Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 448

#Chapter 448- Reception Ella

Cora and Roger’s reception goes late into the night, which is just fine by me because for the first time this week? Sinclair and I haven’t been the focus of the attention, and we just get to party.

I mean, that’s not completely true. We’re still the King and the Queen of our nation and we can’t ignore our duties entirely. But it’s much, much easier when Cora and Roger are the ones who work their way around the room, greeting all of their guests and thanking them for their attendance.

I smile as I sip at my soda during a break in the dancing, watching as Roger holds Cora close to his side as they chat to some people I don’t know old friends of Cora’s from med school, I think.

“He hasn’t kept his hands off her all night,” Sinclair says, laughing a little. I grin up at him. “Look who’s talking,” I say, glancing down at his own arm wrapped firmly around me.

“What can I say,” he murmurs, grinning down at me. “You’re very touchable.”

Rafe, resting sleepily against my chest, gives a little squeak that makes us laugh.

“Don’t worry, baby,” Sinclair says, lowering his head to kiss Rafe’s soft hair. “You’re very cute too, I haven’t forgotten.”

Rafe grumbles a little but relaxes, his eyes drifting closed against me.

“I don’t think he’s going to make it much longer,” I say with a sigh, considering my little baby. “Do you think the party will miss me too much if I bow out early?”

“The party will miss its most beautiful guest, surely,” Sinclair says, and I roll my eyes a little at his flattery, “but I’m sure everyone will forgive. And Cora will be jealous.”

“Nah,” I say, eyeing my sister across the room. She hasn’t stopped smiling since we walked down the aisle. “She’s having a good time – like I knew she would. Cora always thinks she doesn’t want a fuss until she gets it, and then she’s pleased.”

“She’s lucky to have you,” Sinclair says. We relax for a moment, me considering my escape, but then I feel Sinclair go stiff beside me.

“What is it?” I ask, peering up at him.

“Nothing new,” he murmurs, his eyes on the far side of the room. “Just…

Atalaxians.”

“Oh,” I say, my heart falling a bit. I saw Calvin for a moment earlier in the day when he came to say hello and to congratulate Cora, but he’s the only Atalaxian that I can even begin to say I like. The others?

Well, they’re here, as all of the delegations from foreign nations were invited to the ceremony and the reception in full. But earlier, when I saw that my uncle actually had the gall to show up? I was completely shocked.

“Is he still there?” I ask, trying to stand on my tiptoes to see, but I’m too short.

“He is indeed,” Sinclair murmurs, clearly as unhappy about it as I am. Xander hasn’t tried to talk to us tonight hasn’t even attempted to give his congratulations – which is fine by me. Still, I think both of us will be much happier when he’s gone.

Sinclair frowns a little, keeping his eyes focused on the group of foreigners across the room, and I feel a little worry twisting inside me. I glance at my mate, wondering if it’s coming from him, or if I’m intuiting it myself.

I quickly step to the woman, who I unfortunately don’t know, and slip an arm around her shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, shaking my head, hopefully letting her know with the earnestness on my face that this was a complete mistake. “Please,” I say, turning her away and smiling down at her daughters. “You did nothing wrong come with me, we’ll get you as much chocolate as you can carry -”

But before we can fully turn away, a snarl rips from my uncle, making us all turn and freeze as he hunches before Sinclair, clearly on the edge of transforming into his wolf.

“I will not be cowed,” Xander growls, ” by some over-eager pup who lets women and humans run his house my line is the true power in this nation

“Be careful, Xander,” Sinclair says, allowing his own ferocity rise to the surface as he steps closer to this smaller, older man this wolf he could end in a second, were it his choice. ”

I’ve taken out stronger men than you. And I won’t let you again question my choices, or my mate.”

Xander snarls up at Sinclair, clearly wanting a fight, but the wolf in him knows that he’s already been beat. Despite himself, the old man takes a step back, his shoulders hunching instinctually under the force of Sinclair’s stare.

“This is my kingdom now,” Sinclair says, his voice soft and deadly. “And you and your kind? By which I mean prejudiced old bigots? You are the ones who are not welcome.”

He takes a moment, then to stare hatefully into Xander’s eyes before lifting his gaze to the rest of the Atalaxian delegation, letting them know that the message counts for them as well if they take Xander’s side.

Only Calvin has the grace to hang his head in shame. The rest, I can tell, are still making up their minds as to their next move.