Page 71 of His Rejected Alpha Mate
“Thank you, there’s no hurry.”
“Dakota, I’m going to ask the council if we can keep some of the staff they arranged for a few days while we get everyone up and about.” Dad said as he pulled out his phone. “With them not needing to be on site, they can return to their homes in Sweetwater and Northarbor if they would prefer.”
As our alpha, Blake’s rooms hadn’t been touched, but we had displaced many of the pack to make room for the elves and hospital staff. Our house was packed with the two elves and four betas that didn’t live with us. I wanted to have Jasper come home to our bed, not the thin sofa bed in the garage. No matter how nice I’d tried to make the space, it didn’t have the necessities that we needed, like a bathroom. A pregnant omega couldn’t be expected to track down the stairs, across the yard, and into the main house to use the toilet three times a night.
“Ívarr, would you like to come and stay with us?” Papa offered. “I’m sure my son would prefer his mate was in the house. Angelica will want her papa.”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you for your generous hospitality.”
“Dakota, Ívarr, would you mind if I perhaps stayed here? I could move to the room above the garage.” Teárlach asked quietly. He and Ívarr had a silent conversation that ended with a subtle nod of assent from his leader.
“I don’t mind that at all.” I answered. “Chase isn’t quite at full strength yet and I could probably do with some help to get Grady and Trey to the bathroom later.” The men appeared to be recovering quickly, or quicker than Axel and Angelica were. Both could walk with assistance, so had their catheters removed.
While they were disoriented and weak, there seemed to be no real side effects to the illness. Trey had asked to call the council but had been denied. He needed to focus on getting back up to strength.
Teárlach’s beautiful face beamed with his smile. He truly was the most otherworldly of the group, with his turquoise eyes and silvery hair. “I shall go and begin changing the bedding and airing out rooms.” He moved around people and furniture nimbly.
Ívarr approached. “Thank you for allowing his request. I fear he has become quite taken with one of the betas.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Perhaps not, from what I know of your alpha. However, not all shifters allow cross matings.”
“It’s not like they can have a traditional mating like shifters, anyway. Axel can’t have children. As a beta, he’s sterile.” I said, reminding him redundantly. Ívarr likely knew much more than I did about shifter fertility. I truly hated that betas were denied the ability to have children. “Even if he could carry or create, mixed species matings can’t result in children. So it doesn’t matter. If Axel likes him back, then that’s fine.” I shrugged. “Blake won’t care, as long as his brother is happy.” I was at least eighty percent sure of that.
Ívarr pursed his lips, but his eyes danced with mirth. “I find the Sweetwater pack to be very unusual. It’s charming. I see the work of the goddess everywhere and am sure this place and its people are blessed.” His smile was radiant and warmed the cold-looking man. I’d grown to appreciate his quick mind and world of experience. He and my father had formed a fast friendship that I hadn’t seen from him before. He challenged Dad and doted on Papa. His expression tightened. “This is perhaps for a few months down the line, when all are recovered fully. I was dubious about coming to Sweetwater. Yet, I find myself not wanting to leave this place now. If you find it agreeable, we would like to settle nearby.”
“I can’t speak for my alpha, however, I really believe that he would like that. You and your team have been loyal friends to the pack.”
“Thank you, Dakota. I know Hakeem would like time to study shifter behavior and pack dynamics in such a healthy environment. Most of the packs that he has come across have been struggling in some way.”
“It would be interesting to see his observations. Thank you, Ívarr, and your team for all the help. We couldn’t have managed any longer without you.”
He held out a hand. I went to grasp it when he shifted the grip so he was clasping my arm just above my wrist. He pulled our hands to pat above his heart, indicating I should do the same. “That is an elven blessing. Let us get the rest of your family home.”
I’d sent the message an hour ago.
Dakota: All safe. Come home.
It had been sitting on read since he had seen it only moments after I’d sent it. Yet he hadn’t replied. It frustrated me. The lack of response meant I had no idea if he was coming today or not. Was he angry I’d taken so long to send the message? Surely he understood that I’d needed time to check everything out? To make sure that everything was safe.
The house was clean and cleared out of our guests. Michaella had gone back to Northarbor, where she lived in a little apartment with a job offer as a doula to the pack. The witch had long grown children, had a great healing background and been amazing under the stress of the last month. Dad had seen her skills and immediately poached her from the hospital. “Better hours unless there’s a delivery to attend to, and better pay? Honey, I’d bite your hand to accept that offer.” Her laugh had followed her out of the house.
Dad and Papa had taken Ívarr home with them after checking on all the patients again. Angelica managed a brief visit with them. Papa had cried when she had called him grandpa in her croaky voice. We were in danger of having a very spoiled princess after this ordeal.
“Relax,” Chase said from his place on a stool at the kitchen counter. He’d offered to help make dinner, but the excitement of the day had worn him out. “They’ll be here soon.”
Teárlach let out a laugh from where he was chopping tomatoes to make up a salad. “He can’t relax until his mate is here.” His speech was more relaxed than Ívarr’s, having spent more time around humans and shifters like Hakeem.
I nodded in his direction as I stirred the sauce for the bolognese I was making. “He’s right.” I let out a loud sigh. “I’ve missed Jasper so much. A month apart has been difficult for us both. Worse because of the pregnancy.” I paused, trying to find the right words. “My parents have done their best, but I want to feel my son wriggling about. Hear my baby’s heartbeat as I go to sleep.”
A car approached, tires crunching on gravel. I set the spoon down, switched off the burner and the oven. “You wait here,” I told Chase as I went to open the door.
My heart rate picked up as I saw him exit the car. Only a week had passed since I’d seen him, but so much had changed. His face had filled out in line with his ever-expanding belly. He couldn’t be more beautiful to me. Even at this short distance, I could see his eyes dancing with joy.
I ran to him.
Wrapping my arms around him made everything feel right. He was here and wasn’t going anywhere. Finally, he was home. I buried my face in his neck and sobbed. Just let out the weeks of worry and stress as I held him as close as possible. He ran a soothing hand up and down my back while the other balanced a box.
