Ch. 1..10

Chapter 1

“I’m sorry Ella.” My physician says gently. “I’m afraid you have very few viable eggs remaining. Frankly, I normally see these numbers in women ten or fifteen years your senior.”

“What?” I murmur, not believing my ears. I’ve been trying to get pregnant for years. I’m only 30, I should have plenty of eggs left.

“In terms of fertility, you have very little time left.” She continues. “If you want to conceive, you need to do so before your next cycle begins.”

“My next cycle?” I repeat, my mouth hanging open in shock. I love kids more than anything, and though it might not be everyone’s ambition, I want nothing more than to be a mother.

I have to get home and tell my boyfriend this news, and there’s not a moment to waste.

I make it home in record time, bursting through the door and opening my mouth to call for Mike, but stopping dead in my tracks. As soon as I walk inside I see a pair of high heels and a handbag by the door – neither of which belong to me.

I cock my ears towards the bedroom, and my stomach churns when I hear the unmistakable sound of moaning, accompanied by a steady thump thump thump, as the bed collides with the wall. Worse even than realizing that Mike is clearly in there with another woman, is realizing who he’s with. I know that handbag, and I know those shoes – they belong to my best friend, Kate.

“Fuck, Ella is so stupid.” Mike laughs, “can you believe she actually expects me to have a baby with her?”

Kate snorts, “she’s delusional. I don’t know how you put up with her for so long in the first place.”

“If she wasn’t so beautiful I never would have given her the time of day.” Mike scoffs. “Thankfully daily doses of plan B kept her from ever conceiving.”

“The morning after pill?” Kate asks, “how did you manage to give it to her without her realizing?”

“I put it in her morning coffee.” Mike chortles, sounding far too proud of himself.

My vision goes completely red as everything finally falls into place. Suddenly it’s clear why I’ve never been able to get pregnant, despite having unprotected sex multiple times a week for years. It’s even clear how I could have the eggs of a 45-year-old, if my despicable partner has been secretly feeding me emergency contraceptives every day – there’s no telling what other damage that might have done to my reproductive system.

Before I can think better of it, I pull the smoke alarm on the wall, wanting to frighten and punish the pair in the bedroom so fiercely that I fear I might attack them when they emerge. Water immediately sprays down from the sprinkler system mounted to the ceiling as a shrill siren fills the air, and I hear Mike and Kate cry out in surprise.

A few moments later they come rushing out of the bedroom, stopping in their tracks when they see me looming in the doorway. Mike’s eyes go comically wide, “What are you doing home so early?” The snake has the nerve to sound affronted that I surprised him, when he’s the one who’s been sneaking around behind my back for God knows how long. He seems to realize how suspicious it looks that he and Kate are standing there in their underwear and quickly adds, “Kate came to see me so we could plan a surprise for your birthday, but then we spilled coffee all over our clothes so we had to change.”

Fire blazes in my veins, he must truly believe I’m an idiot if he expects me to buy such a feeble excuse.

It’s a testament to their horrifically low opinion of me that they buy my act, and I vow to get my revenge one way or another. I can’t believe I wasted so many years – my best years – on this scumbag. And

now he may have cost me my future too. As soon as the thought enters my head, I know I can’t afford to waste another moment on Mike, I have more important things to take care of.

I make my excuses and rush across town for the second time that afternoon, running to the comforting arms of my surrogate sister, Cora. Not only did we grow up together in the orphanage, but she became an OBGYN and now works for the most exclusive sperm bank in the city. I’ve never gone to her before because I always imagined Mike and I would eventually conceive the natural way, but that clearly isn’t an option anymore.

Even if I could find a man willing to have a baby with me in time, I’m not eager to trust anyone after Mike’s betrayal. I’m going to have to do this on my own, and I know Cora can help me. I don’t have much money, but I have enough savings to pay for the insemination, especially since I basically have one shot and one shot only.

When I arrive, all my plans to lay out my situation for Cora clearly and concisely go out the window, because the moment I see my sister I fall to pieces. She hugs and kisses me until my tears subside, slowly extracting the story from me piece by piece. When she hears about Mike and Kate she swears up a storm, but that’s nothing compared to her reaction when I explain about my fertility.

“That little shit! I’ll kill him!” She fumes, studying me with a worried expression. “Ella, if your doctor was right this means you only have one chance to conceive.”

“I know.” I sniffle. “And if this is going to be my only baby, I don’t want to take any chances. I want the best donor we can find.”

“Don’t you worry about that.” Cora assures me, “We’ve got donations from actors, models, scientists – it’s only the creme de la creme here.” She glances at the door and lowers her voice. “You didn’t hear it from me, but even Dominic Sinclair sent his samples here for testing.”

“Dominic Sinclair? I repeat, “the billionaire?” I’ve seen the man around town, but we don’t exactly run in the same circles. He lives in the same neighborhood as my wealthy employer and often says hello to the children I nanny, but he’s always surrounded by bodyguards and is so intimidating I get goosebumps just thinking about him.

“Oh my god!.” Cora slaps her hand over her mouth. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you that! I don’t know what I was thinking. Apparently he’s no stranger to fertility issues himself, and he trusted us to handle his swimmers over every other lab in the country. I’ve got his sperm in the other room at this very moment.” She frets, “But Ella you can’t tell anyone, you have to promise me.”

“Of course!” I agree immediately. “I know how important confidentiality is here.”

“Thank you,” Cora breathes. “Now, I’m going to give you a dossier of our clients so you can pick a donor, and once you’ve chosen we’ll get you knocked up before you can even blink.”

It’s not an easy decision, but eventually I choose a handsome surgeon whose photo practically makes me swoon. Cora leaves the room only long enough to prepare the sample, and though she looks a bit flustered when she returns, she quickly and professionally completes the insemination, holding my hand when the procedure is finished. “It’s all take care of now, Ella.” She promises, “You can come back in ten days to see if it worked.”

Ten days. I think dazedly. Ten days to decide my entire future.

If only I’d known that by the time those ten days were up, my future would no longer belong to me – but to Dominic Sinclair himself.

 

 

Chapter 2

Six days to go. I think, staring at the date circled on my calendar. Six days until I find out if my dreams are finally going to come true… or if I have to figure out an entirely different plan for my life.

I’ve thought about nothing else since Cora inseminated me last week, I’m so anxious to find out if I’m pregnant I haven’t even begun to process Mike’s betrayal.

I’m trying to keep a level head, yet I can’t help but imagine my future with this new baby. Try as I might, I catch myself daydreaming about it constantly. I even find myself humming as I get ready for work in the morning.

When I arrive at my employer’s estate in the most exclusive neighborhood in Moon Valley – which basically makes it the most exclusive neighborhood in the world, since Moon Valley is one of the most expensive cities on the planet – I’m immediately greeted by two little voices shouting my name in excitement. “Ella!”

The next thing I know, 3-year-old Millie is hugging my legs while her older brother, Jake, wraps his arms around my middle. “Good morning love puddles!” I exclaim, returning their hugs. “Are you ready for the museum?”

“Yeah!” They cheer, racing out the door without even stopping to put on coats. It takes a bit of wrangling to get them back inside and bundled up for the cold winter day, but before long we set out into the snow.

Jake races ahead of Millie and I, impatient to get to the science museum and not seeming to notice that his sister’s tiny legs simply don’t move that fast. Chuckling, I lift Millie into my arms and settle her on my hip. “Goodness, you’re getting too big for this, munchkin.”

“Nuh-uh,” Millie grins, “You’re justs too little.”

She might have a point. At five foot one, I don’t exactly have the kind of build suited to heavy lifting. I’m in great shape, but I’ve never been particularly strong. “Smarty pants.” I tease, laughing with the little girl.

When I look back towards Jake, I realize he’s stopped a few feet ahead of us. My heart skips a beat when I realize why. We’re in front of the Sinclair mansion, and its owner is currently standing in the middle of the sidewalk, his gaze searing me like a firebrand as I approach with Millie. Dominic Sinclair is just about the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, but he’s also one of the most terrifying.

