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 tI'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.

I'm torn. Piper is right; there is no way Sadie would know she's pregnant, but I know Sadie. She wouldn't say anything if she wasn't sure.

"How do you know this?" My voice is rough, almost demanding, but I need to understand.

Sadie's gaze flicks to mine, glassy and uncertain.

"I don't 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. It's... it's like I can sense the life in her. Tethered to her, but also different from her." I swear the ground shifts beneath me. This isn't just swild guess. I can feel it -her confusion, her fear, her awe and her conviction.

Piper looks like she might faint. "You can't just say something like that! You can't -"Her voice cracks as she presses both hands to her stomach. "You don't even know what you're saying." Sadie draws in a shaky breath, her eyes filling with tears. "I do know." "No, you don't!" Piper all but screams, her voice shattering and body folding in itself as tears rush to her eyes. "Stop. Please stop." My chest twists. "Piper," I murmur, moving to her side, placing a steadying 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 pulling her into my arms. She hugstightly, as if I'm her lifeline.

When she is calmer, she pulls fromand givesa gentle smile before we turn to look at Sadie.

My heart starts racing once again when Sadie's eyes flash white and then she speaks and I feel like the rug has been ripped from underneath me.

Sadie's voice cuts through, quiet but sharp, like a blade wrapped in silk. "It's a boy." The room goes deadly still. The silence is so heavy it feels like we've stepped into another world.

Piper lets out a strangled sound that's between a laugh and a sob, one that's full of nerves and disbelief. "Now you're just pushing it too far Sadie... that's insane. You can't possibly know that." She breaks off, her chest heaving as though she can't breathe I glance at Sadie, searching for ssign she's mistaken, but her eyes are brimming with tears, her whole body shaking. Her fear bleeds into me, and Knox paces inside, unsettled. "How?" I ask again.

She looks at me, eyes wide. "I don't know," she whispers, her voice trembling. "I just know. I can't explain it even if I try. I can senshim, Piper. It's like I'm also connected to him in a way. It's not sight, it's not sound, it's something deeper. I feel him, just like I feel both of you." Piper's hands cover her mouth, tears streaking down her face now. "This isn't happening." Her voice breaks into a sob.

My throat feels raw. I can't give her that lie. Because Sadie's voice carries a truth I can't explain but feel in my bones.

My head is spinning... and then it hits me: what if-what if Sadie just unveiled a power none of us could have imagined? I reach for her instinctively, covering her shaking hands with mine.

"Piper" My voice is softer now, gentler. Her eyes flick to mine, wide and terrified. "Think about it, you spent the full moon with Calvin." As much as I don't want to even mention my little sister, the full moon and Calvin in the ssentence, it's the only way I can get through to her.

Her eyes flick betweenand Sadie before her eyes clear with sclarity. HeR shoulders fall as if finally accepting the possibility.

"Are you sure?" Piper whispers, her voice breaking, her entire body taut with fear.

Sadie exhales shakily, then presses her trembling hand against her chest. "I don't know or understand how... But lam. As sure as my heart beats... you're carrying a pup, Piper." Her words land heavy, irrevocable.

Piper stares at her, pale and

trembling. I stare at Sadie, caught between awe and terror for or her, for this gift that seems to be unfolding inside her, whether she's ready for it or not.

I pull Piper into my arms, holding her as tightly as I dare. "Breathe, "m whisper against her hair, even though my own lungs feel like they're on fire. Knox growls low inside me, a mix of protective rage and helplessness. He wants to shield both of them, our sister and mate, but I don't even know how.

Because nothing about this moment feels like chance. It feels like the beginning of something much bigger than we thought.