#Chapter 400 – The Refugee Center Ella
“Ella,” Sinclair says, snapping his face back to mine, still pissed as hell at my suggestion that I’m bringing Rafe with me to the Refugee Center. “It is too dangerous – I will not let you put both of you in harm’s way like that.”
“What are you going to do, Dominic,” I say, turning my head to the side sarcastically, “strap the baby to your chest all day? Bring him to all of your meetings of state?” He looks away from me then, clenching his jaw, saying nothing because he knows I have a point. The baby has to stay with me – I’m still breastfeeding. “Exactly,” I say, heaving a little sigh and pulling myself back to my side of the bed, where I can hear Rafe starting to fuss.” We’ll be fine!”
I’m already out of the bed and lifting Rafe up, asking him about his morning and changing his diaper before Sinclair speaks again. ” Can you at least take Cora with you?” he says quietly. “And Roger, if he’s free?” I turn and smile at him then, pleased that he’s not fighting me on this more than he is. “That’s actually a really good idea,” I say, smiling. “Cora will be really helpful.”
“Yes,” he sighs, turning to look at me finally. “Plus, she can zap anyone who tries to touch you.” I laugh, shaking my head and turning back to continue changing the baby. When I finish up, I feel Sinclair come close and wrap his arms around my waist. “I just want you safe, trouble,” he murmurs in apology, kissing my hair and then dipping his head to press his cheek to mine.
“I know,” I sigh. “I promise,” I say, turning in his arms and taking his cheeks in my palms, “the moment I feel anything strange, I’ll leave. Absolutely promise. All right?”
“All right,” he murmurs, nudging my nose with his. “But I’m putting a tracker somewhere in your clothes so that I can come find you if I need to. And I’m not telling you which piece of clothing so that you can’t get rid of it.” “Well then,” I murmur, pitching my voice lower. “I’ll just have to go naked.” My mate growls and bends his knees so that he can grip the back of my thighs, and then in one swift movement he stands up, yanking me with him so that my legs are wrapped around his waist. I laugh, looping my arms around his neck and moving forward for a kiss.
“Over my dead body,” he murmurs, will I let you go any where naked. Except back to bed.”
And then my sweet, overprotective Alpha mate leans in and seals his promise with a kiss.
“I’m glad you asked me to come, Ella,” Cora says as we both climb out of the SUV driven by Conner, the red- haired young man who I healed first with my powers. I was pleased to see Sinclair arranged for him to be our combination chauffer/bodyguard today – he’s always been a bit of a favorite. ” Sorry Roger couldn’t make it,” Cora continues, leaning over to help me tighten the straps on Rafe’s little carrier. Rafe gurgles happily to see his auntie, which makes me smile. “Yeah, what’s Roger up to that he couldn’t come?” I ask, adjusting Rafe so that his weight rests comfortably on my shoulders. When we’re all ready, Conner nods to us and we start towards the Refugee Center, a squat building on the edge of the city that looks like it could do with both some repairs and some resources. “He’s all wrapped up in Sinclair’s stuff,” she sighs, “I’m surprised Sinclair didn’t realize it.
But when he steps up as King, Roger – as his Beta is going to step forward to manage the affairs of the pack that Sinclair was mostly focusing on.” ” Does he…want to do that?” I ask, hesitating. I mean, Roger’s clever and a hard worker, but Sinclair has always enjoyed the bureaucratic work more than Roger. “I don’t think so,” Cora sighs to me, shaking her head a little.
” He’s still figuring out his place. It’s something we talk about a lot.” “Well, I hope he’s not unhappy,” I murmur, suddenly worried for my brother-in- law. Roger’s a tough nut to crack, but I know he’s got a big heart beneath all his bravado. And I also know he’s so dedicated to his brother that he’ll do whatever Sinclair asks of him, even if it doesn’t make him happy.
“Oh, don’t worry too much about him,” Cora says with a little laugh as we approach the Center’s doors. “He’s got a new mate, a new baby coming along, andnew bonds with both – he’s all set.”
“That’s so sweet,” I murmur, truly meaning it as I pull open the doors. But any warm and fuzzy feelings that Cora just gave me are wiped away at what I see before me. The office is…a mess. Cora, Conner, and I slowly look around, taking everything in before us. Phones. are ringing off the hook, paperwork is stacked a mile high, and a long line of people winds around the room, waiting for two harried people at the desk to attend to them.
