Page 89 of His Rejected Alpha Mate
“Go to Daddy, little cub.” Dalton kissed Hayden’s forehead and whispered a blessing. “Thank you,” he said, sounding wrecked as he handed my son back to me.
“Thanks for your help.” I placed Hayden on my shoulder and patted his back gently. He burped, the sound so loud in the quiet room. “One more.” I urged, feeling his body tight with the gas still inside him. His next burp was wet. Hayden spit up all down my back, covering us both. “Fuck!”
Dalton chuckled, and I felt Jasper’s laughter over the bond.
Jasper
I couldn’t help laughing at my mate as he was covered, yet again, by baby vomit. Fatherhood had come so naturally to him it was easy to forget that this was all new to him.
Leaving the bond open so he could complain to me as he cleaned the pair of them up, I tuned into the conversation going on in the large living room. There weren’t any silencing wards, so it was easy to overhear the heated words. Angelica stood stock still, intimidated by the angry voice emanating from the room.
“Ludicrous! You can’t expect the council to go along with this!” He barked.
Next to me, Angel flinched. Melody shot me a sympathetic look as she neared the hallway where we stood waiting, guiding Aldrin and James to me. No visitors were supposed to wander the house without an escort. “They’ve been arguing in there for the last thirty minutes. Kade’s stuck in there with the babies, Axel and Chase, while Blake argues with the guy.”
“Here, Angel, come with grandpa and Melody to find Daddy.” James held out a hand for her and she took it gratefully. I shot him a smile in thanks.
I wandered closer to the door to hear better. “So you support this, then?” I thought I recognized the voice.
Blake’s voice was flat and hard. A tone that I hadn’t heard from him before. “I support my friend and pack mate in a decision that makes sense after seeing them interact.”
The other man made a scoffing noise.
“More to the point.” Blake continued. “Our goddess endorses the union, too. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have worked.” I could almost see the smug satisfaction on Blake’s face. He wasn’t one to rub things in someone’s face. He wasn’t petty, one of the many things I liked about him because he could have mistreated me after our initial meeting. No, he was fair and kind, only until a point. The young alpha was no pushover.
“But—“ The man’s voice was filled with fury. “It isn’t done!”
“Clearly times are changing.” Blake said calmly.
“Times are heading into the shitter, you mean! This absurd mating my son has entered into is just the tip of the iceberg! This sickness and then that abomination was born!” He spat. I swore I knew that voice.
“Sir, you better not be talking about my daughter. The elves and the council both agree that she is a return to the old ways.” Ice filled my veins at the deadly quiet tone Blake used. He was the calm before the storm. One wrong move from his guest and there would be blood.
“Where is the proof?”
“Look, old man, you don’t get to come here and talk about my family like that.” Uh-oh. Kade was wading in.
What’s going on, Jasper?
Keep Hayden back and listen.
I opened the bond wider so Dakota could listen through me.
“My daughter is not an abomination. She is a sign that The Luna is sick of domineering alphas like you and wants a return of a fairer shifter society. One where omegas aren’t treated as just brood mares.” Both the pack link and our family bond bristled with Kade’s fury.
“Alpha Stewart, I think it’s time for you to leave before you create irreparable damage between our packs. As it is, you’ve insulted your son, my mate, and my daughter. I suggest you apologize and get the hell out of my territory. We will report this to the council, and you are already on a watch list. I’m willing to put this down to an excess of emotions at being reunited with your son after so long.” Blake cut in.
There was a long pause, and I felt Dakota’s tension. “You’re right, of course, Alpha. I apologize for my remark about your child. That was out of line. Any child born is a blessing and I cannot guess The Luna’s plan for shifters.”
“We will accept your apology. I will still note your remarks after the attack on my child. I hope you understand.”
“Of course, Alpha Sweetwater. My apologies to you too, Alpha Mate. I was out of line. Can we just put this down to shock? I came here to trace my son. It’s been six years since I’ve seen or heard from him. Then I find him changed and mated. Then you, Ryder. Sorry, Kade.”
I should have recognised the name Stewart. This was Roan’s father. Shock rippled along the bond even as Kade accepted the alpha’s words. I couldn’t imagine how he was feeling coming face to face with the man that would have been his father-in-law.
“For what it’s worth, Kade. I’m happy to see you in a fated match. Thank you for being so kind to my boy. You were always better than your father deserved in a son.”
There was some murmuring, but I tuned them out.Are you okay? We are on our way.Dakota sent.
