Page 10 of Impregnated By the Alpha

“Vera?” She called, taking off her shoes in the hallway.

“In here!” Vera replied from the kitchen.

Moira felt a tremor of trepidation at the thought of Vera cooking, relieved to find she was just hunched over the island, a French press full of coffee beside her.

“For a second, I thought you were cooking,” Moira said, setting the scones down on the counter.

“Never,” Vera swore. She grabbed two mugs and filled them while Moira helped herself to cream and sugar. “You’re late.”

“Don’t start with me,” Moira warned, pushing a scone at her sister. “I saw Jonah the other night.”

Vera rolled her eyes. “I know he bullied you, Moira, but seriously, it’s been years. You can’t let him shake you up like this. You need to learn to be more resilient, or no one is going to take you seriously in this world.”

She could see the lecture building, her sister picking up steam as she settled on to her favorite topic—Moira’s lack of ambition.

“I don’t need people to take me seriously; I just need them like my cookies.” Moira helped herself to a scone. It was perfect, buttery, crunch, tender. If only the rest of her life came as easily to her as baking did.

They faced off across the island, neither of them flinching. Moira arched one eyebrow, daring her sister to keep going. Vera sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Fine, I’ll drop it,” Vera said.

“Thank you—“ Moira began, before Vera cut in again.

“Just tell me you’ll at least consider doing some night classes. A degree can only help you. And that’s all I’ll say about it.” She held up her hands.

The doorbell rang, interrupting the argument before it could pick up steam. Vera frowned.

“Who is that?” Moira asked.

“No idea. I’m not expecting anyone.” Vera carried her coffee to the front door, and Moira followed.

For a second, she thought it might be Jonah coming to talk to her, where there was no Adria to cut him off. She shook her head, annoyed at herself. Jonah was not a boogeyman, trying to jump out and scare her, and he was only as powerful as she let him be. At least, that’s what she’d learned in therapy all those years ago.

It was Adria at the door, her usually sunny face clouded with emotion.

“Hey,” she said. “Sorry for just dropping by like this. Can I come in?”

Vera stepped back to let her in. “Of course. Moira just brought scones, and I made some coffee.”

“Really, you’re saving us from the argument we were about to have,” Moira added, following them into the kitchen.

Adria laughed, but Moira could see that something was bothering her, something that had brought her to Vera’s house. It wasn’t just a social visit.

“Is everything okay?” Moira asked, passing Adria a cup of coffee. “You seem upset.”

“Have either of you been into town yet today? Past the green?” Adria looked from Moira to Vera.

They shook their heads.

“I came straight here,” Moira answered.

Vera pointed to her lounge-wear-clad legs. “I haven’t left the house yet and, honestly, probably won’t.”

Vera took her days off of work seriously. Pajamas, couch, and snacks all day. She said it was the only thing that could stave off the burnout from being a veterinarian.

Adria blew on her coffee, then took a sip, wincing. “You make the strongest coffee in the world, Vera. This could wake the dead.”

“I’ll have to try it next time I lose a patient,” Vera said, taking a long drink from her own mug.

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