Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 222

#Chapter 222 - Summit begins

3rd Person

James froze, staring at Isabel in shock and amazement. "Are you serious?" He inquired, not wanting to get his hopes up in case it was all a jest, or some strange test.

Isabel only flushed, starting to backtrack. "I... well, I just thought... I mean She stammered, looking anywhere but at him. "I’m sorry, it was a silly

idea. You’re just so fond of her, I don’t know what I was think-"

"Of course I want to." James interrupted, wanting to hold her so badly it hurt, but settling for a firm hand on her shoulder. "Goddess Isabel, I'd love nothing more."

"Really?" Isabel squeaked, a tremulous smile stretching across her features.

"With all my heart." James confirmed, pinning her with a fierce gaze. "But I do have to warn you."

"About what?" She asked, going still.

"I'm not going to settle for Sadie alone." James informed her sternly. "I want you both. I was prepared to wait -to fight for you - but you need to understand that letting me bond with her this way will change things. There will be no getting rid of me now.”

Isabel trembled slightly, peeking up at him from beneath her lashes. Her expression was somewhere between sullen and amused, "Was that ever an option?"

"No," He chuckled, "but now that I know you realize it, I'm afraid I’m going to make things very difficult for you."

Isabel flashed her fangs, but light sparkled in her eyes as she issued her own challenge. "Right back at you. It's not going to be easy to win me, James."

The soldier only grinned, at last pulling her into his arms. She didn't come quietly, but once she was there she melted into him - a perfect fit. "Don't I know it."

The next morning, Cora was getting ready for her shift in the medical tent when she heard a few of the Vanaran nurses gossiping. "They're increasing the evacuations, but I think they're worried about more than simple detection by Emperor shit-for-brains."

Cora smothered a snort at Damon's unflattering nickname. She wasn't usually one to eavesdrop, but neither did she see the harm in listening to this conversation - after all it's not as if it was personal. Besides, as Ella's eyes and ears in the camp, part of her job was getting a sense for the climate among local staffers and refugees alike. The others only saw her as a medical trainee, but the Luna had realized the value of having her sister on staff here early on.

"Why do you say that?" The second nurse inquired, unpacking her own supplies.

"Because they're not only sending guardians and enforcers this time." The first replied, in the tone of someone quite pleased to be in the know. "My friend in aviation saw the manifests and apparently the new Moon Valley Beta is headed out on the first transport this morning."

"Oh, the handsome one?" The second questioned, "Roger?"

Cora froze, suddenly extremely interested in the woman’s response.

‘That’s right." The first she-wolf nodded, "And with as many people as they've already lost, I can't believe the Alpha would risk sending his brother without a damned good reason. Especially not with the summit kicking off later today."

Cora dropped what she was doing, swinging her gaze to the clock mounted on the wall. It was four forty five, and if she remembered correctly, the first flights departed at five. She raced out of the tent without a second thought, knowing she was probably causing a scene, and not caring.

She darted out of the main camp and headed straight for the airfield, not thinking about what she was doing or why. She acted on pure instinct, driven forward by the relentless pounding of her heart. When Cora reached the tarmac she searched for Jame's plane first. He was the most experienced soldier and the highest ranking pilot, so he was the most-likely candidate to ferry the pack's Beta across the ocean.

Her eyes landed on the two familiar figures just as they left the hanger and began approaching the aircraft, their bearing tired but alert. She set off at a run, and when she was within shouting distance, she called out to Roger. He turned immediately, genuinely surprised to see the woman hurtling towards him.

He caught her by the arms before she could barrel straight into him, "Cora!" He asked urgently, "What is it, what’s wrong?!"