The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

“Ella,” Clavin says, his voice thick with emotion. His hand continues its path, reaching for me, his fingers brushing the velvet sleeve of my gown before I can pull away.

“What,” I whisper, taking a few steps back, wanting space between us. “What was that?”

“I don’t – ”

Before he can finish though, we both turn towards the darkened doorway to the balcony. I instantly recognize the silhouette I see there as my mate’s and breathe out a breath of relief.

I mean it’s not that I think that Calvin or I did anything wrong, or that Calvin was going to hurt me, but whatever passed between us? It was strange.

And suddenly as I remember the pulse that happened last night, when Calvin touched my hand – I want my mate here, now, at my side.

“Is everything all right out here?” Sinclair growls, his voice low and full of the threat that his words don’t carry.

He takes a step forward into the darkness as Calvin takes a step away from me and bows to him, both a formality shown to a king and a display of deference to an Alpha who thinks he might sense a threat to his mate.

“Everything is fine, Dominic,” I say, holding out a hand to him, doing my best to keep my voice light though I suspect I’m failing a little bit. “Prince Calvin was just telling me about his children. Did you know that he has a son just older than Rafe? And his daughter is three.”

to my side, his eyes fixed on the Atalaxian prince. “Your family keeps such information close to

quiet now. “Though, we do share it with our closest friends. And I very much hope that after this trip that I will be able to tell my children about my new friends in Moon

so as well,” I say, hoping my words assure Calvin that I’m on his side, and to

if this is going to be possible,” Sinclair says quietly, his voice grumbling and stern as he stands close at my side, pressing his hands into his pockets and looking Calvin up and down. “Especially after the stunts your

and looks at me, his face genuinely pained. “I was not,

of Xander’s approach, his refusal to look me in the eye. Calvin sighs deeply as he listens, lifting

and looking first at me and then at Sinclair. “It is…please, I beg you you to consider that there was and is dissent within our nation. While I’m sure that some of our delegation encouraged Xander and support his disgusting

look forward

set it up,” the prince says

And then he shuts his mouth, clear that that’s his

says he’ll put the wheels in motion before stepping towards the door. When he reaches it, he clasps Conner on the shoulder and bids him a good night as well, a move that adds another

that’s less important at this particular moment, I look up at Sinclair. “Is everything all

ask you the same,” he says, looming over me a bit,

confused. ” What

says, shaking his head at me a little. “Having private conversations with a member of our enemies’

him, Dominic!” I say, waving a hand towards the door.

change,” Sinclair growls, “to get you on his side. He knows you’re soft hearted! He told you about his children who

you value about me. You can’t have it both ways – you can’t love

then nods his head. “All right, that’s fair,” he murmurs. ” But Ella, we agreed that you’d let me take the lead on these things – that you would allow me to take care of you,

won’t. But last night you told me to trust my instincts, and they’re telling me to trust him. Prince Calvin – he speaks