Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 412 – The Writer Ella

“Nah,” I say, leaning in to stroke a hand over Benny’s hair, “I can’t shift right now now. I have to go and help some other kids.”

Still suspicious, the boy takes his hand from mine and crosses his arms over his chest. “Tell me your name. When my mom comes back, I’ll ask her to look you up on the internet. Then we’ll know whether or not you’re a wolf.”

Laughing, I tell him my name, and then I look around the tent. “Where is your mom, anyway?” I ask. “I’d like to meet her.”

The little boy is quiet for a moment and then he shrugs. “She’ll be back any minute.”

“Oh,” I say, and then I feel my heart ache a little bit inside of me, though I do my very best to keep my voice cheerful. “Did she just step away? When’s the last time you saw her?”

“Coupla days,” Benny murmurs, looking down at his blankets for a second. I glance up at Isabel, who has come close and was listening. She grimaces and then nods, confirming my suspicions. This little boy hasn’t seen his mother for a long, long time.

“Okay,” I say, reaching out and stroking a hand over his hair. “I’m going to do some work, okay? But I’ll come back and visit you in a little bit, all right, kiddo?”

“Okay!” he replies, instantly cheerful and smiling up at me. “Will you turn into your wolf then?”

“We’ll see,” I reply, laughing and giving him a wink. Then he waves to me as I stand up and move to Conner to instantly take Rafe into my own arms, hugging my baby close and passing him all of the love I have in my heart down the bond to him.

Because I honestly feel as if I could spend the rest of the day crying if I allow myself to think too hard about Benny, who was just quietly suffocating in his bed while he waited for his mother to come back.

Hank catches my eye and comes closer, glancing at Benny as he does.

“Will he survive?” I murmur, pitching my voice low enough so that the boy can’t hear me.

“After what you just did, Ella?” Hank asks. “Yeah. He’s going to make it. But he needs more than just medical help,” Hank continues. “You know that.”

“I do know that Hank,” I reply, and then I look sharply at Theo. “I need you to text Sinclair,” I say, my voice taking on more of Sinclair’s command than I’ve ever heard it do before. “Tell him we need to triple everything. Or more, if we can. All of the medical aid that’s being sent to these people, and the social workers, and…and everything. All right? Tell him I said immediately.”

Theo’s eyebrows go up, but he does as I say. My eyes return to Hank, though I’m very surprised to see him smiling at me.

“Well,” he says, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Look who’s just become a Queen.”

I laugh in surprise but then roll my eyes at him. “Not yet,” I sigh, straightening my shoulders and starting to look around the room. ” When I’m a Queen, you’ll know- because I’ll be wearing my tiara 24/7. It’s the only perk of the job.”

“Nah,” Hank says, putting a warm hand on my back and guiding me towards the next patient. “The perk is being able to do this. And to order your mate to send thousands of dollars of supplies at the drop of a hat.”

“Yeah,” I say, smiling at Hank as I hand Rafe off to Conner. Then I get back to work, seating myself in the waiting chair next to a little girl with cuts and bruises all over her arms and face. “Hi, sweetheart,” I say, giving her a warm smile. “What’s your name?”

The rest of the day and early evening passes predictably. Cora and Hank consult with the doctors and nurses already working here to determine the work that I should do, and I heal, and Conner guards Rafe, and Theo and Anthony guard Cora and me.

By the time I can see darkness beyond the edges of the tent, I am pleased with the day’s work – we’ve helped dozens of children, and even brought some back from a very dark place. I look around the room, exhaling a satisfied breath, but I blink when I notice a very real change in the people in the tent.

When I had entered this morning, the people – especially the adults – had shrunk away from my team, and had barely noticed me. I am, after all, the smallest person here and had a baby strapped to my chest. The people had watched our every movement with narrow, suspicious eyes, always waiting for the next shoe to drop – for us to reveal the way in which we were going to hurt them, or take something from them.

But now, after a long day of working to help?

The narrowed suspicion is gone, and now many eyes are wide with wonder, trained on me as I move through the tent. I blush a little and duck my head, tucking my hair behind my ear as I hold a sleeping Rafe tight against me.

“What?” Cora asks, noticing my sudden change in attitude.

“They’re all just… looking at me,’ murmur, feeling awkward. I Cora looks around and then laughs. What, did you not expect all of the hero worship and awe when you decided to come and use your demigoddess powers on a bunch of unsuspecting mortals?”

