Page 26 of Bully Alpha's Pregnant Mate

“More than that. When I was on my own, he checked on me, made sure I had a safe place to go, even helped me connect with others like me who’d been… misunderstood. He kept it quiet, too. Told me he’d rather they think he was the one causing trouble instead of me. When he moved to East Hills and took on the role of alpha, it basically changed his life, all so Starfire Hollow could stay together and not have to disband.”

The image I have of Alec—the cocky, irritating alpha who rarely lets me have the last word—begins to shift, reshaping itself into something harder to fit into my narrow expectations.

“Not exactly the guy who used to steal the library from me for his team meetings all summer long,” I comment with a weak smile.

Jade laughs, shaking her head. “Trust me, he’s grown since then. And I know it’s easier to remember the past, but Alec’s changed, Isadora. He’s earned his place and then some. He fought for it, not just for himself but for everyone in this pack. And he’d do it all over again if he had to.”

Penny starts to wriggle in her lap, finally managing to escape with a triumphant squeal. Jade and I both laugh, watching her make a mad dash toward the abandoned pile of crayons. But my mind is only half on Penny’s antics. The rest is stuck on Alec and the nagging feeling that maybe, just maybe, I’ve misjudged him.

“So,” I start, trying to sound casual, “how long did he keep tabs on you when you left Starfire Hollow?”

Jade shrugs. “Until they came begging for me to come back. He caught a lot of hell for it, too. Damien was pissed. You know how close those two are. I think my husband felt betrayed that Alec didn’t tell him, but my brother did what he had to do to look out for me. You know how persistent Alec can be. He wasn’t going to just let me deal all alone.”

“Persistent” is an understatement. But there’s a softness to his persistence now that’s hard to ignore. Every time he looks at me, every time he goes out of his way to help me, there’s a sincerity that’s starting to wear down the walls I’ve spent years building.

Penny comes trotting over with a drawing, all scribbles and lines, proudly holding it up for us to admire. Jade coos at it, placing it on the table as if it’s a masterpiece, and I lean forward, pointing out the random shapes and lines to make her giggle. But part of me is still tangled up in thoughts of Alec, the side of him I’m only now discovering.

“He must be pretty close with Penny, then,” I say, eyeing the little girl as she clambers back onto Jade’s lap.

“Oh, you have no idea,” Jade confirms with a laugh. “He adores her. Every time he comes by, he spoils her with books, toys, you name it. Honestly, it’s like watching two kids play together. Alec would do anything for her.”

I take that in, watching as Penny babbles happily in a language only toddlers understand. There’s a warmth spreading through my chest, an unfamiliar feeling I’m not entirely sure I want to name.

“Sounds like he’s become quite the family man,” I remark.

Jade grins, nodding. “He has. And he wants to build that same trust and support for the entire pack, not just his family.That’s why he’s so invested in keeping things safe. It’s not just about him—it’s about everyone, especially people who’ve been cast aside. Like you and me.”

“Me?” I let out a soft, skeptical laugh. “I’m hardly cast aside. I’m just the reluctant luna dragged back into a world I thought I’d left behind.”

“Maybe. But Alec sees something in you, Isadora. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to all this in the first place. And believe me, he wouldn’t go through all this trouble for just anyone.”

A spark of doubt flickers in my mind, but it’s met by a different feeling, one that feels a lot like… hope? Or maybe trust. A fragile, tentative trust I’m not ready to admit to yet. But Jade’s words stay with me, and for the first time, the idea of letting Alec in doesn’t feel quite so impossible.

Penny grabs onto my hand, her tiny fingers gripping mine with surprising strength. I glance down at her wide, curious eyes, a little spark of joy lighting up her face as she babbles something about “fishies.”

Jade laughs, ruffling Penny’s hair. “She thinks everyone should come to her tea parties, even the fish.”

“Well,” I say with a smile, “I guess I could make an exception for her.”

Jade smiles, squeezing my arm. “See? It’s not that hard to let people in.”

***

A few hours later, Jade and I make our way to the park in the middle of town, where the pack is having a get-together.The open area, lined by trees, is a casual hub where everyone seems to gather to unwind. There are picnic tables, fire pits, a few hammocks strung up between trees.

Today, the air smells like wood smoke and fresh grass, and there’s a warmth that seems to settle over everything, comfortable and easy.

Jade settles in beside me on one of the benches, Penny happily tucked on her lap, reaching for Jade’s necklace with all the tenacity of a tiny, adorable tornado. My attention keeps wandering, though, pulled across the grounds to where Alec’s holding a training session for some of the pack’s teenagers. He’s clearly in his element, focused and commanding, moving with that quiet intensity that’s so frustratingly magnetic.

“Someone in town told me that Alec’s been doing this every week for them,” Jade explains after she catches my eye with a knowing glint. “Thinks it’s important they learn how to handle themselves young. And, of course, he’s gotten a fair bit of attention for it.”

“Oh, really?” I try to keep my voice light, uninterested, but my gaze keeps darting back to Alec.

He’s sparring with Kai now, laughing and dodging her hits. His shirt clings to his shoulders, taut across his back, showing off the play of muscle beneath. I’m horrified by how intently I’m watching him, but holy hell, does he look sexy out there, all sweaty and buff.

Jade nudges me, smirking as if she knows exactly what’s going on in my head. “Enjoying the view?”

I clear my throat and focus on Penny, who is now attempting to chew on Jade’s sleeve. “Oh, please,” I say, but it sounds weak even to my own ears. “I was just, you know, admiring the technique.”

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