Page 49 of Bully Alpha's Pregnant Mate

Before I can say more, Isadora steps in. “Then let’s use the demon. If it’s here, that means it came through the portal. It knows where it is—we can use that.”

The room falls silent, and all eyes are on her. I stare at her, struggling between admiration and the immediate need to shut down this whole line of thinking.

“You want to use it?” I say slowly, feeling my pulse quicken. “Isadora, this isn’t some animal we’re tracking. It’s a demon—a demon that would tear you apart if it had half a chance.”

“Yes, Alec,” she says, looking at me steadily. “I want to use it. We’ve been hunting for that portal for weeks. If the demon can lead us there, we can end this instead of just delaying the inevitable.”

“End it how, exactly?” My voice comes out sharper than I intend, and I can feel the pack watching us, the tension building. “This isn’t just a risky plan—it’s dangerous, and you’d be right in the middle of it.”

Isadora squares her shoulders, refusing to look away. “So what? If killing it solves nothing, then taking a risk is what’s necessary to protect everyone.” She’s barely glancing at me now; her focus is on the pack. “We’ve tried finding the portal on our own, and we’ve come up with nothing. This might be our only real lead.”

I can hear murmurs spreading through the pack—agreement from some, doubt from others—but all I see is her, eyes blazing with the resolve that keeps reminding me why she’s my luna, the strength she carries when everyone else would rather hide.

But the risks twist my gut. “Isadora, there’s a reason we don’t go following demons around. It’s too dangerous. You’d be exposed—”

She turns to me, crossing her arms. “And ignoring the demon’s presence isn’t dangerous? Alec, we’ve been searching for this portal. What’s the alternative? Waiting for another demon to attack? Another to slip through? We need a different approach.”

She pauses, letting the words sink in. My anger and worry simmer beneath the surface, clashing with the realization that she’s right. We can’t keep hoping something changes if we don’t try something drastic.

“Alright, but this isn’t just about tracking,” I say, searching her face for any sign of hesitation and finding none. “You’re suggesting following a demon through our own territory to find the portal. That’s no small risk. We’re talking about lives on the line—yours, too.”

“And if it saves lives in the end?” she counters. “If we shut that portal and stop this once and for all? It’s worth it.”

The conversation around us grows, shifting from fear to something closer to hope, and I see faces changing as they take in her words. She’s steady. Every word lands, and every thought is backed by that rare courage that leaves no room for doubt.

“You know I’m not going to let you do this alone,” I say, quieter but loud enough that she can hear every word.

“Good,” she replies, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Because I wouldn’t do it without you.” She turns back to the pack and says, “We’ve all fought hard to protect what we love. But if we don’t find the source, it’s just a matter of time until another demon slips through, and another. We need to cut this off at the root. Let’s stop just defending our borders and take back control.”

A few nods ripple through the crowd. Then more, one by one, until the majority of faces are turned to us with determination rather than fear. I feel the air shift, the tension easing into a fierce resolve that’s been too long in coming.

I step forward, meeting her gaze and giving her a nod that’s both a silent thank-you and an acknowledgment of everything she’s just stirred in me. “Alright. We’ll follow this lead. But we prepare first, and we stay one step ahead. This time, we’re finishing what they started.”

She gives me a nod, and as the crowd begins to discuss, the energy in the room grows charged, even hopeful. I glance at her, knowing that this won’t be an easy path. But with her beside me, for the first time, it feels like we might actually stand a chance.

Chapter 22 - Isadora

The old meeting hall in Glory Town feels more imposing than usual, and I blame the circumstances. This isn’t my first time here, but it’s definitely the first time I’m standing at the front, under the scrutiny of alphas and council members, all of them here to hear out my idea. Everyone finds their place, and I don’t miss the wary looks darted my way.

Alec’s hand rests at the small of my back, grounding me with a steady warmth. I can feel the strength behind that touch, the silent encouragement to step up and own the moment.You called them here, Isadora. Time to show them why.

The alphas—Alec of East Hills, Damien of Starfire Hollow, and Gray of Red Arrow—are seated at the long council table. They’re watching every movement and listening to every word with varying degrees of interest.

Damien has his arms crossed, his expression skeptical. He looks over me as if dissecting every piece of my plan before I’ve even laid it out. Gray leans back, waiting for me to prove that calling this meeting was worth the trouble.

As the background conversation from the audience behind me dies down, Alec gives me a slight nudge. “They’re all ears, Isadora. Show them what you’ve got.”

I take a deep breath, step forward, and begin. “Thank you all for coming here on short notice. I know this isn’t the usual approach to a threat like this, but we’re not dealing with usual circumstances.” I let my gaze move across the room, meeting each alpha’s gaze, as well as the council members who sit scattered along the sides. “If we’re going to protect our packs, we can’t just react to attacks. We have to take the fight to them.”

“And how do you suggest we do that, exactly?” Damien asks.

My heartbeat quickens, but I keep my tone steady. “By using the demon we’ve captured to locate the portal it came from. We’d release it and follow it, track it from a safe distance, and—hopefully—find the portal that’s allowing these creatures to get through. This could be our only real shot at finding it before more demons slip through and get the jump on us.”

Gray leans forward, clasping his hands on the table. “And you plan to lead this mission yourself?” His voice is level, but there’s a note of concern in it that I wasn’t expecting.

“I would be the one following it the closest,” I reply, projecting confidence even as nerves gnaw at my stomach. “I’ve been studying demon behavior, and I’ve worked on setting up traps strong enough to hold them. I wouldn’t ask anyone to take on a risk I wouldn’t face myself.”

The room is quiet for a beat, and I can feel the weight of their scrutiny as they assess the proposal. Damien’s eyes narrow, and his lips press into a thin line. “So, let me get this straight,” he says. “You want us to let this creature loose, hoping it’ll lead you to its origin? And if it turns back and decides to attack instead?”

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