Chapter 223 – The Summit Begins

Ella

Warm hands trailed over my bare skin as I awoke, tracing the curve of my belly and outlining the shape of my breasts. Sinclair's touch was slow and deliberate, exploratory rather than arousing. My back was flush against his chest, his broad shoulders providing ample support for my aching spine.

His warm voice rumbled in my ear, but I quickly realized he wasn't speaking to me. "The cities were magnificent," he murmured in a quiet, almost reverent tone. "I wish you had been able to see them, but I promise I'll take you someday—you and your mommy. They had things I never even imagined were real: entire territories powered by vanarium, needing no fuel, and cars that could transform into boats or aircraft in the blink of an eye."

He continued to caress my tummy as the baby fluttered in response—unaware of his father's words, but loving the sound of his voice and reluctant to let it end. "Your Uncle Gabriel is clever, but he's a bit old-fashioned too—some of his Alphas are much more interested in showing off their innovations than celebrating their history."

I didn't want Sinclair to stop either, so I pretended to be asleep. Simultaneously, my bladder was screaming for relief, and my rumbling stomach wasn't far behind. "When you grow up, we're all going to be living in a very different world," my mate continued. "It's exciting to imagine how far society and technology will have come… and daunting too. But there are some things that are truly timeless—and I'll teach you all about them. How to control your power; how to hunt and survive in every kind of climate; how to track a target and fight as both man and wolf."

Sinclair paused thoughtfully, and for a moment I thought he suspected me, but then he continued as before. "How to trust your wolf's instincts and lead with your heart and your head, as well as your strength." A gravelly note entered his deep bass, and suddenly I felt sharp fangs graze the curve of my neck. "How to know when you've met your mate, and what to do with her when she makes mischief—like pretending to be asleep so she can eavesdrop on your conversations with your pup."

I gasped and giggled as his fingers began tickling my sides, the sensations overwhelming me before I could fully process his words. My eyes snapped open, and I tried to wriggle away from the sly wolf, who grinned down at me triumphantly. "Did you really think I couldn't tell, trouble?" he crooned, nibbling my shoulder as his wolf's voice chanted Mine in my head.

Joy bloomed in my chest in response to his playful mood—he so rarely allowed himself to be silly, even though it was one of my favorite aspects of his personality. I didn't want the fun to end, but the persistent pinching in my lower abdomen grew sharper with each laugh.

"Dominic, stop! I have to pee!" I squealed, still trying to escape his hands.

"You should have thought of that before, little wolf," he teased, laughter vibrating in his chest. "You'll never get away from me now!"

A tiny trickle of urine escaped me, and I genuinely feared wetting the bed. The Nest! my wolf cried anxiously. Not my nest! It will ruin it! Sinclair sensed my panic and finally relented, helping me to my feet and sending me to the bathroom with a playful swat on my—still sore—behind. I yelped but rushed off, and when I returned, I pinned my mate with my fiercest glower. "I hope you know I won't ever forgive you if you make me sully my beautiful nest," I growled, hands on my hips. "My bladder control is hanging by a thread, and it's only going to get worse as the pregnancy progresses."

Sinclair frowned, considering the ruffled pillows and disheveled blankets—evidence of his crime, even if it had been a close call. "I'm sorry, baby, I wasn't thinking about the nest," he confessed, rising from the bed and reaching for my tense body. "I got a bit carried away. I just love hearing you laugh."

Sulking, I reluctantly allowed myself to be cuddled, but I didn't relax until he began purring. "Well, I like laughing with you, and I liked hearing you talk to Rafe," I pouted. "It doesn't count as eavesdropping when the person you're talking to lives inside me, you know."

"I know," he crooned sympathetically, sensing my vulnerability. "Poor little mate, I wasn't playing fair."

"It's okay," I sighed, nuzzling his chest and breathing in his beloved scent. We stayed like that for a long moment, simply holding each other, stealing another moment amidst the coming chaos.

