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

cook,” Henry whispers, leaning over to Cora and I and giving us a smile,

Otherwise, they’re not

true!” Sinclair protests, his eyes still on

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

eat a lot of

she adds, sighing. Then she looks over at me from her chair next to

I consider. She raises her eyebrows, pleased at the idea, and we

the night – the family gathered happily around the fire, talking about nothing and everything, chatting lightly about what we’ll be doing in our mutual future but not touching on any of the big, scary subjects that lurk behind the conversation. We all know that they’re there,

is just about laughter,

smore that Sinclair hands me, the marshmallow burned to a crisp just the way I like it.

going to get

I murmur, shaking my head and refusing to open my eyes as

well as Sinclair walks Rafe away from me, apologizing in a loud murmur for how messy and inconsiderate his mother is I wave a hand at him, dismissing him and his words, knowing that he’s

my s’more and look around at my family, watching them quietly Henry watches Sinclair and his grandchild while Cora and Roger sit close to each other, not talking but

around at our dark Camp 7 didn’t think I’d like

dark

sing a

murmurs

stars and then turning her head to

him.

my face as I watch them. And then,

that that’s

as I can, I stand up from my little

up at me, curious and I nod my head first towards

who begin talking quietly. My mate follows my gaze and then

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

one by one, as stealthily as we can – which is not very stealthy, considering

noisy platform – the three of us and the baby make

little mobile house, leaving Cora and Roger alone by the

about,” I say to Sinclair as he climbs last into

door shut behind him, the baby still curled in

out the window at Roger and Cora through

little spy?” he says, coming to

own moment, rolls his way back to the bedroom, making

watch some television, though we both know he doesn’t

up at my mate and reaching for my

know I always

“Do you know,” he murmurs, slipping his arms low around me and pulling

my shoulder so that he too can look out at

the details

them.

girlfriend drama -”

asks, his body going stiff behind me, just a little

I ask, turning