Ch. 271..280

Chapter 271

My breath starts to come short and fast now as I press my hand desperately to my stomach, seeking that connection somewhere within me. But I feel like I’m grasping through empty air, my fingers searching for any touch, any tie, and coming up empty.

“Ella,” Sinclair murmurs, tightening his hands against my back. “Calm down – the doctors say that it’s okay, that he’s still with us –”

“Still with us,” I growl, my teeth clenched as I try to manifest that damn connection, to make it appear even when it stubbornly refuses to present itself. “How can he still be with us if I can’t feel him?”

Sinclair shushes me softly again, a soft rushing sound that despite my desperation – makes me open my eyes and look at him. My fear comes rushing in then, wiping out my anger and

frustration. “Dominic, what does it mean?” I ask, my voice trembling. “If the doctor’s say they have a heartbeat – but we can’t feel him?”

“I don’t know, Ella,” he responds, his own voice low with worry and despair. “But we’re going to figure it out, okay? Together?” He pulls his brows together, worried, and nods to me, begging me to see. “Please, just calm down. We’ll think it through.”

I nod quickly, bobbing my head in agreement and forcing my body to relax. Sinclair moves beneath me, folding his legs instead of kneeling, pulling me into his lap and cradling me against his chest. I rest my head against him, making myself breathe slow, deep breaths, letting the warm scent of him root me in my body.

God, how long have I been gone? I have…memories. Memories of being here, of dancing, of being in the clouds and in the trees…of flickering in and out of this place. I push my mind back further and remember, quite suddenly, the last place I was

On the steps, with Cora, handing her the gift…watching her use it…

I cringe at the memory, of the feeling of drowning in my mother’s power, of all of it draining from me as I handed it to Cora, taking my life with it. I look up into Dominic’s face then and find him there, ready, likewise peacefully breathing. Waiting.

“Cora?” I ask quietly.

He nods to me, smiling a little. “She’s totally fine. The world is fine. But…don’t worry about that, now, my darling. Just worry about you.”

“And Rafe,” I murmur, tucking my head back against him and closing my eyes. I turn my attention to my little boy, then, and my heart breaks. God, I want him so badly – have wanted him so badly for years and years. And in these past few months of happiness with Sinclair, I have letmyself imagine a beautiful future. I imagine him covered in pasta sauce the first time he tries spaghetti, imagine his first steps, imagine him playing baseball with his friends…

God, but now… the idea of losing him, of losing that beautiful future – it’s so horrible I can hardly stand it. I feel myself physically cringing at the idea, curling further into Sinclair’s arms as he tightens his hold around me, letting me feel the pain but also letting me know that he’s here to help me bear it.

How horrible, the idea that it could all be just a dream…

My eyes snap open at that. I suddenly sit up straighter in Sinclair’s arms.

“What?” he asks, curious, a little frightened that something might be wrong.

“A dream,” I murmur, my mind wheeling as I look around at our surroundings. “We’re in a dream.” “Well, yeah,” Sinclair says, as if it’s obvious. But he doesn’t get it yet.

“And here,” I continue, ignoring his interruption, “we can make anything happen that we want. Yes?” Sinclair studies my face and doesn’t say anything, letting me continue. “And you’re here,” I insist, starting to get excited now, “because I invited you. Because I wanted you here.”

“Yes?” Sinclair confirms slowly, still not getting where I’m going with this.

“So?” I say, smiling now, excited. “What if we invite the baby here too? Make him real so we can hold him, tell him how much we want him? You brought me back right now you kissed me – can’t we do it with him?” I lose track of my train of thought a little at the end there – but I don’t care, I’m too excited now. This is going to work –

I start to push myself from Sinclair’s lap, ready to get to my feet, to head into the forest, to find my son, but Sinclair quickly pulls me back.

“Ella,” he hesitates, “I don’t know if it will work –”

“What?” I ask, spinning to look at him and frowning. “Why not?”

He just shrugs and blinks at me. “I’ve just – I’ve never heard of it happening before. I’m able to come into your dreams because I’m your mate – I’ve never heard of a mother sharing her dream with her pup, even while pregnant

I scoff at him, rolling my eyes a little. “Well just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t make it impossible –”

He laughs at me for a moment then and I stop, smiling a little back at him. This, I think, this is what we’re fighting for. For the bond between us, for the push and pull, for the fact that we’re sitting in a dream, in the midst of a tragedy, that I’m probably dying and somehow I’m still rolling my eyes at him and making him laugh.

Sinclair nods at me, his eyes fixed on mine, and I know that he completely understands. That he gets it too. That this thing between us? It’s worth trying anything so that we can share it with our child.

“All right,” he says, pressing a quick kiss to my mouth. “Lead the way, trouble. You’re in charge now.”

I nod, affirming this, and push myself out of his lap and to my feet, dusting off my skirts and looking around the forest. He rises next to me, the mass of him as steady and assuring in this dream state as it is in real life. I brush my hair behind my ear and look around, wondering where to begin.

“Um,” I hesitate, looking up at him. “When I was gone up in the clouds – what did you do? To get me to come back?”

“I called for you,” he replies, smirking down at me. “And, characteristically, you ignored me. Until I hollered at you to come back.”

I scrunch my face up in distaste at this. “Well I’m not going to yell at my child, the first time I meet him,” I murmur, turning away from him and scanning into the woods. “But the calling….it’s not a bad place to start.”

Then, feeling a little foolish, but believing in it anyway, I raise my hands to my mouth and cup them on either side. “Rafe!” I call, my voice echoing louder into the dream than I thought it would. “ Rafe, where are you baby! Mama wants to see you!”

We both wait for a second, holding our breath, but nothing. The forest even consents to go quiet, as if letting us hear more clearly. But still, not a sound.

“You try,” I murmur, nudging Sinclair with my elbow. “You’re louder than me.”

“I’m louder than everyone,” he replies, raising his hands to his own mouth, and then he, too, shouts into the forest. “Rafe! Come on, son!” I listen to the sound reverberating in the trees and hold my breath,

hoping so hard…

Still, nothing. “Keep going,” I whisper to Sinclair, glancing up at him and then closing my eyes. Sinclair complies, calling out sweetly to our boy, telling him that we’re looking for him, that we want him, that we can’t wait to meet him. And as he does, I will him to be real, I demand the dream to make space for him, I cry out for him with every piece of

And just when I feel like I can’t bear it any more, I feel.. Just the tiniest tug.

And a baby’s cry sounds out in the forest.

my heart.

Chapter 272

Sinclair and I both gasp at the same moment, and my eyes fly open, finding his. We are both frozen in place, but then another cry sounds and we are instantly in motion, bolting through the forest, searching for our son.

“Rafe!” I cry, my voice desperate as Sinclair pulls ahead of me on his long legs. “Rafe, baby! We’re coming!”

Rafe’s cries are louder now, more solid, the sound of a real baby crying real tears. And then

suddenly something catches my vision out of the corner of my eye and I skid to a stop, turning left while Sinclair continues ahead.

And suddenly, I see –

A bassinet, of all things, sitting alone in the middle of the forest. And in it, I know, is my baby.” Dominic!” I call, wanting him back, wanting him at my side, but I don’t wait. Instead, I hurry to the side of the white basket, gripping the edge of it in my hands as I pull myself closer to it, desperately looking inside –

And then.

There he is.

