Page 31 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #52)
Julian
“So far, I have shown you the residential area, the farms and greenhouses, and the daycare,” Theta Aidan says as we stretch, with Aileen the vampire and Serina watching our every move.
As usual, Aileen is aloof yet respectful, not showing any disdain or friendliness toward me. The same can’t be said for Serina, who glares at me, watching me with steady attentiveness when she isn’t driving the golf cart.
“Right now, we are at the training ground. Hannah had this built a year after creating Haven Trail, once her business started turning a profit. She stated that we needed a proper place to train, and my crew and I went to work building this place,” Theta Aidan continues, guiding Mikos, Fabian, and me to the large barn in front of us.
Beside it is a parkour set, with four wolves working hard at it as they carefully jump from one obstacle to another, improving their speed and hand-eye coordination.
Hannah used to say that the royal pack needed a course like this, and I just ignored the suggestion.
Now, seeing how nimble the Haven Trail wolves are, I regret not using her idea and add it to my growing list of regrets.
“The outside is incredible,” Mikos whistles, impressed as his eyes scan every detail of the obstacle course. “I didn’t know Hannah was this brilliant,” he adds, and I notice a flicker of guilt in his eyes before it disappears.
“No one did. It was part of her role as a hidden guard,” Fabian states before I can, a look of pride on his face.
“Hannah is an alpha-blooded wolf, just like her parents were, but due to her position, she had to hide her power and appear meek and unassuming to protect me,” I add, catching a look of surprise on the Haven Trail wolves as I speak.
“She-wolves in our pack became jealous of how close she was to Fabian and me, so they spread rumors about her. Rumors I should have stopped right away,” I continue, looking away from the parkour course and making my way inside the barn.
Everyone else follows silently after me, and I can feel the judging stares from those loyal to Hannah. I had a feeling that my being her mate and the rejection had spread to the rest of her pack, and from the hostility I felt wherever I went, I can confirm this to be true.
Stepping into the barn, I stop dead in my tracks, not expecting a clean, spacious gym with state-of-the-art equipment. The space is bright, with some wolves currently working out or sparring in one of the four sparring rings.
“Wow,” I whisper, impressed by this place.
“Yeah. Hannah didn’t hesitate to invest in this build,” Theta Aidan says with pride, a grin splitting his face. “I tried to make some of the building process as inexpensive as possible since she had hired my crew to build it, and in the end, this was the result.”
“Wait, you built these training grounds?” Mikos asks in disbelief.
Theta Aidan nods, telling us how he met Hannah.
He was the one who restored the pack house five years ago, helping Hannah out with a discount if she agreed to let him, his daughter Beta Claira, and his workers join Haven Trail.
He smiles while saying that he built all of the buildings on the pack land afterward, doing his best to maintain a balance with the natural forests surrounding the pack house and only chopping down necessary trees to make room as the pack grew.
Impressed, I can’t help but think that Hannah had a way with people once she was able to be herself, and I try to stop the guilt from creeping in.
“That’s it, Saben, just like I showed you!” someone calls out excitedly, catching my attention as he says my pup’s name.
Curious, I walk toward the encouraging cheers to find a man watching Saben as he punches a punching bag, his little fists hitting it with a loud thud.
From here, I can feel his blood humming as the royal alpha blood flowing through his body lights up during his training.
Grinning, I silently creep behind the white-haired boy and gently touch his shoulder.
“Keep your body sideways and pivot when you punch,” I say gently, moving his little body into a more comfortable position.
Saben looks at me, neither showing fear nor curiosity, as he nods and strikes the punching bag in quick succession, the thuds of his fists hitting the bag echoing around us.
Happy with this, I ask him if he wants to learn another move, and Saben nods.
Grinning, I take his wrist in my hand and guide him into an open-palm strike, explaining the procedure step by step.
Everyone around us watches with bated breath, and after sensing that the five-year-old has grasped the technique, I back away and tell him to strike the punching bag.
