Chapter 226


    idental Surrogate for Alpha by Caroline Above Story


    Chapter 226


    Chapter 226 – Stress


    E


    After the meeting ends and Sinir and I are safely ensconced in the privacy of our bedroom, I start to


    change out of my dress. No sooner is the delicate fabric pooled around my feet than my mate sidles up


    behind me, sliding his arms around my bare waist. “I can’t decide what made me prouder.” He rumbles


    in my ear, “Watching you put all those Alphas in their ce about the humans, or seeing you go after


    James that way.”


    I lean back against him with a contented sigh, turning my head so I can rest my cheek against his hard


    pec. “I don’t appreciate people criticizing you, when all you’ve ever done is serve and sacrifice for your


    people.”


    He purrs, dropping his lips to the curve of my neck, “Leaders who can’t receive and ept criticism


    aren’t worth a damn, little wolf.”


    “I don’t care.” I sniff, resting my hands over his where they rest on my belly. The baby is sleeping, but


    his heartbeat is strong and steady. “You don’t deserve to be treated that way.”


    He chuckles, ‘Your wolf is really riled up, isn’t she?”


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    “Can you me her?” I respond tartly. “After you’ve been gone for so long and then all of these cold-


    hearted alphas and the attacks? It would push anyone to the brink.”


    Sinir kisses his way down my shoulder while his wolf tries to appease my cranky canine in our


    shared mental space,vishing her with nuzzles and kisses. “Such a feisty mate.” He praises, “Your


    spirit has always been one of my favorite things about you, but it’s not good for the baby for you to get


    so worked up. I can’t have you avenging my honor if it means putting stress on your body and the


    baby.”


    “Well I don’t want to stress Rafe either.” I answer, feeling my mood swing abruptly, leaving me guilty


    and dejected. Tears well in my eyes and I stomp my foot in frustration, annoyed that I’m crying yet


    again and hating the Alphas and James for provoking my wolf. “It’s their fault, Damon and James and


    every one of those pack leaders who don’t give a damn about anyone but shifters. If they weren’t such


    a*sholes I wouldn’t be in this position.”


    “I wasn’t ming you, baby.” Sinir croons, a steady purr vibrating against my back, “I know you can’t


    control being stressed. I just worry about you – now more than ever.”


    ”1 feel so raw.” I confess, wishing I could hug him properly – without my baby bump getting in the way.


    “I can’t decide if I want to keep our pup safe inside me forever, or get him out so that my weakness


    won’t be a threat to him anymore.”


    Sinir goes very still, and then I’m being turned, his strong hands guiding my body to mirror his. He


    takes my face in his huge hands, and I gnaw on my lower lip, not wanting to look him in the eye. I don’t


    think I can bare to see his disappointment right now. “Look at me, little wolf.” He instructs firmly, and my


    gaze jumps up reflexively – even if it is blurred with tears. ” Now listen to me very carefully.” Sinir


    continues, gentle but stern. “You are not weak. You are making a miracle in the middle of the


    apocalypse.”


    I sniffle pitifully, and his purrs renew. “You need to give yourself a bit of grace, sweetheart. I know that’s


    easier said than done, but I won’t ept that kind of talk.” Sinir deres fiercely, his deep voice full


    of emotion.” You are amazing. You are the strongest wolf I’ve ever met and this pup is so lucky to have


    you for a mother. Not to mention that I’m the luckiest man in the world to be able to call you my mate.”


    “But I can’t even keep our baby safe and he’s not even born yet.” I counter, feeling myself begin to


    spiral despite his love and rea*surance. Once again I’m caught in a current of emotion I can’t control or


    escape, “And you can’t focus on the war because I can’t cope on my own and you’re alwaysforting


    or worrying about me.” i


    Sinir’s purr roughens, and he unleashes his enormous power, letting it wash over me. “Our baby is


    going to be just fine -”


    “You don’t know that.” I argue, piping up before he can get another word in.


    “Maybe not, but you’d better believe I’m going to do everything in my power to guarantee it.” He


    proims. “And If youthink I could cope without you, you’re out of your beautiful mind.”


    ‘You made it this far without me.” I remind him petntly.


    “So did you.” Sinir answers. “We got through our struggles independently, because we didn’t have


    another choice. We didn’t know what the future would hold, and we survived so we could discover it


    one day. But we have each other now – so why would we ever try to go it alone? Having a support


    system only makes you more resilient,


    sweetheart. It’s not something to be ashamed of.” His lips caress my salty- streaked cheeks, kissing


    away my tears. “Would you ever be this hard on me or Cora, for letting you help us? Would you ever


    hold your worries for our safety against us?”