With dark hair and piercing green eyes, chiseled features and a body so muscular I could swoon, it doesn’t seem fair he gets to look so good and also be so rich. If I didn’t know better I might think it was his wealth or imposing height that makes him so intimidating, after all he’s at least six foot four, which means he towers over me and everyone else around him. However it’s neither of those things, there’s simply an indefinable quality about the man that I can’t put my finger on, one which screams danger. He gives off this energy that’s so raw and animalistic one forgets there’s anyone else in the room.

Taking a steadying breath, I close the distance between us so Millie can say hello. When she greets him, Dominic drags his attention from me and offers her a smile so genuine that it tugs at my heartstrings. As I watch him talk to my two young charges, I remember what Cora told me about his infertility struggles. He clearly loves children, and I feel a wave of empathy for him. If anyone knows what it’s like to yearn for a family of their own, it’s me.

Jake is currently showing Dominic his new toy airplane, pulling the matchbox model from his pocket and demonstrating how far it can fly. With a great heave, he sends the toy gliding through the air, only to land in the middle of the street. Before any of us can say a word, Jake races after it, right into the busy road.

“Jake no, be careful!” I cry, watching him dart out into the path of an oncoming car but feeling frozen by my fear. Before I can contemplate putting Millie down to go after him, a blur of movement whirrs past my vision. I’ve never seen anyone move so fast in my life. Dominic became little more than a hazy outline of himself, chasing after Jake and pulling him out of the way just before the car slams into them. The vehicle’s tires are still screeching when Dominic sets Jake down beside me, his expression suddenly very stern.

“That was very dangerous.” He scolds gently. “You should never go into the street without looking both ways first.”

Jake hangs his head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want my plane to get runned over.”

“You are a million times more important than a toy.” Dominic tells him firmly, “and you scared your nanny half to death.”

“I’m sorry, Ella.” Jake sniffles, looking up at me with wide eyes.

“I know sweetheart, just don’t ever do that again.” I breathe, cuddling him against my side. “Thank you so much.” I say to Dominic, feeling more grateful than I can express. “I have no idea how you moved so fast! It was like something out of a superhero film.”

“Must have been the adrenaline.” Dominic shrugs, giving Millie another smile before taking his leave. “Enjoy the rest of your day, and stay out of the road young man!”

“Yes sir!” Jake calls after him, pocketing his airplane. “I really am sorry.” He adds to me.

“It’s forgotten.” I tell him softly, though I take his hand so that he can’t run off again.

“It all happened so fast.” I tell Cora later that night. “I mean the more I think about it, the more amazing it seems. One moment he was there, and the next he was gone. It was like magic.”

“Thank goodness Jake is alright.” She replies, but rather than looking relieved, her face is twisted into a deep grimace.

Studying my sister’s expression, I realize her grim demeanor is not just about Jake’s near miss. Something else is wrong, and I actually feel guilty for not noticing sooner. “Is everything okay?”

Cora frowns, “Not really. But you’ve got so much going on right now, it’s not important.”

“Cora, don’t be ridiculous.” I admonish. “What’s going on?”

“Well, speaking of Dominic Sinclair,” She begins cryptically, “you know that sperm he sent to us for testing?”

“Yeah,” I confirm, wondering where on earth this was going.

“It’s gone missing… and I’m the last person who saw it, not to mention it was in my custody.” She explains, her voice becoming thick with emotion. “Ella, I think… I think I’m going to be fired. And if there’s an investigation I could lose my medical license.”

“What?” I exclaim. “What do you mean it’s missing? A vial of sperm can’t just get up and walk away.”

“I know, I think someone had to steal it, but there’s no way of knowing who’s responsible. And it looks like I’m going to have to take the blame.” She shares, her eyes shining with tears.

“Cora, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this sooner!” I lament, “They can’t fire you, it isn’t fair.”

“You don’t understand, Dominic is one of our biggest donors.” Cora explains. “And he’s furious, he basically wants my head on a platter.”

A week ago I might have believed there was no hope for Cora, but seeing how kind and understanding Dominic was with the kids today makes me wonder if he could really be so heartless. Surely if he

understood that Cora would never be so irresponsible he’d show some leniency? I have to try and help her, I would do anything for my sister – even begging a ruthless billionaire for mercy.

 

Chapter 3

Three days to go.

I repeat these words to myself as I walk down the street, still preoccupied with my possible pregnancy, even as I prepare to go to bat for my sister. In some ways it’s a coping mechanism: I’m about to beg Dominic Sinclair to save Cora’s job, and I need a comforting thought to help me get through this.

His bodyguards see me first, and I can see their mouths moving as they watch me move closer, no doubt notifying him of my presence. Approaching nervously behind Dominic, I wonder for the hundredth time if this is a mistake. Who am I to ask a favor from one of the most powerful men on the planet? Shaking myself, I tell the little voice in the back of my mind to shut up – this is for Cora. I might not be brave for myself, but I can be brave for her.

“Mr. Sinclair?” I ask hesitantly, feeling my heart pound violently against my ribcage.

He turns around and gazes imperiously down at me. “Yes?”

“I’m Ella Reina, I nanny for Jake and Millie Graves.” I begin, gnawing on my lower lip.

His dark eyes catch on my mouth, and suddenly I feel like a frightened rabbit in front of a hungry wolf. “I know who you are, Ella.” The sound of my name on his lips sends a shiver down my spine. He speaks the familiar syllables with so much purpose, as if they truly mean something to him.

“Oh… well, I don’t mean to be impertinent, but I’m friends with Dr Cora Daniels…”As soon as I say her name, his expression closes off, and some unidentified emotion flashes in his eyes.

“She told me she’s in trouble at work, and I know you’re one of the bank’s donors.” I improvise. “I don’t know what Cora is being accused of, but I’m sure she’s innocent. She takes her job incredibly seriously, and she would never do anything to risk her career.”

“And what do you expect me to do about it?” Dominic asks ominously. I can tell he doesn’t believe my weak story, his body language has changed completely, and I can feel his rising anger vibrating in the air around us.

“I just thought… I hoped that if you had any sway there, you might be able to put in a good word for her.” I finish, feeling color flood my cheeks. I’m both ashamed of myself for such a feeble attempt, but unsure how else to handle such a delicate topic. The last thing I want is to get Cora in even more trouble than before.

Dominic’s jaw ticks as he watches me, and the voice in the back of my head urges me to run for it. “From what I’ve heard, your friend made a very serious mistake, and the consequences have been more than appropriate. The best thing she can do now is take responsibility for her mistakes, not sending you to do her dirty work for her.”

“I – she didn’t, she doesn’t even know I’m here! I swear.” I plead.

“I’ve said all I’m going to say on this matter.” Dominic declares, turning away from me and striding into his house. The door slams shut behind him, and I’m left with his various bodyguards.

“You need to leave now, miss.” One of the men announces sharply.

“I can’t.” I moan, “he has to understand, she’s going to lose everything!”

“We’re not going to ask you again.” A second guard growls, a clear threat in his words.

“Please, she’s innocent.” I beg, “you have to –” before I can say anything more, the men grab me by the arms and begin trying to lead me off the property. Feeling truly desperate, I dig in my heels, deciding that my dignity is worth Cora’s entire future. “I’m begging you, if I could just talk to Mr. Sinclair.”

“You’ve already talked to him.” The first guard grumbles, “and frankly you’re lucky he was as generous to you as he was. Your friend clearly told you things she shouldn’t.”

The next thing I know, they’ve thrown me off the property and onto the sidewalk so forcefully that I lose my balance, tumbling to the ground as tears spark in my eyes. The iron gates slam shut behind me, and I have no choice but to slink off before I can embarrass myself further.

Of course, this was only the beginning of my misfortune. When I arrived at work the next day, I found that my keys no longer fit the locks on the front door. I knocked, overwhelmed with confusion, and a few minutes later the door swung open to reveal Jake and Millie’s furious mother.

“My keys aren’t working.” I tell her, wondering why she’s glaring at me so fiercely.

“They’re not meant to.” She answers coldly, “as of yesterday afternoon, your services were no longer required.”

“I… you’re firing me?” I squeak, not believing my ears. “Why?”

“We got a call from the neighbors.” She explains haughtily, “apparently you let Jake run into the road the other day where he was almost hit by a car! And then yesterday you were seen making a fool of yourself at Dominic Sinclair’s home – they said his bodyguards had to drag you off the grounds like a common criminal.”

