Accidental Surrogate

The Crowd’s Approval Ella We move immediately to the grand hall of the palace, where we met our delegates a few nights ago.
Sinclair and I wait quietly in a little room off the side of the entrance for everyone from the first room to move to their chairs in the
second, where there are already thousands of people waiting. While there was only room in the first chamber for a small
selection of our population, the grand hall is much larger.
And it’s packed.
I squeal a little bit with excitement as I peek through a little velvet curtain that covers a window on the door, excited to see so
many people gathered to celebrate with us. I lift Rafe so he can see too, but then I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see
my sister’s beaming face.
“Ella!” she laughs as I squeal and wrap my free arm around her. She wraps her arms tight around me, rocking me back and forth.
“I’m so happy for you both,” she murmurs into my shoulder, laughing a little. ” Unanimous! It’s unprecedented!” “Happy for all of
us!” I laugh, pulling back to grin at her a little. Rafe reaches for her, happy, and Cora gives him a kiss and a cuddle, but doesn’t
take him from me. Not yet.
I glance behind Cora to see Roger happy at Sinclair’s side, their father with them. They’re speaking with a couple of the Royal
aids, who are showing them something on an ipad.
“What is that?” I ask.
“Probably footage from outside,” Cora says, still smiling. “It’s crazy out there, Ella. The streets are filled.” “Oh,” I say, my
expression suddenly falling with worry as I glance towards the door. “Is that...safe?” “No, the crowds are all really happy,” Cora
says, her eyebrows going up. There aren’t a ton of humans, but those who are there are celebrating.” She takes a moment to
smile at me softly. ” They’ve done a lot of analysis and polling, Ella, and they say that the humans were largely convinced to
support Sinclair’s reign because of you.” “What?” I ask, confused. I mean – I haven’t even been in the public eye for long –
“Yeah,” she says, nodding eagerly. ” They know that you cleared out the refugee camps and got all of those people help – and
they love your story orphan girl, who found her mate by chance, and didn’t even know she was a wolf? And they don’t know the
details of your divinity or your magic-but there are lots of rumors of your healing going around, and everyone is very excited
about what you can do, and the fact that you’re using your gift on the most needy populations.
You’re kind of like...beloved, Ella!” I blush at this and swat her away. ” That’s ridiculous, Cora,” I murmur. ” I’m sure you’re
exaggerating – it’s all for Sinclair – ” “No,” she says, serious now. “It’s real, Ella. Wolves and humans alike – they love you.” I look
at the floor a little, blushing harder – and I find that even as I desperately hope that it’s true, I can’t really believe it.

Because I mean I want the people to know that I love them and I’m going to help them. But beloved? That just seems- “Ready?”
Sinclair says, coming over and looking between Cora and I. Roger grins at me from beyond my mate.
“Oh, she’s ready,” Roger laughs, ” She’s been waiting to get her hands on that crown for weeks now.” “Don’t be jealous, Roger,” I
say, raising my chin at him and pretending to be haughty. “Just because you don’t get a crown.” “It’s true,” he sighs, pretending
grief. “I just get a stupid necklace.” “It’s a livery collar,” Cora sighs, rolling her eyes and moving to his side, looping her arm in his.
“If you call it a necklace again I’m going to smack you.” “If we kill them now,” Roger says in a false stage whisper, loud enough
for us to hear, “we can take it all, Cora!” Cora and I burst out laughing at this clear joke, but Sinclair just glares at his brother and
shoves him on his shoulder. “Don’t even think about it, Rog,” he growls. “You don’t want the work.” “Truth, brother,” Roger says,
clapping Sinclair cheerfully on the shoulder. “Your life is safe with me.” “Boys?” Henry says, rolling over and looking sternly up at
his sons. “If you’re done kidding around? We have a coronation to begin.” Both Sinclair and Roger have the decency to look
mildly ashamed of themselves, making Cora and I laugh again.
Sinclair looks down at me, and I nod, letting him know that I’m ready. We rehearsed this all, after all. Sinclair will go first, and
then me second, and then Cora will take Rafe and she, Roger, and Henry will go down the long aisle to the front of the room,
where the thrones sit. It’s all been timed very precisely, and we’ve got one chance to get it right.
It’s televised, after all, and Henry emphasized how important it was for us to let the world see us as dignified, serious people who
take our responsibilities with the gravity that they deserve. And I agree with him – as much as our family likes to joke around and
tease, I know that in our hearts we’re all determined to show the people of our nation the respect they deserve.
So, collectively, we all pull ourselves together.
Sinclair drops a lingering kiss to my lips and then moves to the door, where his aids are waiting to give him any final briefs. I
exhale a deep breath and stand behind him, passing Rafe to Cora after giving him a kiss on the cheek. The baby grumbles a
little but goes to her and I spread my hands down over my velvet dress, hoping to hell that I’m not all wrinkled and don’t have any
baby spit-up over my shoulder or anything.
Cora and Roger settle in line behind me with Henry and my pulse begins to speed up as the door before us opens and I hear the
crowd roar their approval.
Sinclair sends one last smile over his shoulder to me and then moves forward, moving slowly and deliberately into the room to
walk down the long aisle to the throne he has claimed with the support of his people.

The aids smile at me, waving me gently forward. I move just to the edge of the door, not letting the people see me yet – as was
planned – and, when the count reaches the two-minute mark – meaning that Sinclair has reached the throne – the aids wave at
me, signaling me to begin.
Taking a deep breath, I step towards the door, and then through it, and a huge roar bursts out in the room. A blush raises on my
cheek as a smile bursts onto my face.
I bite my lip a little – because I know that I’m supposed to be dignified and serious right now, but the way that they’re cheering for
me – I can’t help it. I raise a hand to my heart, and bow my head a little, completely overwhelmed and humbled by their approval.
Contrary to my intent, the cheering only increases. I laugh a little, shaking my head and then begin to walk forward.
But even as the crowd claps and cheers, I hear a noise behind me that makes me turn, just a little bit.
My little baby – Rafe – crying for me.
And my heart breaks as I feel him sending pulses down the bond, looking for me a little afraid of all the noise and being left
alone, even though he loves his auntie Cora.
Still, he’s looking for me – And despite the fact that I know I should move forward, that all of this is timedI turn back, seeking my
son.