Page 24 of Alpha Bride
I wonder how she knows, but then I glance at the time and realize I’ve called extremely early. Way too early. “I am so sorry,” I say, “I’ve just seen the time. I’ll call back later.”
“No, no,” she says quickly before I can hang up. “We’re up. The joys of being heavily pregnant.”
Ava laughs lightly, and I try to join in, but I’m painfully aware that it comes out more as a splutter as the reference to pregnancy hits me like a sledgehammer. Ava’s laughter trails off, and she pauses before continuing in a far more serious tone, “What’s wrong, Em?”
For someone who rarely opens up…to anyone, I spill the whole sordid ordeal to Ava in one long, emotional outburst, from the depth of my connection to Tristen and how I thought he was changing his mind about me, to feeling sick, the healer, finding out I’m pregnant, and Tristen’s awful reaction and accusations.
When I finally finish, there’s a long pause at the end of the line, and then I hear a male voice raised in concern. “Ava, are you there?” I ask uncertainly.
“Yes, honey,” she replies soothingly despite the hushed voice, which I know to be Callum’s, in the background. “Callum heard some of that and is about to bash his brother’s thick head in. I can’t believe he’s doing this. Are you okay? I…hang on.”
I hear more muffled conversation, and then Ava sighs and comes back on the line. “Okay, so Callum’s about to go have aproper chatwith his idiot brother. I think Tristen’s about to get his ass handed to him.”
I cringe at the thought of Callum and Tristen arguing, “Is that a good idea? I mean, they’re both alphas, and this isn’t really Callum’s business…”
Ava cuts me off. “This isn’t alpha business; it’s family business,” she reassures me. “Besides, Callum is well placed to talk about rejecting a mate and child, even though he didn’t know about Harper. He’s missed so much, and it sounds like Tristen needs to talk through his stupid issues.”
I sink back into the headboard and run my hand through my hair. “I didn’t call you to get Callum to fight my battles, you know.”
“We know that, Emily. But that’s Callum’s niece or nephew you’re carrying; you’d better believe he’s going to have words for his brother if he needs to hear them,” Ava replies firmly. “I need to know you’re okay.”
I smile at her words, feeling the warmth of someone else’s care wash over me. Having lost my mother as a baby, I was looked after by the coven, but I wouldn’t say I was cared for. I was passed around among several families who raised me with their children. It wasn’t all bad, and until I became a teenager and realized how much I truly lacked in the magic department, I had some happy memories. But true warmth isn’t one of them. As I chat to Ava about pregnancy, I find my hand resting on my stomach again, almost in awe at the thought of having my own child. I won’t let Tristen or anyone else ruin it. A singular thought crystallizes in my mind:
I don’t need Tristen to love this baby—I have enough love all by myself.
I say goodbye to Ava, feeling lighter than before I called, despite the impending fallout from Callum confronting his brother. Ava pointed out that men, especially shifters, don’ttalk enough. The brothers are no different. Apparently, it took Callum a long time to forgive himself for his actions with Ava. So I guess he has something he needs to say to Tristen on the subject—I don’t think anything will change Tristen’s opinion, but if it helps him to be a father to our child one day, then I’m not going to stop Callum from trying.
Ava mentioned that Callum was concerned that Malik had singled me out during the attack at Samuel’s village, and she was pretty pissed that I hadn’t mentioned it myself. I already know there’s nothing special about my lack of magic, and my limited research hasn’t provided any clues, but it has got me thinking about what a half-witch-half-shifter baby would be like. And I suppose part of me wonders if my powers may skip a generation. After all, my mother was one of the most powerful witches on the island, and surely, all that generational power didn’t just evaporate with me.
By the time I’m dressed, the sun is up, and I don’t think Tristen will be back anytime soon. I grab my bag and walk out of the house to where Ryan is still sitting in his truck across the road. I notice him sit up a little straighter as I approach, and I can’t help but smile as a guilty look flashes across his features. I can’t believe he honestly didn’t think I’d notice his less-than-subtle presence. If he’s going to stalk me, he might as well give me a lift. The coven might know something about hybrid babies or at least point me in the right direction.
“Fancy just driving me where I’m going rather than trailing after me?” I ask as he puts the window down.
I see him weigh up his options for a moment before he smirks, “Sure thing, where are we heading? Nowhere that’s going to get me in trouble, I hope?”
“The coven,” I reply. “I need to speak to Marian.”
Ryan nods, and I walk around the truck to climb into the passenger side. As I shut the door, I notice he’s firing off a text—updating Tristen, no doubt. I wonder how much Ryan knows about what’s going on, but as we drive, he chats about anything and everything, and it’s clear he has absolutely no idea that I’m pregnant or why he’s been tasked with stalking me.
“Do you know where Tristen is today?” I ask, feigning innocence.
Ryan eyes me cautiously for a moment, almost as if he’s debating what to tell me. “Last I heard, he was heading out to the training camp to check on the youngest recruits, but then Callum called, so I’m not sure. Why?”
“No reason,” I lie, keeping my eyes on the road ahead so I don’t have to look at Ryan, worried my eyes will give me away. The road to the coven takes us to the edge of the territory, and they’ve laid additional runes along the road. There is also a final checkpoint at the entrance to the road leading out to the coven house itself. We pull up to the small hut, and one of the older witches, Samantha, sticks her head out. She immediately brightens upon seeing Ryan, flashing him a smile that knocks years off her with the help of a glimmer spell. I roll my eyes as Ryan laps up the attention.
“Well, hello, Sam,” he greets her smoothly, “I can’t believe they put you out here today.”
“I know, I know,” Samantha tuts, exaggerating each word and looking into the cabin, spotting me. “We must all do our bit, apparently. How are you, Emily, dear? I don’t suppose you want to take over here?”
Samantha was one of the women who helped raise me, and although she was quite a tough nut, she’s probably my favorite. Rather than seeing me as a nuisance for having nomagic, she just felt sorry for me, which stung a little more at times, but at least she was kind about it.
I still shake my head, though, intent on finding Marian before I lose my nerve to confide in anyone else about my baby. “Sorry, I’ve got to see—”
I’m interrupted by some shouting behind us on the trail, and Samantha immediately turns to peer around the truck. Ryan opens the door and steps out.
“Stay here,” he tells me, suddenly much more serious. I can’t help but think back to the last time we were in a truck together and the devastation at Samuel’s village. Suddenly, this trip to the coven doesn’t feel like such a good idea.
“Elenor? Is that you?” Samantha calls out to the figure of a woman in the distance who seems to be struggling to walk. Before she can answer, three large men appear from the tree line.
