The Mystical Attraction of Alpha
Chapter 114

Chapter 114

Chapter 114 – Sinclair Visits the Past

Sinclair

“Hmm, where oh where could my little pup be?” My mother’s velvety voice sounds just on the otherside of the cabinet where I’m hiding. I press my hands over my mouth to try and silence my giggles, buta few small sounds still escape.

“Aha!” Mom whips open the cabinets two doors down, shouting with triumph only to soften her tone intoanother thoughtful hum. “Not in there.” She muses aloud, and I can almost see her rubbing her chin inthought.

As she moves closer I climb along the shelves, clambering over towels and wash rags to settle in thecabinet she just searched and found empty. A shaft of light bursts into the dark cupboards as mymother pulls open the doors where I’d just been sitting, another delighted cry on her lips.

She doesn’t seem disappointed to have failed again, on the contrary she sounds impressed. “Ahh, he’sa sneaky little sausage.” She observes sagely, “That’s very good. All the best hunters can track theirtargets as silently as a ghost.” I can hear her footsteps circling, and I know she can smell me in theroom, but I’m doing my best to outsmart her.

“In fact the very best predators can sometimes trick their prey into thinking they’re the ones doing thehunting… when really they’re about to be someone’s dinner!” Her voice rises at the end as she lungesfor another cupboard. It’s getting harder and harder to hide my giggles as she fails to replace me, but Iknow she’s enjoying this just as much as I am. I shift again, crawling silently to the very last cupboardin the mansion’s huge laundry room.

“What was that!” My mother’s voice sharpens, and I can see her freezing through a small crack in thedoor. “Oh I wish my fierce little wolf was here to protect me! I think I’m being watched.” She frets loudly.

“I certainly hope something terrible isn’t about to jump out and scare me.”

Right on cue I leap out of the cupboard with a ferocious roar, pouncing on her and toppling her right tothe ground. She cries out dramatically, throwing her arm over her eyes to protect herself from theterrible sight of her attacker. “Oh no! A vicious rogue, please don’t eat me!” She begs, “I have pups!”

“Mommy it’s me!” I laugh hysterically, trying to pull her arm away from her face.

Slowly she lowers her arm, blinking down at me in surprise. “Oh Dominic, thank goodness! You’vegotten so big and strong I didn’t even recognize you. I was sure I was a goner!” Her shock and reliefonly lasts a moment, and then she sits up, a familiar spark in her green eyes. “Such a rascal – scaringme that way.” She prowls toward me, waggling her fingers in obvious threat. I back away, my pudgyhands outstretched in preparation to ward off the imminent attack. “And you know what happens topups who play tricks on their Mommies don’t you? They get a visit from the tickle monster!” She lashesout and snatches me up, her hands fluttering over my tummy, tickling me mercilessly.

Within moments I’m on my back, squealing with mirth and trying to push away her hands. When I’mlaughing so hard I can no longer breathe, I pounce again, putting a stop to the tickle monster’srelentless assault. I’m only six, but my mother is so little that I already stand as tall as her shoulder, andI must be at least half her weight. I flatten her to the laundry room floor, sprawling on top of her andresting my cheek on her breast, breathing in her familiar scent as I try to catch my breath. Her armscome around my back as I snuggle in, gentle fingers stroking my hair.

“There’s my sweet boy,” she murmurs, hugging me tightly.

“Mommy, I’m a fierce hunter.” I correct her indignantly, rolling my eyes at her silliness. There are somethings Mommies just don’t understand. “Deadly pred-ters are not sweet.”

“Says who?” She inquires, sounding slightly affronted..

“Um, says everyone.” I explain, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Alpha warriors don’t comehome from battle and run to their Mommies for cuddles. They go drink and hunt and kiss she-wolves.”

“And what do you know about drinking and kissing she-wolves?” My mother counters, playfullynarrowing her eyes. “Have you been sneaking out to the pub at night?” She gasps, gripping my arms.“How many wives do you have, tell me right now!”

“None!” I laugh, “I promise!” Of course, she doesn’t need to know that I already have a girlfriend.Knowing how mothers worry, she’d probably overreact to learn how fast I’m growing up.

“Listen to me very carefully Dominic,” Mom replies after a moment, trailing her fingertips up and downmy back, “The best Alphas and the best warriors are the ones who know that fighting is a last resort.They don’t do it because it’s tough or manly, they do it because they have to protect their pack. Theydo it for love of their family and people – nothing else.” She explains sternly. “You can’t ever forget thatduty, or that your power is a grave responsibility. Love is not a bad word, and sweetness is notweakness – these things are your greatest strengths. You have to promise me that you never stopcoming to me for cuddles no matter how old you get, that you’ll never hold yourself back from showingthe people in your life how much you care about them. Never lose this side of you, Dominic.”

