Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 251

Ella

“Do we have to stay very long?” I ask Sinclair, snuggling up against his side. We’ve just finished the wedding feast and the party is shifting towards the ballroom. The orchestra is warming up in the distance, and the guests are gradually dwindling out of the great hall, lured by the promise of dancing.

“I think we have to stay through the opening dance – at the very least.” He rumbles back, kissing my forehead as his fingers trace circles on my thigh. “I might have hijacked this event but it is still part of the summit. Why?” He asks, sliding wolfish eyes to my flushed face, “is there something you’d rather be doing, little wolf?”

I shoot him a sulky glare, “you know exactly what I want to be doing, Dominic.”

Sinclair adopts a look of confusion, which my wolf doesn’t buy for a single second. “I’m sure I don’t.” He lies – the rat! “Do you want to go for a run?”

The offer is surprisingly tempting. It’s been almost an entire week since I last let my wolf out, and she carries the burden of my belly much more gracefully than I do. I would give quite a bit for the freedom to run and play as easily as she does, and I have a feeling that longing is only going to increase as the pregnancy progresses. Still, I don’t let my mate distract me, “No. I have a very different activity in mind.”

“Well you know all you need to do is ask, sweetheart.” Sinclair states in a voice like gravel, one that betrays his own desire. “Tell me what you need and I’ll give it to you.”

I fight back a whimper. He knows I can’t ask him for such things in public, it’s hard enough to speak such words in the privacy of our bedroom. My sly wolf wants to do it any way, to use his own dirty trick against him by speaking our desires and getting his own inner animal so riled up he’ll be forced to drag us off like a caveman. Unfortunately my shy sensibilities and concern for the political optics overrule her, so I can only nibble my cake and pout while Sinclair murmurs promises in my ear.

“Soon enough, trouble.” He placates, his heated breath fluttering over my skin, “I’m every bit as eager to take you to bed as you are, we just have to be patient.”

Reluctantly I allow Sinclair to lead me into the ballroom, where we’re given the honor of the first dance – both as summit hosts and the ‘newly’ mated couple. Sinclair spins me around the dancefloor in his arms, and I keep myself from becoming dizzy by staring into his gorgeous eyes.

I thought I would want to quit after one dance, but once we’re moving I’m reminded of how much fun it is to twirl around this way, feeling lighter than air. Only when my feet begin screaming in protest does my mate pin me with one of his searing gazes that tells me he can see right through me, “How are those feet doing, trouble?”

“That depends, if I say they’re aching will you take me up to our room and rub them for me?” I inquire, batting my lashes.

“We’re almost there, baby.” He promises, leading me to the opulent seats at the front of the room. “Just one more toast and then we can run away.”

He guides me into one of the chairs and retrieves a flute of champaign. Someone clinks a knife against their own glass, and a gradual silence falls over the room. “First of all, I have to thank everyone who helped plan this evening. An enormous amount of work went into bringing this summit and this ball together, even before I decided to make everyone’s job that much harder by adding a mating ceremony to the mix. My lovely bride Ella was up day and night making sure everything was perfect, as were hundreds of planners, coordinators, florists, chefs and palace staffers.” He continues, raising his glass, “to my brother, my sister-in-law and our friend Isabel, you were instrumental in transforming the night and helping me surprise my mate, and I am incredibly grateful to you all.” He continues down the least, seeming to fear leaving out a single person from his thank you list.

Only once he’s finished delivering this praise, does he turn his attention to the summit delegations. “As some of you may know, we were extremely excited to reach a summit agreement yesterday evening. I am thrilled to announce that we will be forging an alliance with the Vanaran packs in the war against Emperor Damon, and we’re moving very quickly in light of the urgent situation. I cannot express the depth of my respect and appreciation for all the delegations in attendance here, as well as to your peoples across the continent – your support and loyalty is a gift we will never be able to repay, and I am proud to stand with you all.“

Excited muttering bursts throughout the room, as many of the courtiers and refugees are learning this information for the first time. I gaze around at the crowd, watching as fresh hope and anticipation fills their varied countenances. Sinclair is still speaking, describing the challenges ahead and the importance of this fight for shifters and humans alike. I have to admit he’s very talented when it comes to inspiring speeches, and it’s apparent by the energy building in the room. Still, it’s not until he mentions an imminent deployment that I finally drag my attention from the audience.