The Mystical Attraction of Alpha
Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Chapter 21- Sinclair Confides in his father

Sinclair

I think my wolf is broken.

Legitimately.

I can’t figure out what on earth is going on with him. Last night the threat against Ella made my heartpractically leap out of my chest, but that’s to be expected. What was not to be expected was how upsetmy wolf became when he realized that Ella had washed my scent off. Despite what I told her, it hadnothing to do with protecting our cover, and everything to do with him throwing a tantrum that she wasno longer scent marked.

Being naked with her was both a blessing and a curse. I could happily admire her beautiful body all daylong, but the intimate physical contact got me more than a little excited. My balls were so blue by thetime my wolf was satisfied that the only way I could calm down was by listening to the baby’s heartbeat.It was an important reminder to be gentle with Ella, and gave me more joy than I can express.

My men tal link with the pup is a fleeting thing, and most of the time all I can hear are blips of emotion.The baby is happy when it hears Ella’s voice or smells me, it likes it best when we’re together, andmore often than not it simply sleeps. Still, merely being near it has given me new appreciation for myown father. I never knew it was possible to love someone I’ve yet to even meet so much, and the powerof the bond astonishes me. Moreover, I want Dad to meet Ella – he’s had a rough few years, and I can’tthink of anything that would make him happier than meeting the woman carrying his first grandchild.

Ella looks nervous as the car moves along through the heavy mid-day traffic. I haven’t told her who I’mtaking her to meet yet and I’m getting the impression she doesn’t like surprises. She’s a fascinatingpuzzle, this little human. Clearly accustomed to great hardship and yet obviously used to getting her

own way. I suppose after such a turbulent life, control is a crutch for her, so much so that she panicswhen it slips out of her fingers. Is it terrible that I enjoy throwing her off balance so much, knowing whatI do about her past? She’s just so cute when she gets all riled up – I can’t help myself.

When the car finally pulls to a stop, Ella blinks up at me hopefully. “Will you tell me now?”

“Come on, trouble.” I chuckle, sliding out of the car and extending my hand to help her do the same,“You’ll replace out soon enough.”

Ella grumbles mutinously under her breath as she sets off down the street, and I catch her waist,pulling her under my arm. “Would you like to say that a bit louder?” I intone ominously.

“No.” She responds tartly. “I would not.”

“You know I have supernatural hearing, right?” I question, watching her eyes widen anxiously.

She processes this for a moment, then narrows her eyes suspiciously. “Could you really hear me?”

“Not this time.” I admit, “you did a good job mumbling.”

“Then I’ll do a good job in the future too.” Ella decides, nodding in approval of her decision.

I’m reluctant to laugh and encourage her defiance, but I can’t stop the corners of my mouth fromquirking up. I steer her into the house, pushing through the heavy door without pausing to knock. As westride inside the familiar space, I’m transported back to my childhood, remembering walking thesesame halls as a young boy. It’s not as luxurious as my current estate, but it’s undeniably the place Iconsider home.

“Whose house is this?” Ella asked, surveying the comfortable rooms curiously.

“Actually, this is the house where I grew up.” I finally share, nodding towards the photos on the wall.

Ella is so preoccupied studying the images that she doesn’t seem to notice my father wheeling into thehall, seated comfortably but permanently in a high-tech wheelchair. Either Ella really is interested in theimages before her, or human hearing is even worse than I realize, because she doesn’t turn arounduntil I speak.

“Dad this is Ella.” I nudge her forward so they can meet, “Ella, this is my father.”

Ella blinks, seeming unable to replace the words to reply. This was clearly the last thing she expected. Myfather was once a terrifying man – every bit as tall and imposing as I am myself. Now however, he’s ashadow of the man he used to be. He was paralyzed from the waist down more than five years agonow, and even though the injury stole his title, vitality and mobility, he’s never let it dampen his spirit. Inintelligence and will he’s as strong as he’s always been, and I still learn from him every time we talk.

