Page 6 of Bully Alpha’s Pregnant Mate (Starfire Hollow Alphas #2)

I am not a morning person. Not by a long shot. So if I’d known being married to Alec Thornton meant I’d be roused by hushed voices and the smell of burnt coffee before the sun has hardly come up, I might’ve signed up for another extended sabbatical instead.

I crack open one eye as the voices reach me, faint but insistent, filtering up from downstairs. I sit up, tugging the blanket around my shoulders, and strain to make out the words. No use from up here—this house is way too big. But the curiosity eats at me, and before I can second-guess myself, I’m slipping out of bed and moving toward the door.

I step into the hallway, careful not to let the floors creak under my feet as I edge down the stairs. One voice, unmistakably Alec’s, carries a hint of tension, and the other—a lighter, more playful tone—I recognize as belonging to his sister, Jade.

I creep down, stopping just before the last step, hidden but close enough to finally hear them clearly.

The voices float up from the kitchen, clear enough for me to catch almost every word. Pressed against the wall near the base of the stairs, I lean in just a little closer, careful not to make a sound.

“It’s close, Alec,” Jade declares. “I don’t know what exactly, but it’s powerful, and it’s coming straight for us. The pack isn’t ready for something like this.”

There’s a brief pause, then comes Alec’s voice, steady and calm, almost tender. “Then we’ll prepare, Jade. Whatever you saw, we’ll make sure it doesn’t touch the pack. We’ll get through this.”

I risk a glance around the corner. Alec has a hand on her shoulder, and his expression is softer than I’ve ever seen it. His entire focus is on her. His patience and care—it’s like he’s another person entirely.

Jade takes a shaky breath, nodding. “We need more than just basic defenses this time, Alec. I think… I think we’ll need reinforced barriers. Traps. Maybe even enchantments.”

He gives her shoulder a squeeze. “Say the word, Jade. Whatever you need, it’s yours. You know I trust you.”

She lets out a small, relieved laugh. “You’re too good to me, you know that? Even when we were kids and everyone else thought I was crazy.”

“You’re family,” he states. “I’ve got your back. I always will.”

I blink, taken aback by the gentleness in his voice, the complete acceptance in his words. Jade, who used to be the odd one out in Starfire Hollow, who was whispered about and shunned for her strange abilities, is standing here now, confident and needed. And it’s clear Alec’s been part of the reason why.

And then, because the universe loves to throw me into awkward situations, I realize Alec has turned toward the doorway. He’s looking right at me.

Great. Caught like a deer in headlights.

“Well, good morning,” he greets me, standing up straighter. “Enjoying the show?”

I straighten, meeting his gaze without blinking. “Just making sure the pack’s mighty alpha doesn’t get too distracted by his morning coffee.”

Jade snorts, clearly entertained. She steps forward, extending a hand as if this is all perfectly normal. “I’m Jade, by the way, but you probably remember me from way back when, huh? Sorry for intruding on your honeymoon.” She winks. “Honeymoons can be a lot of fun, or so I’ve heard.”

Heat floods my cheeks, and I feel an instant, overwhelming urge to change the subject. “You’re not intruding,” I mumble, trying to look unfazed. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for keeping you away from, uh, witch business.”

Jade’s grin widens as she nudges Alec with her elbow. “Witch business, she says. See, I like her already.”

Alec raises an eyebrow. “Don’t encourage her.”

Ignoring him, Jade flashes me a conspiratorial smile. “You know, for the record, the witch business can wait. I’ve got more important things to attend to—like getting reacquainted with the woman my dear brother married. We didn’t get a chance to talk at the wedding. You were so busy.”

I feel my face warm again, but something about Jade’s friendly, easygoing manner puts me at ease. “Well, glad to know I’m at the top of your priorities.”

“Of course!” She gives me a genuine smile, and her eyes crinkle with warmth. “Actually, I’ve been wanting to meet you for a while. Alec here hasn’t stopped talking about this whole… arrangement since they told him about it a couple weeks ago.”

Alec lets out a quiet groan. “Jade, don’t start.”

She shrugs, giving him a playful nudge. “Oh, come on, Mr. Alpha. I think it’s sweet.” Her gaze returns to me, bright with amusement. “Besides, anyone who can stand up to my brother is someone I’m automatically rooting for. And from what I’ve heard, you’ve been giving it to him good.”

I chuckle as the tension between Alec and me melts away, if only for a second. “Trust me, I didn’t exactly sign up for his charm.”

Jade lets out a laugh. “I bet! But hey, if it’s any consolation, he was just as insufferable when we were kids. Maybe even worse.” She gives Alec a sideways look. “Remember that time you threw mud at me because you ‘wanted to test’ if witches really had magic powers?”

Alec rolls his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips. “I was seven, Jade.”

“Details,” she says with a wave of her hand. “Point is, he’s been a handful since day one.”

The relaxed energy between us is contagious, and despite myself, I feel the tiniest hint of a smile creeping onto my face. Jade is genuinely kind, a breath of fresh air I didn’t expect in this house. And the way she talks about Alec, the ease between them—it’s hard not to feel drawn in.

