Page 18 of Her Bully Alpha (Honeycomb Valley Alphas #1)

I bounce my knee as we sit in the chairs, waiting for the Council to call us inside. I bite my cheek, staring at the door. I hated coming here. It put me on edge, and I never knew how the meetings would turn out. I knew they were never in my favor.

Jay tilted his head as he turned to me. "You okay?"

I wanted to just say I was fine, but I wasn't. Waking up to a call that the Council wanted to see us again had upended my stomach as if I didn't have enough problems with it already. I was nervous, and even if I had slept well last night, I was exhausted.

Jay's hand landed on top of mine, and I turned my gaze to him. He gave me a smile. "I'll be here. I'm not going to let anything happen."

It relaxed me a little having him standing by my side like this. Facing the Council before had been nerve-wracking, but having them look at me for answers was another thing. I couldn't just move out of their radar anymore.

I turned my hand over, squeezing his hand against mine. His hand was warm against mine.

The door was pulled open, and our names were called. We walked into the large space in which the Council always had us meet. There were two chairs set out, so we each took a spot.

"Glad to see you here," one of them said, and I sighed. It wasn't like I had much of a choice on the matter. If they ordered us to be here, we had to come.

"We did a little investigation into your visions, and not soon after, received some reports. A woman was found dead in her kitchen, and another was found lying outside her car. She was rushed to the hospital, but she's in critical health. Seems your visions are already coming true."

My stomach twisted up violently. I had hoped this was down the road, months from happening. We could have maybe done something, but I should have known better. Whatever I see happens, no matter what I do. I always think I can change them, that I can save someone, but that doesn't work like that.

"And you think this is related to the virus?" Jay asked. "All of them are connected?

They all nodded. "We thought the virus was just attacking the woman's ability to birth children, but it seems to have changed. It's now targeting their entire immune system."

"How is that even possible?" Jay asked. "That….a virus can't change that quickly."

The middle one shrugged."We don't know the answer to that. We just know it has. Both of the women had the virus, but it was only impacting their ability to have children, and suddenly, one was dead. We don't know anything about this virus, but we need to. We already informed Katie about the change and have her looking into it. For security reasons, we've already shared our findings with every pack and gave a warning to the woman. They need to be watched, and if they suspect they have the virus, they need to be vigilant."

I bit hard onto my lip, knowing this meant whatever vision was coming next was the key to helping them. It was a large weight bearing down on me. Jay kept saying it wasn't all on me, but it certainly felt like it was.

"We don't know how your visions come about, but if you could make one happen, it would be helpful," one of the older ladies said, her eyes narrowing on me. "Anything is helpful at this point."

"We already told you that isn't how her visions work," Jay quickly responded before I could. "And demanding one out of her isn't going to make it happen quicker."

The lady leaned back, looking annoyed. I rubbed my hands together, wishing this was easier.

Jay sighed. "You said you told other packs. Are you talking about the six or…"

"We also told all the smaller packs, even ones we don't communicate regularly with. We've been getting as much information as we can. Katie said she needed to know if it was just or everyone. Her research is extensive."

"Is that all?" Jay asked, looking irritated with them. "If that's all, we have a busy day ahead of us."

They nodded. "Yes, but if anything comes to mind, do bring it to our attention." They looked at me. "And let us know of any new visions as they happen."

Jay got up quickly, turning, and I followed along with him. My mind was a mess. Of course, this fell on me. The girl who saw visions should be able to tell them more. I should be able to tell them when this was all coming, what the virus was doing, and to whom. I should have the answers rather than just tell them they had a problem.

Once outside, Jay took my hand. "Sam, this is not all on you."

"Isn't it?" I said, "I'm the one that can see the future."

His lips pulled in tight. "You and I both know that isn't how it works. And them acting like you should know more isn't fair. Magic is a very complex and confusing ability that takes years to master. Years, Sam. Not days. We've read that in the books."

I felt my shoulder relax slightly at that. If anyone knew how I was feeling, I knew Jay would.

"I just wish I could be of more help. I gave them this future and couldn't even tell them who it was going to affect. Or when. I just wish I had more answers for them."

I knew I saw over a hundred different faces, and they could be anywhere, but there was nothing more I could give.

"That is the Council's job. They gave the warning, and we wait. It's a shitty part, but that's how it happens."

He cupped my face. "Take a deep breath in."

I did, and I wondered if this was how he felt sometimes, having to run a pack. Knowing things but never being able to care for each and every one of them.

"You're very good at calming me," I said as I opened my eyes.

He offered me a soft smile. "Comes with the job. You're easier than most people."

We walked outside, heading towards the car. "You were raised for this, and you do good." I hadn't seen Jay give orders yet, but from just how he was with me, I could tell he took his job seriously. He handled things calmly and respectfully.

We got into the car and started driving, but he didn't take a right to head home. He took a left. "Where are you heading?" I asked, looking at him confused.

"I made you an appointment."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "For what?"

He just glanced at me, and I knew he meant for me and the baby. I couldn't help but feel a little stunned by it. He had made an appointment for us. I clearly wasn't the only person worried.

