Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Roger arches a brow. “It’s amazing how alike you and your little mate already sound. That’s precisely

the way she greeted me the other day.

A rush of pride flows through me. “That’s because she’s a very clever she-wolf.” “or because you’ve

turned her against me”

Roger suggests.

“I don’t need to manipulate Ella for her to see through you, Roger.” I remark, descending the last few

steps in front of me. “And you didn’t answer my question.”

“I wanted to check on Ella.” He answers easily.

“I was worried after the other night.”

“She’s fine.” I reply simply, not feeling he deserves any more information than this. I know he saved

Ella, but I still find the circumstances which allowed him to do so incredibly suspicious. I’ve already had

a team of investigators out looking for the rogues since the night of the attack, and I was planning on

assigning another team to look into my brother’s potential involvement today. And now that he’s turned

up like this it’s going to be my top priority.

“Can I see her?” Roger requests, having the decency to look uncertain of the question.

My wolf growls in my chest, and I have to forcibly restrain the impulse to lash out at my brother. “Ella

was sick this morning, and besides, I need to speak with you myself. Walk me to work?” I suggest.

Roger frowns but agrees. “ls she alright?

Something about his interest in my little human’s wellbeing makes my hackles raise. It all sounds

completely innocent and, indeed, compassionate, but I wouldn’t put anything past Roger. He’s the king

of manipulation and gaslighting, and though I don’t think he wants to harm Ella, I don’t think his

preoccupation with her is innocent either.

“Naturally I’m investigating the rogue attack.”I tell him as we head out into the snow, my bodyguards

framing us on either side. “But I wanted to see if you picked up on any particular details which might

help us track down or identify the culprits.”

He adopts a thoughtful expression, “You mean like distinguishing features or tattoos?”

“Sure, or anything they might have said- really any hints about their identities or who hired them.”

I clarify.

“The only piece I overheard was them discussing having “fun” with her before they finished the job.” He

reports.

I emit a violent snarl, and Roger flinches before he can stop himself. l’d be lying if I said I wasn’t

pleased to have startled him this way. “Sorry,” I lie. “

You know how it is.”

“Actually I don’t – you stole my mate, remember.” Roger snaps back.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “That isn’t what I meant and you know it.” I answer. “Only that wolves

take the front seat when it comes to the ones we care about most.”

“Whatever.” He grumbles. “l can tell you that three of them were gray and the leader was red once they

transformed. Definitely not locals. Their accents sounded like they came from somewhere in the east,

but that doesn’t mean the person who hired them is also foreign.”

I nod in agreement. “And remind me, how did you find her that night?”

“I told you, I didn’t know Ella was their target. I simply smelled rogues and took up the hunt.” Roger

supplies.

“That was incredibly lucky.” I tell him. “If it wasn’t for you who knows what might have happened.”

“I was happy to help.” Roger answers easily, either not picking up on – or not acknowledging the

inherent suspicion in my remark. “Ella is family now, and your pup will be the future of this pack.

I’m actually glad you suggested we walk together. I wanted to see Ella, but I also wanted to talk to you.

I think it’s high time we put the past behind us.”

“Because of Ella and the pup?” I state, not believing my ears.

“In part.” He confirms. “It was one thing to be at odds when Lydia and the pack was still between us,

but it’s been five years since Dad got hurt, and almost two since Lydia left.” He reminds me – as if I

could forget. “At a certain point it just seems petty to hold onto old grudges, especially when the future

is so bright for our family. I want to be in my niece or nephew’s life, and soon you’ll be King. We should

be united if you’re going to rule. The attack made me realize that loud and clear.”

“You know Roger, the bad blood between us has never been on my end. I’ve never held a grudge

against you, so I don’t know why you’re bringing this to me as if our conflict is mutual. If you want to

stop working against our family then stop.”

Roger’s skin flushes. “How typical of you not to take any responsibility for what happened.” He gripes.

“l come to you with an olive branch and you foist all the blame on me.”

I stop in my tracks, turning toward him. “Do you have any idea how many years I spent in therapy to

stop blaming myself for Mom’s death?” I demand. “

I was a child – I didn’t do anything wrong and she did what any good mother would – which is protect

her pup. I know you’ve never seen it that way but I’m done letting you make me feel guilty for taking her

from you. I lost her too, you know!”

“If you hadn’t -” He begins, worked up into a true lather now. So much for putting the past behind us –

he can’t be that resolved to mend bridges if that little push back sets him off.

“No, Roger!” I snap. “I’m done with this. If you want to move on, then move on and the family will

welcome you back – even and especially Ella because she doesn’t have a cruel bone in her body.

But if you can’t stop blaming a pup for things out of his control then you better believe I’ll never let you

set a foot near mine.”

Without another word Roger turns on his heel and storms away. On one hand I’m proud of myself for

finally standing up for the child I once was, and on the other I have to wonder if l just made a terrible

mistake. Roger has always had a volatile personality, and he’s dangerous even at the best of times. I

hope I didn’t just put Ella in even more danger than she was already in.