Accidental Surrogate

Ella
Sinclair finally agreed to let the EMTs administer emergency care, though it wasn’t easy. He refused to let me out of his sight,
and though he’d tried to maintain physical contact too, the EMTs eventually convinced him to let them strap him onto a gurney for
transfer to the hospital. I sat beside him in the ambulance, where he was sprawled on his side, watching me with complete
intensity as the EMTs worked on cutting away his clothes.
I stroked his hair as he stoically suffered through their poking and prodding, so he could feel me safe and secure beside him. At
first I tried to peek over Sinclair’s broad shoulder to see the damage on his back, but he growled as soon as I broke eye contact,
and I decided keeping him calm was more important than discovering the extent of his injuries.
The ambulance can’t seem to move fast enough, and I’m counting down the moments until we reach the shifter hospital. I can
see how tired Sinclair is, his eyelids keep drooping, only to snap back open when he realizes he’s falling asleep. I want to help
him rest, but I’m also afraid that if he falls asleep he might not wake back up.
“I’m so sorry, Dominic.” I murmur, unable to hold in my feelings any more.
“Why are you sorry?” He responds, furrowing his brow. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You’re hurt because of me.” I remind him, hiccuping and swiping at my tears with my free hand. “They wanted me – not you.
Why did you do that!”
“Baby, if they could have gotten to me they gladly would have – you’re just an easier target.” He explains, sounding so steady
and sure, even as the EMTs dig into his raw wounds. “And I did it because you and Rafe are a million times more important than
me.”
“But that’s simply not true.” I argue miserably. “You can find another mate and have more babies –” A warning rumble vibrates in
his chest, but I ignore it. “But if something happens to you then the entire pack, the entire realm would be in danger. I’m
replaceable, you’re not.”
“I beg to differ.” Sinclair growls. “And if you keep talking that way you’re going to regret it, little mate.”
The EMTs exchange amused glances, and I can feel the corner of my own mouth twitching. “Are you really threatening me when
you’re tied down?”

“If you think I can’t break out of a few flimsy straps you’re out of your mind, gorgeous.” He answers, sounding strong and
ominous right up until he winces in obvious pain.
“Tsk, stubborn Alpha.” I cluck, still stroking his hair. “Are you in a lot of pain? Be honest.” I add sternly.
“Not nearly as much as I would have been if I’d lost you.” He replies, with utter confidence.
My heart swells, but there’s still a knot of pain and confusion tangled at its center. I’m falling in love with this man, so of course I
want to hear his affectionate endearments, of course I want him to be alright. But that doesn’t explain away last night. Sweet
nothings won’t fix what’s broken between us. I want to ask him where Lydia fits in all this so badly it hurts, but I can’t do that as
long as we have an audience.
That mere thought is enough to give me pause. Does he mean any of the things he’s saying, or is he just putting on a show for
the EMTs? And if he does mean it, then how could he be so cold and dismissive last night? Why did he sleep with her?
“What are you thinking?” Sinclair asks, furrowing his brow as he takes in my solemn expression.
“I’m just wondering if it’s safe for you to fall asleep.” I lie, using my thumb to smooth out the wrinkles in his forehead. “You look so
tired.”
“He should stay conscious if he can.” The first EMT frowns apologetically. “Just until we know the damage.”
Sinclair smiles at me, though it looks more like a grimace. “I already told you I wasn’t taking my eyes off you, that includes for
sleep.”
“We’re almost there.” The second EMT assures me. “He just has to hold on a little longer.”
Of course, when we arrive at the hospital it’s more of the same: Sinclair being impossibly stubborn and overprotective, even
though I’m perfectly fine and he’s the one who looks like he’s been put through a meat grinder. Once I can see his back, I
understand that the entire broad surface was shredded by the glass of the windshield, and hundreds of tiny shards are still
embedded in his skin. The sight is enough to send me into a fresh fit of tears, and I’m beyond angry with myself for giving into
the emotion. I know me being upset will do nothing but rile Sinclair’s wolf further.
Things reach an unfortunate crescendo when they try and take him for x-rays, because of course I can’t go with him. They need
to assess the internal damage from the blunt force of the crash, and though the logical part of Sinclair realizes that, the
combination of so much danger, my upset, and all the strangers around us has his wolf in full control. In the end it takes getting

every guard in the hospital to stand watch over me until he comes back from the x-ray, on threat of death if they let anything
happen to me. I told him he was being ridiculous, but of course he didn’t listen.
When he finally returns we end up caught in another disagreement, with him insisting the doctors and nurses can tend to his
back while he’s sitting up so he can keep me in his lap, and those of us who still have our sanity intact trying to convince him to
lie down. It’s a losing battle, and in the end I end up in the bed with him, his huge body draped over me while he pretends not to
feel the pain of dozens of tiny tweezers digging into his torn flesh to extract all the shards of glass.
I do my best to distract him, kissing his scruffy cheeks and nuzzling his neck, telling him what a powerful protector he is and
guiding his hand to my belly so he can feel the pup.
“I know what you’re doing.” Sinclair chuckles, catching my lips in his the next time I try to graze them over his jaw. “Such blatant
pandering, you ought to be ashamed.” He teases.
“It’s not pandering.” I argue, “At least, not entirely. You saved my life today, you saved the baby – again. And after I was such a
brat to you.”
“You had every right,” He acknowledges, “even if it was a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding how?” I clarify, stiffening slightly. The text message I received the night before was very clear. “You can’t tell
me that wasn’t real, Dominic.”
Sinclair waits until the doctors are finished bandaging his back before he answers. They leave us alone, promising to bring the x-
ray results soon. Once they’re out of hearing distance, he sighs. “Lydia drugged me, Ella.” He confesses, sounding completely
ashamed of himself. “I was at the pub, I noticed my drink tasted odd and I blacked out. She sent you that text message. The next
thing I knew, I was waking up in her bed.”
“Are you serious?” I demand, sitting up in horror. Of all the possible ways I expected him to explain his actions, I never dreamed
of this possibility.
“I don’t have any idea what happened while I was blacked out and she claims we had sex, but I don’t know for sure.” Sinclair
continues. “But the point is that I haven’t been lying to you. I didn’t intentionally have sex with her, and I don’t want anything to do
with her – now more than ever.”
“Dominic! Why didn’t you tell me?” I cry, outraged that he didn’t say anything sooner. “Why did you let me keep spiraling that
way?”

Sinclair catches me in his crosshairs, giving me such a searing look of incredulity that I begin curling in on myself. “Oh.” I squeak,
realizing that he isn’t the only one who’s been stubborn today. “Because I wouldn’t let you?”
“I tried to tell you repeatedly.” He confirms, “You wouldn’t hear it.”
“I’m sorry.” I profess, feeling lousy even though the knot in my chest is already beginning to uncoil. “I just got so worked up.”
“I know.” Sinclair agrees. “With jealousy.”
“I didn’t say that.” I combat, snuggling into his chest. “I can’t believe Lydia did that. What in hell was she thinking? Surely she
didn’t expect that kind of dirty trick to convince you to take her back?”
When Sinclair ignores my continued denial, I know the truth must be worse than I realize. “She was thinking that if she gets
pregnant, I won’t need you anymore.”