My baby boy, my pup, my child–looking exactly as I knew he would be – not how I imagined he would look, but how I knew he would be.

I am breathless, wordless, as I reach for my child, who mews quietly with discontent in his little bed, swaddled in a clean white blanket. Slowly, softly, I left him into my arms, just staring at him as I hear heavy footsteps pounding behind me.

“Ell-“I hear Sinclair start, but then, as I turn, he forgets the rest of the word. He stutters to a stop, his mouth falling open as he takes in the sight of us – both of us – mother and child. But I barely spare him a glance, returning my gaze to my infant son.

“Hey, baby,” I murmur, my throat choked with my joy and my tears. “Hey, baby Rafe. We’ve been looking for you.” Slowly, I begin to rock and bounce him, soothing him, letting him feel me holding him against me, letting him know that I’m here, and I’m so sorry, and how I love him with the entirety of my being.

I hear Sinclair take a few steps closer and I tilt the still–crying baby towards him, letting my mate have a look at his son. I look up into Sinclair’s face as I hear him choke. I’m a little shocked – but honestly, not surprised – when I see tears streaking down his face.

“Hey, kid,” he starts, his voice wavering, his hand shaking a little as he reaches out his giant mitt to touch him. But before he can lay a finger on him, I see Sinclair hesitate, pulling his hand back.

“What,” I ask, laughing a little. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s just so tiny,” Sinclair marvels, shaking his head and staring down at our little boy’s perfect porcelain skin, his little mop of black hair. “If I touch him, I’ll crush him…”

My laughter shakes the baby a little, causing him to fuss and hiccough as I shake my head at Sinclair.

“He’s your son, Dominic. You won’t hurt him. You won’t let yourself.” So, still hesitant, Dominic reaches out just the tip of his finger and brushes it against Rafe’s perfect little cheek.

“Hey, Rafe,” he murmurs, and I can hear his heart in this throat. “We’re so excited for you. We’ve got big plans.”

I smile down at my baby for a moment, unable to tear my eyes from him, but then I look up at Sinclair and fall in love with him all over again, seeing the hope and the joy and the wholeness in his eyes as he takes in his first sight of his son.

“Here,” I offer, holding the baby out towards him. “Do you want to hold him?”

Sinclair looks at me with startled eyes and shakes his head. “Ella – he’s so small –”

I laugh a little at this but just pull the baby back to my breast, secretly pleased at the refusal. I never want to put this little baby down, I want to hold him just like this forever. Instead, Sinclair takes a step closer to me and wraps his arms around both of us, encircling us with his warmth and his protection and his love. And in this moment I just feel so….complete. So blessed to be able to share this with my mate and my son.

Rafe begins to quiet now, taking deeper breaths, blinking up at us sleepily with his grey little infant eyes that I know will someday turn green like his father’s.

“You’re going to grow up to be so big and strong,” I whisper to my pup, rocking him close against

my body. “And we can’t wait to watch you do it.”

“We need you to be strong, buddy,” Sinclair whispers, his voice catching. “Just hold on. Your mama’s going to carry you, and keep you safe.”

“We’re so sorry,” I whisper, feeling tears come to my own eyes now at the thought of all the things my poor baby had to endure. No wonder he had been hiding, had shrunk away from me and the horrors of this world. “It will be different now – it will be safe, and good – you’re my only job now. We love you so much.”

“Hold on, baby,” Sinclair murmurs, reaching out a finger to stroke Rafe’s little hand, which has just popped out from its swaddling. “Just…hold on.” And as we watch, Rafe’s little hand uncurls and wraps around his father’s giant finger, coming nowhere close to encircling it but… trying nonetheless.

I feel the tears streak down my face as I look between them, the two men who are the world to me. But even as I watch, I feel the dream state start to shift. Start to fade, to pull away.

“I think we’re out of time,” I say to Sinclair, holding my baby tight against me, unwilling to let

He nods, realizing it too, realizing as well that there’s no reason to fight it. All dreams come to an end, even perfect ones like this. Hurriedly, he turns my face to his, pressing a kiss to my mouth. I savor it, the perfect contours of his lips which fit so perfectly to mine. He pulls away too soon.

“Come back to me,” he demands, his eyes serious, almost glaring into mine. “You come back to me, Ella. Wake up. As soon as you can.”

I nod, assuring him. “I will,” I promise. “I’m coming back to you. We both are.”

Sinclair opens his mouth to say something else, but before he can, the dream fades to nothing. And then there’s only mist.

Sinclair

I sit stark straight the moment I gasp back to consciousness, the memories of the dream ringing through my mind, and spin to Ella, looking desperately for that sweet smile, the flash of her eyes –

But…

I blink, uncomprehending for a moment as I realize that she hasn’t woken up alongside me. That she’s just laying still, breathing those same shallow breaths, her pulse a slow tick on the monitors beside her.

“Good, you’re up.‘

I almost leap out of my skin as I hear the doctor’s voice. I spin towards him, my instincts instantly ready to attack – but I stop myself just in time.

“Sorry, sorry,” he says, putting up an apologetic hand. “I…I shouldn’t have startled you like that. I apologize.”

I take a moment to settle myself, to bring my pulse down to a semi–normal level, before turning to look at Ella again. “Is she alright?” I ask. “I met her in the dream – I was expecting her to…‘

“Is that what you were doing?” The doctor asks, raising his eyebrow. “Interesting.” He looks towards the monitors. “She did display some increased brain activity for a bit there…which isn’t a bad thing…”

The hesitation on his face, though, tells me it isn’t precisely a good thing either.

“The baby?” I demand, my voice low with frustration and disappointment. Damn it, I had truly thought that would work…

“The same,” the doctor informs me, indicating a smaller monitor that’s tracking the fetal heart rate.

I put my head in my hands, wondering what the hell else I can do now…

I feel a hand on my shoulder and flinch, but I don’t bother to shove it off. The doctor is doing his best, after all working to save them, to bring them back to me.

“Her body is too weak,” the doctor says softly. “Even if you did contact her in the dream, even if she wants to come back, her body may not let her. Not yet. It’s…it’s in the hands of the goddess now.”

I despair for a moment but then…

I realize something. And raise my head. It is in the hands of the Goddess – and the Goddess has a gift to give. And I know who currently holds that gift…

“Call her,” I growl, glaring up at the doctor.

“Who?” he asks, removing his hand from my shoulder and flinching away.

“Cora,” I respond, “Ella’s sister. Get her here now.”

Chapter 273

Cora almost skids to a stop as she flies into Ella’s hospital room. “What,” she gasps. “What is it – is she –”

But Sinclair is just standing at the side of Ella’s bed, his hands pressed deep into his pockets, staring at the door as if he was waiting for her. Cora bites her words back, knowing that if Ella had …well, Sinclair wouldn’t just be standing still. He’d be tearing the world to pieces.

Cora lets out a deep breath, her eyes trailing down to her sister in the bed. God, she looks so fail just laying there, wired up to all of those machines. Her passionate sister, so full of life, looks like a little bird crumpled up in that bed…

“She’s fine,” Sinclair snaps, bringing Cora’s eyes back to him. Roger comes into the room then as well and Sinclair’s eyes flick to him, a little surprised. After all, he hadn’t called for Roger, he’d called for Cora. Apparently, they’d been together.

