Page 16 of Bully Alpha’s Pregnant Mate (Starfire Hollow Alphas #2)

Waking up with Alec wrapped around me is probably the last thing I ever thought I’d find myself getting used to, but here we are. His arm is draped over my waist, his face is buried against my neck, and his steady, warm breath caresses my skin. And the worst part? I’m not even mad about it.

I try to stay perfectly still, just lying there, marveling at how a guy who used to make my life hell could feel so… right. My brain is still catching up, replaying every stolen look and reckless decision from last night. I’d barely closed the front door before he’d pinned me to it, and we started all over again. And now, as the morning light starts peeking through the windows, I’m dangerously close to thinking I could get used to waking up like this. I could stay like this all day.

But Alec has other plans.

His arm around me tightens, pulling me a fraction closer. “You’re awake.” His voice is rough and low, and his lips brush against my shoulder in a way that sends a shiver straight down my spine. His hand slides slowly down my side, settling firmly on my hip.

I let out a soft laugh, leaning back into him, where his erection presses against my backside. “You’re not exactly subtle about what’s on your mind,” I tease, deliberately bumping against him.

A grin creeps across his face as he shifts even closer, his body pressing fully against mine. “I could try harder,” he offers as his hand trails down my side in a way that is the exact opposite of subtle.

“Well,” I reply, unable to keep the smirk off my face, “if you insist.”

We don’t need much more than that. His lips find mine, and it’s like he’s making up for all those years he spent pretending I didn’t exist. I wrap my arms around his neck, losing myself in the heat of the moment. It’s so easy to forget about everything else with him like this, just us, the quiet of the morning, and the slow, lazy way his hands roam over my body.

His fingers skim down my stomach. I hold my breath, biting back a gasp when they slip beneath the hem of my panties.

He chuckles and moves his lips to my neck, his fingers brushing against me just lightly, teasing.

The effect is instantaneous, and a soft whimper escapes my throat. He takes his time, stroking and exploring. It doesn’t take long before I’m rocking my hips, begging for more.

He gives me a wicked smile, slipping two fingers inside me, and my whole body jerks.

“God, Alec,” I breathe.

“Isadora,” he replies, his voice rough. The way he says my name makes me dizzy. My heart hammers in my chest, and my breaths come faster. He curls his fingers, working me, and the friction is so intense, I can barely stand it.

Then, because the universe has no mercy, Alec’s phone buzzes, slicing right through our haze. He ignores it, but it doesn’t stop, buzzing and buzzing until I’m giving it a death glare over my shoulder.

“You should probably get that,” I mumble against his lips, more than a little annoyed. His hand lingers, tracing circles around my clit before he finally pulls away, grumbling as he rolls over to grab his phone from the nightstand.

“Better be good, Quincey,” he mutters, and I watch his eyes flicker over the screen. The playful glint in them is quickly replaced by something far more serious.

“What is it?” I ask, propping myself up on one elbow, my amusement fading. Alec’s expression hardens, and he shoves himself out of bed, grabbing a shirt from the chair nearby.

“Looks like we’ve got something at the borders. One of the traps was triggered.” He glances back at me, and all traces of the easygoing, playful Alec are gone. Now he’s back to being the alpha, the leader responsible for everything that goes wrong in East Hills. “I need to go.”

I sit up fully with the sheets clutched around me as my mind races. “Alright, I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not,” he says immediately, his tone firm as if he expected me to argue before I’d even opened my mouth.

“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 permanent home, 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.

Dad looks at me, hesitating before he finally says, “One of our patrols got attacked. They’re hurt… badly.”

I inhale sharply, feeling a slow, sinking dread settle over me. He doesn’t have to say anything more; the news is enough to pull every thought back to Alec, to the nagging worry that maybe something’s happened to him, too.

“Was it Alec?” I can barely force the words out, my throat tight.

Dad’s face softens. “No. Alec’s alright. He’s still out there, making sure everyone’s safe.”

I release a shaky breath, and though the relief is immediate, it doesn’t fully ease the anxiety gnawing at me. Alec may be unharmed for now, but I know him—he’ll take this personally and blame himself no matter how much he’s already done to protect the pack.

An hour later, the knock at the door is soft but commanding, and I don’t even need to look to know it’s him. I feel his presence even before my mom opens the door, and then he’s there, filling the entryway with his steady, familiar presence.

Alec’s gaze sweeps over the room before landing on me, and for a second, his expression softens. But I can see the weight in his eyes, something heavy behind those gray stormy orbs.

“We’re on full lockdown,” he announces, addressing my parents. “Patrols are doubled. Scouts will be out all night, watching the perimeter.”

My father nods, giving him a look that’s somewhere between understanding and grim approval. “Good. Whatever this is, Alec, you’ll let us know if there’s anything we can do?”

Alec nods once, and though he’s putting on his alpha face, I know him too well to miss the subtle tension in his stance, the way his hands are clenched just a little too tightly. He’s holding up a wall, keeping everyone calm, and I know he thinks he needs to shoulder it alone.

I take a small step forward. “Alec,” I say softly, and when he looks at me, there’s exhaustion in his eyes that wasn’t there this morning. “Are you alright?”

He tries to give me a reassuring smile, but it’s thin and doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m fine,” he answers a little too quickly. “Just handling things.”

Without thinking, I reach for his hand, threading my fingers through his, a silent promise that he doesn’t have to bear this alone. “You’re not fine. And you don’t have to be, not here. We’re your family.”

He lets out a breath, and his shoulders drop just a fraction. For a moment, the mask slips. I can see the vulnerability there, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. He’s trying so hard to be strong for everyone else, but I know that look. He’s shaken, probably even blaming himself.

“It’s just…seeing one of our own like that.” His voice drops to barely a whisper, rough with guilt. “We did everything we could to protect them, and still…” He trails off, and his eyes cloud with frustration and something darker.

I squeeze his hand. My heart breaks for him. “Alec, this isn’t your fault. You’re doing everything you can. You can’t be everywhere at once.”

He meets my gaze, his expression desperate as if he’s hoping I’ll somehow have an answer or a way to make this easier. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough, Izzy. No matter what I do, there’s always something waiting just around the corner.” His hand tightens around mine. “It’s like I’m constantly fighting shadows, and I’m always a step behind.”

I tighten my grip, grounding him in the only way I know how. “Then we’ll just keep going until we’re not. Whatever it takes, Alec. We’ll get through this together.”

He stares at me, and for a second, the tension eases, replaced by a glimmer of relief. I can see he’s letting himself believe it, letting himself trust that he’s not alone in this.

My dad steps closer, clearing his throat. “If you need anything, anything at all, we’re here, Alec. This is all of us fighting, not just you.”

Alec nods, his voice stronger now. “Thank you. For now, stay here, keep watch. I’ll make sure you’re updated on any changes.”

There’s a murmur of agreement from my family, but my gaze stays on Alec. He’s trying to be the alpha, to stand strong, but I see past it to the vulnerability he keeps hidden from everyone else. I’m the only one he lets close enough to see it.

As he turns to leave, I take a step forward, reaching out to catch his arm. He pauses, glancing back, and for a moment, it’s just us, the world falling away as we stand in the silent understanding that’s been growing between us.

“Be careful,” I whisper.

Alec gives me a small smile, softer this time, letting down his guard just enough for me to see the man beneath. “Always,” he murmurs, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from my face. His touch lingers in a silent promise.

And then he’s gone, slipping back into the night with a final glance over his shoulder. I watch him until he disappears from sight, feeling the quiet resolve settle over me.

Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.