Page 1 of Bullied Pregnant Mate

Chapter 1 - Alisa

Ice crunches under my boots with every step as I hike slowly up a steep rise. I have to throw my weight forward, drive my foot down hard, and yank my leg out of the deep snow with each long stride.

The air is so clear and sharp, it burns my throat and tears my eyes. I embrace all of these small hurts as I push my way to the summit, keeping my focus on making it to the top without stopping.

A deep bank catches me as I approach the low peak, and I collapse into the snow. With a grunt of effort, I drag myself up and put all my energy into long, hard steps that take me over the edge and right to the top. Hands braced against my knees, I pant desperately to get my breath back. Pain shudders through my muscles, and I tremble so hard that I almost fall back down. When my vision clears and the ache in my chest eases, I raise my head to look across the horizon.

Mountains range around me on every side. Silver Meadows is nestled in the valley below me, twinkling lights beginning to flicker as the sun gets near to setting. Streaks of pink and orange glow around the snow-dusted, rocky peaks, giving the sky an ethereal glow.

It was worth every second of the pain.

The breathtaking view only captures my attention for a few moments before the sharper pain beneath it asserts itself again. The pain I’ve carried my entire life.

Stop it. It won’t do any good.

My eyes fill with tears as I fight my feelings. For years, I was safe, and this pain stayed buried deep in my soul, where it couldn’t trouble my thoughts or my dreams.

Then we came back to Silver Meadows.

I rub my hands together, looking away from the dramatic beauty of the sunset as I focus on the magic flowing in my veins. I can sense the spirits of everything around me, the deep, humming harmony that sings beneath the natural sounds of the world. Everything feels balanced and at peace.

Except me.

My powers aren’t strong, but I don’t mind that. It was frightening when they disappeared completely, so terrifying for me and my sisters that returning to Silver Meadows became the only possibility. No matter how much it hurt me to do it.

We’ve been here for years now, and I haven’t seen him. Chances are, I never will.

I don’t know if I should be relieved or upset by that idea. It really doesn’t matter, though. Whether I’ve seen the man himself or not, I’ve been reminded of him at every turn.

Jenks.

The town trickster, the party guy, the boy who just won’t grow up. Ever a kid, never a man. Dodging responsibility and running from anything that has any meaning.

No one knows him better than I do.

As the pain crackles through my chest, I let out a deep sigh, my breath clouding the air. The sun is sinking below the horizon, and vibrant color streaks the sky, becoming more iridescent but the second.

I can’t see him, I just can’t!

I don’t even know what I’m so worried about. Even after the split from Silverton that brought him back to town, I haven’t seen him. It wasn’t difficult to avoid his house. I simply declined invitations to the bigger parties and stayed out of official meetings.

As if that’s even really necessary—he doesn’t even go. Even though he’s related to Gina, he doesn’t give a damn about his responsibilities.

I clench my fists and turn my back on the fading sun to begin hiking back to town. I’m happy for the others, I really am, but I have little hope I can find a mate for myself. I want to share my life with someone, but first, I’d have to learn how to trust.

If I have faith in love, and a partner, I’ll have more power… but I don’t even care about that. I just wish I could heal from what Jenks did to me. Maybe then, I could learn to trust again.

Shadows begin to grow around me as the light fades from the sky. The forest seems dark and gloomy, but this doesn’t scare me.

There’s only one thing that scares me.

Memories begin to buzz through my mind, making my stomach drop and my chest tighten. I can hear the laughter and jeers of Jenks and his friends, the never-ending tirade of cruel humor that followed me every day of my high school years.

My eyes burn with tears I refuse to shed, and I press my lips together to stop my jaw from trembling.

I wouldn’t take it lying down now—no fucking way! I wonder how that jerk reacts when someone throws it back at him?

Even though I’m stronger now and know how to stand up for myself, there’s a sliver of fear in my chest that I can’t ignore. I’ve been relieved that I haven’t seen him so far, mainly because I have no idea how it will affect me.

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