Sinclair didn’t let himself think about why. He didn’t care. His attention returns to Cora alone. “Give it back to her,” Sinclair demands, his voice even and controlled.

“What?” Cora asks, standing up straight. “Give what back? I didn’t take anything -”

“What’s going on, Dominic?” Roger asks, stepping in front of Cora, realizing that his brother is worked up about something. “Tell us. We need to understand.”

Frustrated at not being immediately obeyed, Sinclair takes a deep breath and steels himself, trying to will patience into his body, even though he’s run completely out of it. He just wants this done. Wants her back.

“I met her,” Sinclair snaps, working to summarize the past few hours as quickly as possible. “In the dream state. She was there with…with Rafe.” Cora’s face lights up with this news and she opens her mouth to ask a thousand questions, but Sinclair keeps going. “Ella is strong in her spirit, but the doctor says her body is too weak. That she would need a gift from the Goddess to heal her now.” His eyes move to Cora’s, angry. “Which you took from her.”

Cora’s mouth drops open at his accusation and a hand flies to her breast. “Sinclair,” she breathes,” I would never – she gave it to me – I had to

–”

“I don’t care,” he interrupts, his voice raising now. “You took it, and now you have to give it back.” He takes a step towards her now, as if he’d rip it from her body if it would save his mate.

“Easy,” Roger warns, taking a step closer to his brother. “Easy, Dominic. We hear you. You have a point, okay? Just…just let Cora think.”

The brothers turn to Cora then, pinning her under their dual stare. Her breath comes faster as she quickly sorts through her thoughts. Is this her fault? Did she do this to Ella, by taking the gift? Was she the reason her sister would die?

“Cora,” Roger says carefully. “What do you think?”

”

“Um,” she mutters, her eyes unfocused as she stares at the ground, trying to piece it together. “I don’t know? I didn’t mean…I didn’t mean to? But he might be right? When I took the gift from her,

that’s when she collapsed…”

“Well,” Roger says, working hard to keep the energy in the room calm, feeling like he’s walking in a minefield that could explode at any minute. “Can you give it back?”

–

“May maybe?” Cora replies, lifting her eyes and looking between the brothers. “But will that be good for her? She couldn’t she couldn’t hold it all, when she was weak…”

–

Sinclair begins to growl then and Cora shrinks away, overwhelmed.

“Enough,” Roger snaps, glaring at his brother and gesturing towards Cora. “Can’t you see that she’s trying? That none of this is her fault? She’s trying to help – let her help, if she can.” Sinclair visibly fights his instincts to force Cora to do his bidding, to save his mate. But Roger is right – terrifying the girl isn’t helping, so he forces himself to take two steps back, to return to his spot by Ella’s head.

Cora relaxes a little as Sinclair backs off. She looks between the brothers, hesitating. “Are you sure you want me to try this? Even if it could…hurt her?”

–

Roger glânces over his shoulder at the open door. “Do you want me to get the doctor and ask?”

“No,” Sinclair bites out. “He’s done all he can. He’s out of this now. This is between us. Between… the two of you.” It kills him to say it, to admit – however tacitly that there’s nothing he himself can do anymore. That this is now between the sisters, and the best he can do is watch. “Do it.”

Cora still hesitates and is surprised when Rafe comes to her side and takes her hand. “We have to try,” he murmurs. When she looks up at him, she’s further shocked to see that his eyes are filled with hope. “I think he’s right, Cora. It makes sense. And it’s a gift – I don’t think it can hurt her.” Cora’s lip begins to

tremble then as she thinks about it – the horrible, awful consequences that this could have if it went wrong. But Roger holds her gaze, tightening his grip on her hand, giving her the strength she needs, the courage.

“All right,” Cora whispers, nodding once and moving swiftly to the side of Ella’s bed, taking her sister’s hand. “Um,” she says, looking around. “Can I have a chair?”

Roger quickly moves to bring her one from across the room, helping her settle into it. As he moves away, Cora tucks her legs up beneath her so that she’s seated cross–legged, as she was that night in the desert with Ella and Reina. Sinclair makes no move, standing stoically by his mate, watching everything.

Cora gives them both a tremulous smile and then, taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes. She had watched everything that Ella did that night in the desert. Had watched her sister fall deeper into a state of truth, had watched her make that connection with her mother, had watched her be filled with the Goddess’s gift and start to glow with it. Cora hadn’t wanted to admit it then, but she’d felt….well, a little jealous. It was the jealousy of an orphan for a friend who found her mother, the jealousy of a girl who was starting to feel like a tag–along while her best friend found her mate, and her true identity, and her calling. A whole beautiful life while Cora had…

Well, not nothing. But not that. So, she had been jealous – happy for Ella but wanting a little piece of that for herself as well. And she had been ashamed of those emotions in that moment, of her envy, and had felt herself…undeserving of her spot on that sacred trip to the desert to commune with the Goddess.

But now, after learning the truth?

–

Cora knew that all of that the envy, the feelings of inadequacy – it had all been in her head. The Goddess was her mother as well, after all. And she, Cora, a human, had been the one to give the gift to the world. There was no reason to think that Ella could do anything that she could not.

Well, except turn into a wolf.

But Cora pushes that thought to the side along with the rest of her doubts. Instead, she embraces her identity and sinks – as she had seen Ella do – into that deeper state. And as she does that – as the light behind her eyes fades from orange to green to a deep and rich lavender and the sounds of the room’s medical devices fades to the background – Cora finds a peace within herself.

And…there.

There, right at the center, where she imagines her heart to be, Cora finds it. The gift, shining, waiting, not exhausted but endless and ready to be given at will. Cora moves forward towards it, wrapping her hands around it, feeling it pulse with warmth. As she lifts it in her hands, she imagines that she can almost hear her mother speaking to her, singing, encouraging her to give it.

So she does. Cora opens her eyes in the real world and is not at all surprised to see the gift glowing in her hands – a real thing, a true entity, lighting the room with its warmth. Cora smiles at it and then glances at Roger, pursing her lips against her laugher to see him staring at her in shock, his mouth hanging open.

–

But when her eyes move to Sinclair, she sees that he has not moved at all. That he just stares at her, demand in every line of him. She nods to him, agreeing. It is time.

So Cora simply stands and takes two steps closer to her sister. She reaches out her hands, presenting the gift, leaning over to hold it close over Ella’s own heart.

“I love you, sister,” Cora whispers. “It’s time for you to take it back.”

And there is not a doubt in her mind as she opens her hands and gently places the gift directly in the center of Ella’s chest.

Chapter 274

My head feels…so heavy. I groan, trying to move my hands up so I can press them against my temples, but I can’t move them.

“Easy,” I hear him say beside me and instinctually I turn towards his voice. Where –

“Easy, Ella,” he murmurs, his words thick with emotion. “It’s all right…”

I peel my eyelids apart, then, confused at the effort. It’s like I haven’t opened my eyes for weeks…

My vision comes back to me slowly, the room around me coming into focus with effort. I blink rapidly, looking around at Sinclair, and Cora, and Roger all standing around me, peering at me with worried faces. I feel very suddenly like Dorothy, when she wakes up from her trip to Oz.

“What?” I murmur, my voice thick and my throat scratchy. Suddenly anxious, I try to sit up, pushing at the bed beneath me but –

What the hell were all these wires, tied to my arms?

