Page 21 of Rejected and Pregnant By the Alpha
I reluctantly move to the dining hall, my wolves following behind me. We decide to take the tables closest to the doors while we wait for the alpha to return home.
“Are you okay, Alpha?” Henry asks as we settle into our seats, taking the hint not to use my real name since some of the tables are already filled with Haven Trail wolves.
“Just a little on edge,” I answer, watching a look of unease flash across my packmates’ faces. “It’s not something bad,” I reassure them, smiling at my wolves. “But my mate is here. I can smell her.”
Relief washes over everyone’s face—well, everyone but Fabian. Instead, my beta wears a frown, his focus solely on the view from the window. He knows something about my mate being here, something that he has kept from me for the last five years.
“You knew my mate was here, didn’t you?” I ask, directing my attention to Fabian.
He stiffens in his seat, not daring to look back at me.
“Fabian,” I growl warningly, putting a command in my voice. “Did you know my mate was here?” I demand, sensing unease from the Haven Trail wolves in the room.
“I did,” he answers, his voice dangerously low. “But you ordered everyone in the pack not to talk about her,” Fabian adds, turning to face me with a glare in his eyes.
I open my mouth, ready to demand answers when the sound of familiar laughter reaches my ears.
“Mama! We have a guest, come meet him!” a childish squeal sounds.
“Okay, Saben. Take me to our guests,” a female voice, full of motherly warmth, says.
The scent of vanilla custard grows stronger, and the mate bond screams at me. Turning my gaze from Fabian, I look up to find Saben leading none other than Hannah Cross toward me, a look of shock, fear, and pain flickering across her face.
Fury rises inside me, and as I am about to curse her out for showing herself in my presence, our eyes meet, and the world stands still.
I take a deep breath, the anger inside me replaced by shock as Hannah’s scent—the scent of vanilla custard—wraps around me. It is then that I realize why Fabian told me he hoped I didn’t regret banishing Hannah, because Hannah Cross is the mate I have been searching for over the last five years.
23
Hannah
Standing just a few feet away from King Julian Christiansen, I try my best to calm my racing heart as every emotion flickers through me. Without thinking, I gently pull Saben behind me, not wanting Julian to see my pup as my eyes harden into a glare.
“Your Majesty,” I call out, not bothering to keep Julian’s identity a secret.
“I thought we were going to be the last pack you visited on the royal tour,” I continue, watching Julian flinch at my formality and a flicker of hurt flash through his green eyes. Good. I hope he feels hurt by my cold, formal words.
“Hannah—”
“It’s Alpha Cross, please, Your Majesty,” I cut Julian off.
“A-Alpha Cross,” Julian stutters, fumbling over his words.
“I was intrigued by our one and only alpha female, so I decided at the last minute to visit Haven Trail. My men must have forgotten to inform you,” Julian says awkwardly.
I nod, accepting his answer as I know Julian. If visiting my pack first was a spur-of-the-moment thing, then I have no choice but to believe him.
“Well, the guest house is always ready, thankfully, so we can settle your wolves inside after dinner. As agreed upon in the email, a room has been set aside for you and Fabian to use as an office in the pack house,” I state, turning to look at my friend whom I haven’t seen for five years. My cold façade falters for a moment as Fabian stands, and without thinking, I lead Saben to him.
“Saben, do you remember Uncle Fabian? We talk to him every night,” I ask my pup, feeling every movement being watched by Julian.
“I do, Mama,” Saben answers, looking curiously at Fabian.
“Well, don’t just stand there—I have been dying for that hug you promised me, Ben,” Fabian says, a grin splitting his face.
Upon hearing the nickname Fabian gave him, Saben releases my hand and launches himself at Fabian, laughing as my friend lifts my son into the air.
“Uncle Fabian, it really is you!” Saben squeals with delight, making me smile.
