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 possible and ! anile

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

Otherwise, they’re

true!” Sinclair protests, his eyes still on the

making us laugh. “If

baby is gonna eat a lot of hotdogs,” I murmur

she adds, sighing. Then she looks over at me from her chair next to mine. “You know

I consider. She raises her eyebrows, pleased at the idea, and we both

our mutual future but not touching on any of the big, scary subjects that lurk behind the conversation. We

tonight is just about laughter, and fun, and spending time

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

laughs, “you’re going to

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

as Sinclair walks Rafe away from me, apologizing in a loud murmur

and look around at my family, watching them quietly Henry watches Sinclair and his grandchild while Cora and Roger

says, wrapping her arms around herself and smiling around at our dark Camp 7 didn’t think I’d like sitting outside in the dink by a tie as much

dark

murs to sing a

murmurs

at the stars and then turning her head to look

him.

my face as

that that’s my

from my little camping chair and send a pulse

and I nod my head first towards the RV and then

and Cora, who begin talking quietly. My mate follows

He walks to his father and puts a hand on

we can – which is not very stealthy, considering

with a noisy platform – the three of us and the baby make our way back

little mobile house, leaving Cora and Roger alone by the

they’re talking about,” I say to Sinclair as he climbs last into the RV,

in his arms. I’m

out the window at Roger and

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

moment, rolls

though we both know he doesn’t

reaching for my

you know I always want to

slipping

resting his chin on my shoulder so that he

cared as much about the details

out at them. “Roger’s

girlfriend drama -”

his body going

turning to him,