Page 18 of Rejected and Pregnant By the Alpha
“N-no,” I stutter, clenching my hands into fists.
“I just need to endure this,” I add with a groan.
Fabian says nothing, but I know he is worried about me. These ruts have nearly caused me to go feral, and many times, I have had to be chained in the dungeons for my pack’s safety. Taking deep, steady breaths, I curl my body into a ball. The flames inside me die down, and I sigh, feeling relieved.
Sensing my change in mood, Fabian turns off the shower and helps me to my feet. A towel is draped over my shoulder, and I shiver as he guides me to my bed.
“Two days,” I mutter as he pulls the comforter over my soaking wet body.
“In two days, I will be able to go on the tour,” I continue with a yawn. Exhausted from the current rut, I close my eyes and let sleep take me.
***
The scent of vanilla fills my nose, and I groan, opening my eyes to find a tray of cookies and hot coffee waiting for me. I can sensethat someone else is in the room, and I shift in my bed, forcing my sore and battered body into a sitting position.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Fabian calls from the corner where he sits in an armchair. “How do you feel?” he continues, lifting his gaze from the tablet in his hands to meet mine.
“Like I just survived hell,” I answer, reaching out for the black coffee and gulping it down. The liquid is hot, but the caffeine is needed after the last few days I have suffered because of my rut.
“Well, technically, your body was trying to burn you,” Fabian jokes with a chuckle, making me roll my eyes at him.
“How long was I asleep for?” I ask, changing the subject.
“A day and a half. If you hadn’t woken up now, I would have had to postpone the trip for a few days,” Fabian answers, standing from his chair and stretching. Groaning, I flop back onto my wet bed and grimace. I was right about being able to go on tour within two days, but I didn’t think I was cutting it this close.
“How long until the plane leaves?” I inquire, turning my head to look at my open window.
“Five hours. I already had your bags packed, and our men are just waiting for you to debrief them before we go.”
Closing my eyes, I mull over Fabian’s words and sigh, pushing myself off the bed and throwing the comforter to the end. Five hours means I have time to shower and get some food in me. Then it’s off to the conference room in the west wing before we head toward the private airstrip.
“Have you decided which pack we are visiting first?” Fabian asks as I slowly stretch my sore body.
“I have. There is a new pack that I haven’t been able to greet properly since it was formed, and I want that place to be my first visit,” I answer, moving toward my bathroom.
“What pack is that?” Fabian asks, following behind me.
“Haven Trail,” I state, watching as Fabian stumbles for a moment. Shocked by his reaction, I narrow my eyes at my friend but say nothing. I have a feeling Fabian knows something about this pack but decide not to ask anything further, as I know that I will learn something as soon as we arrive at Haven Trail.
“What happened to visiting Snow Pine pack?” Fabian asks, trying to appear nonchalant. But I know better. I can hear the worry tinging his tone and see the way his eyes dart about.
“That is the second pack I plan to visit,” I answer, turning on the shower and waiting for the water to reach the right temperature.
“Tell our packmates I will be ready to debrief them in an hour. I want to be alone now,” I declare, waving off Fabian. I can see that he wants to say something, his mouth opening and closing a few times. In the end, he nods, his eyes filled with resignation as he leaves my bathroom. Just as I slip into the shower, I hear my bedroom door open and close. Breathing a sigh of relief, I close my eyes and relish the warm flowing water.
Originally, I wanted to go to Snow Pine pack first as they are our closest allies within my kingdom, but Haven Trail has been plaguing my mind for the last two weeks since planning this tour. In the end, visiting this new pack, which has been steadilygrowing for the last five years, seems like a good idea, even if I do not find my mate there. At least I can finally put a face to this Alpha Cross, whom I have only talked to through email.
21
Hannah
Looking over the files on my computer, I diligently work through the new program that my company, Trail Corporation, will be launching in about a week.
Claira sits off to the side, a bored look on her face while she waits for me to skim through the new program and run the final tests.
“We really need to talk about the royal tour coming up,” Claira calls out unhurriedly, flipping through a magazine.
“We can talk about it when I am done with this,” I retort absent-mindedly, earning a snort from my friend.
