Page 57 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

“Ugh, save me.”

Both girls giggled loudly from the living room. It brought me right back to earth, right back to the house that housed the two girls I cared about most in this world—aside from Sierra, who wouldn’t know the difference, seeing as she was a baby now.

I was a daddy to another precious little girl. I wanted to treat her like I had been treating Sierra. And since I had catching up to do, I grabbed Robyn’s hand and tugged her into the living room with me, leaving our guests to sit among themselves in the peace and quiet of the kitchen.

Sydney had her eyes hooked on the television that displayed some kind of whacky cartoon in a chunky block style. Sierra babbled and gurgled from her bouncy seat. She gave me a wide-eyed expression, giggled, and then waved her chunkyhands at her cousin. Sydney mindlessly reached for a rattle toy and shook it.

Robyn caught my elbow. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just don’t want to miss this.”

Whimsical music played on the television. Sydney laughed, which made Sierra giggle, adding to the adorable mixture of silly sounds that encompassed the living room. Idle chatter wafted from the kitchen where I heard Hector whisper sweet things to my sister.

“Timmy and Amy’s Fun Time Show?” Robyn asked. “You don’t want to miss that?”

“No,this.” I motioned to the girls. “Watching them…just exist.”

Robyn grinned warmly. “Yeah, it’s cute, right? They mimic each other.”

“I’m glad they’re getting along.”

“Me, too.”

I stroked her cheek, feeling the way she shivered under my touch. “Faye told me about yesterday.”

“What about yesterday?”

I frowned apologetically. “I didn’t mean to snap orders at you, Princess. I just feel better having your support and help. You know these people. You relate to them better than anyone. You’re the key to me being a good Alpha.”

She opened her mouth, blinked rapidly, and then promptly shut her mouth. After a second, she bowed her head and sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t trustworthy enough for you to tell me.”

“It’s not that. I just—”

I held a finger to her lips. “Robby—Princess, I was not acting like the mate you needed. I was trying to act like a good Alpha.”

“But you’re supposed to act like a good Alpha.”

“I’m supposed to act like a good mate, too.”

She smiled while nuzzling her cheek into my palm. To feel this again was unreal. I had to make sure I didn’t mess it up. This time, I had to be better than good.

I had to be phenomenal.

“So,” she sighed while wrapping her arms around the back of my neck, “tell me about this mating ritual.”

“Well, it might sound a little outdated, but…”

She arched her right brow. “Outdated?”

“Okay, maybe I should use a different word.”

“If this involves some sexist crap from the twenties…”

I laughed. “No, it’s not like that at all!” I frowned uncertainly. “I mean, I don’t think it’s sexist. Or from the twenties.”

“Okay, I’m listening.”

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