My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 51

Lydia

“I’m not leaving your side even for a moment after you’ve received that threat!” Jinora exclaims. “You’re pregnant and that… And that b***h just has to go and ruin your happiness!”

She is fuming, and her fists are clenched on the table as I dig into my lunch. Avery has cooked for us, but he is giving us some alone time by hanging out with Kade in the garden.

“I agree, which is why we have decided Victoria needs to die. We are planning a full-on war against her,” I place my hand on my stomach, stroking it. “Sadly, I can’t help in my condition.”

Jinora takes my hand over the table, squeezing it. Her bottom l*p is trembling, and her eyebrows are furrowed.

“I understand. You are pregnant, and your little wonder will need you once he or she is out in the world. I’ve also heard hybrid pregnancies rarely happen, but when they do… They are hard on the body. When Avery was born, his dad, our alpha at the time, didn’t think he would survive. My mom told me this.”

I give her a faint smile. “I can do this. The heart of Chang’e was inside me for so long that some of its power rubbed off on me. I can heal faster than regular werewolves.”

“That’s… That’s great,” Jinora smiles, but her lips are trembling, and I just know that there is something she isn’t telling me.

“What is it?” I ask.

She bites her bottom l*p. “It’s nothing.”

“Jinora…”

She sighs. “Look, this lunch is supposed to be about you, not me. I came here bearing baby gifts—”

“And I’m bored to death about the baby talk,” I admit, laughing a little when Jinora looks shoed. “It’s true. Avery and I are excited about the baby, but… We have decided to focus on us until he or she gets here. We never really got to date before I got pregnant.”

Jinora smiles sweetly. “That sounds like a great idea. Very romantic that he is trying to woo you even though you’re already mated.”

“Agreed,” I blush a little when I think of Avery’s plans to take me to a fine restaurant later. But then I see the look on Jinora’s face and remember she still hasn’t told me why she looks gloomy. “So, are you going to tell me what is up with you? Why do you look so sad?”

“Sad?” Jinora blinks. “Oh, sorry… I’m not sad, or… I am, but I’m also incredibly happy.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?” I glance outside. Avery and Kade are sparring against each other, and I face Jinora again. “Is this about you and Kade?”

She nods.

My lips turn into a thin stretch, and I have to fight a growl. “Have that i***t hurt you or something?”

“No, god no,” Jinora laughs, and when her eyes meet mine, they are filled with affection for Kade. I relax a little and let her explain. “As you may know, Kade and I are dating.”

“Mhm, I don’t think anyone has missed that,” I smile. Kade isn’t that used to our world and only yesterday did I help him bake chocolates for the werewolf he is trying to woo.

“Right,” Jinora giggles, but then her smile falters. “But we aren’t fated mates, and… He is a lycan, and my sister, Leonora, she is the pack’s medic, right? And she told me that I probably couldn’t handle carrying Kade’s babies. They would be hybrids, and I’m not a fast healer like you, which makes me incredibly sad because I want children! So naturally, my sister told me to break off things with Kade, but… I like him! And he has asked me if I wish to be marked by him!”

“Oh, Jinora,” my heart hurts for her. “That’s… I don’t know what to say. Before I got pregnant, I didn’t even know a hybrid pregnancy would leave me feeling this… Weak. Avery has to carry me everywhere, and I’m… I’m huge,” I laugh a bit. “But… I don’t believe it’s impossible for the two of you to have a child.”

“That’s not what my sister said,” Jinora sobs and tries her tears with her fingers. She is crying so much that she is shaking. “I’ve been trying to ignore Kade because of this… I thought it would be easier to leave him if I created some distance, but Kade… He thought I was angry at him for something and made me chocolates! How am I supposed to stay away from him, Lydia?! He is so sweet!”

Oh, so that’s why Kade asked me to help him make those chocolates. He thought Jinora was mad at him. Holy moon goddess. The guy is sweet and probably more in love than I initially thought.

“Look, I don’t have the answer for you,” my lips curl when she looks at me with eyes filled with tears, and I take her hands in mine. “But Kade really seems to like you, and… I think things happen for a reason. You and Kade met for a reason.”

She laughs through her tears. “We met because the i***t refused to leave this world behind because he enjoys f*****g werewolf women. He has been doing it without a condom because hybrid babies can only happen through a lock and tie, and even then, it’s hard…”

I nod. “Avery and I locked and tied before the mate bond… I loved him before I knew we were fated mates, and my body fully accepted him,” I pause a little and study Jinora’s face. “Did you lock and tie with Kade?”

Her face says it all: she did. There is no mistaking that, yet I wait for her lips to part. “We did… I didn’t expect us to lock and tie, but we did. Our bodies fully accepted each other.”

I grow thoughtful at that. “And you’re sure there isn’t a mate bond between you?”

“There isn’t.”

“Huh,” I blink in surprise. “Then perhaps… I don’t know, is the mate bond always instant? Can it happen later?”

“I don’t know,” her lips tremble, and more tears gather in her beautiful, lovely eyes. “I’ve been hoping for the mate bond to occur because… I don’t know. Am I silly for thinking that if there is a mate bond between us, then I can rest assured and trust the moon goddess to help me through a future pregnancy?”

“No, you’re not silly,” I sigh heavily. “I understand precisely because I hope the moon goddess got my back, too,” I look out through the window again. Kade faces our way with a concerned expression, and I smile at Jinora. “Someone is worried about you, and I think you should tell him what is on your mind. He deserves to know.”

Jinora sighs. “I know…”

“So you will tell him?”

“Yes,” another sob breaks from her lips. “I really like him, Lydia.”

“I know you do,” I stroke my thumbs over her hands and squeeze her fingers harder. She looks at me, and I whisper. “Which is how I know you will get through this. Together.”