Page 53 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #52)
Julian
Watching Saben as he punches the little punching bag, I can’t help but feel pride swelling inside me as my pup quickly learns each new technique I have shown him since Hannah left him in my care.
Aileen, the annoying vampire, is off in a corner, wrestling with Aliah from my pack while keeping an eye on me.
I understand Hannah’s concern about me being alone with our son since Saben still does not know that I am his father, but Goddess, I would love to enjoy some one-on-one time with him for a moment.
“How was that?” I hear Saben’s little voice call out to me, and I can’t help but beam at the small hole he punched into the punching bag.
“I think we need something stronger for you to punch, or your mama is going to skin me for allowing you to break the third punching bag,” I answer, watching his face light up with the praise.
He cheers, asking if he can use the adult punching bag, and I pause for a moment before agreeing.
As soon as the agreement leaves my lips, he is already racing to the other side of the training facility, everyone watching in amusement.
Resigned to my fate of entertaining my son, I follow after him, watching as he comes to a stop in front of a large punching bag and waits patiently for me.
“Want to practice for another ten minutes before we go for a walk?” I ask, positioning myself behind the punching bag to hold onto it.
Saben pauses for a moment before turning to look at Aileen, who has stopped sparring with Aliah to watch us. Her lips are curved into an amused grin, and her fangs are just barely peeking out.
“Could we go alone?” Saben asks, turning his gaze toward me.
Before I can answer, a gust of wind blows past us, and Saben is scooped into Aileen’s arms, who gently tickles my son.
“I think I will be busy for an hour,” Aileen says, giving me a knowing smile. “I have to call my coven and make sure things are going smoothly, so as long as you two don’t venture into the forest too far, I think King Julian can handle you on a walk,” she continues.
I sigh with relief as Aileen sets Saben down and mouths a thank you to her. Training is forgotten as Saben wants to go for a walk right away, and I happily let go of the punching bag as our small group of three heads out of the training facility.
“I can track you and Saben down after my call,” Aileen says as we stand just outside the training facility, the warm sun shining down on us.
“But I mean it when I say don’t wander too far into the forest. Hannah would skin me if she knew I left you and Saben alone for an hour.
I’m putting my neck out for you so that you can bond with him,” she adds, giving me a warning look.
“I know, and I’m glad for your help,” I reassure the vampire before turning to see Saben sniffing at some wild primrose. “I just want to get to know my son,” I add quietly, earning a nod from Aileen.
“Good. Well, I’m off. Be careful out there, and please don’t tell Saben about you being his dad until Hannah is ready to tell him.
She is finally starting to accept you again, and I would hate for her happiness to be ruined because you rushed things before she was ready.
” With that, Aileen zips over to Saben, pressing a kiss to the top of my son’s head and whispering something to him.
Saben listens intently, smiling at her before Aileen zips away, and I’m left alone with my son.
“I know a good place we can go,” Saben says, drawing my attention to him.
“Well then, lead the way,” I say, walking up beside him.
Saben nods, taking my hand in his and leading me away from the training facility.
We head north, and as I ask him about school and his favorite activities, I keep my senses alert for any hidden danger.
It takes about fifteen minutes for us to reach the place Saben mentioned, and as we break through the tree line, we come to a little clearing with a small pond glittering in the sunlight.
“Mama brings me here to talk,” Saben says, letting go of my hand and toddling toward a fallen log.
“The last time we came here was before I turned five. I asked her about my dad, and she told me that he lived far away and that when I was older, she would tell me about him,” he continues, the log now between us.
I watch as his green eyes, so much like mine, turn to look at me, hurt and sadness seeping into them. My throat goes dry, and for a moment, I wonder what to say to him, but I remind myself that Hannah wants to tell Saben that I am his father when the time is right.
“I am not stupid. I know everyone keeps things from me because I am five, but I know you are my dad.” His words are cold, colder than I expected from a five-year-old. I watch as Saben glares at me and takes a deep breath.
“Saben, I…” I begin, but my son holds out his little chubby hands.
“I have been nice to you because it is what an alpha is supposed to do with visiting alphas. Mama taught me that. But I don’t like you,” he continues, his little voice carrying over the small clearing.
“You hurt Mama. I know because she cried a lot to Auntie Aileen and Auntie Claira about the rejection pain. I know what rejection means, too. It means you don’t want Mama as your mate,” he adds.
Goddess, Saben is smart. Hannah said as much, but I didn’t know he was genius-level smart.
“I don’t need a dad like you who hurts Mama and abandons us. I will have a new dad one day, so finish your visit and leave.” With that, Saben takes off, and I am left dumbfounded for a moment before I take off after him.
He is fast, as fast as Hannah was at his age, and I can keep up, but I also sense he needs his time, so I hang back a few feet, close enough that I can intervene if something happens.
Fabian, I call out to my friend, sadness and desperation creeping into my voice. Saben already knows I am his dad, and he… he doesn’t want me, I continue once I feel his presence.
Fabian lets out a curse, telling me to keep an eye on Saben while he goes to find Aidan, and the link goes silent. After a moment, I sense Fabian in my mind again, and I sigh with relief.
Where are you right now? Fabian asks, and I frown.
Heading south from this pond Saben took me to talk, I answer. Silence follows before Fabian sighs.
Aidan says he is on his way and will grab Saben. Just keep an eye on him until then, he says this, and I thank him.
True to his words, after five more minutes of Saben running away from me, Aidan appears, scooping my son into his arms. I want to snap at the man when Saben lets out a terrified scream, but I stop myself as soon as Saben realizes it is Aidan holding him and not me.
“Hey, kiddo, your mama just returned home,” Aidan says as soon as Saben settles.
“She is!” I hear my son exclaim, his face lighting up. My heart clenches, and I wonder if he will ever look like that when someone mentions me.
“She is, and she asked about you and King Julian,” Aidan adds, and Saben’s face instantly falls.
Silently, I creep out of the trees and stand beside Aidan, lightly ruffling Saben’s hair. “You and I are still okay, right, Saben?” I say happily, trying to hide the hurt in my voice.
Saben looks at me before nodding, and I smile, happy to know that at least he isn’t shying away from my touch.
Aidan looks at the two of us, a silent understanding in his eyes as he leads us back to the pack house. I will need to find some time alone with Hannah to talk about Saben, either before the meeting about taking down the Hunters Association in Ottawa or after the meeting.