The Mystical Attraction of Alpha
Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Chapter 46 – Setting a Date

Sinclair

I’m watching Ella retreat, wishing I could read her complex mind as easily as I can read her bodylanguage. My wolf is angry with me for upsetting her, but I’m not sure what I did wrong. She likedkissing me, there’s no doubt about that. I also don’t know why she would ever think I’m the casual type– because I’m anything but. Still, she seemed to be telling the truth when she said she didn’t wantmore. What am I supposed to do with that information?

Ella is clearly feeling off-kilter, and it’s my responsibility to center her – but if she won’t tell me whyshe’s feeling agitated, how am I supposed to help her? I know exactly what I would do if she was ashe-wolf, but I don’t know if a human would react the same way. My wolf wants me to try – he’scompletely convinced that Ella is like any other out-of-sorts mate, who just needs a firm hand to remindher who’s in charge so she’ll share her worries with us. After all, she made me promise to communicatemore – shouldn’t that go both ways?

I’m so caught up in my head I almost don’t realize that the Prince is approaching me, a knowing smirkdominating his features. “I remember those days,” He remarks. “When you first meet your mate andyou can’t keep your hands off each other – when you miss them even though they’ve only left the roomfor a moment. It’s a wonder you haven’t marked her yet.”

My blood begins to boil so quickly that I’ve barely processed his words before my wolf is clawing at thesurface of my skin. The only person who knows that Ella hasn’t been marked is Roger… if the Princeknows too, it’s because my brother told him.

I’m not surprised by Roger’s betrayal. He’s had it out for me since day one, and his heroics with therogues was always highly suspect. It was much too convenient that he happened to turn up just in theknick of time when Ella needed him that fateful night, and his overtures of friendship in the time since

have been completely out of character. For a moment I wondered if he truly did have a soft spot for thehuman – if anyone is capable of thawing his frozen heart, it’s my Ella, but now the truth is clear.

More importantly, the crown and the Kingdom are on the line. If people think something is off with Ellaand I they’ll lose confidence in my ability to lead. We have to appear strong and united to pull this off,and Goddess forbid if anyone begins to suspect we aren’t truly mated, it could ruin everything. There’sno doubt in my mind that the Prince will use this information as ammunition against me in the campaignunless I can convince him it would be a mistake to make it public. If he believes it will backfire on him,he won’t share it, and the only way I know how to make him think this is by marking Ella and showinghim the evidence, or selling the same lie I told my brother.

The former option is more tempting than I’d like to admit. My wolf is already urging me to mark Elladespite the fact that she’s human and it’s impossible for her to be my mate. He wants her, and hedoesn’t seem to care about any of the difficulties or details. Already, I hear his voice growling mine,every time I lay eyes on her. But it can’t happen, I’d never be able to mark her without damaging herdelicate flesh. For all I know the force of the bite could permanently injure her.

“You know I pride myself on self-control.” I finally answer the Prince, shaking myself from my thoughts.“We’re waiting until our mating ceremony.”

The Prince scoffs, “Self control, or lack of passion? Not a good sign for an Alpha. If your mate isn’ttaking the edge off, how stable will you be to govern?”

“One thing you don’t ever have to worry about with Ella and I, is passion.” I tell him, my voice imbuedwith abject honesty. I don’t need to have bedded Ella to know we aren’t lacking in that area. Sheoverflows with both sweet submission and fiery passion, and I can’t imagine a more perfect fit for myown desires. Sometimes I feel guilty for comparing her to Lydia– but they’re so different I can’t helpmyself. Lydia was skilled but always distant in bed. She let me dominate her physically, but never gaveherself over emotionally – creating a cavern of distance between us long before she left.