“Easy, trouble,” Sinclair whispers, pressing his hand to my shoulder, keeping me down. My body responds to his command, relaxing backwards as I look up at him. But…

“Where am I?” I ask, staring at him, and then I press my eyes closed. It’s all just too much.

“You’re in the hospital,” I hear my sister explain. “After the gift, at the temple…”

But her voice fades, almost as if I can’t hear it. I feel my heart start to pound, my breath ratchet up as my memories start to come back to me. Of being on the temple steps of Cora there, and what we

learned about each other of Sinclair’s warm arms around me –

–

And then, nothing – and then clouds – and Sinclair again, and my baby –

Oh my god, where was my baby?

“Rafe?” I gasp, spinning towards Sinclair as my eyes fly open, desperate. “Where is Rafe?” Then I start to look all around me, searching for him – he’s here, he has to be, I remember him, my little baby, wrapped in white swaddling, holding him in my arms

“A dream,” Sinclair says hurriedly, “it was a dream, Ella – we met him in the dream –”

He puts his hand on the swell of my stomach then, drawing my attention to it, reminding me that he’s here – of course he’s here, I haven’t given birth yet –

“Oh,” I breathe, moving my own hands so that they rest on either side of my baby. Then I close my eyes, resting my head back on the pillow, and search for him. And it’s hard, it’s distant, but…

There. Yes, there. I can feel him, my ties to him. My bond with my baby. I reach out to him, sending all the love I have in my heart down our bond, and feeling a little pulse back. He hears me. He tells me he knows. He’s holding on.

“Oh,” I say again, feeling my whole body relax. I open my eyes again, feeling a rush of sudden and unexpected joy. I look up to Sinclair and nod. “Okay. Yes. He’s here.”

Sinclair exhales a huge rush of air, grasping one of my hands and lowering his head so that our

foreheads touch. We stay like that for a long minute as tears start to slide down my cheeks,

unbidden but unstoppable. It’s all just…it’s a lot to take in in just a few minutes. To come flying back to reality after such a hard few weeks, after days of struggling in the dream state to get here. It is hard on me, on my mind.

But, there’s no where else I’d want to be.

“I’ll get the doctor,” I hear Roger murmur, and then his footsteps move to the door, heading out the

room.

“Cora,” I call, opening my eyes and reaching my other hand for her. Sinclair straightens at my side, letting us have our moment as I take her hand. “Are you all right?”

“Am I all right,” she huffs, laughing through the tears that are falling down her own cheeks. “Are you?”

I smile at her, unable to help myself, and then glance down at my poor beat up little body. “Um, I think so?” I feel so weak but there is also…a warmth, a stillness in me that feels… I frown, looking up at her. “Did you…do something to me?”

“Um,” she says, laughing a little and running her hand through her hair. “Yeah? I gave you back mom’s the Goddess’s – the gift, I gave it back to you,” she stumbles, not really knowing how to explain it.

I gasp then, working to sit up straighter in my bed. “Cora!” I scold. “Why?! I gave it to you – it’s yours

”

–

“Ella,” she chides, “you’re being ridiculous – you were dying – of course I gave it back to you I didn’t even want it

“You didn’t want it?!” I almost shout, frantic and frankly a little mad now. “It’s a gift from a Goddess – from our mom – I worked so hard to get it here, the least you could do is take it

”

“Enough,” Sinclair growls next to me, and my eyes snap to him as I feel suddenly guilty and a little childish, arguing with my sister like this in front of him, especially when I’m clearly so sick. I look up at him, my eyes apologetic, and I see his face instantly soften. “Please, Ella,” he begs.” You’re so weak – and she saved you with it – it can’t possibly matter –”

“Okay,” I whisper, nodding up at him and then turning to Cora. “Okay,” I repeat, raising a finger to point at her. “But as soon as I’m better, you’re taking it back.”

“Okay,” she laughs, agreeing to these terms, wiping the tears off of her cheeks. “Whatever you say, sis.”

—

I’m still smiling at my sister, holding my mate’s hand tight in my own, when the Doctor comes in, Rafe hot on his heels. It’s a man I haven’t seen before certainly not one of my normal doctors – but he certainly seems to know me.

“Ella,” he says quickly, coming to my side, almost running into Cora in his hurry to get to me. He quickly scans my face, his expression worried. “I have to say, I’m shocked to see you awake –” He quickly grasps my wrist, feeling for a pulse and turning towards the monitors behind them, scanning them for new information. “It shouldn’t be possible…” he mutters, his brows drawn together. “Earlier today…”

“It was…” I say, hesitating, looking up at Sinclair. “Not precisely a medical intervention.”

He turns then, looking towards us confused, and I just shrug. Sinclair stands stoically beside me, still holding my hand. “An intervention from the Goddess, if you will,” he observes, a little humor in his voice. The doctor’s face screws up further with confusion but then he simply exhales quickly and shakes his head, dismissing it, moving on.

“Okay,” he says, turning back to the monitors. “Whatever it was it is a…remarkable recovery.”

“Is the baby all right?” I ask quickly, working to sit up further and wincing as a sharp pain spikes through my back. Sinclair starts at my grimace, leaning closer to me, scenting me, clearly working to figure out what’s wrong and how he can help.

“The baby is…” the doctor says, looking at a small monitor tucked in amongst the larger ones. “He’s fine,” he mumbles, almost to himself. “Better, if anything, than he was the last time I was in here.” “Good,” I say, almost under my breath, pleased to have my suspicions confirmed. My baby and I… we are going to make it. “Can I go home?” I ask quickly, hoping to heap more good news on top of the pile.

“Certainly not,” the doctor scolds, turning towards me and frowning. “You’re still incredibly weak. You have days yet in this hospital – tests, monitoring…”

I look up at Sinclair then, my eyes pleading. I know that if I ask him, if I want it enough, he’ll pick me up and carry me bodily out of this hospital right now. But he slowly shakes his head too, letting me know he agrees with the doctor. “I want you home as well, baby,” he murmurs, “both of you. But he’s been good,” Sinclair says, glancing at the doctor. “We go when he says we can, and not a moment sooner.”

I raise my eyes at this, a little shocked to hear Sinclair passing the power of decision making to someone else. I turn to look at the doctor again, assessing him anew. He really must be good.

“Your mate is right,” the doctor murmurs, writing something on my chart, almost ignoring me to concentrate on his work. “I’m the best. And I’m not letting you go until you’re ready.” He glances at me then, raising an eyebrow, waiting for me to agree.

Overruled, I huff a little laugh and raise my hands. “All right,” I agree. “If both of you say so, then I’m sticking around. For as long as it takes. But um,” I hesitate, looking up at Sinclair. “In the meantime?”

He frowns down at me, suddenly worried. “What?” he asks hurriedly, “What is it? What do you need?”

“Is there any possibility…” I grimace, a little embarrassed, still looking at him as I twine my fingers awkwardly together. “Of some chocolate cake?”

Sinclair freezes and then bursts into laughter, raising a hand to his forehead. “Seriously?” He asks. “You come back from the brink of death, and the first thing you want is chocolate cake?”

“And ice cream?” I beg, giving him my best smile.

“She should eat, if she can,” the doctor says, smiling at little as he glances at me.

“We’ll go get it,” Roger says, his voice light as he reaches a hand for Cora, who joins him at the door. “We’ll go down to the cafeteria

–

we’ll be back in a second.”

