The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

Ella

It takes me just a little over an hour to realize that I hate road trips.

“Oh my god,” I murmur to Cora as the vibrations of the gigantic RV continue to shake through us, making poor Rafe grumble uncomfortably. “Is it night yet? Can we stop?”

“You’re being a baby, Ella,” my sister replies, looking up at me with a smirk, jumping her red king over three of Roger’s black checkers and capturing them. “It’s fun!”

“You’re only having fun because you’re kicking Roger’s ass for the third time at that game,” I murmur, sighing as I glance out the window.

“Seriously,” Roger sighs, leaning back against the white leather of the kitchenette’s booth. “You

–

should quit that, Cora. For Ella’s sake she’s trying to enjoy herself.” He runs a frustrated hand through his hair, staring at the board.

“Yes,” Cora replies, laughing. “For Ella’s sake, I’ll go easy on you.”

“I just thought it would be prettier,” I sigh, looking out the window at the endless highway miles Like, purple mountains majesty. Fruited plains. Etcetera.” Instead, it’s just hour after hour of looking at cars, and asphalt, and the sad little pine scrub that borders the highways.

“Maybe when we get further out,” Cora offers, hopeful.

“Nah,” Roger replies, making his next move on the checker’s board. “After the forest it’s all corn

for days.”

I groan, leaning my head back. “I hate corn.”

“No, you don’t,” Cora chides, instantly making her next move on the board and capturing two more of Roger’s pieces. He gasps in protest and then slumps back again.

“How are you doing this,” he murmurs, studying the board. “Are you a witch?”

“Maybe,” she says with a shrug. “Guess we have to ask mom.

I smile at her then, bouncing my fussy baby in my arms. And I inhale a deep breath, silently ordering myself to cheer up because even if I decidedly do not like riding in the RV, I’m still excited to take this trip for my sister, to get her the answers she so desperately wants.

17

Eventually Cora and I retire with the baby to the bedroom where Sinclair suggests I might not feel the movement of the RV as much The boys all stay together up front, studying maps and discussing ridiculous things like terrain and gas mileage things they find endlessly fascinating for some weird boy reason Rut I shrug and leave them to it Gora and I curl up in the incredibly

between us.

day in the little sun-soaked room at the back of the RV, laughing and talking with my sister, reconnecting with her and

over?” I ask her in a quiet

horizon.

have to snatch at moments of peace whenever we have them

–

looking down at my napping baby, trailing a little finger down his belly. “Are we dumb?” I ask quietly. “Did we choose wrong? I

a simpler life,” Cora laughs, and I look up at her in surprise to see her smiling and shaking her

“Cora, I was a nanny I was ready to be a broke single mom, to live quietly alone with

says, waving a hand at me in dismissal. “That was just the start of your story, Ella, always. Yes, you were always going to be a mom,” she says, cocking her head to the side, “but…you were never going to stop helping people. I think it kind of makes sense that you ended up being

saying. And I guess…well, I guess I think she’s right. That this was perhaps always the life I wanted, even if I want to pretend sometimes that I wanted a simple

lower. “I’m actually I’m not sure if Roger

ask, my eyes going wide “But you’re a

between us,” she says, shaking her head “It feels really big

you feel a mating bond snap into place?” I

to me “But Roger said first, when we were out in

day, and she blushes a

forward eagerly, wanting to

–

mate,” Cora replies, giving a little shrug. “But the way he said it so

choose you as my

a little jealous. I have

far beyond anything he had with

–

never have. “Well,” I continue, “did you ask

says, shrugging

“Why not?”

sighs. “I…like the idea. I don’t want him

say simply, scooching forward

she gasps,

I reply, looking at

laughs, tugging me back down. “That’s between me

me now! Since you

me. “Lay