The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

Ella

“So you two,” Cora says, flicking her gaze between Roger and Sinclair, ” you’re all right now? After fifteen minutes, it’s all cleared up?”

Sinclair shrugs. “We kept it pretty cut and dry. He’s on probation.”

“No, I’m not,” Roger murmurs, dismissive, shaking his head to Cora.

“He is,” Sinclair growls. Roger just leans down, pretending to whisper in Cora’s ear but speaking loud enough for all of us to hear, “probation doesn’t mean anything. But it made him happy to slap a word on the lack of consequences.”

Cora laughs, her face turned up to her mate, and I bite my lip to stifle my own giggle, wanting to be loyal to Sinclair, who just sighs behind me.

“Either way,” Sinclair says, moving on. “Congratulations, Cora,” he says, his focus on her now and his voice sincere. “I’m very happy for you – for both of you. It’s a big event.”

“Thank you, Dominic,” Cora says, smiling at him softly and turning her head to the side, clearly touched. I beam at my sister as well. It’s not that I’ve let her off the hook for keeping the baby name a secret when I want to know so terribly badly – but? Well. I’ll bug her about it later.

“We are sorry though,” Cora says, reaching up to take Roger’s hand. “I know that…the wedding meant a lot to you, and that it was going to do good things for the nation. But…” she bites her lip, hesitating, and I can tell that she feels selfish. I open my mouth to protest against this but she continues before I can start. “But – I needed it to be like this, to be personal. I hope that you’ll forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Cora,” Sinclair murmurs, smiling at her warmly. “I completely understand you’ve done nothing wrong.”

And quite suddenly, something comes to me. “Cora,” I say, turning my head to the side and leaning forward. “Does.. anyone else know? About your mark, or your little personal ceremony, besides us four?”

She frowns at me, confused. “Well, no,” she says quietly. “I mean, neither of us really have social media or anything -”

“Or any friends,” Roger murmurs, a little chagrined, which makes me laugh. They don’t need friends, they have us!

then,” I say, a big smile breaking out on

“What?” Cora asks, confused.

growing – because this could work! “Why not just have

the idea. But then she realizes that she already has her mating mark and her fingers go to it, brushing

up,” I suggest with a little shrug. ” I’m sure they can do it – they do magical things in

a simple shrug, clearly communicating that it’s her choice. And then she grins, turning

honored guests: that humans are equals in our eyes, that they’re part of our family. But, if you’d rather not – if you’d rather just keep the memory of it to the beach, because it’s special

huge smile on her face. “No, I want to do it – I

going to mark this side this time,” Roger murmurs, drawing a finger down the opposite side of her

hasn’t had nearly enough of Roger,

to throw

have made our plans, and my days and weeks quickly fill with tasks. I wake up early earlier than Sinclair, even to take care of the baby and begin to make my plans. He scolds me for it

I’m happy he gets to sleep an extra

man I met at the beginning of all of this. In some ways I lost track of that man I fell in love with in all

now )? I see flashes

if at all possible, I love him even more than

is for the governors to ratify the claim, and the packs to demonstrate their support by paying fealty at the coronation. It’s all gone smoothly, as Sinclair predicted it would, and so we’ve moved forward with the plans. Delegations from all the neighboring countries are set to

the delegation from Vanara including King Gabriel – but I’m

have indeed signaled their intent

with me to chat and play. They’re thriving now, and I think that they’re happy and excited about the future that they’re building for

I’m keeping it from them – if they asked, I’d tell them in a minute, of

off, and she keeps not asking so…we’re

laying naked with my

Ella?” he murmurs, tracing a lazy hand down my back. “I do