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?”

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

Cora – you’re right, we had a plan, we should just trust it. Everything’s

smile coming to my lips now as he

apart are the contractions?” he asks, looking down

answer, my voice quiet. “Or, maybe a

that I know he doesn’t feel. ” That is all very

I start to

turning to grin

just very sweet, Roger Sinclair,” I murmur, taking his cheeks in my hands and leaning forward to press a kiss to his mouth. “Trying to

against my lips, kissing me

feeling significantly calmer now, starting to get…well, maybe

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

what color do you think his eyes will be?”

tongue and pull

that even be

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

rolling my eyes, “would have shown up on

purple eyes,” he says, holding up a finger, “would

sigh, but I’m smiling as I snuggle close to him. Or at least I smile for a second, before

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

right?” he says quietly when it all

now. And then I smile a little, returning my hand to

brown

I reply, dropping my hand from his cheek and wrapping my fingers in his

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

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

sighing as he inspects the bond and passes love and comfort and reassurance to the baby, as

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

kid,” Roger murmurs. ” Any

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

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