Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 84

Sinclair

When I reach Roger’s house, he’s not the least bit surprised to find me darkening his doorway. “I was wondering when you were gonna show up.” He quips, opening the door wide to welcome me inside.

“Am I that predictable?” I grouse, stepping over the threshold.

“No- I still wasn’t sure whether or not you’d rip my head off after you arrived.” Roger shares wryly.

“You’ve been talking with Ella.” I assess coolly, recalling the sweet human’s objection to me using this precise tactic against our enemies.

Roger snorts. “Not necessary. I grew up with you, I know your MO, brother.”

“Well you have Ella to thank for my even temper either way. She seems to trust you’ll keep your word and protect her secret.” I explain, eyeing him suspiciously.

“And you came to find out if she’s right.” Roger guesses.

“Is she?” I inquire. “Or is this another one of your tricks?”

“It’s not a trick.” Roger states simply, leading me into his study. “But I’m not doing it for you – I’m doing it for her.”

I absorb this information slowly. It does seem easier to believe my brother would help a stranger sooner than he’d help me, but there’s also something in his tone, some unspoken emotion I don’t quite understand. “Why do you care what happens to her?” I inquire.

“Because she’s exactly what you’ve been saying she is all along. She’s brave and clever and good to her very core. Goddess only knows how you managed to get her, but you certainly don’t deserve her.” Roger replies, giving me a begrudging look that tells me he’s only half joking.

My wolf growls possessively in my head, he likes her.

Good, if he likes her he’ll help us. I answer evenly.

But she’s mine. My wolf argues fiercely. He shouldn’t even be allowed to look at her.

Would you get a hold of yourself? I admonish.

I won’t share her! The stubborn predator is digging in his heels, making my hackles raise and claws extend. This is why we need to claim her, so that other wolves won’t come sniffing around our mate.

You’re acting like a child. I’m losing my temper now, sick and tired of being at odds with my inner animal. She isn’t our mate and I’m not going to hurt her with a claiming mark her body can’t handle. Besides, even if Roger is interested in Ella, she isn’t interested in him. Have some self-respect.

“I haven’t got her – not the way you mean.” I correct, shaking myself out of my inner conflict. “She’s been adamant about that – she’s only interested in me as her baby’s father.” I share, deciding that my brother doesn’t need to know how complicated my relationship with Ella truly is.

Roger snorts, “Who are you kidding? That woman is clearly infatuated with you, and I know you want her for keeps. Your wolf is bloody besotted.”

“She’s carrying my pup, that’s changing both of us, neither of us can trust our feelings right now.” I reason, using the same logic with him that I’ve been employing to justify my own restraint. If I let myself believe that everything happening between Ella and I is real, there will be no holding my wolf back, and I don’t want to frighten or push her into something she doesn’t truly want, or isn’t ready for.

“You know as well as I do that pregnancy can’t magically make people fall in love, even if they're already interested in each other.” Roger scoffs, sounding truly jealous now. “Don’t waste a gift, Dom.”

I stop dead in my tracks. “Whoever said anything about love?”