He takes a deep breath, his blood humming with power before opening his eyes and striking the punching bag.
The bag swings back, and quickly, I pull Saben out of the way before it can come back and hit him.
He giggles, his eyes wide as he looks at the bag swinging back and forth like a pendulum.
“I did it!” he squeals in delight, making everyone chuckle and resume their workout now that they know I am not a threat to their alpha heir.
“Yes, you did, and it was a perfect strike,” I praise, setting my son on his feet.
The wolf who was training him is quick to take Saben’s hand, and a warning growl nearly escapes my throat, but Fabian glares at me, shaking his head in warning.
“Mavric, did you see what I did!” Saben asks this wolf, who smiles indulgently at the pup.
“I did, Saben, but I think our training is done for the day. Granny Jiya just linked me saying your snacks are ready!” Mavric, the wolf holding Saben’s hand, says.
Saben visibly deflates, looking back at the punching bag with a small pout. “Can I come train tomorrow?” he asks, making me grin. Hannah had been like that when we were pups—always wanting to train or learn a new skill.
“Of course, as long as your mommy allows it,” Mavric says, ruffling Saben’s hair.
My pup perks up at this, and a wave of jealousy courses through me. This wolf is the one teaching Saben to fight and defend himself from other wolves—instead of me. Just what else is he learning without me to guide him?
“Alpha Julian?”
I turn at the sound of my name and find Theta Aidan watching me with a sad, understanding look. By now, Mavric is already leading Saben away from all of us, heading toward the exit.
“Are you okay?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“Would you be okay watching another wolf teach your pup?” I ask, bitterness lacing my voice.
“No, I wouldn’t,” Theta Aidan answers with a sigh, patting me on the back. “So, you know Saben is yours?”
“How can I not?” I scoff, running a hand through my hair. “He looks exactly like me, except for his hair. He has Hannah’s hair.”
“Well, he doesn’t know who his father is, so please don’t say anything until Hannah allows it,” Theta Aidan says, confirming my suspicion.
I sigh, agreeing not to share that I am Saben’s father until Hannah does.
Theta Aidan hums in response, giving me an apologetic look before motioning for me to follow him. By now, Mikos is done exploring the training grounds, his curiosity satisfied as he asks Serina about the training schedule here.
“Oh, Mavric makes the training schedule with Aidan since he is the head hunter,” Serina says with a shrug. So the man with my son is the head hunter. At least I know he takes Saben’s safety into consideration.
“Oh, I need to talk to him about training then to see what I can do to improve the wolves’ dexterity in the royal pack,” Mikos muses, a grin on his face.
My first thought is to talk to Hannah about this, as she was the one with the parkour training course, but I keep quiet, letting Theta Aidan corral us outside to continue the tour.
“Theta Aidan!” A shout sounds from the forest as we are about to climb into the golf carts and set off again. “There are rogues by the border!” A wolf rushes out from the tree line, his body covered in wounds.
I jump off the cart, racing to catch him before he collapses. His shouts have caught everyone’s attention, and the ten wolves who were in the training ground rush out.
“Where are the rogues?” a she-wolf asks, helping me support the injured wolf.
“By the west border,” he answers, his body shaking with pain.
Another wolf steps forward, telling me to let her take my place and help support this wolf. Others have rushed off to the west border while these two wolves carry their packmate inside the training grounds.
“Serina, take the royal wolves to the pack house,” Theta Aidan orders as he is about to rush off to the border where the rogues are.
“I am coming with you!” I state, leaving no room for refusal. “Hannah’s home is on the west side of the pack, which means my son is in danger.”
Theta Aidan pauses, his eyes searching my face.
Reluctantly, he nods, and without another word, Mikos, Fabian, and I rush off with the theta, the four of us shifting into our wolves as we race toward the west borders.
I send a silent prayer to the Goddess, begging that the Haven Trail wolves keep the rogues at the border and not allow a single one of them into the pack for my mate’s and my pup’s safety.