Page 76 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #52)
Hannah
Watching Saben sit quietly beside Savannah, the wolf–witch hybrid pup Julian and I decided to raise, I smile at how happy my son looks drawing next to the little sleeping pup.
I return to the file that Aliah sent over from the warehouse.
Three months have passed since the discovery of all those pups in Vancouver, and so far, we have managed to track down all the recent pups that were sold in the last five years.
To address this, Julian sent out Haden and his team to rescue these pups before any more harm could come to them, while Julian, unfortunately, has to continue the royal tour.
Thankfully, he is visiting his last pack, and the tour will come to an end in just a few more days.
Resting a hand on my bump, I smile as I think about how tonight Julian will be home.
In three days, I will be crowned luna queen in front of the royal pack, where I currently am now.
After finding out that I was expecting another pup, Julian wanted to merge Haven Trail and the royal pack as one.
He paused the tour for a week, bringing me back to the pack he had banished me from five years ago, calling all his wolves to a meeting where he explained that he found his mate and how he had made the biggest mistake of his life.
I came forward with Saben holding my hand to stand before the wolves who spread lies about me, allowing Julian to explain that I had never wanted the luna queen role and that he had believed in the rumors, creating a distance between us that led to him accidentally rejecting me when he came to from his rut five years ago to find me in his bed.
Just three days prior, he had found his mate amid his rut and thought I had done something to her.
I took over from there, explaining my role at the time and why I was always around Julian and Fabian—how my parents were hidden guards to the late king and queen, while I took on that role for Julian.
I was ready to bend the knee to his mate, to accept my job as her protector as well, and I was shocked when I found out Julian was my mate on my eighteenth birthday.
I watched as guilt, shame, and sadness seeped into every one of my former packmates’ faces.
I observed as one by one they stepped forward to apologize to me.
I made note of the ones who stood at the back, sneering in jealousy.
Then we broke the news that Saben was Julian’s son, conceived during his rut five years ago.
Many were shocked that I had kept Saben away from Julian for so long, but Julian’s protective roar silenced them.
He took the blame for this, stating that he made me feel like he did not want me and, therefore, did not want Saben.
It was his stupidity in believing those rumors that made him miss out on watching Saben grow up, and he would not allow anyone to slander me once more.
They did that, and it nearly caused us to be apart when soulmates should be together.
Saben was quietly watching the wolves below, a look of curiosity on his little face, before asking if he could go play with Savannah, which led to another conversation about us adopting Savannah and having everyone treat her as a member of the royal family.
Then we broke the news that I was once again pregnant with Julian’s pup, shocking the royal pack once again.
Many cheered, happy to know the royal bloodline was growing, while those who coveted the luna queen position sneered but stayed silent.
Now, three months later, I have gradually sent those challengers to Haven Trail, having them train under Aidan and Claira. Since then, they’ve returned more submissive toward me as the rightful luna queen—a title that I will be coronated with tomorrow night.
Visiting alphas, lunas, and their high-ranking wolves are already arriving at the royal pack, ready to watch their king crown his queen in front of them. Meanwhile, I remain tucked away in an office that Julian personally prepared for me before reluctantly leaving to finish his royal tour.
“I was told I would find you in here.” Looking up, I see Claira and Aidan walking in, surprise filling me as I struggle to get out of my chair to hug my friends. Saben beats me to it, rushing into Claira’s arms by the time I stand up, and I make my way to hug Aidan.
“I thought you two weren’t coming till tomorrow!” I exclaim, my face splitting into a wide grin.
“We wanted to surprise you before you officially become our queen,” Aidan replies, turning to hug Saben.
“Well, it worked.” I chuckle, happy to see them.
With my pregnancy at six months along, it was becoming harder for me to travel, and Dr. Grace had put me on strict rest orders while I carried my little pup.
Julian made it clear that he wanted our pup to be born in the palace, and I agreed, moving back to the place I never thought I would step foot inside again.
