Page 20 of Alpha Bride

After dressing quickly, I head toward the kitchen to put a fresh pot of coffee on before they arrive. I check my messages; one from Ava says they’re just getting into town—nothing from Tristen. I’m not sure why I even hoped there would be—we live separate lives during the day, only sinking into each other when the world isn’t watching.

Standing by the window, I breathe in the comforting smell of my fresh coffee as I watch Callum’s truck pull up outside to drop them off before joining the pack at the training ground. Tristen’s brother immediately jumps out and runs around to help his very pregnant mate out of the truck as Sarah looks on, giggling. It does look quite amusing, as Ava looks smaller than ever despite her very round belly.

Out of the blue, a wave of longing sweeps over me. That I could ever have what Ava has…a thought I brush off as quickly as it arrives, as the women wave goodbye to Callum and walk toward the door.

I plaster a smile on my face despite the turbulent emotions that threaten to bubble up, and I open the door to greet them. Ava spots me and waves, her face breaking out into a huge grin. Still holding my coffee, I walk out onto the porch to greet them.

“Hey, stranger,” she teases, enveloping me in a hug as soon as she’s within range. “It’s been forever.”

“I know,” I sigh into her shoulder. She pulls back slightly, and I don’t miss the way her wolf moves in her eyes, sensing something. I have a good idea what she’s identified—that Tristen’s scent is all over me.

“Okay, spill the beans, witchy,” she says, giggling as soon as we head inside. Sarah shuts the door behind us, her eyes alight with interest, too. “How is it going with you-know-who?”

I groan. “I should have known there was no hiding anything from you two,” I say as we walk toward the kitchen. “At least let me make some more coffee first. Decaf?”

Ava nods as Sarah comes around to help me. “Full strength for me,” she laughs. “I need it to cope with Callum’s fussing all the way here.”

“He wasn’t keen on you making the trip?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

Ava sighs. “We both know I’m not going to be going very far once this baby arrives,” she says, stroking her swollen belly. “I need to feel as though I’m contributing while I can. We’ve brought the books from the mainland with old stories about power absorption and shape-shifting. The only way to protect any of our children is to destroy Malik.”

The look on my friend's face is fierce and resolute. Malik kidnapped her daughter, Harper, and tried to steal her powers. Children are especially vulnerable, and I can see the rage that emanates from her coming straight from her maternal soul. It’s a sight to behold.

“It’s a good thing you’re not on caffeine, too,” I joke, handing her a cup of decaf.

“She is on a mission,” Sarah confirms, pouring our drinks before lifting the heavy bag of books onto the kitchen island. “She’s not wrong, though. There’s a lot to get through here. I’m hoping you know more than we do about some of this.”

We all fall into silent agreement as we take a sip of our drinks, and I eye the books, itching to get started. Just as I’m about to reach for a book, Ava interrupts, putting her cup down. “As important as all of this is,” she begins, the mischief clear in her voice. “You’re going to have to fill us in on what has changed, because Tristen’s scent is literallyallover you. I mean, he’s beenallover you.”

Sarah chuckles, “She’s got you. So, what changed? This did not look to be in the cards at all.”

I sigh, tapping the side of my cup as I debate what to tell them. How much to give away, and whether talking about it would help at all. “Okay, okay,” I concede, knowing there’sno point in denying it with their intense shifter senses. “Things have…changed. But probably not as much as you might think.”

“So, are you or aren’t you?” Ava pushes, a mischievous but hopeful glint dancing in her eyes.

“We are,” I admit, tasting the coffee on my tongue. “But there’s still so much distance between us.”

"What do you mean?" Sarah asks, leaning in. "You're his luna, right? He must have chosen you because he likes you."

I roll my eyes. "In name only. I have no idea why he stepped up.” I pause before continuing, “We met a couple of years ago in the forest…we kissed. But he rejected anything else because I’m a witch. I have no idea why he made me his luna. Or what has changed, really.”

The words hang in the air as I watch their reactions. Ava's eyes widen, her mouth falls open slightly, and Sarah just looks confused.

"He what?!" Ava gasps, her hand going to her chest. "Why didn't you say anything? I don’t understand why he rejected you?"

I take a deep breath, reliving that moment of heartbreak all over again. "He told me he couldn't be with a witch. He accused me of bewitching him, which would be amusing if it weren’t so tragic. He’s mentioned his father; I think he has a longstanding distrust of witches, and now he’s too stubborn to change his opinion."

Ava snorts. "Typical wolf male," she mutters under her breath before turning to me. "And now?" she asks expectantly.

"Now," I say softly, looking down at my hands, “everything goes from being so perfect one moment to likestrangers again the next. We just go back and forth, not getting anywhere. I’m not sure anyone else even knows.”

Ava and Sarah exchange knowing glances. " Oh, I can assure you every single shifter knows,” Ava says gently. “His wolf has imprinted on you big time.”

Sarah touches my arm. “He may not be saying the words, but his wolf has laid his claim.”

“At least one of them knows what they want,” I reply dryly.

Ava looks thoughtful for a moment before speaking as she begins to pull out the texts from the mainland. “You know, I think Ralph did a real number on all of them. They didn’t have it easy,” she begins. “I’m not making excuses for them, but I’ve seen it in Callum, and I know he sees it in his brothers, too. But they’re good men, good alphas. I think they just need to break free of Ralph’s damage in their own ways.”

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