“So… how did you end up here?” I ask her, genuinely curious. “I mean, last I remember, you were in Starfire Hollow. You married their alpha, right?”

Jade’s smile softens. “Sure did! We all miss Alec so much. Since I gave birth to Penny, I’ve been so wrapped up in being a mother that I haven’t had much time for myself. You know how it is. So, when Alec invited me to East Hills, I figured it couldn’t hurt to try something new. And honestly?” She glances at Alec, and there’s a rare fondness in her eyes. “It was the best choice I could’ve made. Getting some time with my big brother again has been nice.”

Alec clears his throat, looking faintly embarrassed, but there’s a flicker of pride there, too, like he’s actually touched by her words. “It’s been interesting, that’s for sure.”

I nod, watching them both, and I have to admit, there’s something endearing about their dynamic. Alec—doting, protective, the complete opposite of the sarcastic, hard-headed guy I know. And Jade—bold, comfortable in her own skin, and clearly at ease here in a way that catches me off-guard.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here,” I say honestly. “It’s nice meeting someone who knows him better than just the alpha version.” I give Alec a pointed look. “Maybe you can tell me what I’m really in for,” I add.

Jade grins, giving Alec a mischievous look. “Oh, I could tell you stories. But I’ll save those for another time.” She glances at the window, her expression turning thoughtful. “Especially since, well… there’s a bit more going on around here than just honeymoon festivities.”

Alec tenses beside her, and I see the briefest flash of concern on his face before he hides it. Jade looks back at me, her usual playful expression dimming. “I’m not one to throw around ominous warnings, but… the vision I had this morning?” She pauses, choosing her words carefully. “It’s nothing good, Isadora.”

“What did you see?” I ask.

Jade glances at Alec, then back to me. “It’s hard to explain, but something dark is coming. It felt close, like it’s moving toward us even now. I don’t have the details, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s going to hit East Hills first.”

A shiver runs down my spine, but I force myself to stay calm, nodding. “Then I guess we’d better be ready.”

Alec studies me, a flicker of surprise in his gaze, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he just nods, and that familiar intensity settles back over him as he considers Jade’s warning.

I clear my throat, easing back toward the door. “I’ll leave you two to it. This sounds way above my pay grade.”

Jade waves her hand, stopping me with a look that’s too encouraging to ignore. “Actually, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that right now? We need everyone who knows what they’re doing.” She throws a look at Alec, her eyes practically daring him to disagree.

Alec is leaning back against the counter, rolling his coffee mug between his palms like he’s trying to work some vision of his own out of the dark liquid. But then he glances at me and says, “If this is as serious as Jade thinks, we’ll need every defense we can get, even if it means some… unconventional approaches.”

I cross my arms, feeling an odd spark of satisfaction. “Perfect. Because I can be very… unconventional.”

He raises a brow. “Oh? And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that, while I was off on my sabbatical, I wasn’t just lounging around. I spent time with the Ironclaw pack—the largest pack on the West Coast,” I reply, ignoring the way his look goes from dubious to intrigued, as if he can’t decide which would be more entertaining: me succeeding, or me proving him right. “They’re legendary for their defenses, especially their barrier techniques, so I learned from the best. Strengthening traps, building more resilient barriers—all the ways to keep out unwanted guests. I know how to modify them, Alec. Make them more resilient. We’ll just need some supplies.”

Jade’s eyes light up. “What kind of modifications are we talking here?”

“More strategic placements, stronger borders,” I say, focusing on her. “I know how to make sure anything—or anyone—trying to cross into East Hills is stopped before they make it too far.”

Alec’s smirk fades, replaced by a skeptical look that makes me want to shake him. “You think it’s that simple, do you?”

“Yes, I do,” I respond. “I’m not saying it’s a walk in the park, but it’s possible. Unless you’d rather waste time doing it your way first and find out the hard way that it’s not enough.”

He sighs, his reluctance as clear as the daylight streaming through the kitchen windows, but he glances over at Jade, who’s already nodding with a look that says she’s fully on board, whether he is or not.

“That sounds promising,” she says with a confidence that I can tell irritates Alec. “If we can strengthen the borders, we’d be stupid not to give it a shot.”

Alec stares at me, but he nods slowly, as if he’s already half-conceded and knows it. “Alright, let’s see what you can do.” His tone is so polite, it’s almost suspicious. I feel his gaze linger on me, careful, measuring, like he’s sizing me up. “Wouldn’t hurt to have a luna with a few tricks up her sleeve,” he adds.

A hint of a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, but there’s a glint in his eyes that makes my stomach twist with something that feels a lot like suspicion. I know exactly what he’s doing—humoring me for Jade’s sake. Not because he believes I know anything about traps, or because he thinks I can actually help. He’s just going along with it to keep his sister happy.

But I smile right back, matching his tone. “Oh, I promise it’ll be more than worth it.”