“That isn’t fair, that isn’t what happened!” I plead. “Jake through his toy into the road and ran after it, I didn’t let it happen, and what happened with Mr. Sinclair was a misunderstanding.”

“I don’t want to hear it.” She hisses. “Now leave before I call the police.”

“Please, can’t I at least say goodbye to the kids?” I request, praying she’ll grant me this one kindness.

“I’m dialing.” She tells me simply, pulling her cell phone from her pocket.

“No!” I raise my palms in supplication, “It’s okay, I’ll go.”

For the second time this week, I find myself shamefully retreating through this opulent neighborhood with tears streaming down my face. What hurts even worse than losing my job is the fact I didn’t get to explain the situation to Jake and Millie, or see them one last time. I’m sure their mother will tell them horrible things about me, despite the fact that I’ve been lovingly raising for them for the last two years.

I know Dominic Sinclair is responsible for this. I don’t believe my ex-boss’s story about the neighbors for one moment. He clearly wanted to punish me, just like he’s having Cora punished. A rush of fury takes hold of me, and suddenly I wish I could punish him somehow. It’s not like me to be so vindictive,

but right now it truly feels like my entire life is falling apart, and it’s partly his fault.

I spent all my money on the insemination,

 

Chapter 4

My hands are shaking as I dial Kate’s number. Have I ever been this angry? If I have I certainly can’t remember it now.

“Hello?” Kate answers almost immediately, using a sickly sweet tone that screams of fakeness.

“Kate?” I state bluntly. “Are you with Mike right now?”

There’s a pregnant pause on the other end of the line, before she weakly responds, “What? Of course not.”

“Come off it Kate, do you really think I don’t know about your shit?” I demand. “I’m not a complete idiot.”

“Ella listen–” She begins, obviously gearing up to give me some sort of excuse.

“No, I don’t even care about your little affair anymore – but I need to talk to him right now.” I declare fiercely.

There’s another pause, and then Kate’s voice drops its innocent tone. “You don’t care?” She repeats, sounding truly shocked. “ You know I’m already pregnant?”

I wasn’t prepared for that particular piece of news. I clench my hands into fists, feeling so furious I think I might actually break the phone with my tight grip, “And what, you think that’s some sort of victory?” I bite.

“Does he know you’re pregnant?” I ask sharply, “because a man who’s so afraid of responsibility that he’d poison me for years is probably willing to do it to anyone.”

“Well no, but he loves me, he would never –” She tried to explain.

“He loved me too once.” I cut her off. “At least he said he did. It’s amazing how charming he can be, considering what a bastard he truly is. How do you think he’s going to support you and your child? He doesn’t even have a job.”

“Of course he does!” She objects, “He just didn’t tell you about it because he didn’t want you to bleed him dry. He’s a stock broker.”

“Oh Kate,” I sigh, “Poor, gullible, stupid Kate. He’s as much a stock broker as I am a wizard.”

“Don’t talk to me like that! He’s got money, he lavishes it on me all the time!” She insists.

“With fraudulent credit cards he took out in my name!” I shout, losing my temper completely.

“What?” She squeaks.

“That’s right. I’ve only just found out – he’s completely bankrupted me. I’m calling the police and if I were you, I’d check your own credit rating immediately, because I’d be willing to be you’re next.” I snap.

“No,” she repeats weakly, “you’re wrong, it’s different with me.”

My voice is getting thick with emotion now, but I can’t help it. “And frankly I don’t really care what happens to you Kate, but if you’re really pregnant then your baby deserves better than to be raised in a homeless shelter, and that’s exactly where Mike will land you.”

I hang up before I start crying, not giving her a chance to respond. Why did I buy his lies about looking for work for so long? He crushed me little by little, all the while pretending to be so nice, and I let it happen.

Never again. I decide. I won’t ever let myself be fooled that way again.

I still want to get my revenge on Mike, but first I’ve got to try and salvage what’s left of my life. I have to go to the police and see if I can resolve these financial issues… I can’t have a baby if I’m bankrupt, and I can only pray the police will help.

________________________

“I’m very sorry Miss. Reina, but if your ex-partner has left the area, there’s not much we can do about this.” The police officer breaks this news to me about as gently as he might smash an ant beneath his boot. “I’ll give you the police report to send to the credit card company, but that’s the most help you’re going to get from us.”

Anger fills me to the brim. I guarantee he’d never treat my case with so little consideration or respect if I wasn’t an impoverished nanny. If I was a wealthy man like Dominic Sinclair, he’d be fawning at my feet, offering to go to any lengths to solve my problems. I storm out of the station before I can lose my temper and verbally assault the man, immediately calling the credit card companies.

One by one they crush my hopes, telling me in no uncertain terms that unless a culprit is arrested in my case, I’ll be held responsible for the charges.

As I hang up on the final call, I can feel the earth crumbling beneath my feet. How did it come to this? I literally have nothing. No one will hire me without a recommendation from my previous employer, which means I won’t be able to pay rent or keep food on the table. Normally I might turn to Cora in such a time, but I can’t burden her with this when she’s in the same boat.

Tomorrow I’ll finally find out whether or not I’m pregnant, and up until now the strange sensation I’ve been experiencing the last few days has been a comfort and source of hope. I don’t know how to explain it: it’s as if I’m suddenly different somehow – even though I can’t see any changes, I just have this intense knowing that I’m no longer the same woman I was a week ago.

I thought it was a sign the insemination worked, but now I’m praying that it’s my imagination going overboard.

At first I try to distract myself, turning on the TV and freezing when I see Dominic Sinclair on the news talking about all his good will initiatives in the community. “When our work is finished, the Moon Valley children’s home will be a place of love and community, motivated to find the best homes for every child in need. Our initiative not only ensures that the permanent residents in the home have the best possible conditions, but that there is continuous follow up with children placed with adoptive families to ensure they thrive in their new homes.”

So much for the supposed philanthropist, I think bitterly. Turning a blind eye to the lives he’s selfishly ruining all the while pretending to be a friend of the downtrodden. A week ago I might have been touched by such a broadcast. I grew up in an orphanage just like the one he’s describing, and I know just how terrible the conditions can be. Now however, I see nothing but his hypocrisy. Cora was an orphan too, she didn’t do anything wrong – where is his compassion for her? Clearly it’s only for the TV cameras. It’s a shame. He’s very convincing… then again, so was Mike.

Of course Mike was never as handsome as Dominic Sinclair, nor did he ever have his charisma or imposing presence. I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone like him. Even while he was refusing to help me, scolding me and having me thrown out the door, part of me was still taken in by his handsome features and pure magnetism.

Shaking myself, I turn the TV off. What the hell is wrong with me? The man is a heartless billionaire and I’m still sitting here mooning over him like a silly schoolgirl.

I end up going to bed early, trying not to think about tomorrow. Of course, I still lie awake late into the night – I know what it means to grow up an orphan, and I can’t countenance bringing a child into the world just to abandon it to that bleak existence. The more my life unravels, the more stark my options become.

If I am pregnant… Am I going to abort the child? Even though it’s what I’ve wanted my entire life!

 

Chapter 5

“No, I understand.” I murmur into the phone. “Thanks for listening at least.”

I wearily hang up the line, burying my head in my hands. I spent all morning calling in every favor and loan I possibly could, throwing my dignity right out the window to beg my friends and acquaintances in my time of need.

I’ve never thought of myself as a proud woman, but begging this way was more of a challenge than I could have imagined.

I only wish I could help Cora as well as myself. She’s still waiting to hear if she’ll be fired, and while she’s not supposed to be handling any samples, she got permission to do my tests this afternoon. After all, I’ve already been inseminated, so her supervisor didn’t see any risk of further negligence.

Still, I’m far from excited when I walk through the front doors of the sperm bank. Ten days ago I was heartsore but optimistic for the future, yearning for a baby more than anything else in the world. Now I’m dreading the exam.

However my trepidation soon gives way to surprise, because as soon as I enter the facility I have the strangest feeling that Dominic Sinclair is near. It takes me a while to actually find him, behind closed doors with Cora’s bosses in a luxurious, glass-walled conference room, but I don’t have the faintest idea how I knew he was present. I also don’t understand why I feel drawn to him: after all, he’s ruined both my sister’s and my own life. I shouldn’t be excited to see him.

