Page 146 of Rejected and Pregnant By the Alpha King

My chest tightens. “I’ve come to bring you home. You can’t be here.”

“And where is home to you, exactly? Pollis? I distinctly remember you kicking me out like a stray.”

Wincing, I say, “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure you are.” Her hand moves to splay across her belly, now visibly swollen. “I’m sure you were really torn up when Delilah came to you and told you I got sold. That’s what happened, right? You felt obligated to come save me?”

“No.” I shake my head. Carefully turning on the bed, I let one leg drop down and then the other. The wound on my neck screams at me moving so much. It must’ve been only a few hours since everything happened. “Yes, she did come to tell me. But I also discovered that Daniel lied to me about you.”

She scoffs. “And yet you couldn’t believemewhen I told you. You believed my best friend.”

“It’s notlikethat, Raine.”

She doesn’t seem to hear my words, already shaking her head. “Whatever your reasons for coming here, I’m sorry to tell you, but you can forget about it. I’m not leaving.”

She looks well, even if she’s been held captive here as a breeder. With her still being pregnant, that means Calloway most likely hasn’t lain with her yet—more than likely waiting until she gives birth.

After that, she’ll probably become his full-time breeder.

“Has he really brainwashed you so much that you don’t want to go somewhere you won’t be used for your womb?” I ask.

For some reason, she looks offended. “He hasn’t.”

“Not yet.”

“It’s not like that, Aiden. Not that I need to share anything with you.”

“I’m your mate,” I growl out. “You belong with me.”

“And where was this energy weeks ago? Where was mymatewhen I was at his doorstep, begging for sanctuary?” Her eyes begin to water. “You threw me out like trash.”

“I’m sorry, Raine.”

“No! You don’t get to say that. You don’t get to come here and apologize and pretend like everything is fine now. Youwrecked me, Aiden. Do you know what a rejected bond does to a person?”

I don’t. I know what it feels like to be separated from your fated mate and to punish yourself for being the one to make that decision. But being rejected and having that bond shatter around you is not something I think I’ll ever experience.

Raine’s much too kind to wish that on me. Another reason I do not deserve her.

My heart yearns, anyway.

“Look.” I pull in a deep breath, trying to remain calm amongst my raging thoughts. “I was lied to. Your pack alpha was incredibly convincing and falling for his trap is my own fault, I know. I want to fix this, Raine. I don’t want to be separated anymore. That baby is mine, too.”

Her hand rubs over her stomach again. “It won’t be.”

My brows furrow. “What’s that mean?”

“Nyx has staked his claim over it.”

What?

I’veneverheard of that before, not when an alpha has plenty of females to conceive with. What’s the point in claiming another male’s offspring when you can have your own? Not to mention the battle that keeping the child away from their rightful parent would create.

What the hell is Calloway thinking?

To get back at me for some reason?

That’s the only way he’d dare to claim another alpha king’s child, one day hoping that he could use it against me. I wouldn’t put it past him to have some kind of diabolical plan like that in the works.

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