Page 22 of His Rejected Alpha Mate
Would he ever forgive me for preventing him from playing his true role in their lives?
“Are you okay?” One teen from the bunch surrounding me asked. I sniffed and nodded, continuing my task of helping the kids get some food. I watched them all carefully to make sure that they’d all eaten enough and not filled up on junk. Soon the line eased and people moved off into groups. We had about an hour before we’d all run and the younger ones were all curled up to have a nap first.
I watched Kade join his mate and looked for a spot for me to rest with Angel. I was too late, though; she was already curled up asleep in Dakota’s lap. He was petting her head and listening to the surrounding chatter.
As if he felt my eyes on him, our eyes met. The pain in those glossy dark depths gutted me. I felt it like a physical punch to the gut. It knocked the air out of my lungs. My eyes filled again, a stray tear broke free and ran down my cheek.
Dakota watched me, his expression now shuttered, and I wondered how I’d ever make this right.
Revelations
Dakota
I’dseenthepainin Jasper’s eyes, just a quick flash, there and gone again. I wanted to feel vindicated it hurt him keeping us apart, but I didn’t. After letting Angelica sleep for half an hour, I carefully handed her off to Jasper without speaking a word to the man. If I opened my mouth, I’d end up begging him for another chance. Tell him to forget about this guy, Silas, no one could be better for him than his true mate.
Not wanting to risk another rejection, I left my little Angel with her papa, and made my way over to my alpha and alpha mate. They were chatting in a small group of mainly family and the ever present Roan. “Alpha, I wanted to take you up on that job offer if it still stands.” I said, as I came to a stop in front of them.
“Really?” Kade asked, his eyes lighting up.
“Yes, really. The offer is great and I’ve already got ideas.”
“This is perfect,” Blake said warmly. “You’re exactly what we need in the office, especially with the babies on the way. When can you start?”
“Well, I’m bored with my own company and my dad doesn’t want me at his clinics, so tomorrow?”
“That works for me.” Blake looked at his mate, gauging his response to his next words. “Dakota, would you mind sticking close to Kade when we all shift? I know we have Roan,” he acknowledged the man at Kade’s feet. “But with the babies, I’d prefer more of a guard. We’re still checking the pack for any last traitors.”
Kade looked mollified by that reasoning, and I hastened to accept. “Of course, Alpha.”
I felt my mate’s gaze on me. My shoulders stiffened and Kade narrowed his eyes as he looked between the both of us. “What’s going on?” He dragged the words out with his open suspicion.
“I’ll tell you later.” I promised.
“So, there’s something to tell, then?”
“Later.” I repeated firmly.
“Fine.” He huffed. I felt a smile slip into place. Kade pulled on my hand until I was sitting at his side. “How about now?”
I pushed him away with my shoulder as I laughed, Kade’s chuckle melding with mine. Anxiety prickled along my senses that Kade would reject me or that this would damage our friendship. I knew telling him was the right thing to do. In all honesty, I should have told him sooner. I guess I’d just hoped that over the last couple of weeks that Jasper would change his mind. No such luck.
Sitting with my pack mates, I just listened to the ongoing conversations, adding little, just soaking up the peace that came with my pack. I felt Jasper’s attention multiple times, yet worked not to give any outward indication that he was getting to me. My bear got stronger the closer that we got to the moon reaching its peak, making the task that much harder.
One by one, we began to show signs of the moon’s pull. We didn’t have to shift then, but it felt uncomfortable not to. Perhaps if we were a pack that spent a lot of time as our alters we wouldn’t feel it as sharply.
“Okay, start getting ready,” Blake called as he rose to his feet and started stripping down.
Feeling eyes on me as I took my shirt off, my eyes lifted to meet Jasper’s. He was standing in his underwear, pale skin gleaming in the moonlight. Beautiful. I swallowed sharply and let his eyes take their fill of my chest. Slowly, keeping my eyes on him, I unbuttoned my jeans. His eyes flicked down as I let the denim drop. He licked his lips and his pupils dilated. The moment stretched between us. Then I blinked and Jasper was in his fox form. With just a look, I could almost feel the fox apologizing for his human self. His all too human eyes stared for a minute, then they turned away to encourage Angelica to shift.
“I need the full story soon, Dakota.” Kade said from his place beside me. I dropped my underwear, cupping my dick because of the kids around. I wasn’t used to shifting around young ones. There weren’t many in the sleuth, since a lot of the parents had moved away with their children or turned their backs on pack life. Shifters weren’t body conscious. Nudity was perfectly normal. It was a fine line around children, though. No one wanted to be inappropriate.
Papa had gone on rants about how human culture had infiltrated shifter culture, making us question our natural state, causing kids to be wary about shifting in front of their pack mates. I smiled, thinking of him as I let my bear take over.
My bear took in the scents of the forest at the edge of the backyard. The scent of caramel and cinnamon that I associated with my mate teased my senses. Remembering my task, I stuck close to Kade rather than let my nose guide me to our mate. My bear grumbled in approval. We had to protect our cub. He felt the presence of the tiny heartbeats inside our wolf son. To him, it was simple—Jasper and his fox were our mate and Jasper’s children were now ours to protect and love. It didn’t matter a jot that we hadn’t helped make them. We’d get our turn at cubs, he assured me. His unerring faith in our goddess and fate smoothed over my cracked heart.
Kade rubbed alongside me, layering me in the pack’s scent before resting his head against his mate’s. They broke apart, Blake moving aside to raise his head and howl, signaling the pack to begin their run.
Staying by Kade’s side was harder than I thought. A month ago, I thought I would never run with my friend like this. Now I was struggling to keep up with the agile wolf as he led us through the forest, two dark wolves on his heels. I could almost see his wolfish grin and felt his joy through the pack link.