It was dumb luck that I stumbled across his path, the conference room is on the way to Cora’s office, but I find myself stopping to observe the meeting inside. I’m struck speechless when I lay eyes on him. Is it possible that he’s gotten more attractive since the last time I saw him? It was already unfair that somebody that powerful and intelligent could be so handsome, but now it truly just feels like being

kicked while I’m down. The bastard has a heart of stone, and still the universe has rained endless gifts upon him while people like Cora and I have nothing.

Shaking myself out of my trance, I continue down the hall, though I feel the weight of dark eyes on my back as I retreat. Cora has clearly been crying when I arrive. Her eyes are red and her cheeks splotchy, though she tries to hide it.

“Hey.” I greet her gently, wrapping her up in a hug. She leans into me, squeezing tight and lingering far longer than she usually would. “Is there any news?”

“Sinclair is in there finalizing it all now. I’m going to be given formal termination notice this afternoon.” She shares, sniffling slightly.

“I’m so sorry, honey.” I croon, rubbing her back.

“It’s okay.” She lies, pulling away. “How are you hanging in there?”

“Not very well.” I confess. “I’m sort of dreading this, to be honest.”

“It’s amazing how fast things can change, huh?” She asks, looking as though she might burst into tears. “I mean, what are we going to do, Elle?”

“Well figure it out.” I promise. “We’ve been in tight spots before.” I remind her, “remember the summer we slept in boxes on the street after we ran away from the orphanage?”

“Yeah,” She nods with a sad smile. “But it’s winter now, I don’t think we’ll last long in the elements. And you weren’t pregnant then.”

“Yeah well, if I’m pregnant now….” I can’t look her in the eyes as I say this, “I don’t think I’m going to stay that way.”

“What?” Cora exclaims, looking horrified. “But this is your only chance! And we aren’t completely hopeless, you’ve got time to try to figure out a plan B.”

That phrase alone reminds me of Mike, and I realize I haven’t shared my latest news with Cora. “I can’t afford a baby even if I do find a job. I’m going to be paying off my debts for years to come.” I share, filling her in on the details of Mike and Kate’s latest betrayal.

“I can’t believe this!” She bursts out when I’m finished. “It just isn’t fair, Ella! I mean, I thought we paid our dues, I thought we were done with suffering. After everything we’ve been through, we deserve a better future than this! You deserve to be a mom – no one loves children more than you do.”

“And you deserve to be a doctor.” I reply. “You worked so hard.”

“I still don’t think you should give up yet.” She frowns. “You can terminate the pregnancy up until the end of the first trimester. It would be a tragedy if you aborted it, then pulled off a miracle and it turned out you could have kept it. Don’t take that risk. Keep the baby until the very last moment.”

“I don’t think miracles happen to people like me.” I remark softly. “Besides that seems kind of like it’s own form of torture – the longer I carry the baby the more attached I’m going to get. I don’t want this to hurt any worse than it has to.”

“It’s going to hurt no matter what.” Cora reasons, “You ought to give yourself a chance – keep the door open. Don’t give up hope completely.”

“Let’s just find out if I have to make that decision in the first place.” I state, changing the subject. “I may not even be pregnant.” Yet even as I say it, I can feel in my heart that I am.

“Okay.” Cora agrees, pulling a sterile cup wrapped in plastic from one of her cabinets. “You know what to do.”

I take the cup and quickly duck into the bathroom to provide a urine sample, returning it to her almost immediately. I pace back and forth across the office as Cora runs the tests. “Well?” I press, seeing the results pop up on her computer screen.

She offers me a sad smile. “Congratulations little sister, you’re going to have a baby.”

I told myself that I wouldn’t fall to pieces no matter the results, but as soon as the words are out of her mouth I’m crying. I’ve been waiting to hear those words for years and was beginning to think I never would. It’s both unimaginable joy, and unimaginable pain. I never knew my heart could hold such conflicting emotions at the same time, let alone in such extremes. “Really?”

“Really.” Cora confirms, hugging me. “Come on, let’s do an ultrasound. You can hear the heartbeat.”

“Isn’t it too early?” I squeak.

“Just one of the benefits of being at the finest lab in the country.” Cora quips, the words bittersweet on her tongue. “Our technology is years ahead of what’s available in public hospitals.”

Climbing onto the raised exam table, I lay back and lift my top, not bothering to change into a gown or cover my clothes with a sheet, I simply expose my flat belly as Cora wheels in an ultrasound on a cart. Within minutes the machine is emitting a strange whoosh woosh woosh, and Cora squirts a dollop of jelly on my tummy. She pressed the wand to my skin, and before long a tiny heartbeat sounds – making me cry all over again.

However Cora is frowning deeply. “This is so strange, the baby seems awfully large, but we tested you at your last visit to be sure you weren’t already pregnant.”

“What does that mean?” I ask anxiously. “Is the father just a big guy?”

“I don’t just mean size – I mean development.” Cora purses her lips and furrows her brows as she studies the images, suddenly looking very worried. She’s whispering now, speaking to herself more than to me. “It doesn’t look human… but that can’t be… it’s not possible.”

“What are you talking about?” I inquire, “How can you tell? Isn’t it just a tiny blob?”

“As I said, our tech is state of the art. It doesn’t just highlight shapes – it analyzes the molecular structure.” Before she can say another word, the door bursts open, startling us both. To my shock and horror, Dominic Sinclair is standing in the doorframe, glaring at us as if we’ve done something terrible. “What’s the meaning of this?” He demands.

“What’s the meaning of this? I repeat in shock, “what’s the meaning of you barging into a private exam?!”

“Because,” He declares fiercely, and I swear his eyes are almost glowing with rage. “I can smell my pup.”

 

Chapter 6

“Your pup?” I parrot, realizing I must sound like an idiot the way I keep repeating him – but it’s all too strange and surreal. I feel like I’m having a dream – one that may or may not be a nightmare. “What are you talking about?”

I might have been admiring his physical prowess a little while ago, but now I’m back to thinking Dominic Sinclair is just plain terrifying. I’ve known my fair share of bad men, but none of them have ever intimidated me the way he does. It’s like he’s superhuman, giving off waves of energy that make me want to curl up into a little ball at his feet.

“You.” He narrows his eyes at Cora, then gestures to me. “Is this what you did with my sperm, you inseminated your friend?”

“Of course not!” She objects hotly, though there’s a noted shake in her voice. “Yes, I inseminated Ella last week, but not with your sperm. She chose a donor from our client dossier.”

“You’re lying.” He accuses, stating the accusation as if it’s fact. “Ella clearly knew about the samples – since she came to plead your case –”

“You did that?” Cora blinks at me.

“Yes, but I was only trying to help. I thought he might show you mercy if he realized you would never do anything to risk your career.” I apologize, “I’m so sorry, I just wanted to help.”

“It’s okay.” She tells me gently, patting my hand and turning back to Sinclair. “That doesn’t mean anything… I mean, yes I inseminated her on the same day your sample disappeared but… no – it’s not possible, your sample was in a separate fridge…” She trails off again, looking back at the ultrasound screen with wide eyes. “Oh my god…”

“What?” I inquire, beyond confused.

“It’s not human.” She murmurs again, so quietly I can barely hear her. Suddenly she whirls around, looking up at Dominic Sinclair with true fear. “I swear, I didn’t do it on purpose. I don’t know how it happened!”

“Why do you keep saying that it’s not human?” I question, beyond exasperated. “What else could it be – an alien?”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know.” The infuriated man growls. “Don’t pretend like you two didn’t plan this precisely for this reason.”

Cora’s hand is shaking on mine now. “Ella, when I told you about the samples, I only told you half the story.” She explains. “I had to sign a thousand confidentiality documents, because certain secrets came along with running tests on Mr. Sinclair’s samples.”

“What secrets?” I demand, feeling as if everyone around me is speaking in code.

“He’s not…” She begins, glancing at the huge man nervously. “He’s not human… he’s a werewolf.”

Before I can stop myself, I burst out into laughter. “No really, what is it?”

“Really.” Cora whispers urgently. “He’s a werewolf.”

“Cora.” I tell her, almost certain I’m dreaming now. “Werewolves aren’t real.”

