Page 43 of Rejected and Pregnant By the Alpha
“I don’t know if I can,” he whispers, his intense gaze never leaving my face.
Hannah, Fabian said King Julian was going for a walk the last time he spoke to him. I have no idea how or why he ended up at your cottage,Aidan calls through our link, making me spit out a few curses. Fabian was supposed to help keep Julian away from me as well.
“Julian, I need you gone. I can’t get through my heat with you so close,” I continue, whimpering as the flames hit me hard, becoming painful with Julian standing before me, so close to touch yet so far away in my mind. I can’t let him in, can’t let him hold me and help me through my heat. If I did, there would be no going back.
“Hannah,” he calls my name, the sound so sweet that I finally close my eyes and relish it. “Hannah, you’re in pain. Let me help,” he pleads, taking a step closer to me.
“You can’t,” I whisper, pain lacing my voice as the heat rears inside me. “If you help, we can’t go our separate ways,” Icontinue, whimpering once again. Goddess, he needs to leave before it’s too late.
“I don’t want to go our separate ways,” he says, taking another step closer to me.
I sense his every movement, feel his every breath. The broken mate bond calls out to him, demanding that he touch me. My heat burns hot and bright, worse than anything I have felt.
Suddenly, a hand is placed on my shoulder. It has an instant cooling effect, like a never-ending ice storm. I shudder with relief as the flames recede into my body once again. Goddess, his touch is a salve I never expected.
“At least let me hold you,” Julian pleads, his voice tense.
I hesitate, not wanting to get close to the man who hurt me, but I have to admit that I want the relief his touch brings.
“Fine,” I sigh, leaning into his touch. “You can hold me, but only that,” I finally agree in defeat.
Julian lets out a sigh of relief, helping me out of the bathtub and wrapping a soft towel around my body.
He lowers himself onto the bathroom floor, keeping me on his lap. His scent envelops me, bringing me relief. Groaning in contentment, I rest my head against his shoulder. The slight contact is another cooling balm for my already burning body.
“How many times have you gone through your heat?” Julian asks, slowly rubbing his hands up and down my arms.
“This is my third time,” I answer with a yawn, the soothing motion of his hands slowly lulling me to sleep. “Each one has grown more painful than the last.”
Julian hums at this, shifting into a more comfortable position. The towel slips, and he fumbles to pull it over my skin, his fingers brushing against me. I sigh, the skin-to-skin contact cooling my heated body further.
“Can you let the towel fall?” I ask sheepishly, feeling Julian stiffen underneath me.
“Are you sure?” he asks, his voice sounding strained.
“Yes. The heat receded when your skin touched mine,” I confirm.
I can sense his hesitation, wondering if Julian will let the towel fall. Thankfully, I feel the soft material slide down my body before his hand is placed flat against my back. The flames licking at my body become a slow-burning ember—warm, yet still ever-present. The bathroom goes silent, the only sounds being Julian’s and my breathing.
With a yawn, my eyes flutter closed, and sleep takes me now that I am no longer in pain.
44
Julian
Looking down at Hannah sleeping peacefully in my arms, I focus on keeping my breathing even and steady. She is so small in my arms, curled up like a little girl in my lap. I sigh, closing my eyes and leaning my head back against the wall.
“Hannah?” a soft voice calls out, and Jiya steps forward.
“She fell asleep,” I mumble, opening my eyes to find the Indian woman watching me with a weary gaze.
“I’m glad she’s sleeping. She barely gets a wink during her heats in the past.” She leans against the door frame, arms crossed while watching Hannah and me.
I blush, looking away from her searching gaze and instead focusing on the sleeping woman in my arms. “I never knew she went through such a horrible heat,” I say, reaching out and gently brushing a lock of hair from Hannah’s face. Shestirs slightly, her face nuzzling closer to my neck before settling down. Her hot breath fans my skin, making me shiver. Goddess, how have I never realized that Hannah was perfect in the past?
“The only blessing she had was that you never slept with another she-wolf after rejecting her,” Jiya says, catching my attention.
Turning my head, I look at the woman who has pushed herself off the door frame and moved toward the toilet, shutting the lid and sitting on top. “I wouldn’t dare touch another she-wolf. I only wanted my mate,” I state, keeping my eyes on Hannah’s friend. “I know that if I slept with another wolf, my mate would have felt every part of it and would have been in agonizing pain.” Returning my gaze to Hannah, I smile gently and pull her closer to me. Her arms instinctively wrap around my body, her touch sending sparks of pleasure through me. Add in her intoxicating scent, amplified by her heat, and I am having a hard time focusing.
