Page 154 of Rejected and Pregnant By the Alpha King

Looking at her shouldn’t soothe me at all. I know that.

Not when my fated mate is standing in front of me, whispering to my enemy of all things.

To my surprise, Calloway says nothing. He only kisses her once more, like he did earlier, reminding me in his not-so-subtle way of what is at stake.

Her eyes flutter shut, and when he is done, he plants a kiss beneath her ear, making her gasp as a fresh scent of arousal disperses around us.

A myriad of emotions ransacks me as I watch him tear himself away from her flesh, his stone-cold gaze holding me in place. Myinsides heat like a boiling pot, but I can barely concentrate on my anger because he stops outside the door next to Delilah.

Fury and jealousy bloom in my gut, my wolf growling beneath my skin. I don’t like him so close to her. I don’t like himperiod, and I’m sick of him touching what belongs to me.

Before I can process such a thought, Calloway speaks.

“Wren will be behind this door. Just say the word,” he says. With that, he sets his hand on Delilah’s back, guiding her away. He shuts the door, and I am trapped.

69

Aiden

“You wanted to see me,” I say, my voice thick and hoarse from Nyx’s former chokehold on my neck. I don’t dare touch its tenderness in front of her, if only because I worry I may blink and she may disappear.

As if Raine herself is some deathbed vision brought to me as I struggle within an inch of my damn life.

Raine looks at me, and it’s like the first time again. She looks at me like she sees me. The me that is buried beneath duty and bloodline, beneath the armor I wear.

“What are your intentions?” she asks quietly, gliding across the floor. I hold her gaze, appreciating her beauty before me—how her bright eyes sparkle and how she carries herself with grace. I have no doubt in my mind that she will make a fine queen. My gaze settles on her hips, on the slight curvature of her belly.

Though drawn to her, I admit that the magnetic pull I once felt is different.

Looking at her now, no fire overtakes my soul, and no itch needs to be scratched so badly that I can’t breathe.

No feverish need to satisfy.

There is no bond to string us together. We stand apart.

“My intentions are to bring you back to Pollis—”

Raine takes a step closer to me, and I do not move. How can I when every bone in my body aches, and my heart is barely beating in the presence of this woman?

My mate.

“I mean withme.” She says, stopping just an inch away from me. Her gaze flashes to my neck, and I know she sees the thick handprint marks there.

Marks made by her alpha king, nonetheless.

Because he is threatened by me—by what lies between us.

That I am sure of.

Still, her question weighs on me more than it should. The answer should be simple—it’s what I’ve been pursuing this entire journey.

To bring her home. To erase what happened, what I did. To her.

But even as she stares at me, her mouth parted just the slightest, I can’t help but think about what that would actually look like in reality.

As if Raine herself could read my mind, she continues. “Tell me how you see this playing out, Aiden,” she says softly. “Do you wish to take me to the land you exiled me from? What would your Luna think?”

I open my mouth as I step closer to her, but the gravity between us has shifted.

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