“I didn’t believe they were either.” She confesses, “until I started working here. This lab is as renowned as it is because there’s two sides of the business. Half of our bank is dedicated to shifter samples, in fact very few humans work here, because so few are trusted with the truth.”

I’m starting to truly worry for my sister. “Are you high?” I ask under my breath.

“She’s not high.” Sinclair rumbles, drawing my attention back to his face. Now I’m sure his eyes are glowing. The usually piercing green shade now appears almost neon, they’re so full of light. The evidence is right in front of me, but my brain can’t figure out how to process it. Instead it shuts down. I feel a sudden wave of dizziness, and the next thing I know, everything is black.

When I wake, Cora is gone. I sit up on the exam table, trying to remember what happened. Of course it doesn’t take long for me to recall the strange events that caused me to faint, because Dominic Sinclair is sitting in front of me, watching me closely. His eyes aren’t glowing anymore, but I remember the way they’d lit up from within. I also remember the way he’d moved faster than should have been possible to rescue Jake. At the time I wrote it off as adrenaline, but now I’m not so sure.

“How are you feeling, Ella?” He asks me, much calmer than he’d seemed earlier.

“I think I’m losing my mind.” I answer weakly. “This can’t be real.”

“It is real.” He assures me. “Your friend should never have agreed to let you try to entrap me when she knew the truth.”

“Cora didn’t let me do anything, and I wasn’t trying to entrap you. I just wanted a baby.” I argue.

“Please.” He scoffs, “I’ve had my men run your background, I know you’re bankrupt. Obviously you thought that if you were pregnant with my child I would pay your debts for you. You simply miscalculated – you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into, or expect Cora to lose her job for the “mistake.’” The horrible man has the nerve to use air quotes around his final word.

“That’s insane!” I hiss. “I didn’t bankrupt myself – my identity was stolen and I didn’t even know about it until after the insemination. I’m not an irresponsible person, or the type of woman who expects a man to solve her problems. I would never do what you’re suggesting.”

“I don’t want to hear your excuses.” He answers harshly. “The evidence is against you.”

“We don’t even know that it’s your child!” I remind him. “Maybe it isn’t…” I have to give myself a shake before I can continue. “Maybe it isn’t human, but that doesn’t mean it’s yours.”

“I know it’s mine.” Sinclair snarls, making me tremble with instinctive fear. “I can smell it, I can sense my bloodline in your womb.”

I can only gape at him. He can smell it? Sense his bloodline? It’s like I’ve left reality and entered a different universe. “This is crazy.” I can feel myself sliding back into denial. “If werewolves were real, people would know about it!”

Sinclair rolls his eyes and lifts a hand the size of a dinner plate. While I watch, five claws extend where his fingernails were a moment ago. I stare at the odd and slightly sickening sight with abject disbelief. “How are you doing that?”

“I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that’s your shock speaking, rather than your intelligence.” Sinclair drawls.

I glower at him, temporarily forgetting that he’s not only a man twice my size, but apparently a lethal predator. “You don’t get to talk to me like that just because you have money and howl at the moon.”

He arches one dark brow, challenging my defiance. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest and tilting my chin up stubbornly. “It is.”

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he wanted to smile. I swear the corners of his mouth twitched. “You’re a gutsy little thing, I’ll give you that.”

“I don’t want you to give me anything.” I growl, “I want you to leave me alone.”

His eyes flash dangerously, “That’s not going to happen. You’re carrying my pup.”

“Pup.” I say, feeling my stomach churn uncomfortably, “like… four legs and a tail?”

“No.” He answers, not unkindly. “It doesn’t work that way.”

“Well how does it work?” I question, more subdued now. “How does any of this work?”

“Well in a lot of ways werewolves are just like humans.” “ Sinclair explains, leaning back in his chair but never taking his eyes off me. In fact, his gaze is so intense I’m finding it increasingly difficult not to squirm. “We come into the world in human form and we live most of our lives the same way. Most shifters don’t make their first transformation until they’re a few years old. It takes some effort and training. The senses are always there – heightened instincts, sight, smell and hearing – but shifting isn’t as easy for little ones as adults make it look. It’s like learning to speak – it’s second nature by the time you’re grown, but it takes some doing in the early years.”

“But how can I be pregnant with one… if I’m not one myself?” I question.

For the first time Sinclair looks less sure of himself. “I’m actually not sure. I’ve never heard of such a thing happening. Our society exists parallel to your own. A few people – like your friend – are occasionally let in on the secret, but it’s only in very special cases and they never truly integrate. It’s only when someone has certain knowledge or expertise that’s very valuable to us.”

“So there’s just like… a shadow world full of werewolves that exists right under human’s noses?” I summarize.

 

Chapter 7

“This baby is mine.” I tell him possessively. “You can’t just tell me you’re magic and expect me to take that as proof you’re the father.”

“My senses don’t lie, little human.” Sinclair declares, leaving no room for argument. “Nor do my investigators. You’re not in any position to care for this child. Your income is too low to pay off your debts in time, and no woman who claims to be responsible would ever get pregnant in such a situation.”

“My income?” I force the words out through clenched teeth, “what income? You got me fired!”

The big man… or wolf, I suppose, blinks in surprise. “You were fired?”

“Now who’s playing dumb?” I demand wryly. “You called the Graves after I asked you to help Cora, you got me fired and ruined my reputation.”

“I did no such thing.” He insists. “I didn’t even know you were no longer employed.”

“I thought your investigators were the best?” I taunt, and I can feel myself toeing the line of his temper.

“Clearly this was very recent.” He bites back. “And I don’t blame you for becoming desperate, but you have to admit the only explanation for this,” He gestures to my tummy, “is that you needed money and hoped to extort it from me in exchange for the child.”

“I wanted this child more than anything in the world!” I exclaim, surging to my feet. “I’ve been trying to get pregnant for years and when I came to Cora I didn’t know about the identity theft or that I was going to lose my job. This was my last chance and you have no idea how hard it’s been… how painful it is to think I might have to abort it because of everything that’s happened since.” I didn’t mean to tell him so

much, but the words poured out of me before I could stop them. I’ve been so preoccupied with these thoughts the last few days I clearly couldn’t keep them contained.

“Abort it!?” Sinclair rises to his feet in a blur, suddenly towering over me despite the fact that I’m still standing on the exam table’s step. “So now you’re threatening me?”

“What?!” I cry, “no! It doesn’t have anything to do with you, as you said I can’t afford to have a baby so I was trying to do the right thing!”

“Werewolves don’t abort their pups.” He growls. “Our children are too precious and Cora knows that. I’m sure that’s what she was thinking when she suggested using my sperm.”

“Argh!” I explode, clenching my hands into fists. “You’re impossible! How many times do I have to tell you that if this child is yours, it was an accident! Cora didn’t switch the samples on purpose and I didn’t get pregnant because I wanted you to pay off my debts!”

He narrows his eyes at me. “You’re a very good actress, you know that?”

“And you’re a snake.” I snap. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you have scales when you shift instead of fur!”

A true growl sounds in his chest, so full of raw power that my knees go weak. “Be careful Ella, I’m showing you a lot of lenience right now because you don’t know our ways, but keep speaking to me like that and I’ll –”

“You’ll what?” I hiss, “you just told me how precious your pups are so I know you’re not going to hurt me.” To my horror, I feel my eyes burning with tears. Swiping at them angrily, I continue, “and I’ve already lost everything else I care about, so it’s not like you can punish me some other way.”

I spin away so that he can’t see me cry. I don’t know what to do – I know how suspicious our situation looks. If I didn’t know better, I would think the same thing he did. It was all too suspicious, especially

now that I know the truth about Cora’s lab. It couldn’t be easy to mix up samples of different species… wait a minute. The little voice in the back of my head whispers, and I turn back to Sinclair.

“If you didn’t know it was possible for a human to be impregnated by a werewolf, why would Cora have ever attempted to use your sperm?” I interrogate. “She couldn’t have known it was the wrong sample. She wouldn’t have believed it would work even if we were as calculating as you seem to think. And if all I wanted was to extort your money, why haven’t I asked for it? Why haven’t I admitted it?”

