Ella

When I open my eyes, Sinclair is already gone, despite getting only about five hours of sleep last night. He left as soon as his head hit the pillow after we returned to bed. I'd taken a moment to eat a madeleine cookie I'd tucked into my robe pocket, but I wasn't far behind him.

I stretch leisurely on the bed, enjoying the ability to fully extend my limbs without a gigantic wolf-man blocking my way. Of course, I'd rather have him here, but we must appreciate life's small luxuries when we have them.

I check on the baby—still asleep, wrapped in contentment—and then glance around the room, wondering how to spend my day. A pang of despair hits me, though, as I realize this will be my daily routine for the next three months. My options are limited to television, reading, and whatever I can find on my phone.

I sigh, scolding myself for being ungrateful for a luxury I'm sure many would envy. It's not that I prefer the chaos of the past couple of months—fighting to reclaim the country from a mad prince, ending a war, worrying about Sinclair's and my own safety.

No, this is better, but…damn it. The boredom will be a problem. I've always been someone who springs out of bed, eager for whatever the day holds. Even as a little girl, I was always up before Cora—

The thought of Cora perks me up. Yes, Cora! I grab my phone, quickly calling her.

"Cora?" I blurt out. "Ella!" she shouts, making me laugh. I hope she hasn't scared her patients; she's been busy seeing many pregnant women whose healthcare was disrupted by the war. "How are you? Is everything okay?"

"I'm fine," I laugh, cheered by her voice. I lean back against the pillows. "Do you want to come over? Hang out?"

"Um, yeah," she replies, as if it's obvious. "But I can't today; I have a double shift. Tomorrow, maybe? You're not planning to hang out with Sinclair then, are you?"

"No," I sigh, and she laughs at my disappointment. "I'm sending him off to, you know, run his kingdom." She laughs again, and I smile. There's nothing like making my sister laugh.

"He must be with Roger, then," she says. "He's been calling Sinclair for days, begging him to attend to things, complaining the world's teetering on the brink of collapse without him." I can almost hear her roll her eyes. "As if that's anything new."

"I know," I murmur, biting my lip. "It's all my fault—he's been paying too much attention to me—"

"No, Ella," Cora interrupts, firmly. "You come first—"

"Well, so does the nation, Cora," I retort. But then I perk up. "So you have to come over and babysit me so he can save the world. And tell me all about you and Roger. Don't think I didn't notice you two showed up at my hospital room conveniently at the same time, a little too often."

Cora hesitates.

"Wait," I say, worried. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," she hesitates. "I just…since you've been home, he's been so busy, and I've been…"

"You've been what?" I urge, breathless with worry.

"Well, I've been…spending more time with Hank."

"Who the hell is Hank?!"

"He's your doctor, Ella," she says, as if it's obvious. I grimace, realizing I never properly asked his name. "You know, the one who cared for you for a week, saved your life? The one your mate hired to help me?"

"Oh," I say, falling back against the pillows, eyes wide. "Wait, so you're not seeing Roger anymore?"

"I was never seeing Roger in the first place, Ella," she lies, sounding rushed and embarrassed. Then I hear someone calling her. "I've got to go—I'll fill you in later. Bye, love you! Bye!"

I stare at my phone's dark screen. Cora wasn't interested in Roger? And she was dating my doctor? And his name was Hank?

Sinclair

Roger places another pile of paperwork on my desk, and I glare at it, resenting the hours it will steal from Ella. It's not that I don't want to do this work—I lead this nation, rebuilding it after the war. It's just…

"I know," Roger grunts, glaring back. "You're distracted. But you have to do this, Dominic! It's bad timing to take over a nation when your mate is in the midst of a difficult pregnancy, but—"

"Enough," I interrupt, sighing and slumping in my chair. "Let's get on with it." He nods and explains the documents.

I'm grateful for him. While Ella was hospitalized, Roger stepped up, securing my position and negotiating a ceasefire. He organized the Alphas and ended any attempts to seize the throne.

Honestly, I couldn't have done it without him. My brother really stepped up, and I know I'll need to properly thank him soon. But right now, this paperwork is killing me, especially with my world in the other room eating Swedish Fish and wheat toast.

"You need to meet with them, Dominic," Roger insists, crossing his arms. "The mayor and the heads of the human state. They want a face-to-face meeting, and they're justified in demanding it."

"Fine," I agree. "Can they come here, to the house?"

Roger scoffs. "Dom, not everything can be done here—you have a palace built for these meetings—"

"I'm not leaving her—" "And the risks?" he presses. "You're letting people who consider themselves enemies into this house. Do you want them to have access to Ella and your child?"

I growl at the thought, and the issue is decided. "I'll set it all up," he says, "and I'll brief you—"

"How are you doing all this?" I interrupt. "You've done the work of three men—who's helping you?"

Roger blinks, confused. "What? I have help—secretaries, our allies. Why does it matter?"

"Is it Cora?" I demand. "Because her only concern should be Ella—she's volunteering at that human clinic, but if you've got her doing this as well—"

"It's not Cora," he snaps, looking away.

I pause, surprised by the pain on his face. "Roger," I say, drawing his eyes back. "Are you two…"

"Just leave it, Dominic," he snaps, a tone he rarely uses. He stares at his papers, composing himself.

I let it go. His romantic life is his own business, and he and Cora never made any promises. Still, my curiosity is piqued.

I'll ask Ella what's going on between them. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, she can.