The Mystical Attraction of Alpha
Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Chapter 81 – Roger Makes a Promise

Ella

I haven’t been sick for a few days now, but when I see Roger standing on the other side of the door Iimmediately turn to one of the ornamental vases in the hallway and empty my stomach. Cora rushesforward to help me, glancing uncertainly at Roger as she pulls my hair back from my face.

I know that Sinclair and Roger are on better terms since the wild hunt, but I also know that their peaceis very tenuous. Sinclair hasn’t decided whether or not he truly trusts his brother yet, and though Rogerhas been helpful bringing intelligence from the Prince’s camp, he could easily be playing the doubleagent for both sides – and now he knows my deepest, darkest secret.

This is so bad. I think frantically. He told the Prince that Sinclair hadn’t marked me, what if he tells himthis too? Forget the blackmail – Roger is more dangerous to me than some bitter ex-employer couldever be!

I wipe the back of my hand over my mouth, straightening with a pitiful moan. I look over at Roger,replaceing his expression a combination of confusion and concern. “You’d better come in.”

“Ella, I’m sorry.” He begins hesitantly. “I didn’t mean to startle you, and I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. Icame over to check in with Sinclair and… well it wasn’t difficult to overhear your conversation.”

“I know, I know – your shifter hearing is very acute.” I grumble. “Trust me, I’m learning just how out ofmy depth I am every day.”

“I don’t understand.” Roger admits, following me into the sitting room. “How is this even possible?”

I sit down, graciously accepting a glass of water from my sister. “Listen, I’ll tell you the truth, but only ifyou promise me that this conversation stays between us. I know you’re been helping us lately, but I’m

going to be honest – I’m not convinced you’re actually on our side.”

“That’s fair.” Roger admits, looking drawn and pale. “After what I did… I know I don’t deserve your trust,or your forgiveness.”

“Well I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what would happen if this information got out. The only peoplewho know are serv ants of this house, and my doctor. Not even Henry knows the truth, because if thisbecomes public information Sinclair’s campaign will be over. The Prince will become King, thousandswould die under his tyranny – including me and your nephew.” I remark pointedly, holding my hand tomy baby bump. “I don’t care what kind of sibling rivalry you have, or how strongly you think you shouldhave Alpha – if you endanger my baby’s life, you won’t only have Sinclair to deal with – I’ll kill youmyself.”

“Ella!” Cora exclaims, shocked by my aggression. In truth I’ve shocked myself, but those primal MamaBear instincts that started coming out at the ball are back in full force, and I don’t regret a single wordI’ve spoken. I would do anything to protect my child, including killing to keep him safe.

“It’s okay.” Roger assures her. “You’re very spirited for a human. I can see why Sinclair picked you.” Hestares me in the eye, holding the contact as he makes his next promise. “And you have my word that I’lltake this secret to my grave – I swear it on my mother’s grave.”

“Good.” I nod, feeling a bit more relaxed now. “But you’re wrong if you think Sinclair picked me. This allstarted as a rather wild accident.”

“An accident?” Roger repeats, his brow knitting with confusion.

“It was my fault really.” Cora admits, relating the mix up at the sperm bank. Of course, her confessiononly leads to more questions, about why I went to the sperm bank in the first place, and how we figuredout Sinclair’s sample had been used instead of the donor I chose. When he hears about Mike, I’m

amazed to see how outraged he looks in my honor – I suppose messing with one’s fertility is a graveoffense among wolves, even more so than with humans.

“So you still don’t know how the samples got switched?” Roger presses, after we move past the Mike ofit all.

“No.” Cora and I say in unison. “The surveillance cameras were disabled in the lab – before thesamples were switched. And of course we don’t film in the exam rooms.”

“What?” I inquire, “this is the first I”m hearing of the security cameras being tampered with.”

“That’s one of the reasons they eventually let me off the ho ok.” Cora informs me. “Sinclair orderedthem to hire me back, but the investigation didn’t actually move away from me as a suspect until theyfound the tapes were blank during your appointment. I don’t have access to the surveillance monitors.”

