Ella slowly untangled herself from Sinclair's body as he returned her feet to the ground. She felt terribly unsure of herself. The audience was still making a huge racket, but the imposing Alpha studied her as if she were a curious anomaly—one he was desperate to understand. Her cheeks flushed scarlet, but she followed his lead. Sinclair hadn't looked away from her to acknowledge their onlookers, so she didn't either.

Ella couldn't have known how much more meaningful it was for Sinclair to watch her this way, rather than smile. Shifters were creatures of raw passion and intense feeling; there were many lighthearted moments, of course, but the look of a successfully mated Alpha and Luna wasn't the lovesick expression humans so often displayed. To those around them, Sinclair's laser focus on the small human looked like a devoted lover hungry for his mate, and her anxious energy only further proved it—a she-wolf who had just provoked her mate's lust in public and was going to face the consequences at home.

The tableau only made them cheer louder, easing Ella's fears slightly. Sinclair might not be happy with her, but the crowd certainly was. It couldn't have been a complete mistake, could it?

"How lovely, but not exactly the point of the game," the Prince's drawling criticism finally broke the spell, tearing Ella and Sinclair's attention away from each other.

"Wasn't it?" Ella asked innocently, feeling less intimidated by the Prince than by the wolf still holding her in an iron grip. "He told me to kiss him—was I supposed to refuse?"

The spectators laughed and applauded, and Sinclair turned glowing eyes in their direction. "No doubt you'll forgive us taking our leave," he declared rakishly, earning a fresh surge of wolf whistles. "My mate is in need of some attention."

Ella blinked, wondering if he meant what she suspected. Were wolves really so open about sex? Before she could consider the matter further, the King stood and offered a toast: "To the happy couple."

Sinclair led Ella back through the flood of congratulations and well wishes, past the media frenzy, and into the safety of his limousine.

She slid to the far end of the vehicle, hiding from the camera flashes behind the blacked-out windows. When Sinclair entered a moment later, he immediately focused on Ella. The corner of his mouth tilted upward when he saw her sitting as far away as possible. "Is there a reason you're all the way over there?"

"Are you angry?" Ella murmured in reply, wrapping her arms protectively around her middle. She was painfully aware that a serious mistake could cost her the baby.

"How could I be angry?" Sinclair exclaimed, genuinely shocked. "Ella, you saved the day. That was brilliant. None of the Alphas on the council will question me now. Even the King liked you. My campaign is safe because of your quick thinking."

"Oh," she relaxed slightly, feeling silly. "You looked so severe after the kiss, I just I thought I messed up."

"Far from it," Sinclair announced as the car began to move. "But I am curious what inspired you to kiss me."

Ella stared at her lap. "It was the first thing that came to mind. I knew we were going to fail if we actually had to play the game."

"But why a kiss?" he pressed. "You were already feeling ill; you could have easily used morning sickness as an excuse. No one would have faulted you."

"I don't know," she shrugged, fidgeting nervously.

"Did you like it?" He pressed, his deep voice like velvet-cloaked steel.

"What?!" Ella chirped, her gold eyes widening. "Of course not, it was just for show. Besides, I'm not a good kisser anyway."

Sinclair's brow furrowed. "Why the hell do you think that?" he asked.

"Mike told me, more than once," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

Sinclair rose, having heard enough. He moved to where Ella sat, kneeling on the car floor so he could look her in the eye. Is he going to touch me? Ella wondered anxiously. Why do I want to feel his hands on me so badly? She got her answer a moment later when he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her face upward. "Your ex was a fucking idiot," he murmured. "For more reasons than one."

Her heart sank; she hadn't missed the numerous comments on her beauty that evening, or how proud Sinclair seemed to have her on his arm. "Because I'm pretty?"

Sinclair shook his head. "You're gorgeous, Ella, but so are many people. He's an idiot because he couldn't see past it—to the force of nature underneath."

"I'm not a force of nature," Ella protested. "I'm poor and weak and—"

His finger covered her lips. "You are what I say you are." Ella bristled under his intimate touch and domineering manner. She wanted to challenge him, to insist she knew herself better than he did. With great effort, she remained silent, knowing it wasn't an argument she could win. Nodding in approval, Sinclair continued. "And I say you are brave, clever, so sweet I can't stand it, and so much stronger than you know." He offered a wolfish grin. "Not to mention the best kisser I've ever had the pleasure of tasting."

Ella blushed scarlet, and Sinclair chuckled, taking the seat beside her. He slung an arm around her shoulders, encouraging her to lean into his warmth. "Thank you," Ella murmured, sinking into his embrace.

"I didn't say it to please you," Sinclair remarked simply, dismissing her thanks. "I said it because it's true."

"Bossy wolf," Ella muttered, earning another rumbling laugh.

Soon, her eyelids grew heavy, and the exhaustion of the stressful evening threatened to overwhelm her. She tried to stay awake until they reached home, but a little voice told her not to be silly. Sinclair would make sure she woke up in time.

Sinclair watched Ella slowly succumb to sleep, feeling a pang of guilt for putting her through so much when she needed rest. He couldn't help but duck his head to kiss her hair, thinking again of their kiss. Despite Lydia's flaws, he'd thought he'd experienced heaven with her sexually—after all, the Goddess fated couples based on sexual compatibility. She'd been the best lover he'd ever had, but kissing her hadn't felt anything like kissing Ella.

Ella had thrown herself into the act so freely, without inhibition or reluctance. She was clearly an incredibly affectionate woman, and it made him even angrier to imagine the world denying her the love she deserved for so long. He couldn't wait to confront Mike. He'd teach that feckless human a lesson he'd never forget.

Sinclair breathed in the fragile human's scent, calming his temper with Ella's bewitching fragrance. His wolf purred with approval, his voice rising in Sinclair's mind: She smells better and better every day. This one is special.

It's probably just the baby, Sinclair reasoned, knowing what his wolf meant. The more time passed, the more Ella smelled like a she-wolf. Frankly, it had been driving him crazy—pushing him to scent-mark her far more frequently and intimately than necessary, toying with his senses at every turn. He wasn't sure how to describe her aroma—one moment it was like fresh rain and wild orchids, the next like sultry summer nights and sweet honey.

Completely different from the pup, his wolf pointed out. You know it's not the same scent.

That's true, but there's no other reason her scent would be changing. You forget this has never happened before; we don't know what happens to humans carrying shifter pups. I'm sure it's just the baby.

Sinclair's wolf rolled his eyes. Fine, stick your head in the sand if you're so determined. The Alpha wasn't sure what to make of this—of any of it. Why was his wolf so difficult, arguing just to be contrary? This had never happened before. His wolf had been with him since birth, and they'd never clashed like this.

What on earth did it mean? And why was Ella the one to bring out this side of his inner animal? Was his wolf right? Was there something special about her? Or was it simply the fact that she was carrying his baby, fulfilling his dreams when no one else could? Did that alone make her special? Sinclair wasn't used to feeling uncertain, and he didn't like it. At the same time, he couldn't blame Ella for making him feel this way, even though she was certainly the cause.

Instead, he found himself watching her sleep the rest of the ride home, completely transfixed, and perfectly content to watch her do nothing at all.