My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 40

Lydia

“So you think it worked?” I ask Avery while glancing down at my stomach.

The wound is fully healed.

Its… Odd.

Avery and I discussed the possibility of me having a faster recovery time than other werewolves. It might be because I had the heart of Chang’e inside me for so long, and now I’m mated—mated werewolves are more powerful than what we call lone wolves.

“I hope it did,” Avery murmurs and pulls me to him. He brushes his fingers gently through my hair until they land on my shoulders. “I might be a bit young to become a dad, but I’m sure it will be okay.”

I smile up at him. “It will.”

“Yeah…”

We hug for a while.

I rest my head against Avery’s broad chest as he strokes my hair. I could get used to this. Maybe it’s just the extreme horniness brought on by the mate bond, but when he holds me?

I feel… Loved. Adored. Beloved. Like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

Maybe I am.

I… Kind of like that thought.

Eventually, Avery clears his throat. I look up at him, and his l!ps quirk up in a smirk. “We should probably head downstairs to announce that you’re going to become my luna.”

My eyes widen. “Oh, I had totally forgotten about the ceremony!”

He breathes a laugh. “Really?”

“Uh-huh,” I grimace and let out a deep, nervous breath. “Our parents aren’t going to like this.”

Avery growls. “The moon goddess has decided. There is nothing they can do about it. Our bond is sacred, and I’ve claimed you. If they tried to keep you away from me, I would tear them to shreds.”

Even though his words are fierce, I replace them cute. I tap his muscular chest, liking how hard his pecs are. I’m a lucky girl, and the mate bond is making me wet again, but now isn’t the time for s*x.

I l!ck my l!ps and force speech even though all I want is to be taken again. “Let me replace a dress, and then we can head downstairs. I need to replace the pack doctor too. To check on the baby.”

Avery nods. “Leonora will check on you.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Leonora?”

“Jinora’s older sister. She is the new pack doctor.”

“Oh,” I wrinkle my nose as I make it over to my closet. I’m putting on clothes while talking. “I had no idea Jinora had a sister… Also, Jinora is failing as my bodyguard.”

Avery laughs in amusement. He is also putting on clothes and shoots me a smile that shows off his sharp canine teeth. “Jinora was recently dumped by some guy she was dating. I suspect she is getting drunk somewhere downstairs. She has probably forgotten all about being your bodyguard.”

“Oh…” I feel a bit bad for her, but I still can’t say that she has been a top-notch bodyguard. “Well, it s.ucks to be dumped, I guess…”

“Mhm, it’s sad that she is lonely when she only wants a husband. But I’m sure Jinora will replace her mate one of these days, or maybe one of the alphas will claim her? She always dreamt of having a powerful mate.”

Laughter bubbles up my throat. “How do you know so much about Jinora?”

“Sometimes I can’t control my mind-reading abilities… Not that I need them when it comes to Jinora. She usually won’t stop talking even though I beg her to shut up.”

I giggle. “Sounds like Jinora.”

Avery just smiles. His pants are gone, and his hands reach for his shirt. I can’t help but stare at his chest since it’s bare. His rippling abs are a girl’s wet dream, and those pecs are p**n worthy. I swear the man would be rich if he ever decided to—

“What the hell are you even thinking?” Avery snorts and falls into a fit of laughter. He won’t stop laughing. “I only belong to you—I don’t want anyone else checking out my body!”

Ignoring my reddening cheeks, I glare at him. “Could you lay off the mind-reading for like one second?!”

He grins. “But your thoughts are so interesting.”

“But totally private…” I mutter.

Avery simply chuckles but says nothing else.

I fix my hair and clothes, and once we both look presentable, we head out the door. Music is blasting from downstairs, the classic kind, and when I look to the right of the door, I see Kade leaning against the wall.

“Oh,” Kade grins. “I sense a newly formed mate bond—congratulations on being newly mates, or whatever you call it.”

Avery frowns and stops in his tracks. I can sense his tension when he looks at the other alpha, but I grab his arm to calm him down. He peers down at me, and I offer him a smile.

