The Mystical Attraction of Alpha
Chapter 255

Chapter 255

Chapter 255 – To War

Ella

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” Cora grouses, shooting me a death glare as we gather at the Royaldocks. Vanarium–hulled ships fitted with cutting edge defense and weaponry systems are mooredalong the wharf, their crews flitting around like hundreds of tiny ants as they prepare the vessels fordeparture. One, the smallest, is bound for the Altaran Islands and my mother; the others are all headedback home to face Damon.

None of us want to say goodbye. Sinclair bundles me in his arms and nuzzles my neck, his wolfgrumbling and growling as he nibbles my mating mark, repeatedly reminding me that I’m his – as if Icould forget. Mine, mine, mine. He proclaims, his wandering hands moving over my round belly. Wedon’t leave for another half hour, but I’m already beginning to worry he won’t let me go when the timecomes.

Isabel is in the same boat, cuddled up with James and Sadie, trying to pretend she isn’t crying as thebig Soldier soothes and pets her. She focuses her attention on her young daughter, rocking andshushing the perfectly content child – as if Sadie is the one in need of comfort instead of her mother.James doesn’t say a word, merely kissing Isabel and holding her a bit tighter.

Of course, when I say no one wants to say goodbye, I’m excluding my sister, who is still complainingabout the fact I didn’t warn her Roger would be joining our journey as added security. “Seriously Ella,you had to know I wouldn’t approve!”

“I’m not listening!” I sing in reply, closing my eyes and kissing my mate. I slide my arms around hisneck, and Sinclair chuckles as he claims my lips. That’s it. His wolf croons in my head. Just ignore herand let me gobble you up, little mate.

I can’t help but giggle into his wolfish grin, catching a flash of emerald fire in his eyes as he capturesmy nape and drags my mouth back to his. I lean into my mate, letting him support my weight as we getlost in one another. Heat pools in my belly, and I can feel my inner animal starting to get excited.Scenting my arousal, Sinclair pulls back with a reluctant frown – there’s not enough time for us to cometogether again before we go, and continuing to rile one another up before parting is a recipe for misery.

Thus I don’t really mind my sister’s whining, because at least it’s a welcome distraction from theimminent separation of our party. I’m painfully aware that this might be the last time I ever see mymate, but it isn’t only Sinclair I’m going to miss – nor is he the only one for whom I’m worried. When allthis began I didn’t know any of these people, now I feel as though I have a deep and abiding bond witheach of these wolves – forged through the crucible of mutual trauma. Of course it’s more than that too.They’re my family, my pack. 1

I don’t want to lose any one of these people… but we’re going to war and the unavoidable reality is thatcome of these shifters won’t survive. The mere thought forces me to clamp my eyes shut. If I continuewatching them, I’m sure I’ll start to cry – though today I think tears are inevitable. Anger is easier, so Idirect all my pent up feelings towards the person who truly deserves them: Damon. Standing here,looking around at the somber, solemn faces of the people I love most – it’s painfully obvious how muchwe all have to lose, and I’d happily destroy anyone who tries to steal more from us than has alreadybeen taken. It honestly makes me want to forget replaceing my mother so I can go straight home anddestroy that tyrant.

“You’re glowing again, trouble.” Sinclair tells me softly, leaning his cheek against my hair. I crack an eyeopen and take a peek at my skin. At first it seems like nothing more than a shimmer – like the iridescentsheen of snake scales in sunlight, or the glimmering luster of pearl dust. However the effect only growsstronger as I watch, and soon it appears as though my pores are emanating their own white light. I feellike I’m back on the Ether – as if my altered consciousness is bending reality to ensnare my senses.

“I’m fantasizing about how you’re going to kill Damon.” I confess, breathing in his wonderful scent asgrisly images fill my mind. I share the pictures with Sinclair through our bond, hoping to inspire him.Decapitation, disembowelment, beating him bloody with his own dumb leg… or maybe you could tiehim up and sick some rogues on him.

