The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

Ella

We move immediately to the grand hall of the palace, where we met our delegates a few nights ago. Sinclair and I wait quietly in a little room off the side of the entrance for everyone from the first room to move to their chairs in the second, where there are already thousands of people waiting. While there was only room in the first chamber for a small selection of our population, the grand hall is much larger.

And it’s packed.

I squeal a little bit with excitement as I peek through a little velvet curtain that covers a window on the door, excited to see so many people gathered to celebrate with us. I lift Rafe so he can see too, but then I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see my sister’s beaming face.

“Ella!” she laughs as I squeal and wrap my free arm around her. She wraps her arms tight around me, rocking me back and forth. “I’m so happy for you both,” she murmurs into my shoulder, laughing a little. ” Unanimous! It’s unprecedented!”

“Happy for all of us!” I laugh, pulling back to grin at her a little. Rafe reaches for her, happy, and Cora gives him a kiss and a cuddle, but doesn’t take him from me. Not yet.

I glance behind Cora to see Roger happy at Sinclair’s side, their father with them. They’re speaking with a couple of the Royal aids, who are showing them something on an ipad.

“What is that?” I ask.

“Probably footage from outside,” Cora says, still smiling. “It’s crazy out there, Ella. The streets are filled.”

“Oh,” I say, my expression suddenly falling with worry as I glance towards the door. “Is that…safe?”

“No, the crowds are all really happy,” Cora says, her eyebrows going up. There aren’t a ton of humans, but those who are there are celebrating.” She takes a moment to smile at me softly. ” They’ve done a lot of analysis and polling, Ella, and they say that the humans were largely convinced to support Sinclair’s reign because of you.”

haven’t even been in the public eye

a wolf? And they don’t know the details of your divinity or your

and swat her away. ” That’s ridiculous, Cora,” I murmur. ”

she says, serious now. “It’s real, Ella. Wolves and humans alike – they

– and I find that even as I desperately hope that it’s true, I can’t

I love them and

and looking between Cora and I. Roger grins at

laughs, ” She’s been waiting to get her hands on that crown for

my chin at him and pretending to be haughty. “Just because you

grief. “I just

looping her arm in his. “If you

Roger says in a false stage whisper, loud enough

and shoves him on his shoulder. “Don’t even think about it, Rog,” he growls. “You don’t

Sinclair cheerfully on the shoulder. “Your life

Henry says, rolling over and looking sternly up at his sons. “If you’re done kidding around? We have a coronation to

Roger have the decency to look mildly ashamed of themselves, making Cora and I laugh

all. Sinclair will go first, and then me second, and then Cora will take Rafe and she, Roger, and Henry will go down the long aisle to the front of the room, where the thrones sit. It’s all been timed very precisely, and we’ve got one

televised, after all, and Henry emphasized how important it was for us to let the world see us as dignified, serious people who take our responsibilities with the gravity that they deserve. And I agree with him – as much as our family likes to joke around and tease, I