    Atst thebination of his tender touch, soothing sounds, steadying power and wise words take


    hold, and I feel the tension drain out of my body. I shake my head, my voice thick as I utter, “No.”


    “Of course not.” Sinir murmurs, offering me a soft smile. “Now, on a scale of one to ten how


    exhausted are you?”


    “Why?” I question suspsiciously, recalling his sultry warnings when my wolf was flirting so outrageously


    before the meeting.


    “Well, I thought we could have some fun.” He shrugs, a devious glint in his green eyes. “After I teach


    your mischievous wolf what happens when she tries to arouse me in public.”


    “In that case, I’m much too tired.” I lie, even as heat pools low in my belly. Sinir chuckles and shakes


    his head, shing his sharp fangs in promise.” Nice try, baby. Have you forgotten I can sense your


    feelings?”


    ‘Then why did you ask?” I exim indignantly.


    “I thought I’d give you a chance to be good, but I should have know that was a lost cause.” He teases,


    pulling me in for a kiss. I start to protest but he silences me with his lips and tongue, and suddenly I


    can’t remember why I was so outraged a moment ago. Everything else disappears, and I melt into my


    mate’s arms, my heart pounding with excitement.


    3rd Person


    The nursery was dark by the time James made it downstairs, the pups all sleeping safely in their beds


    and cribs. He could hear Isabel’s heart beating slow and steady through her door, a clear sign that she


    was already asleep. He wanted to see her so badly it hurt, and though he’d made his intentions about


    her very clear, their rtionship hadn’t advanced to the point where he could walk into her room and


    climb into bed with her.


    Naturally, Sadie was also confined in Isabel’s room, and as much as James enjoyed seeing the other


    pups, it wasn’t the same as holding his newly bonded daughter. He was sorely tempted to barge into


    the room anyway – he was dead on his feet and on the verge of a mental breakdown. He hadn’t ever


    been so stressed in his life, and the only thing that could ease his troubles were the she-wolves on the


    other side of that door. James needed to see them, to hold them and beforted by the fact that at


    least something was right in the world.


    However as he pictured their serene faces poised in sleep, he knew he couldn’t disturb them. Instead


    James sunk onto the floor, deciding that listening to their sleepy sighs and gentle breathing would have


    to be enough. As if he’d willed it, Isabel’s heartbeat suddenly jumped and sped up as a light flicked on


    under the door. James’ spirits soared as the door swung open a minuteter, and Isabel appeared.


    “What are you doing?” She yawned, framed in the amber light of her doorway and dressed in a long


    silk night dress, her auburn hair loose and disheveled around her lovely face. James’ heart stopped


    and started again, butterflies fluttering in his stomach.


    “I didn’t want to disturb you.” He stated honestly, not able to put the rest of his feelings into words.


    Isabel crossed her arms over her chest. “Did you really think my wolf wouldn’t sense a strange man in


    here with my pups?”


    James only smiled, loving her protectiveness. “I’m not strange.”


    “Hmph, says the wolf sitting alone in the dark watching children sleep.” Isabel quipped, slowly


    approaching him. “Why are you still up?”


    ‘We only just finished.” He exined, “and I wanted to see you and Sadie.”


    Isabel narrowed her eyes. “What’s wrong?”


    “It was just a very long day.” He answered, scrubbing a hand over his scruffy face. “I don’t really want


    to talk about it just now.”


    ‘What do you want to do?” Isabel inquired, sidling nearer with obvious interest.


    James huffed out a humorlessugh. “I’d counted on cuddling Sadie, I don’t suppose she wakes up


    much at night?”


    ‘Thankfully not, but what about me?” Isabel asked, sounding mildly offended that he hadn’t considered


    her.


    ‘Would you let me?” James countered, arching his dark brows.


    “You’veforted me when I’m upset more than once.” Isabel replied simply.


    “And if you recall you weren’t very happy about it.” James reminded her wryly.


    “But you did it anyway – because I needed it.” Isabel added, moving to stand directly in front of him and


    extending one graceful hand. “Let me give you the same.”


    James epted her hand without hesitation, but rather than getting to his feet, he pulled Isabel down


    into hisp. She yelped in surprise but soon found her entire body surrounded by warm, firm muscles.


    Of course, once he was touching her, it was so much harder for Isabel to resist the burly wolf. She tried


    not to feel the affection and desire quickly overtaking her body, but she quickly realized she was


    fighting a losing battle. So just this once, she surrendered and lost herself in James’ arms.