Page 18 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

As I started whipping up some biscuits, Cliff went to the kitchen doorway. “Sydney, can you help me get some flowers from the yard?”

“Yes, Sir!”

Sydney dropped a fork and hobbled after Cliff without saying a word to me. I peeked around the corner of the doorway, watching my ex-boyfriend take his daughter-who-he-didn’t-know-was-his-daughter onto the porch. I slid back into the kitchen to go to the sink, where the kitchen window revealed the patio. Cliff guided Sydney into the perfectly mowed yard to the flowerbed where a medley of peonies was growing.

After collecting a fistful, she grabbed Cliff’s hand and dragged him inside, presenting the bouquet to me. “Here, Mama!”

Even though I had watched her pick the flowers, I still acted surprised as I accepted them. “Why, these are lovely, sweetheart. Can you help me get them into some water?”

“Sure thing!”

Cliff scooped Sydney into his arms so she could reach the faucet. With his help, she turned on the cold water and then pulled her arms inward so I could use the sink. I filled a vaseabout halfway, grabbed a packet of flower food I kept under the sink, and opened it.

I handed the packet to Sydney. “Careful you don’t spill—”

“Hyah!” Sydney tipped the whole bag over and dropped specks of flower food all over the sink. Maybe an ounce made it into the vase.

Cliff tipped his head back and laughed. “Close enough!”

“Yeah,” I agreed to my surprise, “good job, Sydney.”

My daughter kicked her legs excitedly. She must have socked Cliff in the hip and stomach about a dozen times without him minding in the least. I set the peonies in the vase and carried it to the table, where I set them in the center. Sydney kicked her way to the ground, sliding out of Cliff’s arms like she did this all the time. Her instant comfort with him made me reconsider his mate offer.

I chuckled internally while returning to the biscuits.He made a demand, not an offer.

The oven beeped. I popped the biscuits inside and went to grab a cup of coffee. Cliff joined me as he twirled Sydney around in circles.

I sighed. “I need that energy bottled and around my neck at all times.”

“Tell me about it.”

I smiled shyly as I stared down at my toes. “You didn’t have to do the biscuit dough or anything.”

“I know. But Sydney is insistent.” He beamed in my direction. “Reminds me of someone beautiful I know.”

“Shut up.”

Sydney gasped, halting in the middle of an elegant spin. “Mama, that’s a bad word!”

I covered my mouth regretfully. “Oops, sorry.”

“Not to me.” She pointed at Cliff. “Say sorry toQuiff.”

I snorted and then tried my best to hold back more laughter as my daughter gave me an exaggerated expression of irritation. Just when I was about to turn to Cliff and give him an apology, befitting the standards of my adorable child, I heard a knock at the door.

I glanced at the clock.Shit, I forgot Alpha Bill was coming over.

Terror twitched in my core when I heard another knock, and then the hinges of the door squeaking open. I stiffened. Had we left the door unlocked last night?

“Robyn?” Bill called. His voice was flat, dull. “I see a car outside that isn’t yours. Everything okay in here?”

Hard footsteps rumbled on the porch made by heavy-duty boots. What a fantastic Sunday morning with my Alpha and his lackeys walking into my home like they lived here. Because it wasn’t like I didn’t have enough problems happening all at once.

I crossed my arms over my chest while Sydney slid into her booster seat at the table. She wasn’t fond of Bill—and I didn’t blame her one bit for that. “I’m in here, Alpha. Yes, I’m okay. I have a…” I nipped my lower lip. “I just have a guest.”

The lackeys were first to appear: Larry, Curly, and Moe. Each one of them was ruggedly built with broad shoulders, rippling muscles, and mean expressions. Larry had tawny beige skin with short brown hair, while Curly and Moe shared a similar reddish-clay tan that made them look sunburnt all the time. The only difference between Curly and Moe that was trulydistinct was that Curly had curly blond hair while Moe had reddish-brown braids.

And then there was Bill. Though his face was mildly weathered from age, he was immensely tall with a slim, athletic build and graying brown hair shaved in a fade that stayed moderately short at the top. His alabaster skin hosted silver undertones that made him look almost ghostly. The left side of his face was dimpled around his cheek from a burn scar. He rubbed it idly and then splashed a smile into the room as his piercing green eyes inked over with black.

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