My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 41

Lydia

I’m nervous. Avery is about to hold a speech to our pack and the other packs gathered at the mansion tonight.

He is standing by my side at the top of the stairs, handsome and protective. There isn’t a smile on his face, but his eyes are heated in a way that lets me know he won’t allow anything to happen to me.

It calms me down a little, but not much. People are already gossiping and whispering as they look up at us. The music isn’t playing, and all eyes are on us. That includes the eyes of my mom.

I swallow thickly.

My mom is holding John’s arm, eyes narrowed as she rakes me up and down. Her face is easy to read: she has figured us out.

Like everybody else, I bet my mom can smell Avery’s scent on my skin and my scent on every inch of his toned body.

There is no doubt what has happened. We have funfilled the mate bond, and now, the pack is waiting for confirmation.

And I don’t think my mom is going to like that part.

Avery glances down at me, his eyes gentle when he whispers, “Are you okay? You look like you might throw up.”

I force a smile. “I’m nervous, but that can’t be helped…”

He smiles and reaches out to squeeze my hand. “It will be okay.”

I believe him. With Avery by my side, everything feels possible; truthfully, it also feels like he is the only thing I need. I also know that he just read my mind if I’m to judge by the happy grin on his face.

“I will make this speech quick,” Avery winks at me, and then he steps forward to speak to the pack. “Brothers and sisters, I’ve gathered you all here today because I needed a luna. Today is the day of my claiming ceremony, but it turns out I won’t be picking a female as the moon goddess has decided for me—by revealing my true mate!”

People gasp, and while most elderly people look happy, I notice some girls scowl and glare at me with jealous expressions. It was what I expected, though.

Everyone wants to be with the alpha, and I’m not surprised that Sally, Casie, Rys, and Ava are all staring at me like I’m filth in their vision. No matter what, they won’t accept me as their luna.

‘They will have to,’ Avery says inside my head. He is talking to the pack and addressing me through his psychic abilities. ‘If those girls cause you trouble, I must get rid of them. And since you’re pregnant, I’m not against hanging.’

‘What?!’ I damn near shout inside my head. I’m so shocked by his words that I’m shaking in my own skin. Avery sounded so cold and resolute when he thought those words too. ‘You can’t execute people!’

‘I can and I will if they are a threat to my luna and my future heir. Don’t forget that you’re pregnant, Lydia. Your safety is the most important to me, and you might deem it cold, but I would murder to keep my family safe. I might be an alpha, and the pack might be my family, but I’m also a vampire. And that part of me tells me that YOU and my CHILD are the most important people in the world.’

I’m both moved and slightly horrified by his words. They are a reminder that no matter how kind Avery is to me, he is still a ruthless alpha on the inside. He would do anything to keep me safe.

I grimace at that and let my eyes scan the crowd. My ex-boyfriend, Owen, is staring at us.

‘Oh, and he is definitely dying,’ Avery mutters inside my head. ‘The bastard is tired of his mate, and now when I’m claiming you, he is suddenly interested again. So much for loyalty.’

Owen wants me?

I snort at that. I would never take that bastard back. My heart belongs to Avery, and Owen watched me when his girlfriend kicked me that day in the forest. He didn’t tell her to stop or even try to help me!

‘He did what?!’ Avery sounds furious. ‘You didn’t tell me this before!’

Realizing my mistake, I sigh heavily. ‘Get out of my head, Avery. We might be mates, but you can’t read every thought inside my head.’

He grumbles. ‘Fine… But we are discussing Owen’s punishment later. The bastard is imagining this scenario of running away with you because now that you’re the alpha’s girl, you’re suddenly his wet dream.’

My lips twitch in amusement because Avery sounds ready to murder the guy. The jealousy in his voice can’t be disguised, and my chest warms. I’m not a fan of the violent side of my mate, but his possessiveness kind of turns me on. He is definitely getting a b*****b later…

With a tiny smile on my lips, I let my eyes roam. My good mood, however, vanishes the second I replace my mom glaring at me. She looks outraged, probably because of what Avery is saying right now…

“Lydia, the former omega, will become my luna—my equal. She is not my second in command, but just as important as I am. Together, we will command this pack and make this city safe again. I know the vampires are out there, and now, with the heart of Chang’e, they are stronger than ever. But with the right training, a werewolf can learn to defend themselves against these creatures—”

Avery keeps talking, and I take a deep breath. My mom still looks pissed off, but that’s okay. There is nothing she can do to break us up. Avery’s words are the law; soon, mine will hold the same importance.

