Chapter 213 – Uncooperative Alpha
Ella
After we make our amends, the doctor makes short work of his scans and treatments, even the terrible injections into Sinclair’s bones. Before long, my mate looks a thousand times better than he had when he arrived, and I’m still marveling at the Vanaran’s state of the art medicines. The physician checks the goose egg on the back of my head and takes my vitals, but Sinclair is so exhausted that he falls asleep right there in my lap. Philippe and Roger move to pick him up, but I beg them not to disturb him. Instead I wave them away so we can be alone, and Henry promises to have some food sent up to us.
Once the crowds are gone, there’s only my pup to wrangle. Now that things have calmed down again, he’s eager to take up his game with Sinclair again, kicking his tiny foot against the wall of my uterus, just on the other side of Sinclair’s cheek. Easy now, munchkin. I say through our bond.
Daddy needs to sleep.
I feel a wave of drowsiness from my womb, and send my support for the idea of a nap. That’s it, rest together, angel. Soon both of my boys are quiet, and I’m free to gaze down at Sinclair and marvel at his beauty and strength, even in slumber.
As overjoyed as I am, my heart also aches for my mate. Sinclair might not have said it or let me feel more than a hint of his grief, but I know he’s going to need as much support as I can give him after losing his Beta and friends. Part of me is still frustrated that the other alphas turned the focus onto me, though I understand they were doing what Sinclair preferred. He would never have been able to relax unless he knew the truth of my situation and appreciate that they helped him do that. But he’s going to need me when he wakes – even if it’s only to help him feel in control. I can’t let him be distracted by my needs.
I run featherlight fingers over his stubbly jaw as he dozes, wondering if any she-wolf has ever loved her mate more than I love this man. What would I do without you, Dominic? I think reverently. I might be able to survive losing you, but I wouldn’t want to. There will never be anyone for me but you.
Not for the first time, I wish I could fantasize about our future without worrying about the war ahead. But it looms too large in my consciousness to overlook, and a new determination takes hold in my heart. We have to get through this. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure our family stays whole and overcomes the battles ahead. I fall asleep stroking his hair and pondering the daunting possibilities, so happy to be reunited with him that I don’t even feel my exhaustion until it has pulled me under.
I wake a while later, to the sensation of a gentle finger tracing the bridge of my nose. When my lashes part I find Sinclair gazing lovingly down at me, his emerald eyes like liquid in the dusky evening light. “I’m sorry to wake you, baby. I just thought you might like to have a bath with me?”
I’m still very drowsy, but as soon as the words are out of his mouth, I realize how disgusting I feel. With four days of accumulated dirt on my skin, I’m amazed I don’t spell like hot garbage. I nod sleepily, and before I can say a word to stop him, he scoops me up into his arms. As he carries me to the bathroom, I notice an abundance of room service cloches waiting on the table, and my stomach growls loudly in protest. Sinclair chuckles. “Don’t worry trouble, I’ll bring you some snacks.” 2
He’s as good as his word, depositing me in the swirling bubbles and delivering a plate full of my favorite dishes to the wide rim of the tub. The gears of my mind are turning much too slowly, but I spy a bacon-wrapped fig and can’t focus on anything else until it’s in my mouth. Gradually I realize that the plate only bears enough for one, and none of the delicacies are Sinclair’s preferences. “What about you?”
“Are you worrying about me, little wolf?” Sinclair asks, a knowing look in his eye.
“You need to eat even more than I do, and I know your father didn’t only send my favorites.” I answer, trying to look imposing so that he’ll take me seriously. Of course, this is difficult when I’m still only half awake.
Sinclair kneels down in front of me, his mouth quirking upwards, “To be honest, I was so starving that I ate before I woke you.”
“Oh.” I breathe, disappointed but struggling to remember why I should feel this way.
Sinclair chuckles, “don’t look so sad, in fact you should be glad you missed it – have you ever seen the appetite of a wolf who’s been running for four days straight? It isn’t pretty.” He rumbles “I had to take a shower just to wash off the culinary carnage.”
I giggle half-heartedly, my thoughts finally clicking into place. “I’m not sad,” I correct him. “But I am worried about you, and I want to help you.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate (PDF)
The last couple of chapters have gotten sloppy, confusing her and him for she/her Sinclair is not a her. Isabel has changed her name to Elizabeth too. Making it hard to read. I’m loving this book, but I hope it goes back to its previous high standard!...