Page 26 of Bully Alpha’s Pregnant Mate (Starfire Hollow Alphas #2)

The council chamber feels stiff and formal, as usual, and I can’t say I’ll miss it when we’re done. Though we’re finally wrapping up, the energy’s still tense, like everyone’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. The alphas and council members exchange nods of approval, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this is far from over.

Damien stands and clears his throat. His voice booms over the others as he speaks. “I think it’s safe to say that we owe you both—Isadora and Jade—a debt we can’t quite repay. Your contributions, the risks you took… I don’t think any of us could have anticipated how close we’d come to losing everything. And it’s thanks to you that we’re not facing a portal leaking demons right now.”

I feel Alec’s hand brush against mine, grounding me as the weight of Damien’s words settles in. It’s not that I need the credit, but hearing it from someone as stoic as Damien is a rare thing, underscoring how close we came to losing all of this.

Gray adds, “The packs owe both of you.”

Jade, for her part, doesn’t look remotely satisfied. She has her arms crossed, and she’s sporting a slight frown. “I appreciate that, Gray, but you all need to know that this is only a temporary fix.” She casts a wary glance around the room. “We didn’t destroy the portal; we only sealed it. If I had more strength or support, maybe we could’ve closed it permanently. But as it stands, it could reappear somewhere else.”

A murmur runs through the room, a few council members exchanging concerned glances. Alec stands a little taller beside me, keeping his eyes steady on Jade, taking in every word.

Gray’s eyebrows raise. “Are you saying that this might not be over?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Jade replies. “I did everything I could, but this kind of energy—demonic dark magic—needs more than just one witch’s power to close down entirely. We might need someone with experience in the dark arts if we want to keep this from happening again.”

The conversations around us rise a notch. I bite back a sigh, knowing how they feel. This “victory” we’re celebrating is only the tip of the iceberg, and Jade’s making it clear that we’re not out of the woods. It’s a sobering reminder, but she’s not wrong. As the packs continue to talk, Alec’s hand finds mine, and his thumb grazes the back of it in a subtle but steadying gesture.

Finally, after more back-and-forth, the meeting starts to wind down, and the council members disperse with reluctant nods and expressions that look a bit more shaken than I’m used to seeing. As they file out, Alec tugs me gently toward the door, a gleam in his eyes that’s at odds with the seriousness of the meeting we’ve just left.

“Alright, we’re done here,” he announces.

I raise a brow, letting him lead me down the hallway. “What’s with the sudden urgency? Got more demons to slay?”

He chuckles and pulls me a bit closer as we step into the open air. The sky is a blend of orange and pink, with the last traces of daylight sending a warm glow over the forest around Glory Town. “Just come with me,” he says. “You’ll see.”

We walk in silence, his hand warm around mine as he leads me down the winding path that cuts through the trees. The scent of pine and moss fills the air, mingling with the cool bite of evening. Despite my curiosity, I find myself relaxing, letting the tension from the meeting melt away. Alec glances over his shoulder at me with that glint of anticipation still sparking in his eyes.

“You’re being suspiciously quiet,” I comment, unable to keep the grin from my face. “Should I be worried?”

He laughs, a rich, warm sound that wraps around me. I feel a little flutter in my stomach. “You don’t trust me?”

“Oh, I trust you,” I reply, nudging him. “But it’s the ‘just follow me’ part that’s a little concerning.”

He grins, tugging me forward as we step into a small clearing. My breath catches as I take in the scene before me. There, spread across the grass, is a proper picnic blanket laid out with candles in glass holders glowing softly around the edges. A bucket of ice cradles a bottle of wine, and beside it, a plate of strawberries dipped in chocolate sits invitingly. Everything about it feels cozy and intimate, a world away from his last attempt.

“Alec,” I breathe, my eyes widening as I take it all in. “This is… unexpected.”

His gaze softens, and a slight smile tugs at his lips as he watches me. “I wanted to do something for us—something that wasn’t about duty or responsibility. Just you and me.”

