Page 20 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #52)

Julian

Five Years Later

Taking deep breaths as flames lick at my body, I curl in on myself while the cold water from my shower rains down on me.

My rut has come again so soon, the pain unbearable unlike previous times.

The doctor who came to see me said it was because I had met my mate.

I had fucked her during a rut. Now, my body craves her touch and the sweet relief only her pussy can bring.

Every fiber in my being screams at me to find my mate, to sink my aching fangs into her neck and mark her as mine, but it’s been five years since she went missing, and no one has been able to find her.

“How long has it been since this one started?” someone asks quietly.

Turning to look at the figure leaning against my wall, I find Fabian watching me with sad eyes.

My friend has stood beside me these last five years as I slowly lost my sanity to my ruts.

I knew when they began to grow stronger, felt the moment the mate bond reached out to me as a sense of longing and pain radiated from it.

My mate needed me, and I had no idea what had caused it to do this.

“Six days,” I answer, resting my forehead against the cool tile floor of the shower.

“But I feel like it is coming to an end,” I add quickly, closing my eyes as the flames that have been licking at my body slowly recede. Two more days—that’s how long I expect this rut to last before I can resume my normal duties as alpha king.

“That’s good. We have the royal tour happening in three days, and we need you to be ready by then,” my friend says with a shrug, making me growl warningly at him.

Fabian just rolls his eyes and slides down the wall to sit across from me.

We say nothing, the two of us lost in our own thoughts with the cold water from the shower falling around me.

The royal tour was something I began to plan three months ago.

We were approaching six years since the last tour when I met the new alphas who had just inherited their positions or who had slowly built new packs face-to-face.

I will be able to observe how their packs are run and question their members to see what type of lifestyle they have.

Most importantly, I will be able to find my mate during this trip and bring her home once and for all.

“Are you serious about finding your mate on this trip?” Fabian asks, breaking the comfortable silence.

“I am,” I answer, taking a deep breath as the flames of my rut roar once again inside me. My fangs elongate, and a roar of pain escapes my lips. I hear Fabian shuffle from his spot, moving closer to me.

“Do you want me to inject you with wolfsbane?” he asks, concern lacing his voice.

“N-no,” I stutter, clenching my hands into fists.

“I just need to endure this,” I add with a groan.

Fabian says nothing, but I know he is worried about me. These ruts have nearly caused me to go feral, and many times, I have had to be chained in the dungeons for my pack’s safety. Taking deep, steady breaths, I curl my body into a ball. The flames inside me die down, and I sigh, feeling relieved.

Sensing my change in mood, Fabian turns off the shower and helps me to my feet. A towel is draped over my shoulder, and I shiver as he guides me to my bed.

“Two days,” I mutter as he pulls the comforter over my soaking wet body.

“In two days, I will be able to go on the tour,” I continue with a yawn. Exhausted from the current rut, I close my eyes and let sleep take me.

***

The scent of vanilla fills my nose, and I groan, opening my eyes to find a tray of cookies and hot coffee waiting for me. I can sense that someone else is in the room, and I shift in my bed, forcing my sore and battered body into a sitting position.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” Fabian calls from the corner where he sits in an armchair. “How do you feel?” he continues, lifting his gaze from the tablet in his hands to meet mine.

“Like I just survived hell,” I answer, reaching out for the black coffee and gulping it down. The liquid is hot, but the caffeine is needed after the last few days I have suffered because of my rut.

“Well, technically, your body was trying to burn you,” Fabian jokes with a chuckle, making me roll my eyes at him.

“How long was I asleep for?” I ask, changing the subject.

“A day and a half. If you hadn’t woken up now, I would have had to postpone the trip for a few days,” Fabian answers, standing from his chair and stretching.

Groaning, I flop back onto my wet bed and grimace.

I was right about being able to go on tour within two days, but I didn’t think I was cutting it this close.

“How long until the plane leaves?” I inquire, turning my head to look at my open window.

“Five hours. I already had your bags packed, and our men are just waiting for you to debrief them before we go.”

Closing my eyes, I mull over Fabian’s words and sigh, pushing myself off the bed and throwing the comforter to the end. Five hours means I have time to shower and get some food in me. Then it’s off to the conference room in the west wing before we head toward the private airstrip.

“Have you decided which pack we are visiting first?” Fabian asks as I slowly stretch my sore body.

“I have. There is a new pack that I haven’t been able to greet properly since it was formed, and I want that place to be my first visit,” I answer, moving toward my bathroom.

“What pack is that?” Fabian asks, following behind me.

“Haven Trail,” I state, watching as Fabian stumbles for a moment.

Shocked by his reaction, I narrow my eyes at my friend but say nothing.

I have a feeling Fabian knows something about this pack but decide not to ask anything further, as I know that I will learn something as soon as we arrive at Haven Trail.

“What happened to visiting Snow Pine pack?” Fabian asks, trying to appear nonchalant. But I know better. I can hear the worry tinging his tone and see the way his eyes dart about.

“That is the second pack I plan to visit,” I answer, turning on the shower and waiting for the water to reach the right temperature.

“Tell our packmates I will be ready to debrief them in an hour. I want to be alone now,” I declare, waving off Fabian.

I can see that he wants to say something, his mouth opening and closing a few times.

In the end, he nods, his eyes filled with resignation as he leaves my bathroom.

Just as I slip into the shower, I hear my bedroom door open and close.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I close my eyes and relish the warm flowing water.

Originally, I wanted to go to Snow Pine pack first as they are our closest allies within my kingdom, but Haven Trail has been plaguing my mind for the last two weeks since planning this tour.

In the end, visiting this new pack, which has been steadily growing for the last five years, seems like a good idea, even if I do not find my mate there.

At least I can finally put a face to this Alpha Cross, whom I have only talked to through email.