Page 46 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #52)

Julian

Her heat has subsided for now, and the pain from the flames has simmered down with my help. Now, Hannah is fast asleep again, getting her rest during the small reprieve she has when the flames aren’t licking at her from the inside, demanding to be fucked and bred.

She smells so good, good enough to eat. I wish I could just kiss her and make love to her, but I can’t.

Hannah has her guard up against me, and I understand why.

Just before she fell asleep, her eyes met mine, and in that moment, I saw the same want and need she has for me that I have for her.

She is just scared, and I don’t blame her.

She has so much going for her here in Haven Trail. She has a pack. A home. A family. All the things I took away from her five years ago when I banished her from the royal pack. I know she is afraid of losing all of this if she accepts me back as her mate.

Taking a deep breath, I carefully pull my arms from under her.

She groans in protest but settles down. I sigh with relief, carefully pushing myself off the bed, and shake out my arms that were beginning to fall asleep from Hannah lying on them.

I gently tuck Hannah into bed, noticing her body shivering, a side effect of the heat warming her up until it feels like she is being burned alive. A rut has a similar effect.

Sneaking out of her bedroom, I head toward the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Judging by the time on the microwave, Hannah has been asleep for two hours, and I spent that time watching her like some sort of creep.

How is Hannah doing? Fabian’s voice pops into my head, and I sigh, grabbing a glass from the dish rack and running cold water into it.

Not sure what the best response to that is, I admit, taking a long drink before refilling my glass. For some reason, I am thirsty, and I can only chalk it up to Hannah keeping the temperature in here a little warmer.

Her heat is growing worse by the hour. I am not sure if my presence here is helping her or making it worse, I continue, moving toward the window and looking out at the night sky.

The link between Fabian and me goes quiet, and I find myself pulling at the collar of my shirt. Goddess, it is hot in here.

Maybe your presence is helping her, Fabian finally answers.

A smirk plays on my lips at this as I sip the water. I can’t stand around too long, though, as Hannah is going to need me soon.

Maybe, I agree, running a hand through my hair and groaning. It has been a long day, and it seems my stay here in Haven Trail is going to be longer until Hannah’s heat subsides.

Anyway, I am going to go take care of Hannah.

Keep our wolves in line for now and see if you, Theta Aidan, and Mikos can pinpoint where the Hunters Association is in this area that the female hunter mentioned.

I want to take it down within the next two weeks, I order, receiving a groan of annoyance from my beta.

Will do. Send Hannah my best, Fabian agrees quickly.

With that, the link goes quiet, and I make my way back to Hannah’s room, finding her curled up in the spot I had been lying in.

I smile, placing the glass of cold water on the bedside table.

By now, my body has grown uncomfortably hot, and—after making sure Hannah is still asleep—I pull off my shirt before climbing into bed and scooping Hannah into my arms. Her naked body fits perfectly against mine, and after shimmying to get comfortable, Hannah settles against me, her hot breath fanning my skin.

I nearly groan with pent-up need from this, closing my eyes and taking a shaky breath.

“Julian,” Hannah mumbles, shifting her body closer to me and wrapping her arms around my torso.

“I am here, Hannah,” I whisper reassuringly, feeling my poor cock restrained in my pants twitch with her pressed against me.

Her body is growing hotter, and I know that sooner or later, Hannah will wake up from the pain and will need help to relieve herself. The worst part is that with her hot body next to mine, my own is heating up with each second we are plastered together.

A dull ache is starting to grow from my hard cock, my arousal for the woman in my arms becoming unbearable due to her intoxicating scent that has been amplified. It’s as if my own body is preparing to mate with her, to flick a switch inside me and…

“And bring forth my rut,” I whisper, shocked by my train of thought.

Pain radiates through me as soon as I voice these words, and my body grows hot with a burning inferno of lust. It takes everything in me not to rip my clothes off and fuck the sleeping woman in my arms as I try to breathe through the pain, only for Hannah’s scent to entice me further.

“Hannah,” I groan, burying my face in her hair and breathing in her scent.

“What’s wrong, Julian?”