Page 19 of The Alpha's Forbidden Secret Baby

Rayla looked from Xander to Abel. The resemblance was uncanny. Abel was the younger version of Xander. For a thirteen year old, Abel stood tall at 5’2. In a couple of years, Abel might look exactly like Xander.

They stared at themselves with wide eyes. Both speechless. Rayla guessed that they must have never dreamt they’d meet in this kind of situation and setting.

Xander broke the silence first. “What’s your name?” He sounded like a teenage boy trying to make friends.

“Abel Johnson, Sir,” Abel replied like an awestruck fan.

He raised his dark brows. “Do you play any sports?” He seemed interested to know.

Rayla watched Abel. He scratched his neck. He was nervous.

“Yes, Sir,” he croaked.

“Which?” Xander asked.

“Football, Sir,” he replied without missing a beat.

Xander laughed delightfully at this. It made Abel smile faintly.

Rayla was frozen. Her heart throbbed. His laughter was still the same but richer. She missed it

Rayla got drawn into her mind. She remembered how she’d tickle him to get him to laugh. Then they’d end up in a playful tussle. He’d overpowered her every time. It often got intense. They’d make out or have sex. She had cracked silly sexual jokes and he’d laugh at them. Those were good times.

She felt warmth blossoming between her legs. She blushed in embarrassment when she remembered where she was.

Xander and Abel. They were bonding. The sight of them together was so beautiful.

It made her sad for them. Xander missed out on this because he left her. He would have watched his son grow. Built memories with him. He would have been a constant in the boy’s life.

If this had been the case, Abel would have had a father. Someone else to love and guide him. Someone he could look up to. But he didn’t, and. he was bullied for it.

Rayla sighed.

Xander also seemed nervous. His hands were in his pocket as Abel excitedly shared tidbits of his life. Rayla loved the way he’d lit up as he spoke to his father. It reminded Rayla of a younger Xander when he spoke on his favorite topics.

Rayla felt defeated. What could she do to stop them from being together? They were a part of each other. She had to let their relationship play out.

As she watched them, she decided to listen to Xander.

“Be good, Son,” Xander ordered.

“Yes,” Abel pipped.

Xander seemed well-adjusted to being the father of a teenage boy he just met. But Rayla knew that he wasn’t. She could tell he felt uncertain about this new development.

Who wouldn’t be?

Maybe with time, he would get used to it.

She hoped he did.

He turned to face her. His expression was without mirth or sparks. He was back to his brooding, mean self. Then he smirked.

Rayla glared at him. Prepared for him.

“You know you can’t stop this. I’m the boy’s father,” he growled.

Rayla had already lost the fight. But she stood tall.

---