“I miss you guys. How is everyone at Haven Trail doing without me around?” I ask, waddling over to the sofa and—with Claira’s help—lowering myself onto it.
With Saben now occupied by Aidan, Claira takes the opportunity to pick up Savannah, who is now wide awake, her blue eyes looking around the room calmly.
She is no ordinary pup, that’s for sure, and sometimes I feel like she understands the world around her better than anyone else with how she allows certain people to hold her.
“She has gotten so big,” Claira coos, her voice prompting Savannah to turn her head and smile at her.
“She has. She is even eating solids now, and Aileen brought one of her great-great-nieces here to evaluate my little girl,” I say, watching Savannah whip her head toward me and reach out with her chubby little hands.
Claira sighs, reluctantly bringing my daughter to me and settling her in my arms. “I can’t wait to be a mother one day,” she says with a grumble while I cuddle my pup to me.
“I can. You still need to find your mate,” Aidan calls back, making Claira groan and me burst out laughing.
“Maybe I will find him tomorrow night,” Claira counters, this time making her father groan.
“Goddess help the man who has to put up with you,” I tease, getting a playful glare from my friend.
Our conversation flows into how training is going between Haven Trail and the royal pack.
It seems the three months of gradually integrating both packs into one have gone smoothly, with only minor hiccups, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Fabian, Claira, and Miella have established a routine as the three betas and have come up with a schedule that allows our wolves to travel between the two places.
Not only that, but many of the wolves under my command have found their mates since Julian and I merged the two packs into one.
“Sounds like a party in here.” My heart flutters at the sound of Julian’s deep voice. A smile spreads across my face as I turn to watch him come toward me, his hair tied back. It has grown so much in the last few months, and I can’t help but find my mate looking sexier than ever.
“Nah, that party will be tomorrow,” Claira states, releasing Saben, who runs to his father. I watch Julian bend down and pick our son up, tossing Saben into the air.
“Yes, tomorrow Hannah will be crowned luna queen, and Saben here will be crowned the crown prince,” Julian states, tickling our son, who squirms out of his father’s arms and into mine, trying to hide from him.
“Papa is torturing me,” Saben whispers in mock sadness, making me chuckle.
“Well, then maybe Mama should torture him,” I say, poking his little nose. Claira makes a fake gagging sound, and I have to stifle my laughter.
“Well, it is getting late, and we all have a big day tomorrow,” Aidan cuts in, standing from his chair and giving Julian a ‘man hug’ before taking Claira and leaving my small family of four in my office.
“You’re home earlier than expected,” I say, trying to stand from the sofa and failing. Julian rushes to my side, helping me off the sofa. “Goddess, I can’t wait to be able to stand without help,” I grumble, Julian chuckling as he places a kiss on my lips.
“Three more months, and then you can slowly start healing, baby,” he whispers, rubbing our noses together.
“And I came home early so that I could have dinner with my family. Being away from you three…” He pauses, placing a hand on my baby bump, his eyes softening as he bends down to kiss my lips.
“Sorry, four. Being away from you four is torture for me. I want nothing more than to have you, Savannah, Saben, and our baby in my arms.”
I blush at his words, looking down at my bump and placing my hand on top of his.
“Well, I am starving, and I bet Savannah and Saben are, too,” I state, turning to look at Saben, who is currently cooing at his sister.
“What do you want for dinner tonight, baby?” I ask my son, watching him perk up with a grin.
“Chicken nuggets and French fries,” he answers, with Savannah chiming in with a little giggle.
I chuckle, holding my hand out for my son while Julian goes to carry our daughter before we make our way out of my office and toward the royal wing where our rooms are, including a small kitchen that Julian had built, knowing how much I loved cooking.
Tonight, we will cook dinner and spend a quiet evening as a family before dealing with the hectic day that will be my coronation, followed by a ball that ends the royal tour and Julian’s hunt for me, his mate.