Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

Sinclair

It’s mid-morning by the time I leave Roger’s house, and I dial Cora’s phone number, both because she

needs to know about what happened, and because I need help caring for Ella. Despite the doctor’s

promises, I’m worried that Ella won’t recover as quickly as he’s predicting and if anyone knows what to

expect, her sister surely must.

“Mr Sinclair?” She sounds uncertain as she answers, as if she suspects her caller lD might be lying to

her.

“Good morning, Cora.”I greet her, taking a deep breath. “l’m sorry to disturb you when you’re at work,

but I’m calling with some bad news.”

I can feel the anxiety in her sharp intake of breath, and worry imbues her soft voice, “ls Ella okay? Is

the baby?”

“They’re both at home resting.” I share, hoping this will assuage the worst of her fears. “But there was

another attack last night.”

“Another one?” Cora squeaks, indignation bleeding into her voice as she continues. “I thought you were

supposed to be this all powerful Alpha? You’re supposed to be keeping her safe! My sister has known

you for a month and she’s already had people trying to kill her twice!”

I understand her outrage, and I agree with it completely. “I know. You have every right to be upset with

me. I’m not very happy with myself right now. I failed her.” I confess, exhaling heavily. “I’m not turning

out to be a very good father so far.”

“I..” Cora doesn’t seem to know what to makę of this. “Tsk,” She clears her throat. “Well is she alright?

Does she need anything?”

“She’s a bit scraped up, but I’m afraid the worst damage was psychological.It wasn’t Iike last time.

She… she didn’t recognize me afterwards.'”I wonder if the human can hear how upsetting I find this

particular detail, but when she remains silent I forge on. “She’s in a deep state of shock- the doctor

used the word dissociative, like she completely disconnected from her body to protect her mind.”

Cora swears, but she doesn’t sound surprised. “I’ll leave work right now.” She offers, “I can be there

within a half hour.”

“Wait.” I advise, “She’s been sedated and I’m not sure when she’ll wake up.” For a moment I debate

whether or not I should voice my next thought. Ella hasn’t spoken to me much about her childhood, but

I know that she feels very protective of her sister.

Moreover, I remember the way she acted after the attack in the alley, refusing to show her upset to

Cora, insisting she was fine. “And… I don’t want to sound insensitive because I know you love Ella and

want to be with her, but I’m afraid if you’re there she’ll be so focused on not worrying you, that she’ll try

to pretend like nothing happened and ignore her own wellbeing.”

Cora thinks about this for a minute. “You’re probably right about that. Ella has always been the

caretaker… she really doesn’t know how to deal with having the tables turned on her.”

“So I’ve learned.”I muse aloud. “So l think it would be best to give it a couple of days.”

“Alright.” Cora agrees, “But I can still help you. I know all her creature comforts, the things that soothe

her best. I can send you a list.”

“That would be wonderful.” I express honestly, thankful I decided to make this call before Ella wakes.

By the time she returns to consciousness I can have all her favorite things already on hand and ready

to comfort her.

“But Sinclair -” Cora interrupts my thoughts.

“Please call me Dominic, Cora.”I correct gently.

“Dominic,” She repeats patiently. “It’s not my place to tell you the details.. but I think you should know,”

“Yes?” I prompt her, having a dreadful premonition that I don’t want to hear whatever it is she’s about to

say.

“These attacks aren’t the first traumas Ella has endured at the hands of men.” She explains vaguely,

and I both want to demand further explanations and forbid her from saying more. “She went through a

lot when we were still children… she endured some of it to protect me and the other kids.” Cora trails

off for a moment, sounding positively miserable. My mind immediately floods with horrible images of

Ella, even more sweet and innocent than she is now, suffering at the hands of the adults meant to care

for her. “You need to be prepared that she won’t just be dealing with the trauma of the attacks when

she wakes – but all the bad memories they’ll have dredged up.”

“That’s why you weren’t surprised… when l told you she dissociated.” I guess, hating every word of thịs

conversation. “You’ve seen this before.”

“Yes.” Cora confirms, sounding remorseful. “But you’re not wrong either. She wants to protect the

people she cares about even when she’s in no state to do so.

Something we have in common. I think bitterly.

“I supp0se it’s two sides of the same coin.”I say instead. “Whether she’s doing it to protect herself from

the pain or put on a brave face for someone else, it’s still repressing the bad feelings.”

“Oh.” Cora murmurs, in the tone of someone having an epiphany.

“What?” L inquire, not liking this one bit.

“Well when you put it that way… I wonder if maybe we’re wrong about it being for someone else.” Cora

shares. “I mean maybe that’s how it started, but at the end of the day it still means she never learned

how to cope with these things.”

A wave of understanding crashes into me. If Ella has only ever repressed the bad things in her life, it

won’t matter if her sister is there or not, she’ll try to do the same with this – because it’s all she knows.

Only now do I realize that Ella didn’t just pretend she was fine with

Cora after the first attack. She might have come to me for safety, but she was a hollow shell as I tended

her wounds, and when I encouraged her to share her feelings she distracted me with an argument. She

never even cried about the attack, only my deception.

Ffuuucckk. I think, furious with myself for missing this, for letting the wiley minx outwit me.

“So what do I do?” I ask, hoping Cora will have the answer.

“Well l’ve never been able to refuse Ella anything when she’s hurting.” Cora remarks, sounding

disheartened, “Especially not when it’s my fault. Which means I’ve never called out her avoidance, I’ve

just… well, I think l’ve enabled her – letting her tell me what she wants and never questioning or

pushing back on whether it’s healthy.”

It seems like Cora and I have more in common than I realized. It also seems she’s sharper than I gave

her credit for, as I’m receiving her message loud and clear. I might be blaming myself for putting Ella in

danger, but I can’t let that quilt me into coddling her. “But you’re an Alpha.” She elaborates. “So maybe

you’ll be able to do what I never could – and not let her get away with pretending everything is fine.”

“You can count on it.”I nod, taking this mission to heart. Ella is my responsibility, and it’s in my blood to

take care of my pack. She might be human, but Ella is pack now, and I know her in some ways her

sister certainly doesn’t. l also know a thing or two about helping stubborn she-wolves find catharsis –

and from what I’ve seen, Ella will be no different.

“Thank you for telling me, Cora.” I profess genuinely.

“And thank you for the advice. I’ll call you as soon as Ella is ready for visitors.”

“Good luck.” Cora offers, “and just let me know if you need anything else.”

“I will.” Hanging up, I realize that talking with Ella’s sister has completely changed my expectations for

what the next few hours hold. I was prepared for Ella to wake up in another fog or to come home to a

basket case, but if the doctor is right and she’s lucid -I’ll probably be dealing with one very obstinate

little human in total denial.

When Cora’s email hits my inbox, listing out all of Ella’s favorite foods, music, films, and amenities, I

make a detour to the store. Stocking up on candles, essential oils, bubble bath, fancy scrubs and

masks, dark chocolate, flowers and various groceries, I plan out exactly how I’ll set up my rooms once I

get home. I’m hoping I can get everything done before Ella wakes, and also praying we’re wrong about

Ella’s propensity to bury her traumas.

However, I know my prayers haven’t been answered as soon as I walk into my rooms and discover that

Ella is not only wide awake, but standing in the middle of the room instructing her dressmaker to sew

sleeves onto her ballgown to cover her bandages. In the midst of all the excitement I actually forgot the

masquerade was tonight – but Ella, it seems, did not.

She smiles at me in greeting, but I can only glare in return. “What in the Goddess’s name do you think

you’re doing?