Page 32 of Rejected Bullied Mate

And as Nayeli and Gwen joined my mate to fawn over my son, Kiera forced her way even deeper into my heart.

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Hours later, I carried Kit inside, his small body slack with exhaustion, his soft brown fur still warm against my arms. He’d been so damn happy about shifting that I hadn’t had the heart to force him to change back. But now, with the sun set and his energy drained to nothing, it was time.

Holding him close, I reached for the delicate bond between us, pushing my Alpha power into it, pulling him back through the shift. His small body trembled, and with a final shudder, the fur melted away, his frame rearranging itself until he was back to the boy I’d only just gotten to know.

Kit groaned unhappily as I set him on his feet, steadying him when his legs wobbled. "Shower," I ordered. "The hot water will help settle your mind, then straight to bed."

He gave a slow, tired nod, yawning hugely before shuffling off without an argument. Once I was sure he wasn't going to collapse, I chuckled to myself, heading to the kitchen. I grabbed a bottle of water, twisting the cap off just as I felt Kiera step into the room behind me. I didn't need to turn to confirm my guess; I'd recognize her energy anywhere.

Kiera didn't speak at first, and I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of breaking the awkward silence. After drinking half of the water, still in silence, I decided it wasn't worth winning the battle. I needed to know where she and I stood after tonight.

"Kiera..." I started turning, but she held up a hand.

"Don't. You were right. I had everything else from Kit's childhood. His first shift belonged to you."

I smirked, "Wait, you thought I was going to apologize? I don't do that."

She laughed, and I could tell she hadn't planned to be amused. I was getting under her skin as much as she was mine. And she smelled suspiciously delicious, more so than usual, but I chalked it up to the excitement of the day.

"You can't fool me, Alpha. I know you have a soft side for our boy."

“He's a good pup. Stubborn, like you, but good."

Her eyes rolled toward the sky, and I couldn't stop my grin. She was a pain in my ass, but at least she was entertaining. Nothing like the Omega I expected her to be, but I liked it.

I thought about how she'd looked earlier with Nayeli and Gwen, sitting on the porch laughing, looking settled. Like she belonged. Like she could be truly happy with the pack.

That was all I wanted for her. For Kit. The realization shook me. An Alpha couldn't afford to be soft, even towards his mate and pups, but I was falling into the trap of affection anyway. Then, the memory of the guilt I'd felt about not being there to help her shift years ago came crawling back, and I knew one thing as sure as I knew my own name.

I should treat Kiera better.

Setting my water down with a thunk on the counter, I turned fully toward her. “We’re going out tomorrow evening.”

Kiera blinked, startled. “What?”

“You heard me.” I stepped closer, watching the way her eyes went wide when I got close. Damn, she really did smell downright edible. “Be ready by six.”

Her lips parted, caught between an argument and curiosity, but I didn’t wait for either. I brushed past her, heading for the stairs. She could fight me all she wanted—hell, I expected it, but she was going out with me tomorrow, one way or another.

And I’d prove to her that she wasn’t just stuck here. The Saltfang pack wasn't her prison. Instead, she was home.

Chapter 13 - Kiera

For the fifth time that hour, I read Samson's text and wondered if I was making a mistake.

'We'll be outside. Dress accordingly.’

Blunt. Bossy. Annoying. And worst of all, an Alpha. Why in the hell was I going on a date with Samson again?

Oh yeah. Because I was stuck here, and he was my husband, and apparently, we needed to 'get to know each other.'

I'd told him no this morning after failing to do so the night before. But then he'd gone and mentioned Kit. Said it was good for our son to see us getting along, and that he expected me to show up tonight.

As much as I hated to admit it, I knew he was right. Kit was so happy now that we were living under one roof that I couldn't bear to make him sad again by refusing to cooperate. So, here I was. Sitting in my room, staring at my closet, and trying to figure out what the hell you wore when your husband took you out on a date. An outdoor date.

Shaking my head, I dressed, hoping like hell I had the right impression. Leggings, hiking boots, and a fitted long-sleeved shirt wouldn't be fitting for a candlelight dinner, but this was Samson we were talking about. I'd be lucky if he used utensils during dinner. I wasn't about to get caught in the woods unprepared, and I had a distinct feeling that Samson had something adventurous in mind for us.

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