They go, and the doctor follows after them, pausing at the door. “I’m going to order a series of tests,

}

Ella. You rest, but know that your day is not over yet. All right?”

I nod happily at him as he closes the door and then look up at Sinclair, sighing contentedly. “Chocolate cake?” he teases, smirking down at me, a bright and happy light in his eyes. “Really?”

“It’s for the babyyyy,” I whine jokingly, laughing and putting my arms up towards him, wanting him close. Sinclair seats himself on the bed next to me, putting one leg up so that he can lean back and rest his head on the pillow next to mine. The poor bed groans under the additional weight of his huge werewolf frame.

We sit there quietly for a moment, a little happy smile playing on my mouth as I stare at him, letting the very sight of him help me to ignore the aches pulling on my muscles and my joints.

“You gave us a scare for a minute there, trouble,” he whispers, raising a broad hand to softly stroke my face.

I narrow my eyes a little. “Come on, Sinclair,” I quip, teasing. “Did you expect anything less from me?”

“From you?” he smirks, raising an eyebrow. “Never.”

And then he kisses me, tucking his hand gently behind my neck to pull my face the few inches closer he needs to press his mouth to mine. And in that moment I feel my future life open to me, warm, and bright, and sweet. After all, we have a baby on the way. And I can’t wait to meet him.

Chapter 275

“All right,” the doctor says, sweeping into the room where Sinclair and I are resting together on my hospital bed, my head on my mate’s shoulder as we watch some daytime soap opera I perk up at the doctor’s entrance, eager to hear what he has to say. Sinclair gives a little groan as he sits up and puts his feet on the ground, standing next to the bed to hear the news. I know that he’s not

tired – instead, I think it’s the opposite. All of these days and hours cooped up here in this little room have made him terribly restless. I reach out and take Sinclair’s hand, thanking him, silently,

for all he’s done for me.

“Well?” Sinclair asks, tucking his other hand to his pocket. He looks levelly at the doctor, who has given me perhaps a hundred tests since I woke up a few days ago. Everything from blood work, CT scans, ultrasounds. I’ve been poked and measured and observed so much I feel like a science

experiment.

The doctor pauses before me, flipping through the pages on his clipboard, double- and triple- checking everything. I smile as I watch him do it. For all his cold bedside manner, he really has shown himself to be diligent and dedicated.

“You’ll be happy” the doctor says, letting the pages drop and tucking the clipboard away under his arm. “Everything has come back stable.” He looks seriously at me then before he continues. You’re well enough to go home, Ella, but I want to emphasize to you that you are by no means a healthy woman at this point in time. And your pregnancy is still extremely high risk. I want you‘ at home. In bed. Relaxing, until this baby is born. Is that clear?”

I nod eagerly, my heart beating faster with joy Home. Home. God, I can’t wait to be home…

“Good,” he says, nodding and shifting his gaze now to Sinclair. “Your home was it damaged during

“No,” Sinclair says, a statement that also gives me a little thrill of joy, despite the fact that I know it already. Sinclair has been receiving steady reports from Roger and others on his team which have set our new post–war world in a very different light. “By some miracle, my personal residence went relatively untouched during the attacks on the city. The neighborhood is largely abandoned but,” he shrugs as he looks down at me. “We don’t need company.”

I squeeze his hand, smiling up at him. We talked about potentially moving into the palace to confirm to the people that Sinclair does intend to take the throne, but we decided against it until after the baby is born. And even then, I imagine I’ll delay as long as we can. I like Sinclair’s house – I have lots of good memories there. It would take a lot to persuade me to move away from it.

“No,” the doctor considers, pursing his lips. “No, I don’t imagine you do need company, newly mated as you are.” He takes a deep breath then and levels a glare between us. “I know that it’s awkward, but I want to be very clear about this – when I say that Ella needs to be relaxing…it’s very important that the activities that promote that relaxation are entirely nons*xual.”

I blink in surprise at the blunt statement and feel Sinclair go still beside me. I try not to show my disappointment – honestly, if there’s one good thing about bedrest, it’s the fact that you’re in bed the whole time. And putting aside the fact that there’s not much else to do in bed, Sinclair and I…

well, we’ve never been very good at keeping our hands off each other, have we?

“It’s very important that you practice restraint,” the doctor warns, his brows drawn down. “You’ve had surgery on your uterus, Evelyn – it’s very delicate. Even,” he sighs, putting a hand to his forehead and pausing, figuring out how to word this I smile to see how awkward he feels delivering the news “Any disturbance to your uterine or vaginal tissues Just.” He sighs and drops his hand, shaking his head. “Just don’t do it Okay?”

I nod, smiling warmly to let him know that I understand. “Baby comes first, doc,” I say. Sinclair says nothing, but nods his agreement.

“Great,” the doctor says, giving us a little half smile and heading for the door. “In that case, best of luck! Check in with your OBGYN and regular doctor for continued care. I’ve sent them my notes.” He starts to head out into the hall and Sinclair surprises me by striding after him. I cock my head, curious. What on earth is he doing?

“Doctor.” Sinclair’s voice is quiet, almost muffled with the distance, and I lean forward to hear better. “How much do you get paid here?”

The doctor scoffs and tells Sinclair that, quite frankly, it’s none of his business

“It is now,” Sinclair replies. “Because whatever it is, I’ll pay you double to be Ella’s personal physician for the remainder of her pregnancy. And our children’s physician, beyond.”

When I hear the sound of hands slapping together in a handshake, I smile and lean back against my pillows, pleased at this development. With this doctor and Cora on my side, I feel quite confident about my chances in this pregnancy. That is, if Sinclair and I can keep our hands off each other for the next three months…

A few hours later, Sinclair carries me over the threshold of our home, my arms wrapped around his neck. I grin up at him, pleased at the gesture. “Is this a tradition in werewolf mating ceremonies? The carrying of the bride over the threshold?”

“Totally human, I’m afraid,” Sinclair replies, twisting his mouth in chagrin. “If this were a traditional wolf homecoming, I’d be chasing you down in the moonlight, nipping at your heels…. He snaps his teeth at me, making me laugh.

“Well let’s be human then, for today,” I say, putting a hand over my stomach as he takes a few steps inside and kicks the door shut behind him. “Safer for the baby.”

Sinclair heads right for the steps, carrying me upwards towards the bedroom. “How’s he doing in there,” he asks quietly, glancing down at me. “Angry at being jostled around?”

“He’s good,” I say, sending a little question down the bond to my pup and receiving a little ping of happiness and contentment back. “He just says he’s angry to be missing our soaps. Wants to know what’s going on with Tatianna locked in that cell in Leonardo’s basement.”

Sinclair chuckles, carrying me easily down the hallway, as if I’m no more than a feather duvet in his arms. “Tell him we’ll get a TV brought in the room, with all the channels. He’ll have weeks and weeks to catch up.” He carries me through the open door to our room and I smile to see that he’s had someone arrange the pillows and blankets just as I like them.

“Nest!” I cry, throwing out a hand dramatically towards the bed. “How I’ve missed you, nest! My

one and only love!”

Sinclair grins as he settles me down amongst the blankets. “Be careful,” he warns “Or I’ll be jealous ”

“Of darling nest?” I gasp, burying my face in the pillows and clutching the blankets close to me. Then, I peek up at him. “Actually, maybe you should be. I’m going to be doing a lot more snuggling with the nest for the next few weeks than I am with you.”

