The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

Ella

That night, again around the fire, Henry leans forward in his chair and rests his elbows on his knees, smiling around at us.

“So, tell me if I’ve got this right,” he says, clearly tickled by it. “My two sons are mated to two sisters, who each have the Goddess’ blood in their veins, which means…” .” he pauses here, putting his thoughts together, “that all of my grandchildren are going to have mystical powers?”

Cora shrugs, grinning at him. “That’s what she told us,” she says, laughing a little bit.

“Well,” Henry says, pleased, leaning back in his chair and shaking his head in disbelief. “This saves me a great deal of worry.”

Sinclair turns to him confused. ” What? Why?”

“Because,” Henry says, shrugging, trying to hold back his grin. “Imagine if just one of you were mated to a Goddess -born wolf, and only half of my grandchildren had magical powers. At least this way, I don’t have to pretend that I like the non-magical ones as much as the others.”

We all laugh at this, but I shake my head at Henry’s streak of dark humor. Because, beneath it, we all know that it’s not true. He was always going to love all of the grandchildren equally, no matter what.

“I wonder what your gift will be, little baby,” I say to Rafe, who is awake and sitting up in my lap, holding my fingers in his little fists and looking interestedly around at our group. I was very intrigued when Cora told me that all of their gifts would vary according to their personalities – I, like her, had assumed that they would be the same. We still haven’t figured out Cora’s gift yet, though we’ve all be thinking.

“Rafe’s will probably be shooting lasers from his eyes,” Roger murmurs, leaning forward to study my son. I shoot a little glare at Roger and he grins at me.

“No, he’s going to be a healer, like mommy,” I say, kissing Rafe’s head and making him look up at me with a little baby smile. I smile back at him, unable to help it.

“Nah, Rafe’s got a warrior’s soul,” Sinclair says at my side, leaning back in his chair and proudly considering son. It will be something to do with that.”

“Nooo,” I say in denial, glaring at my mate now. “Rafe is gentle. His powers will be for peace.”

“What about ours?” Roger asks, turning to Cora. “Are you getting any hints down the bond?”

“No,” she replies, sighing a little. “I can’t even figure out what mine is, let alone the baby.” She frowns a little in frustration, even though we’re all aware that nothing is going to wipe out her joy today. Everything for her – for all of us – is coming up roses.

with my own contented

says, putting her chin in her hand and scowling at me a

say with a mock haughtiness, grinning at her, “that would be convenient, but not everyone can be as gentle, and loving, and restorative as me, Cora

she gives me a little false glare, and I laugh, Sinclair nods as if it’s a fair point. But then Cora cocks her head to the side, clearly considering

says to the men, “would you

start to stand up but Roger frowns just a little.

turning to him, “about Ella…being able to help. Do you mind? A little sister

mouth a little and I laugh a little when I see that he does mind, just a bit – but I forgive him, because I know he doesn’t want to be separated

after taking Rafe from my arms so that Cora and I can concentrate on each other. “I’ll teach

groans but Cora and I laugh as the men help Henry onto the platform lift and then head

closer to my sister’s so that

clearly thinking it through as she goes. “She said that you could help me figure it out.” Cora looks up at me now,

puts up a hand to stop me. “No, I mean like, do I need to be healed? With your powers? So that I can

into the desert to get the gift from mom – or at least to access

a try,” she says, shrugging.” Do you

it passes her, giving it a warm little nudge, and I smile as I sense her. Such a pretty

she’s hurt or tied up or

Cora,” I sigh, dropping her hands and sinking back onto the chair. “You’re totally

back in the chair and gnawing at her lip. I watch her as she moves on to the next option. “Um,” she says, “do you think I

ask, my face twisting

I can…heal a little? And maybe doing

out to her. “I cut my finger this morning on a bottle cap, T say with a sigh, realizing that I’ve

and pushing herself to fall into the meditative state I use when I access my gift. I do my very best to stay very still and, importantly, not

few minutes, I gasp a little when I do feel a very slight tingling at my fingertip where the cut is. I see Cora push and concentrate, but then, five minutes later, when she opens her eyes and

she

holding it up to look at my hand. “I did feel a little tingling though. And it does feel