He takes my hand, guiding me to sit down with him on the blanket. The candlelight flickers around us, sending soft shadows to dance across his face, making his eyes glimmer with something I can’t quite read. But there’s a weight in the air between us, a tension that feels charged, as though there’s something he’s holding back.

As I reach for a strawberry, he shifts to his side and slips his hand into his pocket, and before I can react, he’s kneeling in front of me, holding out a small velvet box.

My breath catches, and the world narrows down to just him, the soft glow of the candles, and that little box cradled in his hand.

“Isadora,” he says, his voice steady but threaded with a rare vulnerability that makes my heart race, “will you marry me again? For real this time. No obligations, no expectations. Just us, choosing each other because we want to.” He opens the box to reveal a ring, the diamond catching the light in a way that makes it look like a tiny star right there in his hand.

For a moment, all I can do is stare. The weight of his words, the intensity in his gaze, it all leaves me speechless. I manage to swallow, my voice barely a whisper as I say, “Alec, I… I don’t know what to say. I mean, we’re already married, you know.”

He lets out a soft, almost nervous laugh. “Obviously, I know that. But I want to renew our vows. I want you to marry me because it’s what you want, not out of some obligation.”

My heart swells, and a laugh bubbles out of me, soft but full of so much more than I can say. “Yes,” I whisper, nodding as the tears finally spill over. “Yes, Alec, of course. I want this. I want you.”

The relief in his expression is palpable, and he slips the ring onto my finger. And before I can say anything else, he’s pulling me close, his lips finding mine in a kiss that’s both fierce and tender, carrying all the things we’ve left unsaid. His arms wrap around me, and for a moment, the rest of the world falls away, leaving just the two of us tangled in each other.

I pull him in tighter, my hands roaming, tracing the shape of him, the warmth of him. Heat builds between us, a desire that goes deeper than simple want. I can feel his own urgency reflected back at me. His tongue is hot against mine, and his fingers brush along the hem of my shirt. I break away long enough to peel the fabric over my head. His eyes go wide, raking over my bare skin.

“Out in the open, Mrs. Thornton? Aren’t you feeling bold?”

I grin, a flush of heat running through me. “Why not?”

His teeth sink into his lip, his voice a growl as he says, “Fair enough. Then get those pants off. Now.”

“Or what?” I ask, the teasing note in my voice making his eyes narrow.

“Or else you’ll find out firsthand,” he murmurs, leaning in until his breath ghosts against the hollow of my neck, the heat of his body making me tremble.

“Hmm,” I hum, pretending to consider it. “And if I decide I’m not interested in taking orders?”

He arches a brow, and a smile curves his lips. His gaze holds a challenge. “Then, my dear wife, you’d better prepare for the consequences.”

With a slow, deliberate motion, he unbuttons his shirt, exposing the hard planes of his chest, the sculpted lines of muscle that always draw a shiver from deep inside me.

“Consequences?” I echo, trying to ignore the way my pulse spikes, the ache building in me.

He shrugs, and the motion is so casual, it’s infuriating. “I’ll have to find ways to change your mind.”

“How, exactly?”

The corner of his mouth twitches, and a low, rumbling growl escapes him. “Oh, I have a few ideas.”

Before I can respond, his hands are on my hips, his fingers deftly unfastening the button on my jeans and slipping them off in one swift move. Then, his palms are pressed flat against my thighs, spreading me wide, and his breath is hot between my legs.

I gasp, arching against him. His tongue darts out, a flash of wet heat that sends a shudder through me.

“That’s… one,” I manage, my voice strained, my pulse racing.

“Mm-hmm,” he murmurs, his eyes locked on mine as he dips his head, his tongue trailing a searing line along my inner thigh.

“Two.”

The word comes out as a whimper, and I can’t stop myself from grinding against him, desperate for more.

“Three.”

This time, it’s a command, and he obeys, his tongue flicking out to swirl over the aching spot, teasing and taunting.