The huge werewolf blinks, processing this information with a grimace. Silence stretches between us and eventually he sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I’m not saying I believe you, but however it happened, we need to come to an agreement.”

I eye him warily, “what sort of agreement?”

“Just name your price, Ella.” He mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose. “How much do you want?”

“For what? The baby?” I sputter, “You want me to sell you my child?”

“It’s my child, and it will be raised by me.” He insists. “You don’t belong in my world. So how much is it going to take for you to give it up?”

“I’m not going to negotiate a price for my baby, like it’s a bag of rice or a car! Nor do I want it raised by someone who thinks of it as nothing more than a commodity!” I’m raising my voice now, feeling beyond offended for the tiny being in my womb.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Sinclair grumbles, “do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for an heir?”

“An heir, not a child – not a son or daughter, but an heir – is that all it is to you? Some hypothetical legacy? I might not be able to prevent myself from losing this child now, but I’m not going to hand it

over to someone who doesn’t give a damn about it beyond what it can offer them.” I state ferociously, my maternal instincts kicking into high gear.

“As I said, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” He repeats gutturally. “I will give this baby a life you never could, it will want for absolutely nothing! With you its best chance is to scrounge and scrape in poverty, assuming you have the decency to let it live. With me it will be treated like a prince or princess.”

“Money can’t buy everything.” I remind him coolly. “I notice you said nothing about love.”

“Because I already love it!” He snarls, “I have a connection to my pup you will never understand. How dare you speak to me about love when you contemplated killing it!”

“That was also out of love!” I exclaim, “I didn’t want it to suffer, I didn’t want it to grow up like…” I almost said, ‘like I did’, but I stop myself just in time. “I love it more than myself, and I was willing to sacrifice my own happiness for its sake.”

“Then do as much now.” Sinclair commands, “Give it a life you can’t, by signing over custody to me. Carry the baby and deliver it, then leave it with me where it belongs.”

“You don’t understand, if I do that I’ll never be able to walk away from it.” I beseech him. “I’m not that strong. If I carry it to term, I’ll never be able to give it up – I need to be there to care for and protect it.”

“That’s simply not possible.” Sinclair proclaims. “You aren’t fit to be a mother to any child and especially not mine. You can’t even care for yourself, that much is obvious by your debts–”

“I already told you–” I try to object, however he keeps talking over me.

“And your excuse about Cora assumes she understands enough about werewolf society to know we don’t cross breed. All she knows is that we exist, and how to inseminate our women. She probably

assumed we occasionally mate with humans and just lucked out!” He accuses.

“She’s a doctor who works with your samples all the time, she probably knows a lot more about your organic chemistry than you do yourselves.” I defend, realizing too late that this could also incriminate her.

He arches his brow, clearly thinking along the same lines. “Either way, she proved she wasn’t to be trusted as soon as she betrayed her confidentiality agreement about my sperm to you, and you’ve proved you can’t be trusted by changing your story every ten seconds. You can’t love the baby enough to abort it but not love it enough to give it up to a better life. I clearly just haven’t offered you a high enough price yet.”

“That isn’t fair,” I object, shaking my head. I’ve just learned everything I believe to be true was actually false, at the height of an extremely emotional moment. I wasn’t even conscious the whole time. How can he expect me to think or communicate clearly?

He doesn’t budge. “It’s alright, Ella. You don’t need to make excuses. I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

 

Chapter 8

Up until this point of my life, I’ve hated a handful of people. At the moment Mike and Kate are at the top of my list, but they aren’t alone. However Dominic Sinclair is very quickly rising through the ranks and making a play for the top spot. Mike and Kate’s betrayal hurt so much because I cared for them both, but Sinclair might be the first person I’ve encountered who I dislike this strongly after so short a time.

He’s looking me up and down with the bearing of a wolf deciding how to devour the rabbit in its claws, and I realize that’s all I am to him. All those intense looks over the last couple of years, every encounter, every smile – the entire time he’s been thinking I’m some lesser being, the prey to his predator. Maybe he’s like Mike and thought I was a particularly attractive specimen, but in the end they’re the same sort of monster.

“There is no offer you could ever make me that would convince me to give you my child.” I tell him sharply. “I am not for sale, and neither is my baby.”

“Now you’re just being stubborn.” Sinclair sighs, “digging in your heels because you don’t like me.”

“What gave it away?” I deride. For the second time, it seems like he wants to smile despite his better judgment, but again he holds back.

“Use your head, Ella.” He instructs patronizingly. “Let’s say I believe you didn’t do this just to cash in on a big pay day.”

“You obviously don’t!” I interrupt, earning myself a look so stern a shiver runs down my spine.

“Let’s say I do. What are your options? How are you going to raise this child? If you try to abort it I will take you to court and I guarantee the judge will prevent you from going through with it – which means you can either keep the baby and try to get by on your own, or let me have it.”

“Take me to court if you like.” I challenge, even though my will to go through with terminating the pregnancy has gotten weaker and weaker from the moment I learned it was real. “You forget it’s my body.”

“Which you intentionally inseminated. It’s not like you got knocked up after a one night stand or were assaulted. I’m offering a child a good life and I have more political sway than you can imagine.” He flashes his teeth at me, teeth that look alarmingly like fangs. “Not to mention I’m a donor at every hospital in the city, no physician will perform the procedure and risk me defunding their entire facility.”

Suddenly I can see how this man acquired so much money and power, he has more cunning than I know how to contemplate, with a clear killer instinct. All at once I realize he’s right, the judges and doctors will side with him, whether he convinces them or bribes them – he’ll win.

He’s trapped me and I didn’t even realize it was happening. I have no doubt he’s every bit as ruthless as he seems, which means I’m going to have to carry this baby to term whether I can afford it or not. My best hope is to find some other job in that time, but even then the best life I’d be able to offer my baby is an impoverished one. It’s not like disgraced nannies get hired as CEOs.

Sinclair can clearly read my dismay, because he strikes again. “If you cooperate, I’ll pay off your debts. I’ll help you find a job and cover every last one of your medical and living expenses. If you deliver me an heir, I will also pay you a handsome bonus, and give you anything else you like – a house? A car? A business investment? Be my surrogate and you can have anything your little heart desires.”

“But I’m not just a surrogate.” I remind him, feeling as though my heart was crumbling to pieces in my chest. “I’m this child’s mother. It has my DNA and it will be half human. It has a right to that heritage as well as yours.”

He shakes his head. “This child will be a werewolf, and a powerful one at that – my genes guarantee it. It will be raised with its own kind. And it will have a wonderful life, Ella – I promise.”

“Why should I trust you?” I wonder aloud, “you clearly don’t trust me, why do you expect me to give you something you refuse to offer in return.”

“I have good reason not to trust you, but you have no reason not to trust me. I’ve never wronged you.” He says, as if this justifies everything.

“Bull,” I combat, “you cost Cora her job, you cost me mine – even if you didn’t make the call, whoever did reported that I was begging at your gates.”

“Cora cost herself her job.” He claims firmly. “Mistake or malice, my sperm ended up in your womb – a place it never should have been.” His foreboding expression softens for a moment. “And I truly am sorry about your job – I know how much Jake and Millie loved you. If you want your job back, I can make it happen.”

I don’t know what I think of that possibility. I’d love to see my precious charges again, but I don’t know if I can get past their mother’s cruelty. “Money can’t fix everything.” I reply, “and all your promises – what good is having everything I need if I’ll never have the thing I want most?”

“If it’s a child you want, I can help you adopt a human baby.” He offers, circling me as if he’s some sort of wolfish vulture. He clearly senses he’s closing in on the kill, and he’s not wrong.

I can feel my lip begin to tremble as fresh tears threaten. It feels selfish to say ‘but I want this baby’, especially when I grew up an orphan and know how many children need good homes. In truth Sinclair is offering me the world on a platter – my baby gets to live and have a good life, all my problems will be solved, and I can adopt a child that needs a mother as badly as I need to be one. Am I being silly, holding onto my childhood baggage about wanting to be part of a family bonded through more than just affection, a family bonded by blood? After all, blood is no guarantee of love – how many kids did I grow up with whose natural parents abandoned or abused them?

In the end, I don’t think I have a choice. I have to do this. Knowing my baby will be loved and cared for, will have to be enough. It’s the best solution for us both, and the fact that it hurts so badly doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

“Draft a contract before I change my mind.” I grind out, hating this man more than I can express.