Unfortunately, those people are also working the phones. As I glance around, I also see that the room could use a nice cleaning. I’m not precisely a neat-freak…so if even I’m noticing? It’s dirty. I grimace, guilt roiling in my stomach. These people deserve better. “Follow me,” Conner murmurs, taking lead. Cora and I fall into step behind him. “Hey!” someone in the line shouts, thinking we’re cutting. “Line starts back there!” ” Apologies!” Conner calls to whoever it was, putting on his charming smile.
” We’re not cutting in line – official business.” “They should still see us first!” Someone else calls out, a man this time. But Conner just grimaces a little and ignores him, leading Cora, Rafe, and I behind the desk. A girl working the desk – dark-haired with pretty brown eyes – stands up straight in shock and surprise to see us come around.
“You can’t be back here,” she murmurs, putting a hand over the receiver of the phone so whoever she’s talking to can’t hear. “You have to wait in line” “This is Ella Sinclair,” Conner replies, stepping aside a little so that she can see me more clearly.” And her sister, Cora…Sinclair?” He says it as half a question since Cora and Roger haven’t technically been mated yet. Cora just rolls her eyes and waves a hand, as if she doesn’t know and cares even less. I give an awkward little wave to the girl, whose eyes go wide, moving between me and the baby.
I feel a sudden shyness come over me as I realizes that…well that she recognizes me. Of course I’ve long been aware that Sinclair is a public person and that as his mate people probably know who I am. But so far Sinclair has done such a good job of keeping us away from the world and the media that this is the first time I’m really aware of being publicly recognized. “Oh my god,” the girl murmurs, hanging up the phone without saying goodbye.
“Apologies, my Queen – Luna um…” she folds into a little bow, simultaneously smacking the arm of the slim blonde man next to her, who gives her a dirty look before his own eyes go wide. A whisper travels through the room and I anxiously play with Rafe’s little foot as a thrill of anxiety rolls through me. I hadn’t…realized it would be quite like this. But then Rafe gives a happy squeal, looking around cheerfully at everyone, and I smile at him realizing that he’s right. Well, he didn’t mean to be right.
But he still is. And I feel my own smile come to my face as I look around at everyone and tuck away my own shyness and anxiety, trying instead to be kind and warm and welcoming. That’s what these people need right now, instead of me cowering away in my anxiety. “Hello,” I say, directing my attention to the girl behind the counter. “Please don’t worry about any of that.
We came to help. But we’re looking for Isabel?” ” Oh,” the young blonde man says, his eyebrows going up. “Yeah, she’s out at the camps. She left early this morning.” “Where are those?” I ask. ” Not far,” he replies, but then he hesitates. “But I…they’re not nice, Luna,” he says, letting his words drift off at the end. “I’m not sure you want to “”Not nice we can handle,” Cora says breezily, flashing him a smile and then looking back to the dark-haired girl.
” Can you give us directions? I’m sure we can make it.” “Of course,” the girl says, her hands shaking a little as she sorts through the paperwork on her desk, looking for a map. As she does, I look around the room at all of the silent people who I realize are looking right at me. And I’m a little intimidated to see the variety of expressions on their faces. Some are interested, some look happy but still others look really, really mad.
Or worse, sad and betrayed. I do my best to keep my own feelings in and present a sunny demeanor to them, hoping that it’s right. It’s not that I want to smile in the face of their pain but…if I can let them see that I’m working? That I’m trying, and that good things are coming? Isn’t hope as good a medicine as any Goddess’ gift? I turn back to the desk when I hear a rustle of paper and see Conner reaching forward to take a map from the girl. ” Can I do anything else to help you?” she asks, directing her words to me with a still-shy but now slightly eager smile..
“No,” I say, giving her a big grin and shaking my head. “But I’d like you to please make a list of improvements you’d make to this place. Abiglist – don’t hold back, okay?”
The girl glances at her colleague and both of their faces brighten, which starts a warm little spot in my belly burning. “Okay,” she agrees. Someone will come get it this afternoon,” I say, nodding to them, letting them see it’s a promise. “And then we’ll get started making this place better.” They’re both smiling widely at me now as I say my goodbyes and then head back out of the door with my sister, my baby, and my bodyguard.
Some people wave to us as we go and I wave back, but as we pass through the doors the only thing that settles in me is resolve. “We have to do something to help these people,” I say to Cora as we move to the car. She nods stoically at my side, agreeing. “But Ella,” she says, hesitating a little, “I think that in there? It’s just scratching the surface.” And as we get into the car and start to drive away, I find that I agree. And that I’m a little afraid of what we’re going to see next.