"Are you scared I have the virus or something?"

He was quiet for a moment before he shrugged. "We don't know much about the virus, and now, knowing that it's changing, anything can happen. I just want to make sure you are both healthy."

I couldn't help but smile, feeling cared for. How had I hated this man before? How had I read his grumpiness and snort-clipped answers as someone who didn't have a heart? He was far from that type of person.

We arrived at the clinic, and I was in the office within ten minutes. I was sitting in a robe and glanced at Jay. He gave me a soft, reassuring smile.

"You okay?"

"I'm not particularly happy you scheduled this appointment without informing me first," I grumbled, rubbing my hands on my thighs.

He chuckled. "I think you'll change your mind."

"I doubt it," I sighed as the door opened. A woman entered with short bob-cut hair. She gave us a smile. "Hi. Lovely to see you again, Jay, and you must be Sam. It's lovely to meet you. And exciting news for you, too, expecting a baby already."

I scanned the lady quickly, wondering how she knew Jay. I knew he was the Alpha, and everyone knew him, but the way she said it put me on edge. Had he dated her? Did they have a relationship in the past?

"I'm Doc. Petine. Jay called me and said you were looking for an OB doctor."

I scowled at Jay, not impressed.

She walked over, taking the chair at the small desk with the computer. "A little about me, I've been an OB doctor for ten years now. Helped birth plenty of women here. So, you're in good hands."

She turned her chair towards me, giving me a soft smile again. "I was actually recruited by Jay about a year ago because he had a high need for a human doctor. It helped calm the other humans."

I stared at her. "Wait, you're not a shifter?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm not. Though I wouldn't exactly say I'm a human either."

Jay cleared his throat. "Doc. Petine is actually a magic user. She has a calming aura and has the ability to sense things others can't."

I was stunned. Jay had found me a magic-using doctor.

"So, how about we discuss this baby? Then we can talk about any other concerns you may have."

I felt like my heart had jumped into my throat. I couldn't believe Jay had thought so deeply about a doctor for me like this.

I nodded. “Aren’t we a little early for an ultrasound?” I asked.

Doc Petine shook her head. “We do a date collecting ultrasound when you’re about this far along. It lets us calculate exactly how far along you are, let’s us get a good look at the embryo and…” She glanced at Jay. “He also was panicking when he called, so I figured this would be helpful.”

Doc Petine did an ultrasound, and I was about eight weeks along. Which meant I got pregnant the first time Jay and I did it. Jay stared at the ultrasound, stunned.

"Being this is your first child, do you have any questions for me?" Doctor Petine asked as she pushed the ultrasound aside.

"How long before this nausea starts to settle?" I asked.

Dr. Petine smiled. "It shouldn't be long. But if you are still feeling crummy in two weeks, let me know, and I can get you some medication to help settle it so you can at least eat. We have a wide range of women and their symptoms when it comes to pregnancy."

"And the virus?" Jay asked, his voice coming out concerned.

I felt my entire body stiffen.

Dr. Petine looked at Jay and I watched as the feeling of the room seemed to soften. Jay's shoulders relaxed. "She's immune to it, Jay. You don't need to worry about that. She will be perfectly fine. Katie wasn't joking when she saw you two were made by science."

I felt calmed by her words, and I knew that Jay had as well. Considering the news we had just received, I knew he worried about it.

"You are doing great for eight weeks. Baby is a good size, and everything looks good."

"And…regarding the magic." I frowned. "This is new to us, but….I can't seem to get it to come out."

Dr. Petine nodded. "That takes time. It's not something that happens right away. With you having visions already, you are getting it to come to the surface."

"When will I actually get a hold of it, though?"

Dr. Petine frowned. "That I can't tell you. Each user is different. But you're moving along. I can sense your powers."

"You can?"

She nodded. "It's part of mine. I can sense others around me. You are powerful."

I chewed on my lower cheek. "Is there any way to move it along? To get it out?"

She leaned back in her chair. "Connecting with your body is the best advice I can give you. It stems from emotions. So, my advice is to focus on it and learn about it. But it seems you're doing that, so I think you're on the right path."

We left the doctor soon after, and I felt better. I wished I had gotten advice on how to exactly get my magic to come to the surface, but I wasn't mad. Dr. Petine was sweet and comforting.

"Should we go to the mall?" Jay asked as he took us down the road.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "What for?"

"We could start looking for baby stuff."

"Do you want to do that now?" I asked, "Won't people realize I'm pregnant then?"

"They will soon enough. You'll start showing before we know it. That or someone is going to share the news just like everything else about us."

That was true.

I looked outside the window as he drove, when I realized I hadn't thought about the morning. It was like it never happened. I glanced at Jay, realizing it must have been his plan this entire time.

"Does that mean you want to look at baby clothes?" I asked.

Jay's eyes seemed to sparkle, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I knew I was falling, hell….I had already fallen for him. Jay was not who I expected him to be, and the more time I spent with him, the more I wanted to be around him.

I know that I can't walk away. Before, I had thought it would be easy. It would have been what I wanted, but now, seeing him like this, being cared for like this…it muddied the waters and made it impossible to see.