Page 14 of Rejected and Pregnant By the Alpha King

He sighs. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s…my advisors want me to meet as many of you as I can while you’re all here. I know it doesn’t make any sense, given our…ah,predicament. But this was all put together well before I met you, Raine. Or even knew you existed. I swear this isn’t a slight against you.”

For some reason, his words seem to settle me a bit. Sure, I’m still pissed, but it’s not the rage I was feeling only moments ago.

The explanation makes sense, even if it has me wanting to shift and go claw those other girls’ eyes out. But what good would it do to go rabid and attack a bunch of people who never asked to be in my way?

Aiden is right—how could he have planned for any of this when neither of us knew of each other’s existence and our bond?

I sigh to myself. “Right…”

He surprises me by leaning back in order to lift a hand. His fingers lightly brush along my cheek and trace down my jaw.“I’m sorry, Raine. Please tell me you haven’t been cooped up here since breakfast. Did you even eat?”

My stomach clenches at the care in his tone. Does he care? I mean, I am his mate after all. Heshouldcare, right?

All of this is such a foreign concept to me. No one, besides my dad and Delilah, has ever cared for my well-being. No one.

And here is this gorgeous alpha with tousled honey-colored hair, deep golden eyes, and a face and body that look like they’ve been chiseled straight out of a marble statue by a sixteenth-century sculptor, asking about howI’mdoing when he’s got an entire harem running around his estate.

“I ate a few bites,” I admit.

He sighs, sitting back. “I’ll send food up to you.”

“Wait!” I jackhammer upright and grab at his arm before he can slip off the bed. “Where are you going?”

He blinks at me with slightly widened eyes that soon soften. His fingers come up to drag along my skin, this time my bare arm and up to my shoulder. It seems he’s more of a touchy-feely alpha, liking that physical connection rather than having a long, drawn-out conversation.

“I have to attend to some things with my pack. I will be at the ball tonight. You’ll come too, right?”

I hesitate.

In reality, I really should be telling himabsolutely fucking not. Especially if it means watching over 100 females throwthemselves at his feet. But then again…being away from my mate has felt like complete torture.

“We can meet after the ball,” he says, catching my uneasiness. “Just you and me.”

I swallow thickly. “Really?”

It feels like a trap. I know it shouldn’t be, but I’m so used to things kind of going my way, only for them to be snatched right out from under me at the last moment. It’s always been Daniel’s favorite game to play.

“Yes.” He cups my face. “I want to see you, Raine.”

My body practically melts into his touch.

Damn, he’s got me good. If this is all a game to him, then I’m fucking screwed. Because there’s nothing I, or my wolf, can do to stop him.

“Okay. I’ll be there.”

He grins. “Excellent.”

***

Music fills the ballroom, drowning out most of the chatter from the girls nearby. I’ve stuck myself in a corner again, though this time it has a good view of the entire hall, so I can keep an eye on everyone moving together as they dance. My eyes catch Delilah a few times while she’s twirled around on the dance floor by a couple of suitors, her smile infectious.

A part of me wishes I could be out there with her, enjoying the festivities. Coming here was supposed to be my chance to forget my troubles back with Andromeda and let myself experience true freedom for the first time.

Except now I’m too self-conscious to do any of that, and too wrapped up in my own head about Aiden, who’s been doing nothing but flirting with a couple of the females from a pack close to Andromeda while others linger around the outskirts of the group, just waiting to get a piece of him.

It’s so frustrating to watch, but I just have to keep reminding myself about what he told me. He seemed so eager to meet with me after this, so…shouldn’t I be too?

Maybe I’m taking all of this to heart too much.

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