Sinclair nods, and strides to the door. A little while later one of his men comes in with a heavy stack of documents, which takes me almost a full hour to read through. When I finally close the last page and nod in approval, the lawyer places the contract in front of Sinclair, who promptly turns to add his signatures to all the appropriate pages.

“You’re doing the right thing, Ella.” He tosses over his shoulder, triumph clear in his voice.

“That’s easy for you to say.” I gripe, watching him lean over the document brandishing a fountain pen. “Are you proud of yourself? Bullying a weak little human into giving you the only child she’ll ever have?” I inquire to his back. “You sent your sperm here because you struggled with infertility too, didn’t you? How would you feel if you and your wife finally conceived and someone took the baby from you?”

Sinclair straightens up, going very still but not acknowledging my words. When he turns around his expression is completely closed off. “Actually I’m not married.” He tells me. “Not anymore.”

“Way to miss the point.” I mutter under my breath, snatching the pen from his hand and moving in front of the contract. Before I can add my signature to the pages, I feel the room begin to spin. I brace my hands against the low table, clamping my eyes shut then blinking them open and trying to clear my vision, which is suddenly very blurry. The blood is rushing in my ears.

“How long have we been in this room?” I ask, feeling as if my body is being slowly doused in warm water. All my senses are fuzzy, and it’s not until Sinclair appears at my side that I realize I slurred my words. “Are you alright, Ella?”

My legs give out, and I suddenly find myself slumping into a very large, very hard wall of concerned werewolf. Powerful arms come around me, and Sinclair’s scent fills my nose. It’s deep and rich, like being deep in the forest on a moonlit night. “You smell nice.” I murmur, sounding completely drunk, before the world goes black for the second time in as many hours.

However this time, I hear an odd grumbling noise as I sink into the darkness. At first I think it’s Sinclair, but the sound isn’t coming from his chest, it almost sounds like it’s coming from… inside me?

 

Chapter 9I blink my eyes open warily, knowing I’m not at home in my own bed solely by the luxurious mattress and beddings surrounding me. The last thing I remember, I was in Cora’s office with none other than Dominic Sinclair, who was single-handedly offering to save my future and break my heart in one fell swoop.

I was about to sign away my rights to my baby… my baby, I think dazedly, pressing one hand to my belly. Am I really pregnant? After all this time?

The idea that I have to give up my child because life dealt me yet another ruthless blow makes me feel sick to my stomach… in fact, I lurch from the bed and race for the bathroom, feeling my insides roil and clench. I make it to the toilet just in time, emptying my stomach into the porcelain bowl and dropping to my knees with a groan of misery.

I suppose that’s all the proof I need. I really am going to be a mother… but for how long? 30 seconds? Five minutes? Will Dominic Sinclair give me the opportunity to even hold my baby before ripping it from my arms? Do I want that torture? Yes, I decide instantly. I have to hold my baby in my arms, even if it’s only for a fraction of a second…. Even if we aren’t technically the same species.

That particular thought sends my head spinning so quickly I have to clench my eyes shut. Werewolves are real. Not only are they real, but I’m pregnant with one… Dominic Sinclair, who I’ve mooned over a thousand times, is a creature I believed only existed in novels and films. And what was that grumbling noise when I passed out, why did it feel like I could hear his voice in my head?

All of a sudden it’s just too much to handle. I slip back into the bedroom and climb back into the opulent bed, for the first time realizing I must be in the Sinclair mansion. There’s no other explanation. I’ve never been in a room this beautiful, or with such expensive furnishings. It must all belong to him.

But why would he bring me home with him? I have a home of my own. Peeking out of the plush covers, I scan the room, my eyes landing on a table by the door. There’s a vase of flowers and a folded note, which appears to have my name scrawled across the front. Gingerly regaining my feet, I collect the parchment and open it, my heart beating a mile a minute.

Ella,

Please make yourself at home. I’ll be at the office until this evening, but as soon as I return we can finish our talk. Ask the servants for anything you require.

Yours,

Dominic

And if I want to go home? I think defiantly, What then Mr. Bossy?

The suggestion that there’s a discussion to conclude between us grates on my nerves. He basically left me with no choice, leveraging safety, stability and my child’s wellbeing over my head so that I’d be forced to agree to his terms. It’s not as if I really stood a chance against him. He has all the power in the world while I have nothing, and he made it very clear that there was no wiggle room in our agreement.

Maybe passing out was my brain’s subconscious way of protecting me, giving me more time to process and think before signing away my baby. Or if not my brain, whatever higher power created shifters and humans – this entire crazy planet. I never considered myself religious before, but if magic is real, who’s to say what else is possible?

Tears well in my eyes, and unlike earlier, they have nothing to do with my joy over being pregnant, or my grief about everything I’m losing. These tears are nothing but pure, righteous anger over everything that’s happened to me over the last few days. Cora’s words ring in my head, “It isn’t fair.” It isn’t fair that

I have to lose everything because of the actions and cruelty of other people. It isn’t fair that Dominic Sinclair should hold my future ransom when he could fix it with the snap of his fingers. The amount of money it will take to repay my debts isn’t even a drop in the bucket to him, and I’m pregnant with his child. He could easily help me without also robbing me of my baby – as if he has no concept of the value of a mother’s love.

Before I can change my mind, I gather myself and slip out the bedroom door, sneaking through the hallways until I finally find my way out of the maze of a house. Only once does a servant try to stop me. I’m almost to the front door when a guard steps in front of me, “Miss, you don’t have permission to leave.”

I notch my chin up and glare at the man. “Are you going to stop me?”

He looks as though he wants to do just that. He frowns deeply, eyeing me closely. I can almost see the thoughts scrolling through his head. Yes he has orders not to let me leave, but he also knows I’m pregnant with his boss’s precious heir. He can’t risk roughing me up if I fight back.

After a moment I decide to test the strength of his resolve, storming past him without another word. When I arrive home a little while later, I head straight for my computer, pulling up the internet browser and typing in Dominic Sinclair’s name. He might have fancy investigators to look into my past, but I’m no simpleton, I can do research as well as anyone.

At first I find only fawning business articles about his genius intellect and cunning as a negotiator and investor. It seems like everyone who’s ever decided to look into the man has fallen in love with him. Nevermind the fact that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, they make it sound as though he’s a completely self made man. The articles lament his difficult childhood growing up without a mother, and a number of interviews actually detail how deeply this affected him. The way they tell it, being raised by a single parent is the worst upbringing a child could have.

After I’ve read through all the financial analyses and rave reviews, I dig deeper, looking into his philanthropic record and secret identity. I’m mildly dismayed to find all his charitable efforts are completely legitimate and he actually does donate half his revenues to those in need (of course, half a colossal fortune still leaves a fortune behind). The internet is chock-full of reports and speeches he’s made, good will efforts to better mankind.

Things are less clear when I try digging into his true status as a werewolf. At first my searches result in little more than illuminati conspiracy theories and nonsense, and I realize keeping an entire species secret must require more discretion. It occurs to me that there might be a dark or parallel web for werewolves, just like there are for illicit activities.

It takes most of the afternoon, but eventually I figure out that I can d******d a special browser to access the dark web, and before long I’ve dived deep into the annals of werewolf society. Here I find a very different image of the perfect businessman touted in the human media (Don’t even get me started on how bizarre it is to discover that there really is a sprawling werewolf society thriving in the shadows of my own).

Apparently Dominic Sinclair isn’t just any werewolf, but the Alpha of the Moon Valley pack and prospective King of the entire bloody continent. No wonder he’d been so vague and guarded when I asked about ruling monarchs! He’s poised to become the next King himself, if he can pull off his upcoming campaign.

There aren’t many contenders in the race, but Sinclair’s been undermined by his family situation. The last king died without an heir and left werewolf society with a dangerous power vacuum – it’s the reason they have to select a new king in the first place. No one wants to repeat this cycle with another childless King, and the fact that Sinclair has been unable to produce an heir is only half the problem. He also doesn’t have a mate, or Luna – not anymore at least.