Sinclair glares at the mess of blankets playfully, pretending a jealous rage he doesn’t feel. “Watch out, nest,” he murmurs. “She’s mine. And I can take you.”

I pull the blankets close to my chest, laughing and playing along. “How dare you threaten the nest! Brute!” I raise a hand to playfully smack him but he catches my wrist, pulling it to his mouth and laying

a gentle kiss there.

“You keep your nest,” he murmurs, making my stomach tingle. “Whatever makes you happy.” I smile at him and relax my head against a pillow.

“Thank you,” I murmur, turning my wrist in his hand so I can grasp his palm. I smile at him with all the love in my heart plain on my face. “For being good to me. For pulling me through all of this.”

“Only a little further to go,” he says, leaning forward to plant a chaste kiss on my forehead. “But when this is all over?” He pauses and I look up into his face, curious. He gives me a stone–cold, serious look. “I’m going to f*ck you for a week straight.”

I can’t help the laugh that bursts from my lips, quickly silenced by the press of his own against my mouth.

Chapter 276

I wake, a few hours later, jumping up straight the moment I realize that Elle n’t next to me

She had drifted off to sleep hours ago after a simple dinner and a movie marathon. While she dozed next to me, I’d spent most of the late hours of the night answered the stack of emails piling up in my inbox and watching her sleep from the corner of my eye. But now, when my eyes peeked open for just a moment after maybe two hours of sleep?

Gone

I hurl the sheets off of me, getting to my feet in a flash, my head whipping around as I search the empty room for her with all of my senses. But my eyes tell me that she’s not here, and my nose

Her scent is dull, but not stale She hasn’t been gone long

A growl starts in my chest as I stalk from the room, looking through the empty hallways for my mate, desperate to find her. She was on bed rest, damn it – where the hell else would she be except bed? Unless

Unless, something had happened – but she’d have woken me –

Or she’d been kidnapped – but there’s no way I’d have slept through that.

I follow her scent quickly, my anger intensifying as I realize that it leads me down stairs. God damn it, the doctor expressly forbid her from stairs. I pound down the staircase hurrying through the hall and slamming open the kitchen door –

But then, she’s suddenly there. Seated alone at the kitchen table in the dark, surrounded by a pile of food, her eyes wide.

“Um,” she says innocently, knowing she’s been caught and lowering the piece of cold fried chicken back down to its plate. “Do you want some?”

“Ella,” I growl, storming to her side, relief washing through me like a wave. “What are you doing down here?” She looks up at me with her eyes still wide and then gestures at all the food as if it’s

obvious.

My snarl deepens and I don’t let her off the hook. “The doctor told you to stay in bed –

“I didn’t go far!”

“He told you not to go down stairs.”

She holds up a corrective finger at me. “He told me not to go up stairs. And I slid down on my butt to be extra careful! It was totally fine!”

I groan, throwing my head back and pressing my eyes shut. “Ella,” I whisper between my clenched teeth. “You can’t be taking these risks-”

“I was hungry!” she protests.

I snap my gaze back to her, glaring. “I could have gotten you food! Anything you wanted! I would have –”

Her eyes go soft then, filled with apology. “You would have gotten up,” she scolds, her voice worried. “When you’d just fallen asleep, Dominic She shakes her gently at me. “You can’t be at my beck and call like this- not for something simple like a trip to the kitchen for some food.”

“And how,” I ask, my anger fading but still not erased, “would you have gotten back upstairs? After your…” “I stare around at the rather shocking amount of food gathered on the kitchen table, “feast?” “You have like six couches, Dominic,” she replies, smiling innocently up at me like a little kid who knows they can get out of trouble if they’re cute enough. Damn it, but it works. Just a little. “I’d have napped on one of those until morning, when you got up, and could lift me in your big strong arms and take me back upstairs.”

“Oh, so you had it all planned out?” I murmur, relenting and raising a hand to play with the ends of her lovely rose–gold hair. I’m starting to calm now, realizing that my panic, while not precisely misplaced, hadn’t come to the dark ends I was imagining.

“Yup!” she quips, giving me a big smile and reaching for an Oreo, popping it in her mouth.

I can’t help laughing at this and pull a chair out for myself, sitting next to her. She hasn’t won – not yet but…well, I can’t really resist the sight of my pregnant mate happy, healthy, and hungry. But hungry for….

“What are you even eating,” I blurt out, frowning at her selection. It’s absolutely all over the place – fried chicken, pasta salad, cakes, wasabi–dipped peanuts, even a bowl of peas…

“Everything,” she murmurs, grabbing and pulling open a pack of licorice. “That’s also why I couldn’t wake you to bring me food. I didn’t know what I wanted. Turns out, I wanted it all.” I grimace as she takes a bite of the licorice, ripping it off with her teeth as she turns a curious gaze to me. “Any chance we could move the nest down here? It’d be terribly convenient, with all of these cravings

I cut her off with a laugh, shaking my head. “No, Ella,” I insist. “You can’t move into the pantry like a mouse. We’ll just make sure you have a better selection upstairs. Maybe we can hire someone…” I drift off into my thoughts, trying to think through solutions as she continues to pick through the contents of the table, grazing happily on whatever her body tells her is next.

My mind doesn’t come up with much though. I’m too tired for real ideas. I sigh, running a hand down my face and rubbing my eyes with my thumb and my forefinger, thinking longingly of my pillow and our bed.

Ella gives a soft little “oh,” putting her hand on my shoulder. I open my eyes and look at her worried face. “See?” she insists, shaking her head and studying my tired face. “I was right – you needed the sleep – you shouldn’t be up, Dominic – you’re not on the pregnancy clock like me. You should be asleep.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I murmur, fighting a yawn. “I’m up whenever you need me –”

“And don’t you see how that’s a problem?” she pushes, shaking her head at me. “Dominic, your dedication to me means everything, you keep me so safe, but,” she pauses, biting her lip, perhaps choosing her words carefully. “You have more then me on your plate now – more than you ever have You – you’ll be crowned King soon. You have to be able to turn half your attention to that, and let me care for myself in the meantime.”

“Ella,” I begin, shaking my head.

“No,” she interrupts, reaching out a hand to touch my cheek. “Let me finish, baby I see you -I see what you’ve been doing. You spend a whole day with me, making sure my every need is met, entertaining me, keeping me company. And when I fall asleep? You spend a whole day playing catch up with the rest of your life. I mean, half of your staff is on night hours now, aren’t they? All for me.” She shakes her head slowly, begging me to see her side “It’s too much, Dominic ”

“No.” I growl stubbornly. I’m not angry, I’m just frustrated because I know she’s right. “It’s not too much – you mean everything, Ella –”

“I know,” she assures me. “But Dominic. I’m on the mend. I’m getting better. And you’ve got to stop treating me like a porcelain doll – I’m strong.” She flicks her hair back confidently then, affecting an arrogance I know she doesn’t feel. “I am, after all, Goddess born,” she jokes, her mouth pulling up at the corner.

I laugh with her but still shake my head. “Ella, if anything were to happen to you…”

“It’s not going to,” she states brightly, utterly confident. “Trust me, Sinclair. I’m good. Let me take care of me, and our baby, and let me tell you when I need help.” Her smile broadens. “Like right now!” She raises her arms out to me. “When I need you to carry me back upstairs to bed. Because I’m finished with this.” She waves a dismissive hand at the mess all over the table. She grimaces briefly, pressing that hand lightly on her stomach. “I think Rafe is telling me that the licorice was

a step too far.”

