Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Ella

The trip improves by leaps and bounds the moment we stop at the campground for the night.

“Finally,” I sigh, taking a deep breath of the fresh air as I climb down the steps of the RV, my

baby curled in my arm and looking around him with bright and interested eyes. “It’s good to be on

steady ground again.”

“Remind me never to take you on a boat,” Sinclair murmurs, coming down the stairs behind me.

If you didn’t like this…you won’t respond well to that.”

“Yes sir,” I say passively, smiling down at the baby, who frees one of his arms and reaches out

into the cool evening air, clasping his fingers at a firefly who passes close by. I don’t mention that

I liked the sea voyage to the desert much more than I liked this, even though the accommodations

weren’t as nice.

“What about this?” Sinclair murmurs as he steps down the final step and comes to stand behind

me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I smile as I lean back against his chest. “Is the forest

an improvement?”

I look around our isolated campsite, lit with grey and blue tones in the dying light of the day. I

smile at what I see, appreciating the cool air and the blinking light of the fireflies that float lazily

through the space.

“Yes,” I say with a decisive nod. “This will do quite well.”

“Good,” Sinclair replies, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek before releasing me and moving to a luggage compartment low on the RV. I watch as he opens it and begins pulling out camping gear – chairs, a cooler, some bags with extra snacks and bug spray.

“Oh!” I say, surprised by it all as my mate begins to set it all up around a burned-out ring where a

fire goes. “Oh, we’re very prepared.”

“Of course we are,” Roger says, climbing out of the RV with Cora behind him. When he reaches. the ground, Roger flicks the switch that prepares Henry’s little elevator. “We’re always ready to go

glamping in this family.”

I laugh at the term, settling into a chair that Sinclair waves me towards, smiling down at the baby “What do you think, Rafe?” I whisper to him “Do you like glamping?” He gives a happy little coo in response and I laugh, grinning up at his father. “I think that’s a yes

“Kid has taste,” Sinclair says, winking at me as he continues his work

! much faster than I thought was possible and

cook,” Henry whispers, leaning over to Cora and

Otherwise, they’re not

true!” Sinclair protests, his eyes still on the

in, making us laugh. “If I’m making food, it’s grilled.

a lot of hotdogs,”

from her chair

shrug. “Maybe we can make them hire us chefs,” I consider. She raises her

lightly about what we’ll be doing in our mutual future but not

tonight is just about laughter, and fun, and spending time

Sinclair hands me, the marshmallow burned to a crisp just the way I like it. “Oh my god,” I murmur, closing my eyes as I chew. “This

to

shaking my head and refusing to open my eyes as I take another bite – He won’t

let him, wanting to be alone. with my s’more anyway Cora, Roger, and Henry laugh as well as Sinclair walks Rafe away from me, apologizing in

them quietly Henry watches Sinclair and his grandchild while Cora and Roger sit close to each other, not talking but

here Cora says, wrapping her arms around herself and smiling around at our dark Camp 7 didn’t think I’d like sitting outside in the dink by

dark

to sing

murmurs

says, looking up at the stars and then turning her head to

him.

can’t help my own smile from crossing my face as I watch them. And then, as they stare at

decide that that’s

as I can, I stand up from my little camping chair and send

and I nod my head first towards

My mate follows my gaze and then nods

to his father and puts a hand on his back, leaning down to speak a whispered

stealthily as we can – which

platform – the three of us and the baby make our

Cora and Roger alone by

you think they’re talking about,” I say to

behind him, the baby still curled in his

out the window at Roger and Cora through the tinted

he says, coming to sit with me on the plush leather.

give us our own moment, rolls his way

television, though we

looking up at my mate and reaching for my baby, who Sinclair passes into

you know I always

know,” he murmurs, slipping his

against hin, resting his chin on my

cared as much about the details

out at them. “Roger’s hot. He probably has

girlfriend drama -”

body going stiff

turning to him,