My Jealous Alpha Stepbrother
Chapter 50

Lydia

It’s been a month since Avery and I discovered I was pregnant. Things are well, except that I’m bigger than ever.

My stomach looks downright comical because werewolves are pregnant for a much shorter time than humans. Jinora, who is half-dating Kade at the moment, is usually always around to help me with stuff.

But today, I have the honor of being stuck with Avery all day. And I say stuck because he literally won’t let me go. Right now, he is carrying me around like a toy.

“Avery, I’m pregnant—not handicapped!” I growl as I’m carried down the staircase by my hunk of a mate. It’s breakfast time, but Avery here isn’t letting me use my legs.

“I know that,” his eyes meet mine, fierce and determined; he isn’t letting me go. I can see it in his gaze. “But you’ve been weak lately, and you’re short—I don’t think you were meant to carry a werewolf alpha baby. And since I’m a big guy, the kid might be bigger too. I’m certain it’s the future alpha inside your womb.”

“Not to mention a hybrid,” I tell him with a weak smile. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I think the baby is feeding on me. I feel incredibly weak in the morning like I haven’t eaten for months. Right now, I’m f*****g starving.”

Worry crosses Avery’s features, and he tightens his grip on me, holding me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, and he is afraid of losing me. It warms my heart.

I’m still not used to Avery treating me like I hung the moon. He is all I have left after my mom got mad at me for mating with her husband’s son. I still don’t understand her anger… It’s me who should be angry that she hid the existence of the heart of Chang’e from me.

“You have to tell me if you feel weaker than this,” Avery says in a concerned tone. His eyes are filled with a fear I’ve never witnessed in him before. “You’re the love of my life, Lydia, and… I love our baby, I do, but you… s**t. How do I say this without sounding terrible?”

I place my hand on his cheek. He hasn’t shaven in two days and feels prickly, but he is handsome, almost down to the point it’s distracting. Something I can’t focus around him, too taken by him. But can anyone blame me? My mate is incredibly beautiful with his two odd-colored eyes and perfect, smooth skin.

I love him to the moon and back.

“Just tell me what is bothering you,” I whisper. “Nothing you say will make me love you any less.”

His eyes are filled with affection. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, just tell me what is happening inside your beautiful mind.”

He laughs at that because while he is a mind-reader, I’m not. I need him to tell me things, and Avery has been practicing not to use his abilities. I want us to rely on normal communication.

But when I’m angry, it’s okay for him to read my mind to figure out what sort of chocolate I want from the story. But in other scenarios? Then I want him to talk to me.

Avery takes a deep breath. “I will always choose you over an unborn baby. Always. And if this pregnancy is jeoparding your health and… s**t. My mom was an original vampire, and I heard from my dad that the pregnancy was hard on her… And for you? I can’t even imagine how it’s going to be. I’m terrified.”

“Aw, honey, don’t worry about me,” I gaze deeply into his eyes while he holds me like a bride in his big, strong arms. His face is uncertain, and my l!ps curl into a smile. “I will be fine, and even if the pregnancy is hard, you’ve been practicing your healing powers, haven’t you? And I also have a quicker recovery time than any other werewolf. It will be fine.”

Avery sighs deeply. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.”

He smiles at that and keeps moving down the stairs. I’m taken into the kitchen, where he sits me on the couch. The windows let in the sunlight, and the birds are singing outside.

“Lovely day,” I say while reaching for the heap of letters on the table. Jinora must have fetched them earlier before she went on her daily routine of running around the block. “Perhaps we should go out fishing today?”

Avery grimaces. “You know what I think about the sun…”

“You could bring your umbrella?”

“True… But people would look at me funny.”

I laugh. “Do you truly care?”

“A little, but… It’s worth it to head outside if you’re happy. So yes, we will go fishing today. It will be fun.”

I smile at that. I used to go fishing with my dad before he died, and it will be a fun date with Avery. We haven’t spent that much time together now that there are vampire attacks every other night.

“I will show you all of my tricks,” I say while opening up an envelope with my name on it. I’m the luna now, so these letters are common. I bet it’s another pack member wishing for good fortune or someone wanting to meet me for a coffee.

Behind me, Avery snorts. “Why do I have a feeling you’re not that good at fishing?”

“I’m the greatest—” I trail off and stare at the letter. It’s not from a fellow pack member. It’s from Victoria.

Dear Lydia,

Congratulations on completing the mating ritual with my son. Now you’re officially my daughter-in-law. Welcome to the family.

I hope you enjoy every second together with Avery because time isn’t something you werewolves have. Do you know that there is a high possibility that Avery won’t age normally? You will turn into a raisin while he remains young. Forever. Scary, right?

Either way, I want to congratulate you, and… OH, I will also be coming for that baby of yours! Avery might not want to rule and become the new king of the night, but how about your lovely baby? Something tells me it will be a son—a future alpha. I can’t wait to replace out the gender!

Maybe I’ve found myself an heir?

Xoxo, Victoria.

I glare down at the letter, clutching it with my hands. “We have a letter delivered from your mother.”

Avery stops preparing breakfast. His eyes meet mine, and with a few long strides, he is standing by me.

I hand him the letter, and he quickly a.ssesses it with darkness taking over his features.

When he is done reading the letter, there is murder in his gaze. “We have to get rid of my mother. There isn’t a chance in hell that I’m letting her anywhere close to our baby. But my mother won’t stop. Not until she gets what she wants.”

I we.t my l!ps. “So what are you suggesting?”

“I suggest we replace her and kill her,” Avery isn’t joking around. I can feel his fury wafting off him in waves. “My mother will always be a problem. We can never feel safe with her around, so she has to go.”

I wish I could say violence isn’t the answer, but in this case, I don’t think we have another choice.

I sigh heavily. “Will you be able to kill your own mother, though? You won’t feel guilty or get cold feet because she is family?”

Avery takes my hands in his. “Lydia… You’re the only family I need, and my mother threatened to take my baby away from me. She is dead to me, and killing her will be my pleasure. Because then, my mate can finally sleep in peace at night.”

I smile. “You’re sweet.”

His l!ps curl into a smirk. “Only to you.”