Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Pregnant.

The words fall from Sadie's lips like a thunderclap. For a moment, the air in the office stills. My breath catches in my chest, and even Knox freezes inside me.

The words hang in the air. No one moves, no one says anything. It's completely still and silent.

The word continues to ricochet in my chest... And suddenly, the room feels too small for all the truths pressing in.

Knox's howl shatters through my skull, torn in confusion, happiness and a bit of panic. Piper's lips part, her face pale as she stares back at us.

"What?" Piper's voice is small, almost childlike. Her eyes widen before a choked laugh slips out. “No, that's-Sadie, you can't just say something like that." Her voice cracks, rising higher with every word. "You can't—”

I whip my head toward Sadie. She remains quiet, her face pale, shoulders trembling, and eyes locked on Piper with certainty. Terrifying, immovable certainty.

"I'm not... I can't be. That's not-❞ Piper continues, her hands fluttering near her stomach as though the gesture alone could prove Sadie wrong.

Sadie doesn't even blink, but her hands are clenched into fists against her lap. "You are,” she whispers, her voice steady but faint, like it's being dragged from the depths of her soul. "You might not believe me, but you're pregnant."

The silence that follows is deafening. My heart slams in my chest. Knox is howling with shock, with questions, but I can't seem to move. Maybe after the shock has faded, I'll be happy that I'll be an uncle, but not right now. Not when my sister seems to be breaking.

Piper shakes her head violently. "No. No, that's impossible. I—I'd know, wouldn't I? Alec, tell her she's wrong." Her eyes dart to me, pleading, terrified.

The only time I've ever seen Piper this rattled is when I told her that Sadie was dead. It hurts seeing my little sister, always bold, always unafraid, reduced to trembling disbelief.

I want to tell her Sadie must be mistaken, that this is impossible-but when I look

at Sadie, I see something in her eyes that makes my throat close up. She's rattled, more rattled than I've ever seen her. Her hands tremble as if she's struggling to hold herself together.

is no way Sadie would know she's pregnant,

is rough, almost demanding, but

to mine, glassy and

know the how," she admits, her voice breaking. "I can't explain it, but I just... know. I can feel it. This spark, this heartbeat that doesn't belong to you, Piper. It's so faint, but it's there, growing." Her fingers twitch against her knees, her whole body trembling now. "It's not just knowing.

wild guess. I can feel it -her confusion, her

faint. "You can't just say something like that! You can't -"Her voice cracks as

a shaky breath, her eyes filling with tears. "I do

but screams, her voice shattering and body

hand on her shoulder. She's shaking, her breaths are sharp and uneven and her tears flow like rushing rivers down her cheeks. I wipe them away before

she pulls from me and gives me a gentle smile before we turn

when Sadie's eyes flash white and then she

sharp, like a blade wrapped in

goes deadly still. The silence is so heavy it feels like we've stepped

that's between a laugh and a sob, one that's full

know that."

her chest heaving

though she can't breathe

searching for some sign she's mistaken, but her eyes

shaking. Her fear bleeds into me, and Knox

"How?" I ask again.

at me, eyes wide. "I don't know," she whispers, her voice trembling. "I just

it even if I try. I

It's

sight, it's not sound, it's something deeper. I

hands cover her mouth, tears streaking down her face now. "This