Page 36 of Bully Alpha's Pregnant Mate

“Excuse me?” I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “You think I’m just going to sit here while you deal with whatever’s out there? After last night? Alec, come on.”

He lets out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Isadora, it’s not safe. We don’t know what’s out there or how big of an issue this could turn into. I need you to go to your parents’ place and stay with them until we have a better idea of what we’re dealing with.”

“You can’t seriously expect me to sit on the sidelines,” I argue, stepping out of bed to face him. “I’ve been working with you and Jade for weeks on the traps and patrols, and now that something’s actually happening, you want me to just hide?”

“It’s not about hiding,” he says, reaching out to take my hands, his grip gentle but firm. “It’s about keeping you safe.Look, please, just do this. I need to know you’re okay, or I’ll be out there distracted and won’t be able to focus on anything else.”

I hesitate, caught between wanting to argue and the look in his eyes, a mixture of worry and determination that’s hard to ignore. He’s already got enough to deal with. The last thing he needs is me making things harder.

“Fine,” I relent. “But you’d better come back in one piece, or I’m coming after you myself.”

Alec lets out a soft chuckle and brushes his thumb over my knuckles. “Deal. Now, go get dressed and grab your things. I’ll make sure Quincey or someone from the patrol escorts you over.”

I roll my eyes but don’t argue further, heading to my closet to grab some clothes and a few things to bring with me. It’s not exactly how I pictured our morning going, but I guess being the luna was never going to be all quiet mornings and stolen moments.

As promised, Quincey meets me at the front door, all seriousness for once, though there’s a glint of mischief in his eyes when he takes in my somewhat rumpled appearance.

“Shut up,” I growl, tugging my jacket on.

“I didn’t say a word.” He holds his hands up, grinning. “Ready to go?”

The walk to my parents’ house feels shorter than usual, probably because Quincey doesn’t stop talking the entire way, filling the silence with stories about training mishaps and recent pack drama. It’s nice, though. A distraction from the knots of worry twisting in my stomach.

We reach my parents’ house, and Quincey gives me a small nod before heading off. I knock on the door. My mom opens it almost instantly, her face lighting up with surprise.

“Isadora! We didn’t know you were coming by.” She pulls me into a hug, and there’s that familiar scent of lavender, something my mom has sworn by for as long as I can remember.

“Yeah, uh, surprise visit,” I say, letting out a small laugh. “Alec thought it’d be safer if I stayed here for a bit. Just some… border stuff.”

Her eyes widen, but she keeps her tone calm as she guides me inside. “Well, we’re glad to have you. Your sisters will be thrilled to see you, too.”

Before long, my sisters swarm me with hugs and questions, and we settle into the living room, where my dad brings out his homemade coffee—a rare treat reserved for family gatherings. There’s a warmth in the house that I hadn’t realized I’d missed, a sense of normalcy in the midst of all the chaos.

As we chat, my mom and dad exchange glances, both of them clearly curious about Alec but choosing not to press for details. Still, I can see the concern in their eyes, the way my mom’s hand lingers on my shoulder, the way my dad keeps glancing toward the window as if half-expecting Alec to appear.

My youngest sister, Janelle, is the one to finally ask. “So, are you and Alec… you know, official-official now? I mean, I know you’re married, but you know what I mean.”

I stifle a laugh, glancing away. “Something like that.”

Janelle’s eyes sparkle with interest, and she grins. “Does that mean you’ll stick around this time?”

“Yeah, maybe,” I say, warmth spreading through me at the thought. It’s strange, thinking of East Hills as my permanenthome, but sitting here, surrounded by my family, I feel rooted in a way I haven’t before.

After a while, my mom pulls me aside. “Isadora, are you alright? This whole luna business hasn’t been easy on you, I can tell.”

I take a deep breath, considering my answer. “It’s been a lot to adjust to, but Alec… he’s been there, every step of the way. I think… I think this is exactly where I need to be, even if it’s not always easy.”

She nods, squeezing my hand. “You’ve grown so much, Isadora. I’m proud of you. And if Alec makes you feel safe, then you’re right where you belong.”

A warmth fills my chest, and I squeeze her hand back, grateful for her support, for this small moment of clarity amid all the uncertainties.

The conversation eventually drifts back to lighter topics, and I feel myself relaxing, letting go of some of the tension that’s been building since Alec’s message. It’s moments like these, with my family around me, that remind me of why I chose this path. Why, despite everything, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

It’s early evening when the silence begins to feel suffocating. The hours have crawled by with no word from Alec. My family has tried to keep the mood light, pulling out familiar stories and steaming cups of Dad’s too-strong coffee. But the undercurrent of tension is impossible to ignore, woven into every glance, every attempt at distraction. Even my sisters are unusually quiet.

A chime cuts through the quiet, and I glance over to see my dad checking his phone. His expression changes as he reads the screen. He sets it down slowly, staring off into the distance.

“What is it?” I ask. My mom freezes as she raises her coffee cup, and my sisters look between us.

---