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

! much faster than I thought was possible and ! anile as

only cook,” Henry whispers, leaning over to Cora

Otherwise, they’re not

Sinclair protests, his eyes still on the

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

a lot of hotdogs,” I

from

them hire us chefs,” I consider. She raises her eyebrows, pleased

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

about laughter, and fun,

burned to a crisp just the way I like it. “Oh my god,” I murmur, closing my eyes as

Sinclair laughs, “you’re going to

my head and refusing to open my eyes as I take

lifts Rafe from my arms I 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

around at my family, watching them quietly Henry watches Sinclair and his grandchild while Cora and Roger sit close to each other,

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

dark

about pantele Roger murs to sing a hand to play with

murmurs

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

him.

own smile from crossing my face as I

I decide that that’s

I stand up from my little camping chair and send a pulse down my bond

He looks up at me, curious and I nod my head first towards the RV

who begin talking quietly. My mate follows my gaze

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

as we can – which is not very stealthy, considering

platform – the three of us and the baby make our

leaving Cora and Roger alone by

say to Sinclair as he

in his arms. I’m sitting in the little kitchen

out the window at Roger and

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

moment, rolls his way back to the bedroom, making

wanting to watch some television, though we

sigh, looking up at my mate and reaching for my

I

murmurs, slipping

and I warmly against hin, resting his chin on my shoulder so that

“I never cared as much about the details of my brother’s love

I say, still peering out at them. “Roger’s hot. He probably has had lots

girlfriend drama -”

body going stiff behind me, just

turning to