“Demigoddess powers,” I say, scoffing a little. “Don’t be ridiculous, Cora – ”

“Well, that’s what they are, Ella,” she says, laughing at me again. “I mean, do you need me to start making it rain to prove my point?”

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t,” I say loftily, laughing a little. “But still,” I say, dropping my voice and stepping closer to her. “I mean…I’m just a girl. I’m just helping the best way I can, like anyone else would do -”

“Not anymore you’re not, Ells,” Cora says, patting my cheek with a sigh. ” You’re a part-goddess wolf Queen.”

“Yeah,” I sigh, twisting my lips, but then I glare at her a little. “Well, you’re a weird hybrid soon-to-be wolf mom who is probably like, a duchess or something, once Sinclair gets all the titles figured out.”

“And a doctor,” Cora says, giving me a wink and moving forward on to the next case. “Don’t forget that!”

“I won’t!” I sigh, following after her. ” Because you sure as hell won’t let me!”

We’re both still laughing as I give Rafe – cuddled in Conner’s arms a little kiss on the cheek and then sit down in the chair waiting by the bed of my next patient – the one I’ve been told is the last one of the day.

“Hi,” I say brightly, looking at the little girl – probably about eight years old and then up at the woman who is 1 probably her mother, though she looks a bit young for it. Still, by the affinity between them – both with long, dark brown hair and pale skin – I know that they’re family. “My name is Ella. I’ve heard you’re not feeling well.”

“No,” the little girl murmurs, moving her hands to her stomach and frowning. “I am sick.”

I glance up at Cora, who nods to me. They’ve briefed me, of course – the girl isn’t just sick, she’s got some kind of bacterial infection that’s increased to the point where it’s threatening the health of her inner organs. Still, I like to check in with my patients before I get started, to make a connection with them.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I say, offering my hand and hoping that she’ll place hers in it. The girl hesitates, but I just leave my open palm there in case she changes her mind. ” I’m going to try to make you feel better, if you’ll let me. Will that be all right?”

The girl glances at the woman with her, who nods, though I note that she’s staring at me quite intensely. The girl looks back to me and likewise nods.

“What’s your name?” I ask, smiling at her.

“Jessica,” she replies, just a whisper.

“Jessica,” I repeat, my smile broadening. “Well, let’s see what we can do. Just relax.” And then I take a deep breath, and close my eyes, and fall into my meditative state.

It’s a trickier case than a clear-and- cut wound, since the bacteria has spread throughout her gastrointestinal system. But after the gift has done its work sweeping through her and fixing all the things that it felt were wrong, it returns to me and I open my eyes. About twenty minutes have passed.

I smile at Jessica, my eyes traveling over her face, which already looks better less wan, less pained and worried.

“How are you feeling?” I ask quietly, and to my pleasure she puts her hands in mine now. “Much better. And…” she hesitates, looking at the woman next to her, “hungry. Can I have something to eat?”

“Of course you can,” I say, grinning and looking up at Cora, who gives me a thumbs up and turns away to ask one of the passing nurses about some food. ” Is there anything else you want?” I ask, curious.

Jessica shakes her head no, smiling at me, but the woman next to hear clears her throat. Curious, I turn my gaze to her.

“Thank you, Luna,” she says, surprising me a little by using a wolf’s title, which none of the other humans have done. “Thank you so much for helping my sister,” she says, her voice choked. I reach to her with my other hand, smiling at her as the tears drip down her cheeks.

“Of course,” I say, squeezing her hand when she gives it to me. “I’m just glad that I was able to help. What’s your name?” I ask.

“I’m Sarah,” she says quietly, giving me a shy little smile. “But actually, Luna, we’ve…we’re already connected, in a strange way. I – I know all about you. I’ve been hearing about you my whole life.’

“Really?” I ask, my eyes going wide with surprise.

“Yes,” she says, laughing a little and nodding eagerly. “And actually, um,” she hesitates now, glancing around before leaning close to whisper. “A few weeks ago, I actually… left a letter on your doorstep.”

My eyes fly wide open in my shock and I suddenly clutch the woman’s hand tight in mine, knowing suddenly precisely who she is.

Or, if not who she is precisely what she did to save my son’s life.