The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

Ella

It is, indeed, a long climb. Cora and I are panting by the time we get to the top, and even though

Sinclair took Rafe from me halfway through the hike I have to take a moment to catch my break

when we pull ourselves up to the final level.

Roger has the indecency to look a little smug about the fact that he barely looks winded and Cora

gives him a little shove on the shoulder as she works to take a few deep breaths and wipe the

sweat from her brow.

Even as I work to bring my heartrate back down, I absolutely marvel at the sight before me.

The Goddess’ temple, like the one in the city, is built completely with white marble. But unlike

the one in the city, this one looks….ancient. Vines grow in ropes all over it, looking almost as if the

structure is part of the forest itself, having grown up organically from it. The temple is tall and

wide, the pillars in front drawing my eyes upward to the slanted roof which curls into a dome. At

the very peak of the dome is a golden crescent moon, reaching up towards the sky, glinting in the

bright sunlight.

“Wow,” Cora says, standing straight next to me and likewise marveling at the temple. “Mom has

some….impressive property.”

“I know, right?” I mutter back, crossing my arms and shaking my head. If someone had told me,

when I was a little girl sleeping in my creaky little orphan bed, that my mom lived here…

Well. I probably would have believed them.

But I was a very imaginative child.

“Um,” Roger says, looking anxiously at Cora. “Shall we?”

I smile at him, seeing that he’s eager to move on but also that he wants to give her room to process this experience. It’s more intense for her than it is for him, and I think that it’s very sweet that he realizes this. Roger really has come leaps and bounds as a person from when I first met

him

Sinclair comes to stand next to me and I grin at him and then turn to my baby, taking his hands

he likes it here and if he’s ready to meet

time Rafe claps and gurgles

understands sometimes,” I say quietly, smiling up at

proudly down at his son “He’s

to kiss my baby’s forehead “Yes, he is.

can keep that title for about…five more months,” Roger calls to

chest with a smirk.

laughs and shakes

you ready, Cora?” I ask,

my hand. I give it, and, with another deep. breath, the five of us begin to walk towards the

out of

moment, going still at the sight of

last time I saw

his hand warm against my back, and then a little pulse of comfort. comes down the bond and I exhale, skipping forward a

is…this is not the same situation we were in before.

is going to try to

serve my mother.

the woman says, bowing a little and giving us a

of the Goddess – you are welcome

and then look back to the woman. “Is she here?”

warmly at me but Cora turns to me with a frown.

1

at Cora for a second and then, as I realize what she means that she can feel

I bite my lip,

—

feel her. I used up our bond used the magic of it to unbind my

child, and Cora, and

concern, but I just shake my head

smile

okay,” I say, squeezing her hand “I’m glad you can feel her for both

to me, sympathetic, and then we both

our whole party and taking a moment

linger on the baby, admiring him “Please, do come inside

group, we follow the priestess into my mother’s temple And as we go, I wonder a everyone’s

sweeping and impressive, this one is…cozy. The architecture is still bright and wide, but you can tell that women live here and treat it as a home. As I look around at the padded benches by

central room of the temple, the space beneath the dome, but instead leads us across it to a door at the back. Before

behind her, straightening his shoulders, his face very serious. He is, after all, about to be introduced to his mate’s mother as such for the first time. I smile at both of them as I reach for the baby, who Sinclair helps me unbuckle from the carrier. I don’t know why I do it, but somehow I want

–

warm hand on my shoulder – Cora nods to the priestess who opens the

her immediately,

of the room, glowing with the faint luminescence of moonlight. Her face breaks into a smile as we cross the room, her eyes flashing over all of us but focusing on Cora. I can’t help the tears that well in my eyes when I see

And this time, as