“I hoped he would bring you to meet me soon.” Dad tells Ella. “I’m so thrilled that you found each other.I’ve been waiting for a grandchild for some time now.”

“It’s an honor to meet you.” Ella replies, “I’m happy too, I think we’ve all been waiting.”

“You can say that again.” I chime in.

“Please, come in, I want to hear everything about my new daughter-in-law.” Dad encourages, wheelinginto the living room. Ella, however, is frozen in place. At first I thought his allusion to our fake unionmight have blindsided her, but the more I watch, the more I suspect she’s more daunted by theprospect of sharing her story with him. Even though I know all the major moments in her life from myinvestigators, I realize Ella has never spoken about them herself. The more I think about it, the more Iappreciate how little she speaks about her past at all.

I’m almost disappointed in my own powers of observation. She’s so charming and affectionate it’s easyto mistake her genial qualities for openness – but she isn’t open, not really.

Ella actually sighs with relief when her phone begins to ring, though she looks up to me for permissionbefore actually answering it. “It’s okay, go ahead.” I permit, “I need to have a word with my Dadanyway.”

She nods appreciatively and raises the device to her ear, “Cora?”

I can hear the other woman’s voice on the other end of the line, and stride after my father to avoideavesdropping. I really did want to introduce Ella to Dad – to connect these new members of my familywith the man who raised me – but I also need to speak to my father after what happened last night.

“Ella’s taking a call from her sister.” I explain when I enter the room alone, taking a seat across fromhim. “And as eager as I am to catch up with you, I need to speak about something and I don’t want herto overhear.”

My father was Alpha for almost 20 years before the attack, and he understands the need for discretionand secrecy better than anyone. No one understands the drive to protect your loved ones from unseenthreats better than a pack leader. “Go ahead.”

“We went to a campaign event last night at the King’s palace – it was Ella’s public debut.” I recount,“But when we came home there was a strange wolf in her room. They were gone by the time I reachedher and I said it was just her imagination, but I’m afraid whoever was there wanted to hurt her.”

“She has no idea?” My father clarifies.

“I didn’t want to frighten her more than she already was. The baby is still so little – she doesn’t need thestress.” I share, even as a stab of guilt assails me. “Do you think the King or the Prince might havebeen behind it?”

“You know as well as I do that the King will go to any lengths necessary to hold onto his power.” Myfather rumbles, nodding to his mangled legs.

We’ve never been able to prove it, but the timing of my father’s injury was always beyond suspicious.Rogues beset him after an event during his own campaign to be king five years ago, after the last kingdied without ever producing an heir. His primary competitor became king, and probably expected torule for far longer than he actually has. I consider it karma, if you have to sabotage your competition toseize power, it shouldn’t be any surprise when the alpha council loses faith in you afterwards.

“The King and Prince never paid any attention to me before though,” I remind him, “do you think myperceived sterility really kept them at bay? Is having a pup on the way really all it took for them to finallysee me as a threat?”

“You know the history as well as I do,” My father murmurs, “They never believed the Alpha councilwould elect another ruler without heirs, even if you were the most qualified candidate for the job. Ellachanges everything. Your pup changes everything.”

“Then why not attack me?” I growl, hating the idea that finally getting a family of my own could alsobring about the end of my career. “Why target Ella?”

My father rolls his eyes then. “Come on, Dominic. Whether they admit it or not, you’re the strongestAlpha to enter the field of competition in half a century – stronger even than me.” He concedes with asmile. “Going after you would be suicidal – but a breeding she-wolf? She’s the perfect target.” Heshakes his head. “And if you don’t have heirs, you might as well give up the throne now.”

“That isn’t fair.” I snarl. “Ella is innocent in all this – and the pup…” I trail off, unable to comprehend theidea of anyone hurting an unborn child.

“I know.” My father sighs, “But this cannot be ignored. If we’re right, Ella and the pup are in gravedanger.”