Chapter Twenty Four

Home at Last

Elena was seething. How could he? How could Edgar sleep with another woman? It wasn’t like she had remained chaste during their relationship–she just hadn’t gone around rubbing her trysts in his face. The fact that Harry and the Elders knew about the Surrogate was far more embarrassing than being caught with her pants down with someone else. How would Edgar explain his way out of this one?

She ignored Harry during the drive to Edgar’s mansion. She couldn’t deal with him right now. She had far more pressing matters—dealing with her reputation—to take care off before news of her Alpha’s infidelity spread.

“Is there anything you need me to get you before we go to the mansion?” Harry asked. His voice shattered the dozens of thoughts floating through her mind.

“Huh? No,” she replied, distracted.

“Are you sure? Edgar’s place is like a fortress. You won’t be able to get anything you want without one of his staff or guards accompanying you and sticking to you like a leech.”

Elena sighed. As much as she found Harry an annoyance right now, deep down he genuinely loved and cared about her, and he was right. She wouldn’t be able to buy anything without the guards accompanying her or screening her online orders when they were delivered. Of course she could ask Harry to buy her stuff, but wouldn’t Edgar grow suspicious of her spending so much of time with him?

“You’re right,” she said, “I’m going to need a whole lot of stuff to keep myself busy before I go home to Edgar.” She smiled slyly. “You can take me to any cell phone store.” She needed to get herself a few burner phones, at least two different tablets to keep in touch with the rest of the world, and, of course, a proper smartphone.

“Did you carry enough cash?” Elena asked Harry.

“Yes,” he said.

She’d kept a secret stash of hard cash at Harry’s apartment for situations such as this one.

“We can’t be too long though,” Harry told her. “Edgar is expecting us. You know he has eyes everywhere. I don’t want him sending his wolves out to hunt us down.” He parked in front of the closest cell phone shop he could find.

“I won’t let that happen,” Elena promised. She kissed his forehead and jumped out of the car. She returned to the car a few minutes later with nearly a dozen boxes. “This should do it,” she said. She opened the boxes, popped SIM cards into all of the devices, then stuffed them into the bags Harry had brought her. Harry dumped the cell phone and tablet packaging in a dumpster on their way to the mansion.

Her temper had cooled by the time she reached the mansion. She wondered where the surrogate would be. Would Edgar keep her hidden from her? Or would he parade her like a trophy? Would the surrogate be waiting to welcome her home? Her hands trembled as she jumped out of the car. Edgar was waiting for her at the main entrance. Alone. She collapsed into his arms, hoping the surrogate was somewhere watching. She wouldn’t allow anyone to keep her away from her Alpha. Edgar was hers. He belonged to her. He’d given her his word and she’d hold him to it until the day one of them died.

“Oh, Edgar,” she said, letting her voice crack with emotion, “I missed you so much.” She let her body grow limp. She wanted Edgar to carry her inside, to carry her across the threshold. Instead, Edgar signaled for Harry to help him balance her weight and walk her inside the mansion. A team of medical staff swooped down on her, checking her vitals, flashing tiny little lights in her eyes.

Dammit. She’d underestimated Edgar. Of course! He’d do anything to keep the peace between the packs, including playing the devoted, doting Alpha who cared so deeply for his Luna. Not!

Dammit! Elena’s temper returned.

Her dramatic act had cost her valuable time. Where was the surrogate? Why wasn’t she here, waiting to welcome her? After all, wasn’t she just the vessel for her and Edgar’s baby? Stupid human! Did she think she could just waltz in and replace her? Elena wondered. Wait until she caught sight of her, Elena thought, she’d demand to know who she was. Then she’d demand to know everything about Edgar’s heir. She’d make the surrogate feel like nothing more than a living incubator. Her thoughts of revenge on the surrogate calmed her down somewhat.

Why hadn't the surrogate made her appearance? Hadn’t her fake near-fainting drawn out all of Edgar’s staff? Perhaps Edgar had asked the surrogate to remain hidden wherever she was. Did Edgar want to spare the poor little human’s feelings? Stupid Alpha! Didn’t he know that humans and wolves couldn’t get into relationships? Human women didn’t have the courage, patience, or physical and emotional strength to survive a long-term relationship with a werewolf. It always ended in tears.

“Is she okay?” Edgar’s voice cut into her internal monologue.

“Yes,” Dr. Carlos replied. “Elena probably had a panic attack. Her vitals are perfect. I suggest she rests tonight. Tomorrow we will begin physiotherapy and monitor her diet.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Edgar said.

Elena stared at the doctor. She recognized him. Wasn’t Carlos an obstetrician? Elena asked herself. One of her friends had consulted with him when she’d fallen pregnant. Why had Edgar hired an obstetrician to take care of her? Unless Carlos had already been the resident doctor at Edgar’s mansion before she arrived? If Edgar had hired an obstetrician, where was he hiding his little human surrogate? So there was definitely a pregnant woman in the mansion. She’d slightly doubted Harry when she hadn’t seen any pregnant females in the mansion. Seeing Dr. Carlos confirmed Harry's story.

She sniffed the air as two nurses helped her to the downstairs master suite. There was no sign of any human scent, apart from some of the medical staff. All she smelt were wolves, their sweat, and the faint hint of chicken soup. Nausea overwhelmed her. She’d rather have roast beef than chicken soup. Who on earth served bird soup to a wolf?

The doors to all the downstairs rooms were left wide open. There was nobody in any of the rooms. Had Edgar hidden her upstairs? She listened for the sounds of anyone else in the mansion. She couldn’t even catch a whiff of any other human essence. How had Edgar done it? Elena wondered. Had he moved his surrogate out at the last minute? Had he hired a witch to cast an invisibility or protection spell on her?

She took deep breaths once she was finally left alone in the master bedroom. Edgar would join her soon. She spotted his sleeping shorts folded neatly and placed on his dresser. Would he sleep next to her, or on the reading couch like he'd done previously? she wondered. If the Elders were also involved in their relationship she highly anticipated Edgar joining her in bed tonight. The thought repulsed her. She couldn’t bear the thought of being intimate with him. What if he somehow managed to seduce her? Argh. She’d rather die first. She settled into his bed and hoped she was fast asleep by the time Edgar decided to call it a day.

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