Page 39 of My Possessive Alpha

No matter how small, there was a chance that they would still be willing to distance themselves from Jack to have a relationship with me. They could’ve been there to discuss it with me, even if I wasn’t ready to hear it yet.

I knew that seeing my parents and hearing them out could mean more trouble for me, given their connection to Jack, but if that was the case, and they wanted to separate from his pack, then I wasn’t so sure I was cold enough to cut them from my life completely.

While dangerous, the idea tempted me. My curiosity was piqued, and at least some fragment of me wanted to know what they had to say.

“You alright, Lydia?” Zoe asked as I sat in her living room, watching while she sifted through different drawn-up floor plans of the new gym she had in development. She had been preoccupied with the task for most of the day, which was why she asked me to come over instead.

Blinking through my stupor, I met her concerned gaze and nodded. “Yeah, sorry. It must just be the pregnancy exhaustion.”

“Of course,” she returned gently. Despite still looking unsure, she didn’t press. “If you need anything at all, let me know.”

I offered her a smile, still grateful for her support even if I was distracted.

“So,” she began, reaching for two different layouts as she approached me, holding them up. “I’m thinking this one might be a little more beneficial given the additional space. I’m picturing some treadmills here, ellipticals on the other side, and some extra room here for general floor workouts. What do you think?”

Fitness had always been Zoe’s area of expertise, and after begging Sebastian to allow her to put together the plans for a new pack gym, given the poor state of the current one, he finally gave her the green light.

Even if it was a huge undertaking, she was more than happy to oversee the plans and work alongside the contractors.

“I’m not sure I’m the one to ask from a personal trainer standpoint, but in terms of aesthetics, I think that one looks great,” I said, hoping to be encouraging despite my lack of knowledge in that field.

Still, Zoe smiled, looking pleased with my answer. “I knew I was on the right track! This is so exciting. I’ve always wanted to do this and open up my own gym. Thankfully, my stubborn brother managed to see how useful one could be for the pack.”

I was happy to see her genuine enthusiasm and passion for the project; I did my best to be involved, even though my mind was in a completely different place.

I still couldn’t shake the predicament I found myself in, afraid that I could lose out on either my parents or my mate depending on what I decided to do in the end.

It left a sour taste in my mouth, and I didn’t know what to do.

Chapter 23 - Sebastian

Regardless of how Jack and his betas hadn’t made any serious moves since the confrontation at the lake, and things seemed mostly quiet on that front, there was no denying the weariness that seemed to set in among the pack.

Ever since I alerted everyone to be on standby for any kind of ambush or attempt to take Lydia away from us and to watch over their Luna with a keen eye, the pack-wide uneasiness has been palpable.

It wasn’t my intention to make them weary, but it was the cost of ensuring her safety. I knew it was for good reason, and they were still determined to make sure that nothing happened, but I felt guilty anyway.

The longer everything seemed to drag out, the more I was coming to terms with the fact that I needed to confront it head-on. I couldn’t sit around and wait for Jack to make his next move. I needed to set the gears in motion and finish it myself.

But in the meantime, I wanted to boost the pack morale. My stand-off with Jack could wait a few more days at least, giving me enough time to plan the celebration accordingly.

Given the pregnancy and how Lydia and I were doing our best to appreciate it while we could, I figured a night dedicated to commemorating that growing life would be the perfect opportunity to bring everyone together.

With Zoe and Roman’s help, we spent the day making arrangements. Before long, the pack was gathered in the backyard, easily filling several tables with home-cooked dishes and desserts, along with gifts and offerings for us and the baby.

Roman tended to the fire, ensuring that the flames were maintained enough to give off a healthy glow, lighting up the night as dusk set in.

Overall, the mood was good as we all had the excuse to connect over our shared enthusiasm about welcoming our pack's newest and youngest member in a few months.

“I’m back,” Zoe said as she smiled, walking in with a tray of cookies in one hand and a big wrapped box in the other. “This auntie-to-be needed to freshen up after helping all day.”

“Thanks, by the way,” I said, reaching for the tray before she could drop it. “Everything seems to be going well so far.”

“Of course. I’m more than happy to help. You know that,” she murmured, placing the gift box with the others. “Besides, Lydia and the baby deserve to be spoiled. How’s she doing?”

With a fond smile, I glanced over, finding Lydia engrossed in a conversation with a few other women in the pack, smiling as they cooed over her and the small swell of her stomach.

A sense of pride moved through me, glad to see how everyone interacted with her and was sure to be as welcoming as possible. Even just hearing their positive comments about her in passing ever since she joined the pack was enough to instill in me that I had found the perfect Luna for them.

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