Page 120 of Rejected and Pregnant By the Alpha King

“I wouldn’t say that. Most packs I’ve met are completely fine with him.”

Rose laughs. “That can’t be true. There has to be someone who disagrees with the way things are run.”

I shrug. “Maybe in the future. He’s still pretty new to the throne. Actually, I don’t think he’s ever fully ascended it, now that I’m thinking about it.”

“What?”

Nodding, I say, “That’s what the ball was for. To find a Luna and name her so he can take his place as alpha king.”

“Wow,” Rose says. “The North has the most complicated and convoluted rules.”

Yeah, don’t I fucking know it.

Talking about all of this is making me feel restless. Bringing up these old memories of Aiden, no matter how much time has passed between then and now, feels suffocating. Rose doesn’t mean anything by it—she’s merely curious as to how the other half of us lives.

I’m the same way here. Absorbing all of thenewnesssurrounding me can be both intriguing and completely overwhelming, to say the least.

Pushing back from my seat and standing, I tell her, “I think I’m going to go stretch my legs for a while.”

“Make sure you stay within the town’s border,” she says, then grimaces. “Don’t want another creek incident.”

Amused, I say, “I’m sure your brother would be delighted to fish me out of that woman’s backyard.”

“Ugh, I’mstillgetting lectures for that. Thanks for rubbing it in.”

“Poor Rose. Must be tough to have an overprotective brother,” I tease.

She points her fork at me. “I know you’re making fun of me, but it is. Trust me.”

“I believe you.” Even if I think she’s being kind of ridiculous. What I wouldn’t give to have a family that loves me that much.

Leaving her at the table, I head out the back door to the sprawling gardens. It’s beautiful this time of day, with the sun not quite beating down overhead. The blue skies seem to stretch on forever, a pretty backdrop to the lush greens.

It’s funny seeing how well-kept all of this is in the middle of a desert valley. And why would Nyx even care to maintain it in the first place? There’s still so much I don’t know about him—too many questions that I have yet to find the answers for.

But I want to.

Last night made me realize that this growing thing between us is not some passing thing. At least I don’twantit to be.

A familiar scent drifting in the wind catches my attention, coming from the conservatory. Slowly, I step through the rosebushes and head for it.

56

Raine

Nyx has his back to me when I slip through the crack of the door and into the conservatory.

He’s bent over something on a wooden bench, his shoulders moving in quick motions while he uses some kind of tool. Growing closer, I realize that, on the bench, is a small bushel that he’s clipping the leaves off of.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

He doesn’t seem startled by my sudden presence, the quick flicks of his wrist not once hesitating. His long hair is pulled back from his face in a loose tie at the nape of his neck, with some of the slightly shorter layers falling past his shoulders.

“Pruning,” is what he answers with.

I hover behind him, not quite sure where to place my hands while wringing my fingers together. So far, he isn’t acting any different than normal. Which is and isn’t a problem. I’m not being shunned, but now it feels like last night never happened.

Maybe that’s what he wants? He left before I woke up. With no note and no word left for me to find, what kind of message was he trying to send, anyway? Obviously a soft letdown—

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