Page 23 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #52)
Hannah
Standing just a few feet away from King Julian Christiansen, I try my best to calm my racing heart as every emotion flickers through me. Without thinking, I gently pull Saben behind me, not wanting Julian to see my pup as my eyes harden into a glare.
“Your Majesty,” I call out, not bothering to keep Julian’s identity a secret.
“I thought we were going to be the last pack you visited on the royal tour,” I continue, watching Julian flinch at my formality and a flicker of hurt flash through his green eyes. Good. I hope he feels hurt by my cold, formal words.
“Hannah—”
“It’s Alpha Cross, please, Your Majesty,” I cut Julian off.
“A-Alpha Cross,” Julian stutters, fumbling over his words.
“I was intrigued by our one and only alpha female, so I decided at the last minute to visit Haven Trail. My men must have forgotten to inform you,” Julian says awkwardly.
I nod, accepting his answer as I know Julian. If visiting my pack first was a spur-of-the-moment thing, then I have no choice but to believe him.
“Well, the guest house is always ready, thankfully, so we can settle your wolves inside after dinner. As agreed upon in the email, a room has been set aside for you and Fabian to use as an office in the pack house,” I state, turning to look at my friend whom I haven’t seen for five years.
My cold facade falters for a moment as Fabian stands, and without thinking, I lead Saben to him.
“Saben, do you remember Uncle Fabian? We talk to him every night,” I ask my pup, feeling every movement being watched by Julian.
“I do, Mama,” Saben answers, looking curiously at Fabian.
“Well, don’t just stand there—I have been dying for that hug you promised me, Ben,” Fabian says, a grin splitting his face.
Upon hearing the nickname Fabian gave him, Saben releases my hand and launches himself at Fabian, laughing as my friend lifts my son into the air.
“Uncle Fabian, it really is you!” Saben squeals with delight, making me smile.
“It really is me, kiddo. Did you get that drum kit I sent over?” Fabian asks, making me groan.
“He did, and I hate you for it,” I reply instead, crossing my arms over my chest as I glare at Fabian.
“Hey, as the fun uncle, I have the right to spoil my nephew,” Fabian says defensively, making me roll my eyes.
“Hannah, don’t ignore me!” Julian shouts, making Saben jump in fright.
Anger rises inside me, and I turn to face my ex, my eyes set in a glare. “I am not ignoring you, King Julian. I am introducing my son to his uncle,” I snap back, feeling the gaze of the royal pack wolves and my Haven Trail wolves on the two of us.
“Your son! When the hell did you get pregnant?” Julian demands, stepping closer to me.
I snarl warningly at him, watching him flinch and relishing his reaction. “When I got pregnant is none of your concern. Anything about me stopped being your concern when you rejected and banished me because of baseless rumors!” I snap, not caring about sharing my past with those present.
“Hannah, I didn’t reject you!” Julian tries to argue, reaching out to take my hand.
I jerk back, recoiling at the thought of him touching me. The last time he touched me, it was to kick me for being a so-called liar.
“Really, Julian? Because I vividly remember you saying, ‘You are a liar! You are not my mate, and I will never accept you as my mate!’ when I tried to reason with you after your rut ended,” I retort, not bothering to hide my anger and hurt from him.
“I also remember you kicking me and how hard my body hit the wall I was flung into. How I crumbled in on myself from the pain because you were blinded by rumors spread by your so-called packmates!” I scream, cutting off anything Julian was going to say.
His mouth opens and closes, hurt, regret, and shame radiating from him as silence fills the room. A hand clamps down on my shoulder, and I whirl around, ready to push away whoever it is, only to find Aileen and Jiya standing behind me.
“Deep breaths, Hannah,” Aileen says, concern in her voice. “You are scaring Saben.”
My eyes widen, and I turn to see Saben hiding in Fabian’s embrace, his green eyes—so much like Julian’s—filled with tears.
My heart breaks at this, and I step closer to my son, holding my arms out for him.
He reaches for me, wrapping his little arms around my neck as I hold him close, breathing in his scent.
“I am sorry, baby. Mama didn’t mean to scare you,” I coo to my pup, slowly rubbing his back.
Saben says nothing, but the way he clings to me tightly tells me that my son forgives me.
Heaving a sigh of relief, I ask him if he wants to stay for dinner, to which he nods yes.
I stop myself from frowning, wanting nothing more than to carry Saben away from the pack house with Julian here, but my pup is hungry, and it seems no one can keep my boy away from Jiya’s cooking.
“Well, now that everyone has calmed down, how about dinner?” Jiya says cheerily, clapping her hands.
I nod, my gaze meeting Fabian, who mouths the word “sorry” to me. I will have to talk to him later since we had no warning about the royal pack visiting us so soon.
“King Julian, your wolves can mingle with mine while dinner is served. Please join me and my elite at the head table,” I say, addressing Julian formally once again.
Julian nods, his gaze kept low as I lead him and Fabian to the head table, with Aileen and Aidan following.
Jiya has slipped away to direct the omegas, but I wish she had stayed, as I need her support to get me through dinner with Julian.
Reaching the head table, I gently place Saben in his chair, ensuring the booster seat is secured before taking my seat beside him. The hair on my body prickles as I feel Julian take the seat next to me, much to my chagrin, and it takes everything in me not to snarl at him.
“So, what’s for dinner?” Fabian asks as he sits across from me instead of beside Julian.
“Traditional Indian cuisine,” someone else answers. I grin as Claira walks into the dining hall, my friend giving me an apologetic smile before turning to glare at Julian. “You’re in my seat,” she states, making Julian frown.
“No, I am right where I want to be,” he says, his voice filled with warning.
“Sit beside Saben, Claira. King Julian is here to start the royal tour with our pack,” I order my beta, watching her eyes widen in surprise.
“Ah, so your ex decided to fuck up his own tour,” she mutters, making me suppress a growl this time. I love Claira, but her attitude is going to get her killed by Julian’s hands.
“Auntie Claira, that’s a dollar for the swear jar!” Saben chides her as she moves to sit beside my son while Aidan groans in frustration at his daughter.
“Oh, shoot. Sorry, kiddo,” Claira apologizes quickly, ruffling Saben’s hair. He giggles, the fear from earlier gone from his little body.
With everyone settled at the table, omegas begin to enter the dining hall, serving those in attendance.
Taking a deep breath, I grit my teeth as the awkward meal continues, with Saben being the only saving grace as he and Fabian chat throughout.
By the time we are done, Saben is falling asleep in his chair, and I take that as my cue to leave.
“Hannah.” Just as I am halfway down the hall leading to the pack house exit, I hear my name being called and shiver, my steps pausing. Julian rushes to my side, but I glare at him in warning. “I need to know. Just who is Saben’s father?” Julian asks, his voice filled with pain.
I scoff at this, looking down at my pup who has fallen asleep in my arms before returning my gaze to Julian.
“He has no father because his father never wanted me, so why should he want his own son?” I declare, watching Julian flinch.
He would understand the hidden meaning of my words, and as petty as I feel telling him that Saben is his son in this way, I do not care if it hurts Julian.
He is the one who rejected and banished me.
He does not get to waltz back into my life expecting me to forgive him now that he realizes I was telling the truth that we are mates and that the three nights we spent together resulted in the most amazing little boy.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to take my son to bed.” With that, I continue walking, leaving Julian standing there.