Ella on the other hand… I already know that were she to give herself to me, she would give herselfcompletely – she wouldn’t be able to help herself. She throws herself, body and soul, into everythingshe does – leading with her heart. The challenge with her is convincing her to take the leap. I can seehow skittish she is after Mike’s mistreatment, and who knows what other traumas she’s survived. It’sclear she doesn’t take the decision to jump into relationships lightly… I wonder if that’s why she’sbehaving the way she is tonight? Does she truly not want anything from me romantically? Is it purelyphysical for her and she’s just not interested in being with someone without an emotional connection?Or does she feel as strongly as I do, but holds herself back out of fear or uncertainty?

“I presume you’ve already set a date for the mating ceremony, then?” The Prince prompts me, seemingmore than a little peeved that he isn’t holding my full attention.

“Of course.” Now this time I am lying. We’ve made no such arrangements, making up the story solelyfor Roger’s sake.

“But not before the wild hunt, I take it?” He guesses, even coc kier now, “You really think you can getthrough the night without marking her?”

“As I said, self control.” I repeat, though in truth I’m very worried about this. I’d started to warn Ellabefore she rushed away, but the Prince’s mocking makes me more determined than ever to hold out.“We’ll be mated exactly one month after our pup is due – at the summer solstice.”

“An auspicious day.” The Prince nods, looking pis sed. He knows as well as I do that royal matingceremonies are not to be taken lightly, and are often planned around major holidays when theGoddess’s magic – and our own – is strongest. The fact that I named this date implies that I’m alreadyassuming I’ll win the campaign and that Ella and I will have no problems delivering the Kingdom its heir.Besides, the pack will eat up the idea of a Royal Wedding far more eagerly than they would a privateceremony for a contender. Some people might vote for me just for the occasion alone – of course that’snot how I want to win, but this is life or death – I can’t afford to be noble.

“You must be sure of your victory.” The Prince continues, his tone much too smug for my liking. It’sobvious he’s just trying to push back at my own power play, but there’s something about his smirk thatmakes me worry his confidence isn’t all a bluff.

“It will be an important day for my family whether I win the campaign or not.” I shrug. “Only theGoddess knows what the future will hold in that regard, but I know my mating day with Ella will be onefor the ages, King or not.”

The Prince laughs humorlessly. “That’s one way of looking at it.”

“Do you have another?” I bite, before I can stop myself.

“In my opinion a true Alpha makes his own destiny.” The Prince answers ominously.

My spine stiffens as I think about my father. Is the Prince alluding to his attack? To his own fatherclaiming the throne by eliminating the competition through any means possible? Is he confirming thathe has plans to pull a similar act of aggression to keep me from winning? Taking credit for the attack onElla? Of course he’s always been my number one suspect, but it’s one thing to believe this withoutproof, and another entirely to have a confession rubbed in your face. Surely he’s not so stu pid to dosuch a thing.

“Well as an Alpha with actual experience leading a pack,” I cut, leaving the rest of my sentence obviousbut unsaid: rather than lazing around while my Daddy does all the hard work for me. “I can tell you thatit’s not that simple. You might be surprised at the unexpected twists life throws at you.”

“Spoken like a man who’s prepared to lose.” He snaps in an undertone.

I arch my brow. “Haven’t you been paying attention? I can’t lose– I lead the strongest pack on thecontinent, I have an incredible mate and my first pup on the way.” I offer him a wide smile bound to

infuriate him. “In my book that’s a win – no matter what else happens.”

It’s both the truth, and a misdirect. I do feel as though I have everything I need personally – but I’m notin this campaign for myself. I don’t want the power for personal gain, I have to take it in order to protectshifter-kind and the human world from the Prince’s tyranny. If he succeeds we’ll likely be headed for acivil war and abuses unlike anything we’ve seen before. And I can’t let that happen at any cost.

It’s time I buy a ring. Ella and I can’t keep pretending she’s already marked – by morning everyone inthe Kingdom will know she isn’t, which means we’re going to have to go through with the matingceremony even if the rest of our relationship is a sham. I might not be able to really mark her – but Ican sure as hell marry her.