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

to him quietly, asking him how he likes it here and if he’s ready

claps and gurgles

I say quietly, smiling

down at his son “He’s very

leaning closer to kiss my baby’s forehead “Yes, he

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

chest with a smirk.

just laughs and shakes his

ask, moving again

another deep. breath, the five of us begin to walk towards the

comes out of

a moment, going still at the sight

last time I saw

back, and then a little pulse of comfort. comes down the bond and I exhale, skipping forward a little

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

we meet is going to try to take my baby away. Some of them,

serve my mother.

bowing a little and giving us a deep smile

welcome here. And you are

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

at me but Cora turns to me with a frown. “Can’t you

1

blink at Cora for a second and then, as I realize what

already I bite my lip, feeling

—

I cannot feel her. I used up our bond used the magic

Cora, and my

I just shake my head and work

smile

“I’m glad you can

and then we both tum

smiling around at our whole party and taking a moment

baby, admiring him “Please, do

temple And as we

been in before. While the desert temple. was elegantly sparse, and the city temple was 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 the

to a door at the back. Before she

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 Rafe quite close to me

–

all ready and Sinclair has placed a warm hand on my shoulder – Cora nods to the priestess who opens the door and leads us

immediately, we all

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 her,

this time, as