Page 163 of Rejected and Pregnant By the Alpha King

I stand straighter as the memory floods me—the moment she’d shown up at my door, her hair slightly disheveled and looking like she’d barely slept. The strange yet somewhat familiar pull, like an invisible string, exists in the space between us.

I’d called her inside if only because my wolf was suddenly antsy at the idea of leaving her outside my bedroom prison.

I swallow painfully as I fight to look away from her.

“Of course I am having second thoughts, Delilah. It is a lot to offer.”

My gaze settles on the view outside the large window.

I feel her presence like a looming spirit, the warmth radiating off her like a summer heatwave as she approaches me.

Her scent is…pleasant. Sweet like honey, but airy somehow. Like lilies in the spring.

I try to ignore how it makes my muscles loose and makes me want to groan with relief.

I know I shouldn’t feel these things. Not after what I’ve done, what I’ve been through...

Her palm settles on my shoulder, and though I startle internally, my body makes no move to betray my surprise.

She settles next to me, her fingers squeezing my shoulder tightly.

“But they are worth it, right?” she asks softly.

I close my eyes for a moment, pretending that I am back home in Pollis, that I am wishing on pennies in fountains for fate to bring me somethinggood.

If I had never gone to that fountain to settle my nerves, would I have found Raine on the dancefloor? Would I have ever known the pull of a mate bond or the gift of life?

I open my eyes, turning to look at Delilah. Her expression is soft and understanding. Warm.

If I had never stepped foot in that courtyard, I would never have met Raine.

But I also would never have known Delilah, and something about that realization makes my nerves equally frazzled as they are soothed.

I place my hand over hers, squeezing lightly. She moves closer to me, and I am powerless to tell her to leave me.

I can barely breathe with her so close, yet I feel as if her departure would leave me deprived of oxygen.

“My child is worth it,” I say, my voice quiet. Her hand slides down my arm. The spot she touched me is still warm, and I think as she drops her hand that this is it.

Surely, this is my punishment for upsetting the gods by rejecting the gift they’d presented me once before.

“But Raine...” my voice falters. “She does not want me, Delilah.”

Delilah moves closer, close enough that our arms brush against one another. The touch forces me to look up at her.

Her eyes are the deepest shade of blue I’ve ever seen. Like the dusk as it kisses the dawn.

“What do you want, Aiden?” She asks, her voice barely a whisper.

There are so many moments in my life I wish I could have given in to what I wanted.

So many words left unspoken, desires left undiscovered.

I wanted to rule this kingdom on my terms. I wanted to choose a mate of my own, not be beholden to some Luna who was curated for me like a prized pumpkin.

I wanted to believe that I could have everything when I felt I had nothing.

But all I could think about as I gazed back at Delilah was how badly I wanted to kiss her.

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