I nod, feeling the truth and conviction in her words, and secretly feeling relieved that I don’t have to actlike I don’t care in order to be strong. I don’t want to stop hugging my Mom, I just thought that it wasn’tallowed in order to be a real man.

“I promise.” I agree easily, thinking of my father then. He’s always touching and flirting with Mommy,and always tells Roger and me how much he loves us. He makes time to play with us and readbedtime stories, and always comforts us when we’re hurt or scared. He never shames us for thosefeelings, even if the rest of the world makes those things seem wrong. But then again, he’s the mostpowerful wolf in the pack, so if he can do it, it must not be wrong. Maybe it’s everyone else who hasthings backwards.

We’re still lying there when the fire alarm begins blaring. Mom sits up with me still in her arms, scentingthe air. We both smell smoke at the same time, and she immediately jumps to her feet. She sets me onthe ground and leads me up the stairs, her eyes scanning the manor around us with hawkish intensity.When we reach the front hallway, with the door only a few meters away, she releases me and nudgesme towards the exit. “Get outside, baby. Go straight to the guardhouse, and wait for me there.”

“But what about you?” I ask anxiously, my heart pounding in my chest.

“I have to replace Roger.” She explains, gazing towards the upper stories. “Just go sweetheart, I’ll be therebefore you know it.”

She kisses my cheek and dashes away up the stairs. I start to run outside, when I hear the sound of acat yowling in the distance. Oh no! Pancake! I think frantically, picturing our new cat. He must betrapped!

I change directions, following the sounds of the frantic meows. They carry me deeper and deeper intothe smokey house, until I can actually see the flames climbing up the outer walls. Fear slices throughme, but I know Pancake is close and I can’t leave him to die. I finally replace the terrified animal coweringunder the china cabinet in the dining room, a blazing inferno surrounding him.

The door had been closed, and there hadn’t been another way out, but I still replace myself scolding theyoung tabby. “Pancake what are you doing? Don’t you know ‘bout fire alarms? They mean you have toget outs!” Shaking my head, I scoop up the fluffy creature, “What are you doing in a locked roomanyway?”

When I turn back to the door, I finally remember my school lessons about what to do in the event of afire. When I opened the door I’d let a bunch of air in, feeding the riotous flames. A wall of fire is blockingthe door, and all I can do is tuck Pancake inside my shirt, and hope I’m fast enough. I sprint forwardand leap through the flames, batting out sparks that linger in my hair on the other side. I’m choking and

coughing, and belatedly remember to crawl on the ground where there’s more oxygen. I’m still crawlingalong on one hand, using the other to hold Pancake still, when I hear my mother’s frantic screams.“Dominic!” She cries, “Dominic where are you!”

“Mommy!” I call back, suddenly seeing her ahead of me. She has a wet rag pressed to her mouth, andher eyes are wide with terror.

“Dominic! What are you doing, I told you to get out!” She scolds, running towards me.

“I had to save Pancake! I cry, holding up the petrified feline.

Mom’s expression softens, “Oh, of course! Poor pancake” She takes my hand and begins leading meout. “Come on, now, we have to go.”

My heart eases now that my Mom is here. I’m still scared, but I know I’m safe as long as she’s here. Idon’t know how the fire started, but it’s amazing how quickly the flames consumed the house.Everywhere I look is black with smoke and suffocating heat . I’ve never felt anything like it. I feel like myskin might blister just from being in the same room with the fire.

We’re almost to the entryway when there’s a horrible rumbling and cracking sound above us, andbefore I understand what’s happening, I’m being thrown forward through the air. An explosion rocks themansion as I crash into the ground, and when I turn back I understand what’s happened.The ceilingcaved in behind me, but Mommy is still trapped on the other side. She must have used all of herstrength to toss me out of harm’s way, even knowing she would probably end up stuck. I can barely seeher through the flames, only her glowing green eyes remain. I wonder if she might shift, but I knowbetter – highly flammable fur is not any protection from a fire. “Go! Dominic!” She shouts through thewhirring conflagration.

“No,” I yell, horrified. “I won’t leave you!

“Go now!” Power rolls off of her in powerful waves, carrying an authority I’m not yet strong enough todefy. I don’t have a choice. My feet are moving without my consent, even as tears pour down my tear-stained cheeks. “No, Mommy No!”

“It’s okay, baby.” She cries, and I can hear tears in her voice. “This is the way it should be. It’s okay.”She insists again. “I love you! Remember who you are!”

I’ve barely stepped clear of the inferno when the entire house collapses in on itself, sending a blackmushroom cloud into the sky. Firefighters and guards are surging around me, pulling me to safety, but Ihear nothing but my own screams for my mother – even though I know there’s no point.

She’s gone.