Page 60 of His Rejected Alpha Mate
“I apologize, bear,” Hakeem said, speaking directly to my alter. It pacified the bear, and I felt my brows lifting in surprise.
“Hakeem used to work with fae shifter slaves,” Teagan said offhandedly. At my aghast expression, she explained. “He helped those freed adjust to their new lives. While his background is behavior and not scientific, the Elven Council and our Queen thought it best to have someone experienced with shifters feeling high emotions on the team.”
“I’m sorry for my reaction.” I apologized to Hakeem.
The usually smiling elf’s expression clouded with several complicated emotions, each one flitting away as he dismissed them, pulling a stoic elven mask into place. “It is quite alright, Dakota. A natural reaction from a shifter when hearing of those terrible places.”
It didn’t quite fit with the image of elves that I’d had before. Something of that must have broadcasted over my face. “Our realm is in a state of reform. Our Queen is a compassionate ruler, seeing value in all life. With her as a ruler, female elves are having a more active role in government.”
“Our shifters too. Betas and omegas are on the council.”
We shared a smile.
“The loss of our fertility hit us hard. We’ve had this prophecy for a decade, but we had no reason to approach the shifters before. They hadn’t needed us. The more progressive of us visited your realm on a regular basis. That was how we found out about the shifter sickness.” Teagan’s face was shadowed with grief. “We were too late to help with the omega and the life they carried. Packs shut us out.” She looked imploringly at us. “May I ask why your pack was different? You immediately allowed us entry.”
“Part of it would have been the council, but as you may have seen, Blake is a young alpha, both in age and experience. He’s open in ways that older alphas are not. More progressive. His mate, my son, by mating, is the first male omega on the council. Both of the pair have seen firsthand the abuse that alphas can perpetrate. I believe that this is why he is open to outside help. We’ve had witches supporting us.”
“Ah, yes. I could smell magic in your home. So you regularly use magic from witches?” Teagan asked.
“We do. Silencing wards and things like that. My son had alarms and charms to protect him provided by a local witch. They are good friends and I’m glad that he had her to turn to when he needed help.”
As much as I wanted to get to know the elves, my bear was growling at me to get going. We had a mate to see. A baby to listen to. Our son to check on.
“I sense your animal alter’s distress, Dakota. Please, let us go on to the main house so you may go to your mate,” said Hakeem.
“Thank you.”
The journey to the mansion was short, but the one to Jasper’s old house seemed to have doubled in distance. Had it always taken this long to get there? I think I broke every speed limit and ran a couple of stop signs, but I was desperate to see him.
I pulled up outside of the house, sweat lining my brow as I struggled to keep my bear back. He wanted out to scent the area, checking our mates’ safety with our cub. We were both distracted when I switched off the engine and Kade and Deke exited the house.
Within a blink, I was out of my truck and had Kade in my arms. “Dad! I’ve missed you!” We cried together. There was no chance of holding tears back, as I checked him over, running my hands over his rapidly swelling stomach. He was over halfway there already and looked so healthy.
“Okay, alright. Hands off. Go see Papa. I just wanted to see you before we went out.” Kade said, pushing at my hands.
“Why? Where are you going?”
“No offense, Dakota, but we don’t want to hear you two fu—“ Kade slammed a hand over Deke’s mouth.
“I want to pretend that all they will be doing is cuddling with the occasional kiss. Those are my parents, for fuck’s sake, Deke.”
It was easy to see the mischief and laughter in the usually stoic man’s eyes.
“You never said where you’re going.” I reminded my son.
“To the park to shift. The garden is okay, but my wolf wants to properly stretch. A run with Deke will be great. We’re meeting with Poppy and Zinna for extra security.”
The question must have shown on my face. “Zinna is Poppy’s wife. They are expecting, too. Deke didn’t want us to shift out in the open like that with just the two of us. So we’ll go pick them up, shift, play, and come home.”
“Sounds like a good plan. Have a good time.” I gave Kade a last hug as I turned to the door.
Perhaps sensing my focus had moved, or he’d been listening for our conversation to end, but the door opened and everything but Jasper vanished.
Reunited
Jasper
“WhenBlakegetsbackfrom meeting the elves, we can all go and shift together. It’d be good for you, Papa. It’s been what, more than a week at least, since you last shifted? You heard what Aldrin and James said about regular shifting.”
