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

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

they’re

his eyes still on the

true!” Roger chimes in, making us laugh. “If

gonna eat a lot

Then she looks over at me from her

chefs,” I consider. She raises her

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.

about laughter, and fun,

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 can

dripping,” Sinclair laughs, “you’re going to

to open my eyes as I take another bite – He won’t mind

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 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 kidding

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

around herself and smiling around at our dark Camp 7 didn’t think I’d like sitting

dark

primal about pantele Roger murs to sing a hand to

murmurs

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

him.

from crossing my face as

I decide that

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

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

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

He walks to his father and puts a hand on

we can – which

the three of us and the baby

alone

talking about,” I say to Sinclair as

in his arms.

out the window at Roger and Cora through the tinted

business, little spy?” he says, coming to sit with me on the plush leather.

our own moment, rolls his way back

wanting to watch some television, though we both know

looking up at my mate and reaching for my baby,

I always want to

know,” he murmurs, slipping

chin on my shoulder so that he too

about the details of my brother’s love life until you

I say, still peering out at them.

girlfriend drama -”

body going

ask, turning to