“Does that mean…” I can hardly wrap my brain around this. “We’ve been assuming this was anaccident all along, and I could even understand someone erasing them after the fact to cover theirmistake… but if someone turned the cameras off before the switch then it must have been on purpose.”

“But why would anyone try to inseminate a human?” Roger questions, aghast. “I mean no shifter I knowwould imagine it was possible for you to actually conceive. I still can’t believe it myself.”

“I don’t know how it was possible – and honestly I don’t care. This baby is a miracle for me whether it’sa human, or a wolf.” I shrug, though in truth I feel quite uneasy. “But it does make me nervous to thinksomeone might have done this to us. Even if they knew I could conceive, what was their goal? I highlydoubt anyone would do this just to make my dreams of becoming a mother – or Dominic’s of becominga father – come true.”

“True.” Cora nods sympathetically, “I have a hard time thinking their motives were pure, but I also don’tsee an opportunity for malice either. How does you having a shifter baby help anyone?”

“This has to be the weirdest crime in history.” I express, absolutely flabbergasted.

“Cora, who has access to both your labs and the security rooms, and who else knew you hadDominic’s sperm?” Roger asks, obviously as curious as we are.

“My bosses.” Cora shrugs, “but they’re also the ones running the investigation. Sinclair has some someof his men on it as well, but as far as I know, no one has ever been arrested or charged.”

“I can ask him about it once he comes home.” I suggest, “with everything else going on, I sort of forgotabout all this, but I bet he hasn’t.”

“You can count on that.” Roger confirms, coc king his head to the side. “So what happens after thebaby comes? You mentioned losing its scent. Has Sinclair talked to you about his plans for keepingyour identity secret?”

“We’re just trying to get through the campaign.” I explain, blushing to think of everything he must haveoverheard. “Afterwards I can step back from the public eye and… I don’t know, we’ll take it from there.If he has plans he hasn’t talked to me about them, but I trust we’ll think of something.”

Roger is staring at me with an unreadable expression, and for a moment I assume he’s judging me.“What?” I ask softly, “You think I’m being too optimistic? Or too trusting?”

“No.” He counters, shaking his head with a look of begrudging respect. “I was actually thinking thatyou’re incredibly brave to be doing this, and incredibly generous to be helping Dom. You must havebeen so overwhelmed when he asked for your help,” He clenches his eyes shut, and for some reason Ithink I sense some guilt when he continues, “and Goddess, those rogue attacks… you must have beenso terrified.”

“Actually it was her suggestion to pose as Luna.” Cora boasts, focusing on the less traumatic portion ofRoger’s statement. I smile at her, thankful she’s looking out for me this way. She grins back, continuing.“He only wanted her as a surrogate at first, but she proved how valuable she could be to him.”

Roger shakes his head, frowning deeply. “I’m so sorry, Ella.”

“For what?” I ask, confused.

“For being so cruel to you. For helping the Prince. If I’d known… I never would have… I’m just sosorry.” Roger professes, looking completely genuine.

“Well, that’s all ancient history now.” I exhale heavily, wondering how much harder it must have beenfor Sinclair to forgive his brother after all their history, when I replace it difficult after only just meeting him.“As long as you’re on our side from here on out – I don’t care about the past.”

“You are too kind for your own good, you know that?” Roger asks, huffing out a laugh. There’s a sparkof true admiration in his eyes, a spark that looks dangerously close to attraction as his gaze sweepsfrom my face and scans my figure.

“I keep trying to tell her that.” Cora declares. “Much good that it does me. She’s a stubborn thing.”

“Well I might be, but I’m not sure Dominic is going to be so calm when he replaces out you know mysecret.” I advise honestly. “You might want to leave before he gets home – let me break it to him.”

“That’s probably wise.” Roger agrees, rising to his feet. “I really am sorry, Ella.”

“I know.” I nod. “Now go – he’ll be here any moment.”