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

settled around a ! much faster than I thought was possible and ! anile as

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

they’re

true!” Sinclair protests, his eyes

Roger chimes in, making us laugh. “If I’m making

a

me from

consider. She raises her eyebrows, pleased at the

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, after all – and we

tonight is just about laughter, and fun, and spending

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

going to get marshmallow all over the baby

shaking my head and refusing to open my eyes as I take another bite – He won’t mind

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

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

our dark Camp 7 didn’t think I’d like sitting outside in the dink by a tie as much as

dark

pantele Roger murs to sing

murmurs

and then turning her head to look at Roger,

him.

my face as I watch

decide that that’s my

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

at me, curious and I nod my head first towards

talking quietly. My mate follows my gaze

his father and puts a hand on

stealthily as we can – which is

the RV with a noisy platform – the

and Roger alone

I say to Sinclair as he climbs last into the

him, the baby still curled in his arms. I’m sitting in the little

window at Roger and Cora through

that their business, little spy?” he says, coming to sit with

rolls his way back to the

television, though we both

looking up at my mate and reaching for

know I always want

murmurs, slipping his arms low around me and pulling

resting his chin on my shoulder

never cared as much about the details of my brother’s love life until you came

not,” I say, still peering out at them. “Roger’s hot.

girlfriend drama -”

body going

turning