I chuckle, standing and gathering my mate into my arms. Before we go, though, while I’ve got her captive against me, I lower my face to hers for a quick kiss. “All right, trouble,” I tease. “But you promise me, okay? That you’ll ask for help when you need it. No pride, no putting me or the nation first.”

“I promise,” she says seriously, unable to help her little smile. “If it’s between the national economy and me getting a bubble bath, I come first. I have no problem with that.”

And so, smiling, I carry my love back up to bed.

Chapter 277

When I open my eyes, Sinclair is already gone, despite the fact that he got maybe five hours of total sleep last night. He was gone as soon as his head hit the pillow when we got back to bed. I had taken a moment to nibble on a little madeleine cookie that I’d snuck into the pocket of my robe, but I hadn’t been far behind him.

I stretch leisurely on the bed now, enjoying the ability to extend my legs and arms all the way across it with no gigantic wolf–man to block my path. Of course, I’d rather have him here than not, but we must accept life’s small luxuries when we are granted them.

I take a minute to check in on the baby – still asleep, wrapped in contentment – and then glance around the room, wondering how I want to spend my day. I’m hit with a little pang of despair, though, as I realize that… this is going to be how every day starts for the next three months. And that my options are honestly limited to television, and reading, and whatever I can find on my phone. (4)

I sigh, scolding myself a little for hesitating at a luxury that I’m sure a thousand people would jump at. And it’s not that I would prefer, at all, the sturm and drang of the past couple of months – trying to seize the country back from a mad prince, trying to end a war, worrying if Sinclair was dead, worried if I would die…

No, this was better but….damn it. I have to admit that the boredom is going to be a problem for me. I’ve always been one to spring out of bed, to leap for whatever the day has in store. Even when I was a little girl, I was always up before Cora –

I feel myself perk up at the thought of her. Yes, Cora! I grab my phone, hastily pushing the buttons and giving her a call.

“Cora?” I burst out as soon as she answers the phone.

“Ella!” she shouts, making me laugh. I hope she hasn’t just scared the hell out of one of her patients, screaming in the middle of the office. She’s been busy, I know, seeing a lot of pregnant women whose healthcare was interrupted by the war. “How are you – is everything okay?”

“I’m fine,” I laugh, cheered by the sound of her voice. I lean back against the pillows, getting cozy. Do you want to come over? Hang out?”

“Um ya,” she replies, as if it’s obvious. “But I can’t today, I have a double shift here. But tomorrow, maybe? You don’t have plans to hang out with Sinclair then, do you?”

“No,” I sigh, and she laughs at my disappointment. “I’m sending him off to, you know, run his kingdom.” She laughs again and I can’t help the smile that spreads over my face. There’s nothing quite like making your sister laugh.

“He must be with Roger, then,” she wonders. “He’s been calling Sinclair for days, begging him to pay attention to some stuff, complaining that the world’s teetering on the brink of collapse without him.” I can almost hear her roll her eyes. “As if that’s anything new.”

“I know,” I murmur, biting my lip and feeling guilty. “That’s all my fault – he’s been paying way too much attention to me –”

“No, Ella,” Cora interrupts, stern. “You come first –”

“Well so does the nation, Cora,” I push back. But then, I perk up. “So you have to come over and babysit me, so he can go save the world or whatever. And tell me all about what’s going on with you and Roger. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you two showed up at my hospital room

conveniently at the same time, one too many times.”

Cora hesitates on the other line and I sit up straight.

“Wait,” I add, worried. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” she hesitates. “I just…since you’ve been home, he’s been so busy and I’ve been…”

“You’ve been what,” I beg, a little breathless, worried now.

“Well, I’ve been…spending more time with Hank.”

“Who the hell is Hank?!”

“He’s your doctor, Ella,” she states as if it’s obvious. I grimace, realizing that I really never thought to ask and just called him “doctor” in my head. “You know, the one who took care of you for a week, brought you back from the brink of death? Who your mate hired to care for you, in conjunction with me, your OBGYN?”

“Oh,” I say as I fall back against my pillows, my eyes going wide. “Wait, so you’re not seeing Roger anymore?”

“I was never seeing Roger in the first place, Ella,” she lies, sounding rushed and embarrassed. Then, I hear someone calling her from wherever she is. “I’ve got to go – I’ll fill you in later. Bye, love you! Bye!”

I stare at the screen of my phone in my hand as it fades to black. Cora wasn’t into Roger any more? And she was was dating my doctor?

And his name was Hank?

Sinclair

Roger places another pile of paperwork on my desk and I glare at it, resenting it because it represents another few hours away from Ella’s side. It’s not that I don’t want to do this work – I lead this nation,

stitch it back together after that sham of a war tore it apart. It’s just…

“I know,” Roger grunts, giving me a little glare. “You’re distracted. But you have to do this, Dominic! It’s bad timing to take over a nation when you’re mate’s halfway through a difficult pregnancy, but –”

“Enough,” I bite out, sighing and slumping down in my chair. “Let’s just get on with it.” He nods and brings the papers forward, explaining their contents to me.

I’m grateful for him, really. In the time that Ella was hospitalized, Roger really stepped up and took control of leading this nation, securing my position when it had been vulnerable. He had negotiated the cease–fire with the human forces, organized the Alphas and assured them of the forthcoming peace, and, perhaps most importantly, had ended any ambitious grabs for the temporarily vacant throne.

Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without him. My brother really stepped up for me, and I know

that within the next few weeks I’ll have to find a way to show my gratitude properly. But right

now, all of this paperwork is killing me. Especially when my whole world is actually in the other room right now, eating Swedish fish between bites of wheat toast.

“You need to meet with them, Dominic,” Roger insists, bringing my attention back to the matter at hand while crossing his arms over his chest. “With the mayor, and the rest of the heads of the human state. They want a face–to–face, and they’re not out of line to demand it.”

“Fine,” I agree, nodding firmly. “Can they come here, to the house?”

Roger scoffs and sighs, giving me a frustrated look. “Dom, not everything can be done here – you have a palace, built for this kind of meeting –

“I’m not leaving her –”

“And the risks?” he pushes, drawing his eyebrows together. “You’re letting people who consider themselves enemies to all werewolf kind into this house, cease fire or not. Do you want them to have that kind of access to Ella and your child?”

I growl at the very thought of it and Rafe nods, the issue decided. “I’ll set it all up,” he vows, “and I’ll make sure you’re briefed –”

“How are you doing all of this?” I interrupt, suddenly curious. “You’ve done the work of three men in the past few weeks – how are you doing it all? Who is helping you?”

Roger blinks at me, confused by the sudden change in conversation. “What? I have help – secretaries, our allies from the summit. Why does it matter?”

“Is it Cora?” I demand, anger starting to rise in me. “Because her only concern should be Ella – she’s volunteering at that human clinic in her spare time, I know, but if you’ve got her doing this as well –”

“It’s not Cora,” he snaps, looking away from me and down at his papers.

I pause suddenly, surprised at the pain on his face. “Roger,” I demand, drawing his eyes back to me. “Are you two…”

“Just leave it, Dominic,” he snaps, using a tone he rarely takes with me. Then he deliberately looks back at the papers, though I can tell he’s not really reading them. Just staring as he gets himself together.