I read until my eyes grow sore, learning that Sinclair was once married to a she-wolf who left him when he couldn’t give her a child – despite the fact that they were fated mates (another concept I can’t wrap my mind around). It’s no wonder he was so intense about finally having an heir – I thought he was just a domineering jerk who believed he needed to pass down his business legacy or something, not that the entire future of his society might depend on it. The articles made it very clear that werewolves would be in serious trouble if he doesn’t take the throne. A few of his competitors can only be described as power mad and unhinged, and they’re doing their best to discredit Sinclair.

When I finally finish, sitting back in my chair and dragging my hand over my face, I try to wrap my brain around all this. Sinclair needs an heir, he needs a Luna, and he knows how difficult it can be for a child to grow up without a mother. For all his cunning, I now know all his weak spots. If I play my cards right, I just might be able to talk the terrifying Alpha into letting me stick around after the baby is born. Then I can prove how critical it is for a child to be with its mother – I can give us all a chance.

Even as I think these optimistic words, a knock sounds on the door, and somehow I know it’s Dominic Sinclair before I can even get up off the couch. Taking a deep breath I stride across the room and pull the heavy door open, revealing one very large, very angry werewolf bearing down on me.

 

Chapter 10

Sinclair glared down at the tiny human in front of him. It seemed every time he saw Ella she grew more beautiful, especially since he learned she was carrying his pup. She’d been an enchanting distraction before, now she was almost irresistible. With fair skin, rose gold hair and eyes so amber they almost seemed metallic, he found it hard to believe she was not a wolf herself. However, as delectable as her scent was, she was clearly nothing extraordinary.

“Why did you leave?” Sinclair demanded, scanning his sharp eyes over her body to make sure she was unharmed. His attention lingered on her flat tummy, where his pup safely rested. He could still smell it, hear its tiny heartbeat and feel an inexplicable connection to the miniscule bundle of cells.

“Because I’m not a dog. I don’t sit and stay just because you tell me to.” Ella announced, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I didn’t order you to do anything.” Sinclair argued, baffled by the way his wolf purred in response to her sass.

“And yet you seem displeased that I didn’t sit by and obediently wait for you to come home and dictate more decisions about my future.” Ella quipped, leaning against the doorframe.

“I didn’t dictate anything.” Sinclair argued. “We negotiated fair and square.”

“If that’s what you call fair it’s no wonder you earned your ruthless reputation.” Ella remarked slyly, “I wasn’t in any state to have such an important conversation, let alone make such a momentous decision.”

Sinclair didn’t seem to hear her, instead he’d slipped past her into the apartment. “Is this where you live?”

“Obviously.” Ella rolled her eyes.

He shook his head, “This won’t due.”

“Excuse me?” Ella gaped, “you’ve got some nerve you know –

“I won’t have the mother of my pup staying in such poor conditions.” Sinclair decided, “You’ll move into my estate as soon as possible.”

Ella clenched her fists at her sides and took a deep breath. “I make my own decisions.”

“Not since you agreed to our deal.” Sinclair countered. “The moment you said yes, you handed over authority to me.”

“I didn’t sign anything!” Ella reminded him.

“A verbal agreement is enough in werewolf law – the contract was really for you.” Sinclair announced, smirking like the cat who ate the canary.

“Then why did your note say we needed to finish our conversation, what was there to finish if not signing the deal?” Ella demanded hotly.

“Everything, including you moving in with me, your prenatal regimen, birth plan, financial arrangements.” Sinclair explained, striding into Ella’s bedroom and pulling open the closet doors. By the time Ella reached him, he was already pulling a suitcase from the top shelf.

“Stop that!” Ella insisted, vigorously attempting to wrest the suitcase from his hand. She tugged the large bag so forcefully she almost lost her balance. In fact she was pulling with all her strength and weight, if Sinclair had chosen to release his end of the bag she would certainly topple to the ground. “I never agreed to move in with you!”

The next thing Ella knew, the huge shifter’s hand was circling her nape, applying just enough pressure to freeze her in her tracks, but not enough to hurt. “Listen closely, little human.” He rumbled authoritatively, radiating power. “I appreciate your spirit, but as long as you’re carrying my pup, you will be careful, and wrestling with wolves twice your size over heavy luggage is not allowed.”

Ella narrowed her eyes at the attractive Alpha. Her instincts were going a bit haywire at the moment. Her insides were in puddles over being so near him, her knees were weak in the face of his stern scolding, and her heart was in full revolt. No one had ever cared about her enough when she was young to set rules and discipline, so she’d been running wild for as long as she could remember. And she did not take kindly to being told what to do now. With a fiery flash in her amber eyes, she stomped her small foot right onto his, sending pain vibrating up through her own bones, and not even phasing him.

Ella couldn’t smother her whimper, “What are you made of, steel?”

“That’s what tussling with a wolf will get you.” He responded unsympathetically, releasing her and stalking to the bed, where he neatly unfolded the suitcase. “Now be a good girl, and pack your bags.”

“I would sooner set everything I own on fire.” Ella replied coolly, resisting the urge to rub her aching foot.

“That might not be the worst idea.” Sinclair muttered, glancing at her wardrobe. “If you’re going to live with me, you might as well look the part too. Should I fetch a lighter?”

“No!” Ella yelped, moving to protect her things. “They might not be up to your standards but I like my things, and I like my apartment.” In truth, this apartment reminded Ella too much of Mike, and she hadn’t picked out any of her furniture or appliances – they were all hand-me downs. Still, she didn’t appreciate the way Sinclair was trying to order her around. There might be an exchange of money or

services in their arrangement, but she wasn’t one of his servants, and it was important they establish that if her plan was going to work.

Sinclair cocked his head to the side, eyeing her as if she were a profound curiosity. “And how are you going to pay your rent on this place?”

Ella’s mouth opened and closed helplessly. “That’s not the point.”

Sinclair wasn’t sure what to make of the beautiful human. The more time he spent around her, the more his wolf began to sit up and pay attention. His wolf had always perked up with interest when he saw Ella around the neighborhood, but he’d never allowed himself to explore those feelings because she was a human. Now however… now he had every excuse to figure out the puzzle that was Ella. “It’s part of the arrangement.” He dictated firmly, “you’ll be back on your feet faster if you don’t have to worry about living expenses, and I want you close – this baby is too important to me.”

It was true Sinclair didn’t want to let her out of his sight, but that was also because he’d been dreaming of becoming a father for years. He didn’t want to miss a moment of Ella’s pregnancy. The little human was beginning to squirm beneath the weight of his gaze, and he could see her working through the problem in her mind. She had to realize it made more sense for her to stay with him, she might be feisty, but she was far from stupid.

“Fine,” Ella finally conceded, shooting Sinclair a sulky pout. “But I want to talk to you about a few things first.”

“Are you going to keep glaring at me that way while you do?” Sinclair asked, his mischievous wolf egging him on. He wasn’t sure what it was about seeing Ella all riled up, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from pushing her buttons.

“Ye–” Ella bit back her response, seeming to think better of losing her temper with him. She needed to convince him, to persuade him – not alienate him. “No.” She amended, taking a deep breath. “I want to talk to you about our arrangement. What’s going to happen to the baby in the early years? Who’s going to care for it?”

“I’ll pay someone.” Sinclair responded simply, “A nursemaid.”

“Why would you ever pay someone when the baby’s mother is there and dying to do all the things a servant would? It will need milk and lullabies and love, I can provide that better than anyone. Forgive me, but I know you aren’t married, and a child needs a mother.” Ella was hoping this would be an emotional subject for the man – it can’t have been easy to grow up without a mother. “It’s healthier for the baby to have me around, especially given how busy you are. You can’t exactly take a newborn to the office with you every day.”

Sinclair hesitated. He knew she was right, it was better for the pup to have Ella near, and he didn’t want his heir to grow up the way he did. Still, Ella didn’t belong in his world. She was human and she couldn’t be trusted – this was probably another scheme to swindle him somehow. She’d already proven what a good actress she was back at the sperm bank. It was a clever ploy, but he wasn’t going to let another conniving woman ruin his life. He’d learned his lesson with his ex-wife, Lydia.

Ella was watching him closely, reading his expression and scrambling for another argument. Her eyes lit up after a moment’s thought, and her pink lips parted for the battle. “It would help you politically as well. I’ve been doing some research,