“Four.”

The number comes out as a plea, and my breath hitches, the pressure building. He keeps going, his tongue relentless, coaxing a string of gasps and moans from me.

“F-five,” I finally choke out, my vision blurred, my whole body trembling.

“Good girl,” he murmurs, the words sending another shock of pleasure through me.

“Fuck,” I pant, and he looks up at me with a wicked smile, his fingers tracing lazy circles on my thigh.

“Want me to keep going?”

I nod, the movement jerky. His hand moves lower, sliding between my legs. His touch is light, almost teasing, as he traces slow, deliberate patterns, circling and dipping and pressing. The sensation is exquisite, and I buck against him, needing more, wanting to drown in the feel of him.

“Say please,” he whispers, his voice thick and rough.

“Please,” I beg, my entire body shaking, ready to burst.

“That’s right.”

And then his mouth is on me, hot and demanding, and his tongue is inside me. It’s too much and not enough, and I cry out, gripping his shoulders, holding on for dear life. His fingers curl, thrusting, and then the world goes white, a rush of pleasure crashing over me.

I can’t breathe, can’t think, can’t do anything except cling to him, his name a breathless prayer on my lips. He rides out the wave with me, his touch firm and steady. When I finally come down, I’m panting and weak, every nerve singing.

“Wow,” I manage, collapsing against him.

He lets out a soft, satisfied chuckle. “Was that five?”

“I don’t know,” I murmur, my head spinning, the words slurring together. “It felt like a lot more than that.”

He laughs, a low, deep sound. His arms wrap around me, cradling me close. “That’s a good start,” he says, his lips brushing against the curve of my neck. “Now let’s see how many times we can make you come.”

I have no idea when he removed his pants, but suddenly, his body is against mine, his skin burning hot. He grinds against me, the friction sending a jolt through me. I whimper, burying my face against his shoulder.

“Don’t hide from me,” he says, his tone a warning. “Let me see you.”

I force myself to meet his gaze, and his eyes are dark, hungry. He rolls his hips, and I groan, arching toward him, wanting him closer, deeper.

“Look at me,” he says. His hand grips my chin, forcing my eyes back to his.

“Alec,” I whisper, pleading, and he growls, the sound vibrating through him.

“That’s right,” he murmurs, his thumb stroking my jaw. “Say my name.”

“Alec,” I repeat, the syllables tumbling from my lips.

He thrusts, filling me, and the stretch is delicious, the ache of it sending another rush through me. He rocks against me, driving deeper, his body claiming mine. We’re lost in each other, the world fading away, nothing existing but the two of us. Our breaths mingle as our bodies move together in a rhythm as old as time itself.

It’s overwhelming, and yet, it’s everything I need. His hands grip my hips, guiding me, and the pace quickens. The tension builds, the pressure threatening to snap. He thrusts harder, deeper, and I cry out, losing control. He groans, his fingers digging into my skin. The sound is raw and primal, setting my blood on fire.

“Alec,” I cry out, the word breaking free, and he growls, his eyes wild and unfocused.

“That’s it,” he breathes, his voice hoarse. “Come for me.”

The words send me over the edge, and I shatter, my release spilling through me. He follows, his own orgasm wracking his body. The feel of him coming apart is enough to send me spiraling again. We ride the wave together, clinging to each other, and when the aftershocks fade, we’re both gasping and breathless, sweat-slicked and sated.

We collapse against each other, our limbs tangling. His lips brush against mine, a gentle, lingering kiss.

“Wow,” I sigh, still struggling to catch my breath.

He chuckles, his hand caressing my cheek. “That’s only the beginning, Isadora. There’s a lifetime of ‘wow’ ahead of us.”

“Mmm,” I murmur, a sleepy, satisfied sound. “I can’t wait.”

“Me neither,” he murmurs, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me closer.

And with the moon overhead and the candles flickering softly, we lie wrapped in each other’s arms, the stars shining down on us and a future of possibility stretching out before us.