“Mmm, my bloodthirsty mate.” He purrs, letting me feel the steady vibrations in his chest. There’s aflash of sadistic appreciation through our bond, but Sinclair’s wolf seems much more interested inexploring every inch of my glowing skin. “I can’t wait to see all the incredible things you learn from yourmother.” He lifts my hand to his lips, holding my gaze as he bestows long, luxurious kisses over myknuckles. “You hold such mysteries for our kind, Ella. There’s no telling the secrets you’re about touncover.” He murmurs, rocking me back and forth in place. “I can’t wait to see you figure it all out andunlock your power… to watch you come into your own. My Ella.”

I can hear the words he’s leaving unsaid, his hope that he lives long enough to see these giftsmanifest, and to see our son come into the world. Oh Goddess, I think as his mood grows heavy. It’sgetting close to our departure time, but I’m not ready to say goodbye, not yet. I’ll never be ready. I nodeagerly, “I’ll learn. And I’ll come to you as soon as I can. Maybe we can castrate Damon together?” Isuggest hopefully.

Sinclair laughs, “Whatever happened to that innocent little nanny who wouldn’t hurt a fly?”

I hiccup and sniffle, fighting the emotions seeking to drown me. There’s a new frisson of tension in theair, a sense of communal understanding that we need to finish up. I try to smile, “She was corrupted bya big bad wolf, of course.”

Sinclair kisses me, pouring all his tenderness and passion through our bond. “Listen to me, baby. Wedon’t have a lot of time left.”

I shake my head, the tears hovering on my lashes immediately tumbling down my cheeks. The lasttime I said goodbye to my mate he almost died, and that was supposed to be a safe trip. Now he’sactually going into battle. Primal fear and bad memories rage and roil inside my chest, and part of mewants to cling to my mate and beg him not to go.

“I know, sweetheart.” Sinclair assures me, not needing any explanation for my sudden panic. “It will beokay.” He soothes, stroking my trembling lower lip with his thumb. “I know I can’t promise us a future,but Goddess… if I could…” He shakes his head in frustration, holding me a bit tighter as his green gazeseers me. “When we get through this I’m going to write you a whole book of promises and spend therest of our lives fulfilling them.”

“The only promise I need is for you to always remember how much I love you.” I counter, trying tosteady my shaking voice. “How much Rafe loves you… and your pack.” I want to bury my head in hischest and sob, but somehow I manage to keep going. “I need you to promise that whatever happens,you always keep reminding yourself how worthy you are of all that love – because you are. You’rebrilliant and selfless and deserve so much more credit than you take.” I’m trying to think of all the thingsI need to say to him, just in case this is the end. I don’t want to leave a single word unsaid. “And youmusn’t blame yourself for whatever comes to pass. You have given everything for this pack, and you’reabout to give even more. None of this is your fault, Dominic.” “Right back at you, gorgeous.” He smilessadly, and a pulse of uncertainty escapes me. Now that the moment is upon us, the idea of running offto remote shifter lands without him is too daunting to contemplate. Self–doubt assails me, and Sinclairdoesn’t accept it for a moment. “I believe in you.” He professes intently. “I know you will succeed, Iknow you will replace the answers you seek, and I know that you will master your powers with flying colors.You have an incredible future ahead of you, no matter what happens in this war, you know that?”Sinclair’s eyes are shining as he returns my sentiments, trying to fit a lifetime of love and emotion into afew words.

“I believe in you.” I reply tearfully. “Damon is no match for you, Dominic. He’s a little boy who got holdof a big stick and he thinks he can make us all back down. You’re going to prove him wrong, you’regoing to show him what a weak little insect he is.”

“I love you so much.” Sinclair declares, dragging me into his arms. “If Damon wants to keep me fromyou, he’s going to have to do a lot worse than kill me.” He drops onto his knees then, pressing hispalms to either side of my tummy and leaning his forehead against my navel. My precious pup. I haveto leave you now, and I’m so sorry. It’s the last thing I want in the whole world, but I promise I’m goingto do everything in my power to come back to you. I can’t wait to meet you, Rafe. I’m expecting to feelconfusion or offense through my bond with the baby, but instead I hear the tiniest, garbled wail. Italmost sounds like a person speaking underwater, only much for garbled and high pitched. My eyeswiden as I realize that our unborn pup is crying within my womb – for the first time. Sinclair looks at mein surprise and absolute misery as we reach the same conclusion: Rafe understands. And he is nothappy.