The Mystical Attraction of Alpha
Chapter 276

Chapter 276

Chapter 276-Ella Gets Hungry

Sinclair

1 wake, a few hours later, jumping up straight the moment I realize that Elle n’t next to me.

She had drifted off to sleep hours ago after a simple dinner and a movie marathon. While she dozednext to me, I’d spent most of the late hours of the night answered the stack of emails piling up in myinbox and watching her sleep from the corner of my eye. But now, when my eyes peeked open for justa moment after maybe two hours of sleep?

Gone

I hurl the sheets off of me, getting to my feet in a flash, my head whipping around as I search the emptyroom for her with all of my senses. But my eyes tell me that she’s not here, and my nose. Her scent isdull, but not stale She hasn’t been gone long

A growl starts in my chest as I stalk from the room, looking through the empty hallways for my mate,desperate to replace her. She was on bed rest, damn it – where the hell else would she be except bed?Unless Unless, something had happened – but she’d have woken me –

Or she’d been kidnapped – but there’s no way I’d have slept through that.

I follow her scent quickly, my anger intensifying as I realize that it leads me down stairs. God damn it,the doctor expressly forbid her from stairs. I pound down the staircase hurrying through the hall andslamming open the kitchen door –

But then, she’s suddenly there. Seated alone at the kitchen table in the dark, surrounded by a pile offood, her eyes wide.

“Um,” she says innocently, knowing she’s been caught and lowering the piece of cold fried chickenback down to its plate. “Do you want some?”

“Ella,” I growl, storming to her side, relief washing through me like a wave. “What are you doing downhere?” She looks up at me with her eyes still wide and then gestures at all the food as if it’s obvious.

My snarl deepens and I don’t let her off the hook. “The doctor told you to stay in bed – “I didn’t go far!”

“He told you not to go down stairs.” She holds up a corrective finger at me. “He told me not to go upstairs. And I slid down on my butt to be extra careful! It was totally fine!”

I groan, throwing my head back and pressing my eyes shut. “Ella,” I whisper between my clenchedteeth. “You can’t be taking these risks-”

“I was hungry!” she protests. I snap my gaze back to her, glaring. “I could have gotten you food!Anything you wanted! I would have –”

Her eyes go soft then, filled with apology. “You would have gotten up,” she scolds, her voice worried.“When you’d just fallen asleep, Dominic She shakes her gently at me. “You can’t be at my beck and calllike this- not for something simple like a trip to the kitchen for some food.”

“And how,” I ask, my anger fading but still not erased, “would you have gotten back upstairs? Afteryour…” “I stare around at the rather shocking amount of food gathered on the kitchen table, “feast?”“You have like six couches, Dominic,” she replies, smiling innocently up at me like a little kid whoknows they can get out of trouble if they’re cute enough. Damn it, but it works. Just a little. “I’d havenapped on one of those until morning, when you got up, and could lift me in your big strong arms andtake me back upstairs.”

“Oh, so you had it all planned out?” I murmur, relenting and raising a hand to play with the ends of herlovely rose–gold hair. I’m starting to calm now, realizing that my panic, while not precisely misplaced,

hadn’t come to the dark ends I was imagining.

“Yup!” she quips, giving me a big smile and reaching for an Oreo, popping it in her mouth.

I can’t help laughing at this and pull a chair out for myself, sitting next to her. She hasn’t won – not yetbut…well, I can’t really resist the sight of my pregnant mate happy, healthy, and hungry. But hungryfor….

“What are you even eating,” I blurt out, frowning at her selection. It’s absolutely all over the place – friedchicken, pasta salad, cakes, wasabi–dipped peanuts, even a bowl of peas…

“Everything,” she murmurs, grabbing and pulling open a pack of licorice. “That’s also why I couldn’twake you to bring me food. I didn’t know what I wanted. Turns out, I wanted it all.” I grimace as shetakes a bite of the licorice, ripping it off with her teeth as she turns a curious gaze to me. “Any chancewe could move the nest down here? It’d be terribly convenient, with all of these cravings

I cut her off with a laugh, shaking my head. “No, Ella,” I insist. “You can’t move into the pantry like amouse. We’ll just make sure you have a better selection upstairs. Maybe we can hire someone…” I driftoff into my thoughts, trying to think through solutions as she continues to pick through the contents ofthe table, grazing happily on whatever her body tells her is next.

My mind doesn’t come up with much though. I’m too tired for real ideas. I sigh, running a hand downmy face and rubbing my eyes with my thumb and my forefinger, thinking longingly of my pillow and ourbed.

Ella gives a soft little “oh,” putting her hand on my shoulder. I open my eyes and look at her worriedface. “See?” she insists, shaking her head and studying my tired face. “I was right – you needed thesleep – you shouldn’t be up, Dominic – you’re not on the pregnancy clock like me. You should beasleep.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I murmur, fighting a yawn. “I’m up whenever you need me –”

“And don’t you see how that’s a problem?” she pushes, shaking her head at me. “Dominic, yourdedication to me means everything, you keep me so safe, but,” she pauses, biting her lip, perhapschoosing her words carefully. “You have more then me on your plate now – more than you ever haveYou – you’ll be crowned King soon. You have to be able to turn half your attention to that, and let mecare for myself in the meantime.”

“Ella,” I begin, shaking my head.

“No,” she interrupts, reaching out a hand to touch my cheek. “Let me finish, baby I see you -I see whatyou’ve been doing. You spend a whole day with me, making sure my every need is met, entertainingme, keeping me company. And when I fall asleep? You spend a whole day playing catch up with therest of your life. I mean, half of your staff is on night hours now, aren’t they? All for me.” She shakes herhead slowly, begging me to see her side “It’s too much, Dominic ”

“No.” I growl stubbornly. I’m not angry, I’m just frustrated because I know she’s right. “It’s not too much– you mean everything, Ella –”

“I know,” she assures me. “But Dominic. I’m on the mend. I’m getting better. And you’ve got to stoptreating me like a porcelain doll – I’m strong.” She flicks her hair back confidently then, affecting anarrogance I know she doesn’t feel. “I am, after all, Goddess born,” she jokes, her mouth pulling up atthe corner.

I laugh with her but still shake my head. “Ella, if anything were to happen to you…”

“It’s not going to,” she states brightly, utterly confident. “Trust me, Sinclair. I’m good. Let me take care ofme, and our baby, and let me tell you when I need help.” Her smile broadens. “Like right now!” Sheraises her arms out to me. “When I need you to carry me back upstairs to bed. Because I’m finished

with this.” She waves a dismissive hand at the mess all over the table. She grimaces briefly, pressingthat hand lightly on her stomach. “I think Rafe is telling me that the licorice was a step too far.”

I chuckle, standing and gathering my mate into my arms. Before we go, though, while I’ve got hercaptive against me, I lower my face to hers for a quick kiss. “All right, trouble,” I tease. “But you promiseme, okay? That you’ll ask for help when you need it. No pride, no putting me or the nation first.”

“I promise,” she says seriously, unable to help her little smile. “If it’s between the national economy andme getting a bubble bath, I come first. I have no problem with that.”

And so, smiling, I carry my love back up to bed.