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?”

him. “I mean, Roger, it’s not that you can’t feel afraid too – I

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

say, a little smile coming to my lips now as he slips an arm

he asks, looking down at

voice quiet. “Or, maybe a little faster now?

says, pretending a calmness that I know he doesn’t

start

turning

my hands and leaning forward to press a kiss to his mouth.

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

belly. And I bite my lip, feeling significantly calmer now, starting to get…well, maybe a little excited, alongside being terrified. “Do

and takes a deep breath of my scent, “like an old man.” I laugh again, harder

color do you think his eyes will be?”

he replies, making me click my tongue and pull away to

that even be

he says, grinning

my eyes, “would have shown up

eyes,” he says, holding up

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

his eyes on me

right?” he says quietly

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

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

we’ll just have to wait and see,” I reply, dropping my hand from his

baby to hurry up,” Roger murmurs, turning is attention to the bond that runs

bond as well. “Nah, don’t rush him,” I sigh.

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

got a nice big crib for him out here,” I

kid,” Roger murmurs. ” Any time you want,

honestly, for the first time? I agree. I’m finally ready – completely ready to bring our baby into the world with a nice, calm, maybe slightly

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 the birth our family, but also several medical professionals to really ensure that everything goes