Page 6 of Bully Alpha's Pregnant Mate

Quincey clears his throat, probably sensing the tension. “Well, this is… a pleasant surprise,” he comments, trying to sound casual, though he’s terrible at hiding the amusement in his voice. “I’m sure you two have a lot to catch up on.”

I shoot him a look. “Really, Quince? Just going to leave us here to fend for ourselves?”

“Oh, don’t mind me,” he says, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “I wouldn’t dream of interrupting… whatever this is.”

Isadora’s smile sharpens just a little, and I can’t decide if she’s amused or plotting something. Either way, it’s intriguing.

Quincey, sensing his moment, makes a hasty exit, dragging Isadora’s mother with him to leave the two of us standing alone in my office.

I turn my attention back to Isadora, struggling to find words that fit the situation. She hasn’t said a word, but somehow, I sense she’s different from the quiet, introverted girl I remember. She’s all strength now, with a gaze that meets mine evenly, not an ounce of submission.

“So,” I say, trying to keep things light, “welcome to my humble abode. Not exactly the typical East Hills cabin, is it?”

She glances around the opulent space, taking in the polished floors, the chandeliers, the endless stretch of shadowy rooms just outside the hallway. “No,” she says with a faint hint of humor. “It’s… excessive.”

I laugh, unable to help it. “Guess I can’t argue with that. I didn’t pick the place.”

She hums noncommittally, her gaze coming back to mine, calm and steady. There’s a guarded look in her eyes, but something else, too. Something that reminds me of those summers when she used to avoid me at all costs, keeping to the shadows like she was afraid her very presence might invite trouble.

And maybe it did, back then. I wasn’t exactly kind. But now, standing here, facing her, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s a history she’s holding on to with both hands.

“So,” she says, breaking the silence, “I assume you know why I’m here.”

I nod slowly, considering my words. “Your father. He made a… mistake.” The word feels too light, too harmless. “From what I hear, he used pack funds for personal… interests.” I watch her face for a reaction, but she remains stone-faced, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Offering you to the council was his way of making amends, I guess.”

“Ah.” Her voice is calm, almost indifferent, but there’s a flicker in her gaze. “That’s one way to put it.”

It’s not just duty that makes me agree to this marriage; it’s my responsibility to the pack and the alliances we’re trying to solidify. Her father’s mistake was serious, something that could have cost them their place in the pack. But as I look at her now, I can’t ignore the irony. Isadora—quiet, introverted Isadora—offered up as some kind of sacrificial lamb to secure her family’s place in the pack. The girl who avoided everyone now forced into a marriage with the pack’s most public figure for the sake of appearances and loyalty.

A part of me can’t help but feel the injustice of it. And maybe… maybe even a bit of regret.

“So, this is happening,” I say more to myself than her, testing the weight of the words. “Isadora Simpson, my future bride.”

She gives me that polite, guarded smile again. “It appears so, Alpha.”

The formal tone grates, and I want to tell her to drop it, to just call me Alec. But the words are stuck in my throat, and before I can even think of how to shift the conversation, she takes a step forward, closing the distance between us with a deliberate, steady gaze. She’s looking at me like I’m some kind of puzzle she’s already solved, like she knows exactly what she wants to say and is daring me to stop her.

And then, before I can even blink, she’s standing inches from me. “I’m only going to say this once, so listen carefully.” Her blue eyes lock onto mine, sharp as ice. “I thought I could do this, but I can’t. I refuse to marry you. I don’t care what agreement the council made or what debts my father owes. This isn’t going to happen.”

I take a deep breath, letting her words hang in the air between us. She refuses to marry me—refuses. The defiance in her voice is almost impressive, and she’s looking at me with those intense blue eyes, daring me to push back.

For a split second, I feel a flash of guilt, a reminder of how I’d been one of many who made her life hell back then. But that was a long time ago. And right now, I have a duty to uphold.

“It’s not that simple, Isadora,” I tell her, keeping my tone calm and even. “You can’t just decide to walk away from this.”

She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even blink. “Watch me.”

There’s a fire in her that I hadn’t expected, and I can’t help but admire it, even if it’s directed at me. But this isn’t just about her or me. This is bigger, and she needs to understand that.

“I don’t think you understand.” I take a step closer until we’re nearly nose to nose. “If you back out, if you refuse this arrangement, your family will be shunned from the pack. Everything your father’s tried to protect, all the debt he’s supposedly repaid with this… it’ll mean nothing. They’ll lose everything.”

She works her jaw, but she doesn’t look away. I can see the struggle there—the loyalty, the need to protect her family, and the frustration of being used as a bargaining chip. I get it. But I also know that backing down now would be a mistake I can’t afford. The council expects loyalty and cooperation from me. This is my first test as alpha, and I’m not about to fail it by rejecting their decision.

“So that’s it?” Her voice is low, biting. “You’re just going to… force this?”

I keep my expression neutral, though her words sting more than I’d like to admit. I don’t want to force anyone into anything, not really, but I don’t have a lot of options here. “This is what’s best for the pack, Isadora. The council made their decision, and I’m not about to make my first act as alpha a rejection of it.”

She laughs, but it’s a bitter, hollow sound. “I should have known,” she says, crossing her arms. “You haven’t changed one bit, have you? Still so determined to get your way, no matter who you have to step on.”

---