“Kade is a friend,” I say, and the white-haired alpha snorts but doesn’t disagree with my words. I look at him and smile. “Didn’t you say you would watch over me? Where were you when Victoria attacked me?”

“Busy screwing some female werewolf downstairs,” Kade says, and he doesn’t look one bit ashamed of it either. “But you seem… Fine. Are you sure that she attacked you?”

“She did,” I blink, and then a smile spreads over my l!ps. “By fine… Do you mean that I’m still pregnant?” Kade should be able to know this—he was the one that felt it in the first place.

“Why wouldn’t you be?” He arches an eyebrow at me and looks at me as though I’m insane. His eyes then drop to my stomach. “You’re very pregnant, and your child is healthy. While I’m at it, do you wish me to guess its gender?”

I laugh at him, happier than ever. “No, I don’t need that. Hearing that my baby is fine is more than I could ever hope for. Thank you, Kade.”

“Uh, you’re welcome?” He blinks, unsure what I’m thanking him for, but he looks satisfied regardless. As if it brings him true joy to be needed by another person.

“Hey, guys, there you are!” Jinora interrupts us and beams at me once she catches my eye. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” she turns to Avery. “And you! The girls are waiting for you to dance with them—you have promised to give everyone a try!”

Avery rolls his eyes. “Yeah, that won’t be happening anymore. I’ve already found my mate and won’t let random females touch me. Not anymore. I’m taken.”

“Taken?” Jinora appears confused. She wrinkles her eyebrows, about to ask something else, but then she looks at Kade and growls like an angered guard dog. “Oh my god, aren’t you that lycan prince who tried to kidnap Lydia? What are you doing here?!”

Kade doesn’t look phased even though Jinora would raise her hackles at him if she were in wolf form. And when Kade speaks, he honestly sounds way too calm. “My world isn’t quite as fascinating at this one, so I’m here to enjoy the ball and dance.”

Jinora gasps. “You can’t do that! No one invited you, and I don’t trust you for one second!”

“Who cares if you don’t trust me?” Kade questions. “Your alpha doesn’t seem to care that I’m hanging out at this claiming ceremony, so I see no problem staying for a while.”

“That might be so, but I care!” Jinora snarls and steps closer to the alpha. She is much shorter than him, yet she dares to glare up at the lycan alpha prince. “You will leave this claiming ceremony, or I will throw you out myself!”

Kade, who looked bored a second ago, actually snorts. “You and what army, princess? Because with those stick arms of yours, I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay here all night.”

Those words make Jinora lose her patience, and I watch in amusement as she growls and pushes at Kade… Who doesn’t even budge.

He peers down at the red-headed female werewolf, one eyebrow raised while he calmly drinks wine from a stolen glass. “Are you even trying to push me right now?”

“Gah!” Jinora adds more strength. Her hands are flattened against Kade’s chest, and then she heaves… Which honestly doesn’t seem to be getting her anywhere. Jinora realizes this too, and g****s. “Why are you so heavy?! You must be obese since you aren’t moving!”

“No, I just workout…” Kade tilts his head and teasingly smiles down at her. “Have you ever heard of that term? Working out? It might do you well. A puny female werewolf like you couldn’t possibly defend herself.”

“I’m one of the best warriors in my clan!”

Kade laughs, definitely not believing her. His l!ps are curled into this amused smirk. “Ain’t that the joke of the century? You are a warrior? For what, the kindergarten army?”

Jinora opens her mouth, then closes it as she steps away. “You’re such a d!ck…”

I giggle. “You two have fun,” I look back at Avery, smiling. “Should we head downstairs?”

He grunts a response and locks his arms with mine, leading me toward the stairs. Jinora gets left behind, but I don’t mind—she and Kade would make a cute couple.

I smile at that thought, and then I meet Avery’s eyes. He offers me a smile that says more than a thousand words.

And what did he tell me?

Probably that he is glad that the baby is okay.