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

around a ! much faster than I thought was

leaning over to Cora and I and giving us a smile, “when

they’re not

Sinclair protests, his eyes still on the

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

a lot of hotdogs,” I murmur to

looks over at me from her chair next to mine.

shrug. “Maybe we can make them hire us chefs,” I consider.

the family gathered happily around the fire, talking about nothing 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. We all know that they’re there, after

just about laughter, and fun,

just the way I like it. “Oh my god,” I murmur, closing my eyes as I chew. “This is so

to get marshmallow all

head and refusing to open my eyes as I take another bite

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

finish my s’more and look around at my family, watching them quietly Henry watches Sinclair and his grandchild while Cora and Roger sit close to each other, not talking but

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

dark

sing

murmurs

the stars and then turning her head to look at

him.

crossing my face as I watch them. And

that

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

curious and I nod my head first

Cora, who begin talking quietly. My

and puts a hand on his back, leaning down to

one, as stealthily as we can –

lifted into the RV with a noisy platform – the three of us and the

mobile house, leaving Cora and Roger alone by the fire to have a moment

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

in his arms. I’m sitting in the little

Roger and

spy?” he says, coming to sit with me

own moment, rolls

watch some television, though we both know he doesn’t

I sigh, looking up at my mate and reaching for

know I always

you know,” he murmurs, slipping his arms

chin on my

details of my brother’s love life

out at them. “Roger’s hot. He probably has had lots

girlfriend drama -”

hot?” Sinclair asks, his body going

I ask, turning