mind. I knew we were going to fail if we actually had to play the game.”

“But why a kiss?” He pressed. “You were already feeling ill, you could have easily given morning sickness as an excuse. No one would have faulted you.”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged, fidgeting nervously.

“Did you like it?” He pressed, his deep voice like velvet cloaked steel.

“What?!” Ella chirped, her gold eyes going wide. “Of course not, it was just for show. Besides, I’m not a good kisser anyway.”