Page 42 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #52)
Julian
Hey, want to grab some food? Fabian links me as I exit Haven Trail’s pack house.
I frown, noticing the unsteady tone of his voice, and quickly walk toward Hannah’s cottage.
No, I am not hungry, I answer, keeping my tone steady.
I feel him probing our link, wondering what my friend is doing as I quickly duck behind some trees.
Something is up with him. Hell, something was up with Theta Aidan when he suggested I head up to the dining hall instead of to the guest house to join my wolves.
Oh, well, we could meet up at the guest house. I know a few of our wolves want to discuss what they learned from the Haven Trail wolves, he adds, seeming nonchalant about our conversation. But I know Fabian better than he thinks. My friend is trying to keep me from going somewhere.
I plan on talking to each of them tomorrow morning, one by one, I state, feeling the link flicker with frustration and anxiety. Yep, Fabian is hiding something from me. Spill it, I demand, letting my annoyance seep through the link.
Spill what? Fabian asks, a tremor in his voice.
I growl in frustration, not happy with how my beta is avoiding the conversation.
You are hiding something from me. You’re trying to keep an eye on me. So what is going on? I state, trekking angrily toward Hannah’s cottage. I can sense wolves watching me, aware of my annoyance and anger seeping out from me.
I can’t tell you anything because I promised her, but you need to stay away from Hannah for a few days, Fabian finally states, stopping me dead in my tracks.
Hannah asked him to keep me away from her.
Why? I thought our talk last night had gone well.
I thought we had come to an understanding with each other.
Yes, she did demand that I leave her house last night and sounded off, but I thought maybe it was because she was exhausted from the day we had.
I left, not wanting to cut off any progress I had made with her yesterday.
Now, I know that something was wrong with Hannah, something she did not want me to know.
Is Hannah okay? I ask Fabian, trying not to take off in a sprint and scare the wolves watching me.
As okay as she can be, he reluctantly answers.
I breathe a sigh of relief, happy to know that Hannah isn’t in any danger.
Deciding I need to see Hannah no matter what, I tell Fabian I am just going for a walk to clear my head after talking to the female hunter.
He doesn’t seem convinced but thankfully doesn’t say anything other than insisting I stay away from Hannah for now.
Fat chance that is going to happen. I need to make sure my mate is okay.
It doesn’t take long for me to reach her cottage door. From outside, I can see Saben playing in the yard while Aileen watches him from the small patio swing.
“Afternoon,” I call out, slowly opening the gate of the white picket fence. I grin at Saben, who watches me with a friendly smile.
“Hi, Alpha Julian!” he calls out happily, rushing over toward me.
I bend down, holding my arms open as he gives me a hug, taking in his mango custard scent.
Goddess, I can’t believe I am hugging my son.
“Granny Jiya said you helped rescue me. Thank you,” he says as our hug ends, taking my right hand in both of his.
“It was my pleasure helping you, buddy,” I state, trying not to step on the toys littering the yard.
“I bet. Hannah must have been really pleased with your help,” Aileen calls from her seat, and I roll my eyes at her. It seems this vampire is out to get under my skin today.
“She was the one who asked me to help,” I reply, watching Saben’s eyes widen.
“Really? Mama usually doesn’t ask others for help unless it’s from Auntie Claira, Grandpa Aidan, Granny Jiya, or Auntie Aileen.”
“What about Mavric?” Aileen asks, making Saben scrunch up his little face—a habit he most definitely got from Hannah.
“He can be an idiot, but he does help,” Saben answers after thinking for a moment, making Aileen and me laugh.
“Well, I was wondering if your mama is around,” I state, crouching down to Saben’s level and looking him in the eye.
“I have some things I want to talk with her about, but it seems she didn’t come to the pack house,” I say gently, wanting to get on my son’s good side just as badly as I want to be on Hannah’s good side.
Saben looks at the cottage, his brows furrowed as he shuffles his little feet. I wait patiently, watching a conflicting look cross his face and wondering just what he is trying to keep hidden.
“Mama is sick,” he finally says, worry gnawing deep inside me.
“She is just a little tired from last night,” Aileen interjects, now standing beside Saben with a hand on his shoulder.
I frown, tasting the lie in her scent, and wonder what the hell she is keeping from me.
“No. Mama is sick,” Saben states, stomping his little foot.
“It’s like last time she was sick. She is in ice water because her body is hot.” His words hit me like lightning, and before Aileen could stop me, I raced toward the door and entered the cottage.
The first thing to hit me is the intense scent of vanilla custard. It smells warmer and sweeter than it did last night, and I can’t help but take a deep breath, inhaling this intoxicating scent.
“Fuck, Julian, get out here this instant,” Aileen calls from the door, a worried Saben tucked behind her legs.
“Sorry, but no can do,” I state, not liking the informal tone this vampire uses to address me. She should have more respect considering I am the alpha king, but then again, vampires only respect their sires, and from what I can tell, Aileen moves to the rhythm of her own drum.
“Damn it.” I hear her curse as I step further into the cottage, breathing in Hannah’s scent and tracking her down.
It doesn’t take long to find the bathroom where her scent is strongest. I reach out and grasp the door handle, taking a deep breath of Hannah’s scent before pushing it open.
“Jiya, did you bring more ice?” Hannah groans as soon as the door opens.
Her voice is sultry, filled with a wanton need.
“Jiya?” The sound of ice water shifting fills the room, and in slow motion, Hannah parts the curtain covering the bathtub, her blue eyes filled with need and lust slowly meeting mine.
She gasps, the sound like music to my ears as we stare at one another.
Fuck. I should have realized what Hannah was going through the moment Saben said his mama was sitting in ice water.
Hannah is in heat.