Page 73 of His Rejected Alpha Mate
I stroked her hair back, and she sighed, slipping back into sleep. Holding her felt so right, but between her and the baby, my bladder couldn’t handle it.
“Come on you. Put her back into bed and let’s get some dinner in you. You can come back after you eat.” Dakota stroked my back.
“Is it bad that I want to sleep here with her? At the same time, I need you to hold me.”
“We could move her to our bed. It’s big enough for the three of us.”
“You’d be okay with that?”
“Jas, I want what makes you happy. I don’t think you’ll be able to rest with her here. Not tonight, anyway. We can try it.”
Goddess, I loved this man. How did I deserve someone willing to put the needs of everyone else above his own? “I love you, you know. I’m so glad to be home with you.”
True to his word, Dakota moved Angelica through to our room after dinner. I helped move through all the things they attached her to and Teárlach looked it all over, giving us a nod before exiting the room.
We set up a pillow barrier, so she didn’t fall off the strange bed, but she hardly moved through the night. I lay by her side. Dakota curled up against my back, spooning himself around me. All night I watched her breathe, hardly daring to blink. Unable to comprehend that this was real. She was safe. She would be fine.
My eyes burned in the dark with the effort of keeping them open. I’d spent the last month useless and away from her and I could hardly manage a night watching her sleep. What kind of parent was I?
Jas, you need to sleep. You’ll make yourself sick if you keep stressing like you are.Dakota used the bond. His mental voice sounded exhausted.
But I wasn’t there. Tears filled my eyes and threatened to spill over.
No, and neither was she. For a month, Angel was in a dream world. She heard your voice daily. You were here with her, in a way.
It wasn’t enough!
Says who?His mental voice sounded irritated. I suppose even his patience wasn’t unlimited at two AM.You did what was hardest but safest. Would you rather Angel grow up knowing you lost the baby because you were caring for her?
I might not have.
True, but we don’t know what problems it could have caused. We were just lucky that it wasn’t already too late by the time we got you out of the house.
Kade had insisted we wash all of our clothes when we got to his house after fleeing the compound. We all showered, and I didn’t blame him for the caution. He had three reasons to be extra careful. When Blake had visited his brothers, he’d returned to the house in fur. He left his clothing at the heat house after a decontamination shower.
Try to sleep. She’ll be so happy when she wakes, and she’s sleeping in here. He urged, holding me that little bit tighter to show he wasn’t annoyed with me.
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Behind me, Dakota filled the air with soft snores. His breath in time with Angelica’s. Eventually, I fell asleep, only to be woken a few hours later by my insistent bladder.
I’m downstairs, Dakota said, as I exited the bathroom into our room and found him absent.Grab a shower and I’ll make you breakfast.
How about a shower together?
Be right there.
I giggled, and Angelica’s eyelids fluttered open. “Papa?”
“I’m here, sweetheart.” I moved to her side so she could see me more easily.
“Where’s Daddy?”
“I’m here, little kit. How are you feeling?”
“I’m thirsty.”
Dakota left the room and returned with a cup. Together, we moved Angel until she was in a sitting position and helped her drink. “Better?” he asked.
She nodded. “Your bed is weird. Can I go back to my bed, please?”