“Anyone who disagrees with this will be thrown out of the pack, left to fend for themselves against the vampires. I won’t tolerate any sort of discrimination toward my luna, and I won’t protect anyone who won’t listen to Lydia. And if you hurt her, I can promise you that I will have you hanged. She carries my pup, my heir, my everything. And pack members will treat her with respect and care.”

My heart swells when I hear the words of my fierce mate. I look up at him, so much taller than me. He is powerful, yet so very gentle when he takes my hand and holds it while talking.

“Are there any questions?” Avery asks.

The pack members, who are half-scared to death by Avery’s threats of what will happen should they touch me, don’t say anything. There is a lingering silence before one pack member shakily lifts their hand.

It’s a young girl, and her legs are trembling. Her facial expression hint at her being scared out of her mind, and it hits me that the pack members around her look equally frightened.

Why?

Is she about to ask something Avery might not like?

I ponder on this when my mate nods his approval. “You may speak.”

The girl, not much older than me, wet her lips. Her eyes have been kept on the floor all this time. But now she lifts her chin and looks straight at Avery as she speaks.

“Are the rumors true?” Her voice is definitely that of someone almost too terrified to speak. “Is my alpha a hybrid?”

After that question is out, nobody moves or even dares to breathe. I get the uncomfortable sense that everyone knew but had not dared to ask this question. Pack members are staring at the girl, wide-eyed and frightened, and I look at Avery.

He is standing frozen, repeatedly blinking before he straightens his shoulders. Since he is a mind-reader, he must have known this question was coming, yet he still seems shocked.

“Yes, I’m a hybrid.”

Some pack members who didn’t know gasp, and I see how they uncomfortably shift and look at Avery as if he might eat them. Which is silly. It’s not like he would jump and drink their b***d just because the secret is finally out in the open.

“Then…” the girl is speaking again. “Are we even safe with you? The vampires who have been running loose in the city they… They attack people and drink them empty of b***d. They murder and s*******r and don’t care about anyone but themselves.”

Avery nods before addressing the question. “I’m well aware of that, but I can assure you it’s not the same for me. Unlike those vampires, I’m half-werewolf. I can control my thirst.”

Immediately after speaking, Avery’s voice is inside my head. ‘I don’t think I should tell them that your b***d keeps me sane…’

My lips curl into a private smile. ‘Probably not.’

He is silent for a while, then he sighs. ‘You don’t think I’m a freak for needing to drink from you in order not to lose my mind, do you? You’re not frightened of me, right?’

‘Why don’t you read my mind to replace out?’ I ask.

‘I need to hear you say it…’

‘I’m not frightened of you,’ I mean those words. ‘I know you wouldn’t hurt me—you’re not your mother.’

I can hear him let out a relieved breath in reality, and then those odd-colored eyes briefly meet mine as he pauses in his speech. There is a smile on his lips now.

‘Thank you,’ he says, and then adds, ‘What would I do without you?’

I giggle but fall silent when some people look at me like I’m crazy. They have no idea why I laughed, and I look away, but I cannot hide the smile curling my lips. I’m feeling quite confident in my position now that Avery has declared that I’m his everything. The evil part of my brain is officially awakening.

Let’s test his limits… Just for fun.

‘Well, without me,’ I drawl inside his head. ‘You would probably run around like a crazy beast on the streets. You need me, Avery. Face it, I’m your savior.’

He snorts in amusement, and I wonder if I’ve gone too far when he shoots me a smirk. His eyes are darkly entertained, and shudders sweep down my spine. ‘Don’t get too cocky now, or I might have to punish you later, my mate. I might be in love with you, but I can assure you that I’m not whipped. I won’t let you tease me as much as you want.’

Feeling mischievous, I decide to challenge him. ‘You’re not whipped… Yet.’

‘Watch it, Lydia. I’m one step away from punishing you later.’

‘Maybe I like getting punished?’

Another snort. ‘Oh, you’re so on, little mate. Wait until this is over, and you will regret teasing me.’

Heat coils in my core, and I can feel my arousal grow because I know that Avery won’t punish me by hurting me, at least not by hitting me. He is not abusive. No. Avery will punish me in bed. My alpha is all about mind games, and now I’m left to wonder how he will punish me; I can’t wait.

I’m so ready for him…