Chapter 280 – Doctor’s Appointment
Accidental Surrogate for Alpha
Ella
The next morning Iâm up and dressed early, eagerly glancing towards the door every few minutes
because I know Cora is coming to see me. Itâs a social visit as well as a medical oneâI run my hand
over my belly, eager to hear what she has to say about Rafeâs growth and progress.
A hear someone at the door of my bedroom and I gasp, spinning towards it. But I just scowl when I see
that itâs Sinclair standing there, smiling at me, and not my sister. He bursts out laughing when he sees
my disappointment
âReally?â he asks, pretending to be hurt as I pick up the television remote and start to flick through the
channels. âDays ago you were desperate to see me â have I fallen out of favor so fast?â
âNo,â I sigh, looking up at him apologetically. He gives me a warm smile, his eyes flicking over me,
making sure Iâm okay. âI just canât wait to see her. And she was telling me some really weird things
about her and Roger â actually, has he said anything
Sinclair holds up a hand to me, stopping me and glancing down the hall to where someone is climbing
the steps.
âCora!â I cry, throwing my legs off of the bed and working to hoist myself up. Sinclair moves aside and I
see Hank and Cora at the door.
âNo no ââ Doctor Hank says, putting out a hand towards me, palm out. âStay in bed, Ella â no need to
get up. Weâll come to you.â
I frown at him (for more reasons than one) but stay on my bed Luckily, Cora gives a little shriek of joy
and throws herself into my arms, where I get to wrap her up tight. I laugh and tell my sister how glad I
am to see her while Hank, also smiling, places his bag on my side table and starts to unpack it.
âHow are you feeling, Ella?â Cora asks, pulling back from me and putting a hand on my belly.â How is
the baby?â
âEverything feels good,â I respond, smiling and shrugging. I look down at my stomach. âHeâs just
swimming around in there, giving me a kick or two every once in a while.â
âHe should be too small to kick,â Cora wonders, frowning and probing my belly. âYouâre only three
months pregnant.â
âThree months pregnant is more like five or six months pregnant in wolf biology,â Hank informs us,
popping his stethoscope around his neck and giving me a smile. âItâs easy to get the timeline mixed up,
especially if you grew up human and are really used to thinking about pregnancy in terms of how
human babies grow and adapt.â
âYes,â I say, nodding and looking down at myself. âI felt about five months pregnant a few weeks ago, in
the desert would have sworn it. But now it feels like more? I donât know. Itâs confusing.â
âHeâll grow rapidly from here,â Hank murmurs, leaning forward and pressing the stethoscope to my
back to listen to my heart and breathing. âIf we can keep you healthy enough to maintain his rate of
growth. Deep breath in, please.â
I do as he orders, smiling at Cora and then at Sinclair, still standing in the door. My checkup takes a
while, with Doctor Hank focusing on my general health and then Cora performing a check on the baby.
She even used a little portable ultrasound machine that Sinclair ordered so that we could do these
kinds of checkups at home while Iâm still weak.
I hold my breath through the whole process, desperately hoping for a good report. Iâve been quite good
lately, even if itâs been boring â no stairs, spending most of my time in bed, really just doing nothing but
getting fat on all the snacks Rafe demands and giving him the time and space he
needs to grow strong.
âWell,â Cora says, finishing up the ultrasound and pressing âprintâ on the little machine so that we can
have a picture of it âFrom my end, everything looks great.â She gives me a big smile.
âMy end as well,â Hank says, smiling at me and crossing his arms. âOverall, Ella, youâre doing
wonderfully, all things considered. But I have to remind you that youâre still quite fragile, medically, even
if you are feeling better. The orders still stand â complete bed rest, as much as possible.â
Even as my heart lifts to hear that the baby and I are healthy, I scowl when I hear about more bedrest. I
think, deep down, I was hoping that Iâd be miraculously healed and able to be up and about until the
baby is born. Thereâs so much I want to do.
Sinclair has been keeping me informed of what the world is like, and Iâve been keeping an eye on the
news. The tentative ceasefire between the wolves and the humans is holding, though there are some
humans who are protesting against giving in so easily, and Sinclair as initiated the start of peace talks
between our two peoples. Still, there are so many on both sides who are displaced- so many mothers
and their children living as refugees â I could do so much good if I could just
âAre you all right, Ella?â Cora asks, looking at me closely.
âYes,â I say, embarrassed a little to have faded off into my own thoughts there. âJust thinking I wish I
could get out of bed.â I take her hand and squeeze it, looking between her and Hank. âBut thank you â I
understand that I canât. Itâs all for the best, and I can learn to be patient. Will you tell me, though?â I
beg, looking up at the doctor who saved my life âWhen I can get up, or do a little more?â
âThe minute youâre healthy for more activity, Iâll let you know. I promise I wonât hold you back He gives
me a nod and the start of a smile, which I return brightly. I can tell he is warming up to me and Iâm
happy about it.
Doctor Hank surprises me, though, by reaching a hand out to Cora next. âCora,â he says, âIâll see you
tonight?â
I watch Cora take his hand and give him a tentative little smile, accompanied by a blush. A blush. I
canât help my mouth from falling open a little. âYes,â she says, giving his hand a little squeeze before
dropping it. âIâll see you at 8.â
The doctor nods to her and then heads towards the door, where Sinclair joins him to walk downstairs
and further discuss my condition.
âAre you serious?â I hiss, leaning forward and staring at my sister the moment I think theyâre out of ear
shot. âAre you dating Doctor Hank?!â
âElla,â she murmurs, looking down and blushing again. âItâs not like that â weâre just having
dinner-â
âWhat about Roger!?â
âWhat about Roger?â She snaps, bringing up her gaze to glare at me a little.
I sit back in shock. âI just thoughtâ¦â I reply, hesitating. âYou two were doing so wellâ
âWell,â she shrugs. âHe hasnât called me at all sinceâ¦well, since after you got out of the hospital, Ella.
Complete radio silence. And honestly, Iâm not sure itâs the worst possible turnout.â
âBut Cora,â I breathe, my heart in my throat. âYou twoâyou love him ââ
âDo I?â she asks, her voice a little bitter. âOr do you just want me to love him, sis?â
My dear readers, Thank you for stopping by and reading this story. I hope you enjoyed it. Iâm trying my
best to update asap. Iâll appreciate it if you explore my other stories as well. Please follow my f******k
page Caroline above story and group Caroline above story if you wanna chat or keep updated on my
writing schedule.
Yours, Caroline above story â¦â¦