The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

Cora

I narrow my eyes at Roger when he comes upstairs about forty-five minutes later. “Are you going to behave better now?” I ask, my voice tense.

“Yup,” he says, leaning in the doorway with a lazy smile.

I start to laugh as I look over his too – loose stature. “Is it because you’re all drunk?” My eyes shift to Sinclair as he appears in the doorway behind his brother. “Seriously, did you get him all drunk?”

Sinclair, Rafe sitting up in his arms, just gives a little shrug, his mouth pulled up at the corner in a secret smile.

“I am only,” Roger says, smiling as he steps into the room and holding up a hand with his thumb and pointer finger pressed very close together, “a very tiny bit drunk. Just something to steady the nerves.”

Ella laughs next to me before she scoots off the bed.

“All right, then,” she says, gesturing to me as she moves around the bed and reaches to take Rafe from Sinclair. ” Take your spot, Roger. And stop freaking her out, okay?”

“I promise,” Roger mumbles, giving Ella a sloppy little salute before climbing onto the bed and taking her place.

“We’ll be downstairs,” Ella says when I turn my eyes to her. “You just call, and we’ll be right up. Okay?”

I nod to her, smiling a little, grateful that she’s here. Beyond having the power to heal me instantly should anything go wrong, it’s just…really nice to have my sister close by.

Roger sighs as he pulls himself into the spot close on my right and tucks his legs in under the blankets. Then he turns to me, his face serious. “I’m sorry, Cora,” he says quietly.

“Thank you,” I say, my anger fading as I see that he means it. I lift a hand to his cheek, wanting to touch him, wanting him close.

“I just love you so much

“I get it,” I say, nodding.

He nods too, capturing my hand and pressing a kiss to it. “But I didn’t listen to you. And Sinclair made me sit down and listen – which he shouldn’t have to do, so I’m sorry about that. But he explained that you need to be the one freaking out today. So, I have to just… be steady. Is that right?”

I say quietly, studying him. “I mean, Roger, it’s not that you can’t feel afraid too – I get that it’s a big

out of the room. I’m sorry, Cora – you’re right, we had

now as he slips an arm around my back,

far apart are the contractions?” he asks, looking down at my belly and stroking it softly with his

I answer, my voice quiet. “Or, maybe a little faster

a calmness that I know

I start to

asks, turning to grin

murmur, taking his cheeks in my hands and

lips, kissing me back. “I’m going to be a dad in

leaning back and smiling down at my belly. And I bite my lip, feeling significantly calmer now, starting to get…well, maybe a

thoughtlessly as he tucks his head close to mine and takes a deep breath

what color do you think his eyes will

replies, making me click my tongue and pull away

that

are goddess grandchildren,” he says, grinning at me. “Anything is possible. The baby could have

my eyes, “would have

eyes,” he says, holding

snuggle close to him. Or at least I smile for a second, before the

does his best to stay quiet, his eyes on me throughout the whole contraction. He keeps his

he says quietly when it

say, turning my eyes to his now. And then I smile a little, returning my hand to his cheek. “I hope the baby’s eyes are just like

he says, smirking at me. “Big brown ones, like his mom. That

wait and see,” I reply, dropping my hand from his cheek and wrapping my

turning is attention to the

even as I focus on the bond as well. “Nah, don’t rush him,” I sigh. ” He’ll

comfort and reassurance to the baby, as well as to me. “He’s all uncomfortable, cooped up

nice big crib for him out here,” I say, laughing a bit. “Whenever he’s ready to make

” Any

I agree. I’m finally ready – completely ready to bring our baby into the world with a nice, calm, maybe slightly tipsy Roger at my

the baby really does take his time. The whole day passes and dusk darkens our windows before my contractions really start to heat up. By then, the house is busy with all the people we’ve asked to come to the house for