The Mystical Attraction of Alpha
Chapter 132

Chapter 132

Chapter 132 – Ella Warns Sinclair

Ella

“What do you mean, you won’t tell me?” Sinclair rumbles, full of foreboding. He’s glowering down atme, emitting raw Alpha authority and unflinching disapproval. The idea that anyone would keep mefrom him – even me myself – seems to be more than he can handle. Still, I know I have to – if hecomes after me the Prince will kill him.

I set my jaw trying to look fierce and determined, even though my wolf is whimpering in the face of hisire. “I won’t! I don’t care what you do or what you say, I’m not going to tell you.”

“Ella, what are you talking about? Why not?” Sinclair demands, his hands tightening reflexively on mybody and then easing when he realizes how tightly he’s holding me.

“I heard the Prince and Lydia talking, they know you won’t give them their ransom. They think you’ll tryto stage a rescue instead, and when you do, they’ll be waiting. It’s all a set up. If you come here they’llkill you.” I whisper frantically, knowing this won’t dissuade him, but hoping my explanation will at leasthelp him understand why I can’t answer his question.

Sinclair’s eyes glow neon green, and he bares his fangs, “So what would you have me do, Ella? Justleave you as his prisoner?” Before I can conjure any kind of response, he continues, “Not fucking likely,trouble.”

“I don’t have the answers.” I moan, leaning into him in hopes that he’ll calm down. Unfortunately heknows what I’m about, and keeps me at arm’s length, “I just know that rescue is not an option. I’m notgoing to let anyone else die for me – especially not you!” My throat is itching, my voice thick withemotion as I look up at my mate. “I can’t lose you, Dominic.”

“Sweetheart, if I know there’s an ambush waiting I can prepare for it.” Sinclair reasons, soundinggentler now. I think my upset has calmed his own temper, because he tucks my head under his chinand begins stroking my spine in long, soothing strokes. “I know you’re scared and you probably feelhorribly guilty about your guards, but their deaths were the most honorable kind for a warrior. Theyjoined my ranks because they wanted to defend the pack at all costs.”

“You didn’t see them.” I hiccup, “it wasn’t – they thought they’d failed. They died believing they hadn’tdone their jobs, that they hadn’t protected me.”

He tsks, pressing his lips to my hair. “They will be remembered as heroes, Ella. They fought until thevery end, even when the odds were so stacked against them that they knew they couldn’t win.”

“But I don’t want you to die too!” I cry. “I need you, the united packs need you.”

“Shhh, I have no plans of dying anytime soon.” Sinclair promises, caressing the curve of my belly. “Butyou need to tell me where you are so we can make a plan… so we can avoid that at all costs.Did youoverhear Damon and Lydia because you’re in the Palace?”

I stubbornly shake my head. “I’ve made up my mind, Dominic.” I insist. “I’m better off in captivity than Iwould be if we lost you. Fear of you is the only thing keeping them from hurting me.”

Sinclair growls low and deep, brushing his thumb over the bruise on my cheek. “Is this what you callunhurt?”

I lean my face into his hand, nuzzling and nibble his palm, “it’s not so bad.” I insist, “A few bruises arenothing in the grand scheme.”

He grumbles, “They’re something to me, and he’s threatening to do much worse if I don’t end mycampaign in the next 24 hours. We don’t have time to waste.”

“I’m sure he threatened to kill me, but even Damon isn’t that foolish. As long as you’re out there makinglife difficult for them, they’ll need to keep me as leverage.” I reason, hoping that I’m right.

“That’s not a change I’m willing to take, Ella.” Sinclair counters firmly. “And even if you are right, I can’thelp you through this pregnancy if we’re separated. You’re already high risk, being a prisoner couldmake your condition even worse and endanger the baby.”

He’s using the baby against me. I realize, admiring his sly strategy. He knows I’ll let myself suffer, butthe idea of our pup being harmed… I emit a pitiful moan, hating how right he is. “There has to beanother way. Maybe I can escape on my own.” The Prince’s threats ring in my mind, but I’m smartenough not to repeat these things to my mate. I know in my heart that if anyone is going to putthemselves at risk, it should be me. The possibility of my baby’s death is too painful to contemplate,and my inner mama bear lashes out at the thought with primal rage. Still, Sinclair is the one who has torule, he’s the one responsible for protecting millions of shifters and humans alike.

“That’s an idea.” Sinclair is watching me with narrowed eyes, and too late I realize he’s still got onehand on my tummy, no doubt channeling my feelings through the baby. “But what aren’t you saying,trouble? What aren’t you telling me?”

I summon a growl, hating his perceptiveness. “Look, if I try to escape and I’m caught, they might roughme up a bit, but they won’t kill me.” I assert, convinced the Prince wouldn’t give up such a powerfulbargaining chip – or perhaps praying that I’m right, since I’m not willing to endanger Sinclair. “I’ll be ableto try again. But if you try to rescue me and they get the better of you, they’ll kill you. The risk is less if Itry to do this on my own.”

Sinclair fumes, and his fists clench and unclench on my body. “Listen to me, now. We only have a fewmore hours to work this out, and one way or another, you need to tell me where you are. I’m not sayingI’m going to ride in there on a white horse to save you, but I can’t replace solutions if I don’t know thesituation.”

I peek up at him sulkily, feeling a ferocious desperation to keep him safe no matter what. “What timeexactly do you have to give your answer? Are you meeting him in person?” I question, thinking that if Itry to escape when the Prince is out of the house with all his guards, I might actually be able tosucceed.

“Why?” Sinclair demands, his voice like gravel.

“Because I’m trying to figure this out.” I reply vaguely, knowing he’s getting more and more frustratedwith me by the minute.

“Tell me where you are and I’ll help you.” He repeats forcefully, practically shaking with the effort it’staking to control his wolf. “This is not the time to test me, little one.”

“No.” I repeat stubbornly, not able to meet his eyes. “I’ve made up my mind, Dominic. I’m not going totell you.”

Sinclair’s hand clamps around my nape with unrelenting force, pulling my reluctant gaze up to his own.“Let’s get one thing straight, beautiful. You are not going to keep sacrificing yourself to protect thepeople around you – you’ve given up enough in your life and it is my job to make sure you never haveto do that ever again. I couldn’t prevent you from doing it with the guards, but I’ll be damned if I’m goingto let you do it for me.” There’s something feral in his emerald eyes, a wildness I’ve never beforeencountered. “I’m hate to do this, but you’re really not giving me another choice.”

At first I don’t have the first clue what he means, but the next thing I know, a wave of ruthlessdominance slams into me, nearly bending my body in two with the force of his power. I gasp in shock,not understanding, “I – What are you doing to me?”

“This is the authority I hold over other wolves.” He growls unapologetically, “I don’t enjoy using itagainst my mate, but I will if I have to. Now tell me where you are.” He commands mercilessly.

To my shock and horror I feel the words rising up inside my throat, balancing on the tip of my tongue. Ifight with all my strength, amazed and devastated that he might steal the words from my lips withoutmy permission. I always knew Sinclair was powerful, but I’ve never felt the full force of his dominancebefore. I didn’t realize he could force someone to do something against their will, with only a few words.

“No!” I plead, tears streaming down my cheeks. “Please… don’t make me, they’ll kill you.”

“Tell me.” He says again, and to my misery, the force of his order only increases. I’m a begging,blubbering mess, but Sinclair doesn’t relent. I hate him for doing this to me, for making me say thewords that might send him to his grave, but I can’t help myself…I’m powerless to stop him.

I feel my mouth opening, and then the words are spilling out.