Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

I've been replaying my conversation with Henry all day long, repeating the exchange over and over in my mind and trying to decipher if the old Alpha was trying to want me as a mere precaution, or because he really believes we have something to be worried about After Henry left this evening | got online and started looking into the actual mechanics of the election ~ something 1 should have done from the very beginning It all looks fairly simple on paper. All eligible Alphas compete in the public arena and all the shifters in the realm vote on election day. This usually results in two or three frontrunners, and the Alpha council makes its selection based on the remaining competitors. If there's a wide margin and a clear winner, they usually just reinforce the popular Vote, but when there are ties or controversies, they provide an important check on the system Once elected, the Alpha King will remain in power until they die, coronate one of their heirs, or are removed from power by council decree.

Historically elections are actually very rare, because most King's belong to an existing dynasty and pass down the title through the generations of their children. As I'm reading, | discover that the current King is the only the third ruler in history to ever be removed from power, and his own election five years ago was the first in 200 years The fact that the wolves are already having another Vote is absolutely unprecedented. The knot in my stomach tightens as all this information comes together. | realize that Henry was right to warn me, after all “What are you frowning at so intently, trouble?" Sinclair inquires, striding out of the bathroom and ruffing his wet hair with a towel. Another Swath of terry cloth is slung around his hips, and water drips down his bare torso. My mouth waters as | take in the sight of his rippling muscles and powerful physique, but the heavy weight in my stomach is preventing my inner wolf from getting too distracted “Dominic, what will happen if we lose the campaign?” | inquire hesitantly, stil siting in bed with the computer in my lap.

Sinclair's face pulls into a grimace, and he crosses the distance between us, peeking at my screen Seeing a dozen tabs worth of dry politcal research open in my browser, he slides his hand around my nape, massaging my tense muscles. “Doing some research?” "Yes." | confirm gravely. “And | have to admit, I'm worried * He sits on the edge of the bed, stil cradling my head in his oversized hand. “What's bothering you most?

I just feel like everything is getting more confusing and out of hand every day” | share.

Your father explained a litle of the history to me, and when | stop and think about all the secrets, conspiracies and crises that keep popping up.. it's hard not to feel like something seriously sketchy is going on. I'm beginning to feel like a pawn in some game | didn't even know | was playing” Sinclair pauses, his hands stilling on my body Am | making you feel that way?" “No, not you” | assure him, closing the laptop and sliding closer to Sinclair. ‘But | also don't know who is pulling the strings here.

Ifeel like we're being swept up in something much bigger than us, and it scares me.” Sinclair nods in understanding, “I'm scared too." He admits, shocking me "You are?” | squeak, scooting even closer and practically climbing on top of him. Sinclair purrs and pulls me all the way into his lap.

“Of course | am. | have a lotto lose.” He proclaims soberly, squeezing me tightly so that | know he's talking about Rafe and me.

“But that's not a bad thing. Its a constant reminder about what's really important It helps me keep our family safe and pushes me to take precautions | might not otherwise. Its the reason | can't accept defeat in Its strangely comforting to hear this huge Alpha confessing his own fears. On one hand it should terrify me to know that he doesn't feel as indomitable as he always seems, but | like knowing that I'm not alone in this ~ that I'm not just being silly or cowardly.

1 understand that you have to approach the campaign as if losing is not an option.” I tell him, moving to straddle his thighs and take his face in my hands. | stare up into his fierce green eyes, brushing my thumbs over the layer of scruff covering his stony jaw. “But tis a possibilty, and | need to prepare for that. | need to know what to expect, | need to know the plan ~ Sinclair exhales heavily. his hands clenching and unclenching on my waist. His rugged mouth is setin a hard line, and | quickly see that he doesn't want to add to my fears by putting new possibilities in my head. "You must have one You're too smart not to prepare for the worst case, even if you don't plan on letting it come to pass He drops his head to the crook of my neck, breathing in my scent and rumbling deep in his chest. "If lose the campaign.” He begins slowly, his voice like gravel in my ear. “It wil all depend on how fast the Prince moves, and where we are when it happens.”

Sinclair doesn't say any more, and | nudge his head up, forcing him to look me in the eye again But you must have some idea -* “Ella, | have dozens of contingency plans in place." Sinclair interrupts, sounding as though he’s run out of patience. “| have plans for getting you out of the territory while | stay behind, | have plans for us being exiled together, for my imprisonment, my death, your capture. If you can think of i, | have a plan for it, sweetheart. But we don't know how this is going to play out yet, and | can't tell you which plan we're going to need if the worst happens" My lower lip quivers dangerously. and | can't help the fresh bloom of hurt that blossoms in my chest “Why didn't you tell me you were this worried? | thought we agreed that | can't avoid danger if | don't know it exists." Sinclair takes a deep breath, appearing to calm himself. “All Alphas have plans like this, Ella" He explains. “Whether Or not there is a campaign, Alphas always have targets on their backs. | had these plans for Linda when we were married. and | have my men drafting new plans as the situation develops.” “Oh.” | murmur, my pain easing a litle. “So you just didn't consult me ” “Baby, | don't even know all the plans * Sinclair counters. “These are emergency scenarios which our guards spend countless hours developing and memorizing. | notify them every time a new threat or vulnerability develops, and they build itinto their equations” This makes sense, but my bullshit barometer is stil flashing red in my mind. “But you must know the most likely ones you must have directed your men about how to care for the baby and me if you can't be there to protect us yourself?” “Yes.” Sinclair concedes, lifting me off of him and rising to his feet. He's pacing now, giving off the feral energy of a caged animal “And | didn't tell you because I'm already going out of my fucking mind with worry about all this! | can't stand thinking about these possibilities myself, so | certainly didn't want to frighten you with them too.

He glances at me regretfully, raw emotion blazing in his brillant rises. “| couldn't stand the idea of looking you in the eye and telling you | might not be able to protect you and this baby the way I've promised | always will" My heart softens, and not for the first time | realize just how much stress Sinclair is under.

Moreover. | realize just how much he downplays his own anxieties and fears in order to prioritize mine. Listen to me, Dominic. | know you have your Alpha pride and you get to make the rules and all that other nonsense.” | summarize impudently, climbing out of bed and approaching the big wolf. “But | also know Lunas are supposed to share their mate's burdens and soothe them when they re being impossible and stubborn. We know I'm not just some weak human now. | can handle more than you're giving me credit for: The corner of Sinclair's mouth twitches, and | whip my pointer finger toward him in warning, Its time you let me help you." | declare imperiously, notching my chin up. “So tell me what | can do to make you feel better, and ll doit” As | glare up at Sinclair, | suddenly realize that | might have bitten off more than | can chew. His eyes are glowing now, and his fangs extended. His scent has deepened and grown even richer. and all of sudden | find my body hitched up against his The finger I'd been pointing at him is now trapped in his powerful fist, and the breath is wrenched from my lungs as his growl washes over me.

“You know the problem with allthis, little wolf?" He asks, sending shivers of delight down my spine. “When | told you she-wolves soothed their mates, | didn't mean they did it with kind words and cuddles. What | need is to feel in control even though the world around me is falling apart. What | need is to calm the wolf clawing his way out beneath my skin, rabid with the need to claim his mate” 1 gulp, feeling my own wolf roll right over and expose her soft underbelly to him. “Well, what are you waiting for?"