Page 26 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #52)
Hannah
Growling playfully at Saben as he gently tugs on my tail, I swat at my pup with my paw, getting a squeal of delight from him as he lets go of my tail and ducks, running away from me toward the garden.
I grin, trotting after my pup while staying alert for any threats, even though our small cottage is deep inside Haven Trail’s territory.
“Mama, come get me!” Saben calls out with a giggle, my tail swishing happily as I chase my pup through the trees.
His scent of mango custard—a perfect mix of mine and Julian’s scents—is easy to follow, and every so often, I would slink around the trees only to appear in front of my son and flick my tongue along his cheek.
Each time I do this, his little hands wrap around my neck.
I gave the royal pack permission to run around in wolf form, Aidan calls through the link, making me sigh.
Fabian promised that he would keep everyone in line while they are here, he adds quickly before I can scold the fifty-year-old wolf.
Fine, but keep Julian and his wolves away from my cottage. That’s my safe haven away from my ex, I relent, spying Saben slowly sneaking up on me from my right side.
Got it, Alpha. See you at the meeting in two hours, he agrees readily, closing the link before I can say anything else.
Suddenly, the weight of my son crashing into me catches my attention, and I carefully fall to my side, feeling Saben tumble on top of me, his laughter echoing through the trees. His fingers fist my fur as he snuggles into my side, rubbing his face into my now dirty white fur.
“Mama, I can’t wait to shift into my wolf,” my son says with a yawn.
I know, baby. When you turn sixteen, you will be able to shift then, I say, linking to my little pup. He smiles, nuzzling his face closer into my side, and I chuckle as best as a wolf can, wrapping my body around him.
Now, let’s head back home. Granny Jiya will be coming to stay with you while Mama works and talks with Alpha King Julian, I say, nudging my pup to stand up.
He does so reluctantly, his little lips turned into a pout.
I sigh, gently rubbing my face against his and feel better when he giggles. Then I smell it.
The scent of mangoes flows past me on the wind. My fur stands on end as I feel a heated gaze watching me. Thankfully, Julian doesn’t approach Saben and me. If he did, I wouldn’t hesitate to turn around and sink my teeth into his skin to keep my pup safe.
Saben doesn’t seem to notice as he prattles on about what he and Jiya plan to do today—mainly baking cookies and playing in the garden—but my pup does mention going to the training ground to learn basic sparring from Mavric, the wolf I made my head hunter four years ago after he helped save Saben and me from a rogue attack that I was helpless against as I had gained my first heat.
Mavric, I call into the link, feeling unease from my packmate.
Yes, Alpha? Mavric calls back, his voice hesitant.
Hurt my son during his first sparring session, and I will skin you alive, I warn, hearing him sigh with relief.
Goddess, Han, don’t scare me like that. I thought I did something wrong! Mavric retorts, my lips curling into a grin.
Nope. Just wanted to warn you what doom befalls you if you hurt my baby, I state, pushing open the back gate to my garden.
Trust me, Han. I won’t be harming little Saben. Besides, Jiya would skin me first before you even got to me, Mavric grumbles. I can just picture him rolling his eyes, annoyance on his face as he most likely glares at the sky, a little habit I’ve noticed he has when mind-linking wolves in our pack.
Good. I’ll come talk to you later to hear firsthand how Saben does. Now, I need to get ready for a meeting.
Roger that, Alpha. Have fun with your ex and try not to kill him since he is the alpha king after all.
This time, I roll my eyes, telling Mavric to fuck off before shutting off the link.
As much as I would love to tear Julian apart, I can’t.
Harming the alpha king would be akin to killing my own pack.
“Mama, Granny Jiya is waiting for us!” Saben shouts with excitement, rushing toward the open back door of our cottage where Jiya waits patiently. He rushes into her open arms, hugging my friend who has become like a mother to me these last five years.
“Saben, I put your snack out in front of the TV,” Jiya says to my pup. “Why don’t you go watch some cartoons while I talk to your Mama?”
Saben agrees, turning around to kiss my snout before toddling inside, trying to hide his yawn. Knowing my pup is safe inside, I shift into my human form, accepting the blanket Jiya wraps around me and leaning against the doorframe.
“I see you have a tail,” Jiya says, nodding toward the direction where Julian hides.
“Yeah. I noticed him following Saben and me about fifteen minutes ago,” I say, a scowl on my face.
“Do you think he knows Saben is his?” I sigh at this question, turning to look at the tree line where I see the outline of a chestnut-colored wolf peering at me from the shadows.
“He knows. I said as much last night,” I state, glaring at Julian and watching him slowly back away until his gaze no longer lingers on my skin. Happy that Julian has left, I head inside my cottage to get ready for the meeting at eleven.