I watch him for a moment but then I let it go. After all, his romantic life is his own business and he and Cora…well, they’d never made any promises, had they? Still. I admit that my curiosity is peaked

I make a mental note to ask Ella later what’s going on between these two. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, she can.

Chapter 278

“Hey baby!” I say cheerfully to Sinclair as he appears in the doorway to our room late that night, leaning against the frame and smiling tiredly at me. “Do you want some pizza?” I hold up the greasy square box perched on the edge of my nest. “There’s only half a slice left but…” I shrug, “it’s really good.

“No, Ella,” he replies, laughing and coming into the room, sitting on the edge of the bed. “That’s your cold, hours–old pizza. You keep that for you.”

“Right answer,” I murmur, snapping the box closed, pleased. I was saving that half–slice for my inevitable midnight craving, when I knew I’d be starving for it. “Is it normal?” I ask suddenly, turning my head to Sinclair. “To be this hungry in a werewolf pregnancy?”

He nods, smiling at me and laying down to bring his face closer to my stomach, placing a warm hand on it and saying hello to our pup through the bond. “Yes, it’s normal,” he says, looking back up at me. “There’s a notable uptick in feeding habits in a wolf pregnancy. Baby is hungry and mostly formed, all he has to do now is grow. He needs lots of food for that.”

“Good,” I murmur, running my hands through Sinclair’s hair as he gently strokes my stomach, murmuring little nothings to our pup. “I didn’t just want to be a pig.” As soon as I say the word, though, I have a sudden, striking desire for bacon. My stomach grumbles with longing, making Sinclair laugh.

He looks fondly up at me. “Can I get you anything, oh hungry one?”

I laugh and swat at him. “No,” I say, nodding towards my food reserves on the bedside table. “I’m set for a while. Besides, I just want you.” I scootch myself down so that I’m flat on the bed, moving down so that Sinclair’s face is even with mine, instead of my belly. “I missed you all day,” I pout

“Did you,” he murmurs, wrapping one of his huge hands around the small of my back to pull me close against him. He angles his head down, nuzzling my mating mark and giving it a gentle lick. I feel a little thrill climb up my spine.

“Yes,” I murmur, running my hands through his dark hair again. “Even though I know you were off being important and powerful,” I sigh dramatically, “It was a great sacrifice for me.”

He laughs and brings his face up closer to mine. “Well, I’m so sorry to have put my angel mate through such an ordeal,” he teases, brushing his lips with mine. “I’ll have to think up some way to make it up to you.”

I freeze at this, at the look and intention I see in his eyes. “Dominic,” I warn, pushing him away a little. “You know we can’t –”

He laughs, pulling me closer. “I know, little mate,” he murmurs, “but just because I’m hungry for you doesn’t mean I can’t control myself. And it doesn’t mean we can’t be close.”

“Oh,” I say, relaxing again in his arms. I feel a little guilty for doubting him – I know, of course, that my safety comes first in his mind, above all other things. “Close?” I ask, curious what he

means.

“Yes,” he whispers, leaning away from me for a moment and tugging on the hem of my pajama shirt. “Sit up, Ella,” he orders. “Take this off.”

“Dominic!” I laugh, doing as he says and helping him to pull my shirt up over my head so that I’m sitting only in my pajama pants and a bra. I wonder what the hell he has in mind. “What are you doing? Just because you’re confident in your ability to restrain yourself doesn’t mean I am.”

He pulls his own shirt off, grinning at me. “Don’t worry, trouble,” he says, shaking his head. “I’ll keep you in line. Besides, this is all innocence.“–

“Huh?” I wrinkle my nose in confusion. “Dominic, what on earth is going on?”

He’s standing now, unbuckling his pants and pushing them to the floor, but leaving his boxer- briefs on as he sits back on the bed and gathers me back in his arms. “I’m going to scent mark you,” he mutters against my neck, pulling me close again.

“What!?” I gasp, pushing him away a little. “We haven’t done that for months – and I’m your mate now, don’t I already smell like you?”

“No,” he hums with pleasure, pulling me back against him eagerly, like I’m something he can’t stand to be separated from for more than a moment. “You smell like corn chips.”

“What!” I shriek, horrified and laughing at the same time. “I smell like corn chips?”

“Why are you surprised,” he chuckles, glancing at the two empty bags on the nightstand. “You’ve been hoovering them all day –”

“Oh my god,” I moan, covering my face in embarrassment and going limp on his arms. He laughs, letting me fall flat on the mattress. “You can smell that?”

“You’re pregnant, Ella,” he mutters, a little laughter still in his voice as he moves lower on the mattress himself, tugging my pajama pants off and leaving me only in my plain bra and cotton panties. I certainly hadn’t worn anything s*xy or alluring – I hadn’t known this was on the table. Beautiful,” he mutters, and then slowly moves to cover my body again with his own.

I grasp his face as he brings it close to mine. “Wait,” I protest, glancing towards our bathroom. “let me go brush my teeth – corn chips – oh my god –”

“No,” he laughs, pushing me back on the bed. “It’s not your breath – it’s in your skin –”

“Ewww,” I groan, covering my eyes with my hand in mortification. “That’s it. I’m not eating anything but pineapple for the rest of this pregnancy. I had no idea –”

“It’s fine, Ella,” he hums as he places a simple kiss on my throat. “You should eat whatever you want – you have to follow your instincts. Your body just telling you what it needs.” He brings his face to mine, nudging my nose with his, coaxing a little smile from my mouth. “And when it makes you smell like a truck stop…I’ll just. Set you right.”

I can’t help the laughter that bursts from me at this. His own warm laugher reverberates through his body as he begins the old ceremony. He moves slowly over me, caressing me softly, murmuring his praise and his love for me as he imparts his scent on every inch of my body. I feel myself relax immediately under his hands, closing my eyes and feeling him move over me, his chiseled muscles brushing against my skin. I feel a smile curling on my lips as he goes, planting small kisses on my skin alongside his scent whenever the mood strikes him.

That’s new

–

the kisses are new – but so much of it…so much of the experience of him marking me is warm, and familiar, and brings me back to a time when I was so confused, and so frightened about my future and my place with him. A time when my body knew that it belonged to him, and his to me, where it sang that knowledge every time he touched me. But I had been so… naïve, and so afraid of what I didn’t know.

And now? Tears fill my eyes as I realize how truly different it is. The marking itself is the same, the way he moves over me soft and warm and familiar. But the way I feel? So held, so treasured, so sure that this – this is right.

“Hey there,” Sinclair murmurs, bringing his face close to mine and kissing a tear off my cheek. Everything all right?” He wraps his arms around me, apparently finished, resting his forehead against mine.

”

“Yes,” I sniff, giving him a smile and nodding to let him know it really is okay. “It was just…really

nice.”

“I thought you’d like it,” he whispers, stroking my hair and giving me a smile. I yawn then. I’m not sure I knew how tired I was. “You go to sleep now, little mate. Dream about me.”

“No,” I mutter, shaking my head a little. “I’m only going to dream about corn chips. My one true love.”

I hear him chuckle as I start to drift off to sleep. “I’m behind the nest and the corn chips now?” he asks softly. “This competition is rough…”

But his voice fades away, and soon I’m in the forest, dreaming.

And I know precisely what I want. So, I call for him and patiently wait.

Chapter 279