"Are you ready for today?" Sinclair asked after a while, referring to the imminent summit.

"Not really," I confessed. "I'm not sure what to expect. I remember some of the details you shared about your visits, but there were so many. Besides, the delegations are so large I'm going to need a cheat sheet just to keep them all straight."

"Gabriel and his staff are going to be our living cheat sheets," Sinclair said, sounding less worried than I felt. "It's too much for any one person to keep track of, and anyway, I didn't even make it to all the packs. Some of these meetings are going to be completely cold, and it's entirely likely that the bombing undermined or altered the conversations I did have."

"You think they'll be less likely to help us if they think our presence here threatens them?" I guessed, knowing I should get dressed—or at least eat—but reluctant to leave my mate's embrace.

"That's a very real possibility, and the situation with the secrecy pact isn't helping," he replied, sounding tense. "I'm not sure we shouldn't have called them all to the summit cold—too much has changed since I set out on my trip."

"As far as I'm concerned, I don't think investing more time and effort in building relationships is ever a mistake," I offered, kissing one of his muscular pecs. "At least they know what you stand for and how you operate, and you have a stronger sense of their characters."

Sinclair purred in appreciation, kissing my hair. "I just hate to think we might have wasted valuable time. It kills me how long this is taking."

"It's only been a month," I reminded him gently. "It seems like ages because you feel every single loss of life on your own conscience, but most wars are years in the making. You're doing everything you can, Dominic. And your dedication is what makes you such a great leader."

"Even if I steal long afternoons to lie in bed with my mate and pleasure her into a coma?" he joked, nipping my earlobe.

"Even then," I grinned against his shoulder, only the smallest doubt entering my thoughts. "Do you regret it?"

"I agonize over every second I don't spend on the war," he admitted. "But I know it's necessary to keep myself going, and I also wouldn't trade that time for anything."

"Good," I proclaimed, squeezing him tighter. "Me neither."

A little while later, I was standing in one of the king's opulent sitting rooms, touching up my hair in the mirror. Cora entered and scanned the room with an eagle eye, seemingly searching for something. Her face fell when her gaze landed on me.

"Do I look that bad?" I quipped, wondering if she wasn't looking for a certain handsome Beta.

She blinked and smiled. "No, you look wonderful," she said, gesturing to my floor-length maternity dress. It was more formal than anything I'd normally wear, but I had to admit the fabric was divine, and I felt free and confident in it.

Sinclair, Henry, and Gabriel entered, and my sister's eyes swung to the new arrivals, her hope rekindled. Again, she seemed disappointed, and I felt a slight thrill knowing she wasn't as indifferent to Roger as she pretended.

"They're about half an hour out," Gabriel announced, looking around at our small group with approval. "My chief of staff assures me that everything is ready, so it's just a waiting game for now."

"But we aren't all here yet," Cora objected, blushing. "Are we?"

Sinclair exchanged a knowing look with me. "My brother will be here shortly. Apparently, the refugee transports just landed a little while ago."

"Has he had time to give you a report yet?" Henry inquired curiously.

I smelled Roger a moment before he walked in, and I watched with avid interest as Cora jolted and turned away as the door opened, pretending to be oblivious to his arrival. "I'll give it now," Roger said by way of greeting. "And I'm afraid it isn't good."

"Tell us," Sinclair instructed, extending an arm to me. I obliged, not minding the bossy summons because I knew it was a sign of his worry. I crossed the floor and settled onto his lap just as Roger began to speak.

"It's absolute chaos," Roger sighed, pulling out his phone and tapping a few buttons. Images appeared on the television screen, and my heart sank as I saw the endless crowd of shifters swarming the transport planes. "There are too many of them, and not enough of us. Any concept of security is impossible in the current state. Getting the process organized would mean sending in troops, and I have a terrible feeling that this is exactly what Damon is waiting for."

We were still grappling with the crisis when bells rang through the castle, signaling the end of our discussion—no matter how urgent it remained.

The Alphas had arrived.