Chapter 418
Accidental Surrogate for Alpha
Chapter 418- Vengeance Ella
Cora asks Sarah about her mother in a frank, curious way that I think allows Sarah to straighten her
spine and answer impassively, like sheâs giving a report to a doctor instead of having to break a hard
truth to a queen who will probably break into tears. And I smile a little at the back of my sisterâs head,
grateful for her for giving Sarah what she needs when I canât.
âHe beat her,â Sarah says, and my heart twists almost physically within me. âSheâ¦she was growing
older, and she couldnât do her chores the way she used to. Andâ¦â Sarah bites her lip and looks only at
Cora now, telling her what she wouldnât be able to say to the rest of us, not while holding her head high.
âAnd he started to look at me, the way he looked at my mother. And she tried to keep me away from
him, to find other chores in other parts of the house. And when he figured out what she was doing
heâ¦â
Sarahâs voice cracks here and I have to look away from her so that my eyes donât fill with tears. Sinclair
slips a hand onto my knee, wanting to give me comfort but not to distract from Sarahâs story.
Sarah takes a deep breath before she continues. âHe told her she was an idiot and a whore, for trying
to keep his property from him. And that he could do what we wanted with all of us take our bodies, our
lives. And then,â she shrugs, looking down at the tablecloth. âHe did. He took her life then, to show
herâ¦and to show me.â
I make myself look back at Sarah now, who looks up at Cora, and then at me. And I hope that she
sees, shining in my eyes, my deep and renewed desire for vengeance. Because there is absolutely no
way that I am going to let this man live.
âThat was the moment,â she says, nodding to me and then looking at Sinclair too, though a little shier
now. â When mother died? I decided thatâ¦that if he could take what I loved most from me, I could take
what he most wanted too. The little baby â I couldâ¦I could take that away from him. And so I did or, I
tried.â
âYou succeeded,â Sinclair says quietly, next to me.
âNo,â she says, shaking her head vehemently and looking down at her hands. âYouâd have been safe
anyway â youâd have figured it out.â
âThe note,â Roger says, leaning around Cora to look clearly at Sarah, to make sure she hears him. âIt
gave us an advantage thatâ¦without it, Sarah, they very well could have taken Rafe. We owe you a
great debt.â
âNo,â she says instantly, flushing red. âI donât â I donât want anything. And I donât want you to think that I
did this so that you would give me anything.â
âWe donât think that, Sarah,â I say softly, hugging my baby close and leaning forward to catch her eye.
âBut we want to help you, like we want to help the other refugees. Though I admit,â my mouth cocks
into a little smile here, âI do want to help you a little bit more than the others. Because Iâm so, so
grateful. I mean, what would you like â you can have anything!â My face splits into a wide grin here as I
point at my sisterâs mate. âYou can even take Roger! Heâs the least useful-Books Chapters Are Daily
Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updatesâ¦
Cora gives a little squeak of protest as Sinclair bursts into laughter and Roger turns to glare at me, his
mouth falling open. Sarah starts to laugh too as she realizes my joke and shake her head, rather
vehemently, no.
But seeing Sarah decline my offer, Roger turns his shock on her.
âWait, you donât want me either!?â he gasps, and we all start to laugh harder as he sinks back into his
chair, playing along now and exaggerating his fury for the sake of the mood in the room. Becauseâ¦
frankly, we need a laugh.
And I want Sarah to know that we hear her butâ¦well, I want to give her some of the hope that Cora
and I always had. That things can get better â and they will. And maybe that starts today, with a little
laughter at Rogerâs willing expense. I turn an apologetic look his way but he just gives me a wink,
understanding, and I turn back to Sarah.
âWeâll talk about it, okay?â I say, still holding my baby tight. âButâ¦weâre going to be friends now, Sarah.
Good friends friends for life. And friends help each other get back on their feet.â
Sarahâs smile is slow, but when it reaches its full extent I swear my heart could burst with joy of it.
Because I see it there that hope I was looking for.
And I intend to keep every part of my word. Sarah is going to have a good life, and Iâm going to help
her get it.
âOhhhh, Sarah!â Jessica moans, running over with two kittens, one in each hand, her eyes filled with
worry and woe. âPlease, please can we keep them?â She looks down at the little orange ball of fur and
then at the grey one, her voice a little frantic. âI love them so much â I canât you have to let me keep
them!â
âOh, Jessica,â Sarah sighs, putting her arms out and wrapping them around her little sister. âWe donât
even have a home to take them to yet -â
âAnd theyâre too young,â Henry adds, looking at Jessica seriously, âto leave their mother. Perhaps in a
few weeks, when theyâre ready? You and your sister can talk about it again?â
Jessica groans with grief at the idea of leaving the two little kittens, making me laugh a little.
âWell, you can stay here until we find you a home of your own,â I say, crossing my fingers under the
table a bit as I make this rather reckless offer without even asking my mate. âSo you can still see them
every day, Jessica. When youâre not at school, of course.â
âSchool?â she says, looking at me with wide eyes. âI â I get to go to school?â
âYes!â I say, surprised and looking at Sarah, who gives me a big smile and nods excitedly. âYes,
Jessica. School every day, and kittens at night. Does that sound like a good start to your new life?â
And a little tear runs down Sarahâs cheek as Jessica says a vehement yes, cuddling the little cats close
to her chest. I look up at Sinclair then, hoping that heâll say.
But heâs already nodding, which makes me burst into a grin. And then he leans forward, pressing a kiss
to my forehead. My sweet, good mate, he murmurs to me down our bond. Youâll be a wonderful queen.
And warmth spreads through me at the idea of it â because if being queen means I get to do things like
this? Then Iâm definitely on board, and excited.
But that warmth is chased a bit with anger, and sadness, and rage.
Because even if we can help Sarah and Jessicaâ¦Xanderâs still out there in the world, and more men
like him. And weâve got work to do to take them out of it.
Work I am very, very determined to pursue.