Page 2 of Bullied Pregnant Mate

As I leave the forest behind and get in the car, I can’t stop the next rush of images through my mind. I have to sit in the driver’s seat for a moment with my eyes closed and immerse myself in the memories.

Jenks, standing above the class, making one of his ridiculously funny speeches or pulling a prank on a teacher we all hate. The way his deep blue eyes sparkled and his big mischievous grin spread across his face with devilish intensity…

My phone buzzes, making me jump. I grab it from the seat beside me and see a text from Lucy.

We’re all meeting at the bakery for a chat. Important stuff to discuss, so make sure you come in, okay?

I sigh, tossing the phone back down on the passenger seat. I really don’t feel like doing any “important business” right now, especially when I don’t know how important it actually is.

It could be about a vital restructure of the coven, or the tension between the packs, or an update on the Ancient Ones.

Or it could be that the girls desperately need a late-night mud cake fix.

The streets are quiet as I head to the bakery, but I can’t shake the anxiety building in me. All witches have good instincts, and right now, mine are telling me that something big is about to happen.

I don’t even know if it’s bad or good, but ever since I got that text, I feel like doom is stalking me.

Don’t be so melodramatic. The only doom worth worrying about is if Lucy ran out of chocolate flakes.

When I park the car, I take a quick look around, seeing nothing but deserted streets. I feel like I’m being watched, and the more I try to ignore it, the worse it gets.

I turn my back on the forest, keeping my back straight and shoulders set. I don’t cringe away from challenges anymore, and I refuse to be scared until I know there is real danger.

When I swing open the front door to the bakery, all the girls are gathered at the main table. Cakes and biscuits are set out, and the others greet me cheerfully as I come through the door.

“I made you a hot chocolate,” Tara says, pushing it across the table as I sit down. “Fully loaded with sugar, just the way you like it.”

“Thank you,” I answer, taking a long sip. “What’s the emergency?”

She shrugs. “Lucy wanted to wait until everyone was here before we started.”

I look across the table at Lucy and Amanda. My guts twist with an emotion I can’t identify. They look so close, like true sisters, and I’m shocked to realize I’m slightly jealous of what they have.

A family. Not just each other, or their mates… but a whole family.

“Okay,” Amanda says, clapping her hands. “Let’s get started, shall we? Thanks for coming in, everyone. We need to talk about the next marriage. It’s good for both witches and wolves to continue down this path, and we want to know if anyone is ready to volunteer.”

“Whoa, hold up,” Penny says. “You’re just deciding without us now?”

“Of course not,” Lucy answers. “That’s why we’re having the meeting. We want to know if anyone is willing to step up. Nobody is being forced into anything.”

“You know I’m out,” Zoe mutters miserably.

“Zoe, I’m sorry,” Amanda says. “But we can’t just rush into Silverton to try and rescue Grant. We have no idea what happened to the wolves that Decker took with him.”

“That would be my point!” Zoe cries, jumping up so suddenly, her chair smashes against the wall. “How can you all just sit here? I don’t understand!”

She runs from the room with tears pouring down her cheeks, pushing open the door so hard, it slams shut and makes the windows rattle.

“I’ll go after her,” Penny offers, hurrying to follow Zoe.

“It’s a very unfortunate situation,” Amanda continues, her eyes dark, “but Bae doesn’t want an all-out fight. He’s still hoping for peace. And that means we can’t investigate at all.”

“Those wolves on the inside that want to fight for us could be the key, though,” Nell points out. “If we coordinate our attacks, we could overcome Decker.”

“Even if he has the support of the Ancient Ones?” Lucy snaps. “Would you want to go up against one of those?”

The circle goes quiet. Nobody wants to make eye contact.

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