I haven't been sick for a few days, but when I saw Roger standing on the other side of the door, I immediately turned to one of the ornamental vases in the hallway and emptied my stomach. Cora rushed forward to help me, glancing uncertainly at Roger as she pulled my hair back from my face.

I know Sinclair and Roger are on better terms since the wild hunt, but their peace is tenuous. Sinclair hasn't decided whether he truly trusts his brother, and though Roger has been helpful, bringing intelligence from the Prince's camp, he could easily be a double agent. Now he knows my deepest, darkest secret.

"This is so bad," I thought frantically. He told the Prince that Sinclair hadn't marked me; what if he tells him this too? Forget blackmail—Roger is more dangerous than any bitter ex-employer!

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, straightening with a pitiful moan. I looked at Roger; his expression was a combination of confusion and concern. "You'd better come in."

"Ella, I'm sorry," he began hesitantly. "I didn't mean to startle you, and I wasn't trying to eavesdrop. I came to check in with Sinclair, andwell, it wasn't difficult to overhear your conversation."

"I know, I know—your shifter hearing is very acute," I grumbled. "Trust me, I'm learning just how out of my depth I am every day."

"I don't understand," Roger admitted, following me into the sitting room. "How is this even possible?"

I sat down, graciously accepting a glass of water from my sister. "Listen, I'll tell you the truth, but only if you promise this conversation stays between us. I know you've been helping us lately, but I'm not convinced you're actually on our side."

"That's fair," Roger admitted, looking drawn and pale. "After what I didI know I don't deserve your trust, or your forgiveness."

"I don't need to tell you what would happen if this information got out. Only the house servants and my doctor know. Not even Henry knows, because if this becomes public, Sinclair's campaign will be over. The Prince will become King, thousands would die under his tyranny—including me and your nephew," I remarked pointedly, holding my hand to my baby bump. "I don't care about your sibling rivalry, or how strongly you feel about the Alpha position—if you endanger my baby's life, you won't only have Sinclair to deal with; I'll kill you myself."

"Ella!" Cora exclaimed, shocked by my aggression. I shocked myself, but those primal Mama Bear instincts that started at the ball were back in full force, and I didn't regret a word. I would do anything to protect my child, including killing to keep him safe.

"It's okay," Roger assured her. "You're very spirited for a human. I can see why Sinclair picked you." He stared me in the eye, holding my gaze as he promised, "I'll take this secret to my grave—I swear it on my mother's grave."

"Good," I nodded, feeling more relaxed. "But you're wrong if you think Sinclair picked me. This all started as a wild accident."

"An accident?" Roger repeated, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"It was my fault, really," Cora admitted, explaining the mix-up at the sperm bank. Her confession led to more questions: Why did I go to the sperm bank? How did we figure out Sinclair's sample had been used instead of the donor I chose? When he heard about Mike, I was amazed by how outraged he looked—messing with one's fertility is a grave offense among wolves, even more so than with humans.

"So you still don't know how the samples got switched?" Roger pressed, after we discussed Mike.

"No," Cora and I said in unison. "The surveillance cameras were disabled in the lab—before the samples were switched. And of course, we don't film in the exam rooms."

"What?" I asked. "This is the first I'm hearing of the security cameras being tampered with."

"That's why they eventually let me off the hook," Cora informed me. "Sinclair ordered them to rehire me, but the investigation didn't clear me until they found the tapes were blank during your appointment. I don't have access to the surveillance monitors."

"Does that mean" I could hardly process this. "We've assumed this was an accident, and I could understand someone erasing the tapes afterwardbut if someone turned the cameras off before the switch, it must have been on purpose."

"But why would anyone try to inseminate a human?" Roger asked, aghast. "No shifter I know would imagine it was possible for you to conceive. I still can't believe it myself."

"I don't know how it was possible—and honestly, I don't care. This baby is a miracle," I shrugged, though I felt uneasy. "But it makes me nervous to think someone might have done this to us. Even if they knew I could conceive, what was their goal? I doubt anyone would do this just to make my dreams of becoming a mother—or Dominic's of becoming a father—come true."

"True," Cora nodded sympathetically. "I have a hard time thinking their motives were pure, but I also don't see an opportunity for malice. How does you having a shifter baby help anyone?"

"This has to be the weirdest crime in history," I said, flabbergasted.

"Cora, who has access to your labs and the security rooms, and who else knew you had Dominic's sperm?" Roger asked, curious.

"My bosses," Cora shrugged, "but they're also running the investigation. Sinclair has some of his men on it, but as far as I know, no one has been arrested or charged."

"I can ask him about it when he comes home," I suggested. "With everything else going on, I sort of forgot about all this, but I bet he hasn't."

"You can count on that," Roger confirmed, cocking his head. "So what happens after the baby comes? You mentioned losing its scent. Has Sinclair talked about his plans for keeping your identity secret?"

"We're just trying to get through the campaign," I explained, blushing. "Afterwards, I can step back from the public eye andI don't know, we'll take it from there. If he has plans, he hasn't talked to me about them, but I trust we'll think of something."

Roger stared at me with an unreadable expression. "What?" I asked softly. "You think I'm being too optimistic? Or too trusting?"

"No," he countered, shaking his head with a look of begrudging respect. "I was thinking you're incredibly brave, and incredibly generous to be helping Dom. You must have been so overwhelmed when he asked for your help," He clenched his eyes shut. I sensed guilt when he continued, "and Goddess, those rogue attacksyou must have been so terrified."

"Actually, it was her suggestion to pose as Luna," Cora boasted, focusing on the less traumatic part. I smiled; she was looking out for me. She grinned back. "He only wanted her as a surrogate at first, but she proved how valuable she could be to him."

Roger shook his head, frowning deeply. "I'm so sorry, Ella."

"For what?" I asked, confused.

"For being so cruel to you. For helping the Prince. If I'd knownI never would haveI'm just so sorry," Roger professed, looking genuine.

"Well, that's all ancient history now," I exhaled heavily. "As long as you're on our side from now on—I don't care about the past."

"You are too kind for your own good," Roger said, laughing. There was a spark of admiration in his eyes, a spark that looked dangerously close to attraction as his gaze swept from my face and scanned my figure.

"I keep trying to tell her that," Cora declared. "Much good that does me. She's a stubborn thing."

"I'm not sure Dominic will be so calm when he finds out you know my secret," I advised. "You might want to leave before he gets home—let me break it to him."

"That's probably wise," Roger agreed, rising. "I really am sorry, Ella."

"I know," I nodded. "Now go—he'll be here any moment."