The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

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

than I thought was

Henry whispers, leaning over to Cora and I and giving

Otherwise, they’re not

true!” Sinclair protests, his eyes still on the

us laugh. “If I’m making food, it’s

a lot of hotdogs,” I

from her chair next to mine. “You know I

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

not touching on any of the big, scary subjects that

laughter, and fun, and spending

moan a little as I bite into a smore that 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 is so good, I

to

open

and Henry laugh as well as Sinclair walks Rafe

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

out here Cora says, wrapping her arms around herself and smiling around at our dark Camp 7 didn’t think

dark

sing a hand to play with Cora s

murmurs

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

him.

help my own smile from crossing my face as

I decide that

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

up at me, curious and I nod my head

Cora, who begin talking quietly. My mate follows my gaze and

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

– which is

platform – the three of us

Roger alone by the fire to have a

they’re talking about,” I say to Sinclair as

still curled in his arms. I’m sitting

Roger and Cora through

spy?” he says, coming to sit with me on the plush

moment, rolls his way

some television, though

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

you know I always want to

laughs. “Do you know,” he murmurs, slipping

hin, resting his chin on my shoulder so that he

the details of

them. “Roger’s hot. He

girlfriend drama -”

asks, his body going stiff behind me,

turning to