#Chapter 401 – The Refugee Center Ella
“Ella,” Sinclair says, snapping his face back to mine, still pissed as hell at my suggestion that I’m bringing Rafe with me to the Refugee Center. “It is too dangerous – I will not let you put both of you in harm’s way like that.”
“What are you going to do, Dominic,” I say, turning my head to the side sarcastically, “strap the baby to your chest all day? Bring him to all of your meetings of state?” He looks away from me then, clenching his jaw, saying nothing because he knows I have a point. The baby has to stay with me – I’m still breastfeeding. “Exactly,” I say, heaving a little sigh and pulling myself back to my side of the bed, where I can hear Rafe starting to fuss.” We’ll be fine!”
I’m already out of the bed and lifting Rafe up, asking him about his morning and changing his diaper before Sinclair speaks again. ” Can you at least take Cora with you?” he says quietly. “And Roger, if he’s free?” I turn and smile at him then, pleased that he’s not fighting me on this more than he is. “That’s actually a really good idea,” I say, smiling. “Cora will be really helpful.”
“Yes,” he sighs, turning to look at me finally. “Plus, she can zap anyone who tries to touch you.” I laugh, shaking my head and turning back to continue changing the baby. When I finish up, I feel Sinclair come close and wrap his arms around my waist. “I just want you safe, trouble,” he murmurs in apology, kissing my hair and then dipping his head to press his cheek to mine.
“I know,” I sigh. “I promise,” I say, turning in his arms and taking his cheeks in my palms, “the moment I feel anything strange, I’ll leave. Absolutely promise. All right?”
“All right,” he murmurs, nudging my nose with his. “But I’m putting a tracker somewhere in your clothes so that I can come find you if I need to. And I’m not telling you which piece of clothing so that you can’t get rid of it.” “Well then,” I murmur, pitching my voice lower. “I’ll just have to go naked.” My mate growls and bends his knees so that he can grip the back of my thighs, and then in one swift movement he stands up, yanking me with him so that my legs are wrapped around his waist. I laugh, looping my arms around his neck and moving forward for a kiss.
“Over my dead body,” he murmurs, will I let you go any where naked. Except back to bed.”
And then my sweet, overprotective Alpha mate leans in and seals his promise with a kiss.
“I’m glad you asked me to come, Ella,” Cora says as we both climb out of the SUV driven by Conner, the red- haired young man who I healed first with my powers. I was pleased to see Sinclair arranged for him to be our combination chauffer/bodyguard today – he’s always been a bit of a favorite. ” Sorry Roger couldn’t make it,” Cora continues, leaning over to help me tighten the straps on Rafe’s little carrier. Rafe gurgles happily to see his auntie, which makes me smile. “Yeah, what’s Roger up to that he couldn’t come?” I ask, adjusting Rafe so that his weight rests comfortably on my shoulders. When we’re all ready, Conner nods to us and we start towards the Refugee Center, a squat building on the edge of the city that looks like it could do with both some repairs and some resources. “He’s all wrapped up in Sinclair’s stuff,” she sighs, “I’m surprised Sinclair didn’t realize it.
But when he steps up as King, Roger – as his Beta is going to step forward to manage the affairs of the pack that Sinclair was mostly focusing on.” ” Does he…want to do that?” I ask, hesitating. I mean, Roger’s clever and a hard worker, but Sinclair has always enjoyed the bureaucratic work more than Roger. “I don’t think so,” Cora sighs to me, shaking her head a little.
” He’s still figuring out his place. It’s something we talk about a lot.” “Well, I hope he’s not unhappy,” I murmur, suddenly worried for my brother-in- law. Roger’s a tough nut to crack, but I know he’s got a big heart beneath all his bravado. And I also know he’s so dedicated to his brother that he’ll do whatever Sinclair asks of him, even if it doesn’t make him happy.
“Oh, don’t worry too much about him,” Cora says with a little laugh as we approach the Center’s doors. “He’s got a new mate, a new baby coming along, andnew bonds with both – he’s all set.”
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