Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 218

#Chapter 217 - Chasing Butterflies

Ella

I haven't been to the nursery since the news of Sinclair’s supposed death broke, and when I walk in I’m greeted with a chorus of excited cries from the children. I kneel down and open my arms to the pups, making sure to kiss every cheek and nose I can reach. "Ella where have you been?!” novelxo One of the older girls demands hotly, crossing her arms over her chest, “It's been ages and ages!”

"Miss Izzy said you were sick." Someone else interjects before I can answer. "You can borrow my stuffy if you want, she always makes me feel better."

They're all clamoring for answers at once, novelxo and all I can do is offer hugs and apologies for my absence. "Oh thank you! I know, I’ve been gone too long - but I didn't want to stay away. That mean doctor ordered me to stay in bed. I promise I'm better now, and it's a good thing because I've missed you all so much.”

More questions rain down, but then Isabel's firm but loving voice sounds from somewhere above us. "Alright pups, let's not overwhelm our Princess. Give her some space to breathe." I look up to find Sadie strapped to a front­facing carrier on her chest, and though Isabel is trying to look stern, the infant is grinning and giggling as she bounces in her cloth seat. novelxo Of course, none of us take kindly to the matron's suggestion, and I simply bare my fangs and hug the little ones closer, laughing when their immature growls join my own defensive noises.

Isabel throws her hands up in exasperation, "suit yourselves then.” She retreats, but keeps an ever-watchful eye on us as we continue to catch up.

"Is it true that the Alpha is back?” A little boy asks softly, his eager breath fluttering against my neck.

"A course he is!" Another small voice chastises him, just a tiny bit smug for being in the know. "Everyone saw him carrying her through the halls.” A number of the girls titter excitedly, but the first pup only huffs at their antics.

"Well I dunno!" He complains, sounding thoroughly affronted as he cuddles a bit closer to my side. "The other day everyone was saying he was deads."

'We did have a scare.” I explain carefully, "but we were wrong. Alpha Dominic is alive and he's home now."

I regret the words almost as soon as I've said them, because a number of the pups look suddenly hopeful. I can practically see the thoughts racing through their minds - wondering if we were wrong about Sinclair, then maybe we were wrong about their parents too. "How come you were wrong?" The boy in my arms inquires, confirming my suspicions.

‘Well, I never believed he was dead." I share, wondering if it's better or worse to be transparent when the/re this young, "but that's only because he's my mate. The King and the other Alphas don’t have the same connection with him, so they didn't have reason to hope." It’s not the full story, but it's the best I can do in the circumstances. "Does that make sense?"

I see a number of their young faces fall, no doubt reflecting on their own experiences with broken bonds. My heart aches for them, even as one of the girls nods glumly. "It's like when we lost our Mommies and Daddies. We felt them go - even though they didn't want to."

‘That's right." I confirm soberly. "I never felt Dominic go, so I had to believe he was still out there somewhere, fighting to get back to us. Thankfully I was right." At this point I’m sitting on the floor with half a dozen pups in my lap, and another six gathered around me in a circle. However I also notice a few unfamiliar pups skirting warily around the edges of our group - as if unable to keep themselves away. "Now tell me what you've all been up to while I was away? I see some new faces hiding over there - do we have new friends?”

A four year old leaning against my shoulder laughs. ‘They're scared cuz they heard you're the Goddess’s daughter."

"Well that's just silliness." I shake my head. "Haven't you told them how nice I am? That I'm so fat I have to waddle when I walk, and I spend all my time sleeping?

The children laugh and I see a small boy lurking closer, novelxo encouraged by the happy sounds. "Hello there.” I say, peering through the assembled pups to catch him in my crosshairs. ‘Would you like to join us?"

He freezes and looks at the other pups for reassurance. I carefully shift the boy currently in my arms to make room, and extend my hands to the skittish toddler, "don’t be afraid angel, you have all your brothers and sisters here to look out for you."

His face closes off, ‘They’re not bwothers or sisters.”

"Oh but they are.” I correct him gently. novelxo 'When I was a little girl I grew up in a home for pups without parents, but it wasn't anywhere near as nice as this place. There weren’t lovely grown ups like Miss Izzy to care for us, or warm beds and yummy food. All we had was each other, and we became each other's family. I had dozens of brothers and sisters to love, who understood exactly how I felt - how lonely and sad I could get when I thought about my Mommy and Daddy." Some of the other pups are staring at me in surprise, having never heard this story. "Family isn't just about who we're born, it’s about who we choose, and you can choose to have as many brothers and sisters as you want."

"You didn' have a Mommy and Daddy?” The tot inquires, edging a bit closer. "But they said you're a pwincess." novelxo There's a note of accusation in his voice, and I wonder just how recently he’s joined the nursery - and what he went through before arriving.