Page 38 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Lycan King

They never rushed me through my story. Alphas rarely tolerated being made to wait, but here they were, listening earnestly. They both leaned in to my story patiently and gave me the space to speak when I was ready. It was unexpected and refreshing, but somehow, it made it harder for me to find my voice.

Maybe it was too refreshing.

“I’m sorry, but this has caused me a great deal of pain. I don’t want to discuss it at this time. Can we please save this story for later?”

They nodded, and it was Charlotte who spoke. “In time, we would love to hear your story. Take the time you need.”

Biting my lip, I wondered what would come next after dinner. I felt as though I was invited to stay in their home, but I couldn’t be sure.

“Thank you both for taking me in to get cleaned and fed. Let me know if there is anything I can do to repay you. I am an omega with years of experience cleaning houses.”

Nathaniel chuckled. “Simple hospitality is the least we can do. Please, you don’t owe us anything.”

“Stay here, please. At least until you get back on your feet,” Charlotte added.

The room blurred as tears stung my eyes. Years of torment and abuse made me think that there would be a terrible price for their kindness. Nobody was ever this nice.

“But I can’t afford room and board.”

They shook their heads and softly chuckled. Nathaniel bumped into Charlotte and looked into her eyes. I could tell they were communicating through their bond.

Nathaniel cleared his throat. “No one has money when they first come in here. The neighboring kingdom has helped this area prosper. We’ve made trade deals to access food and medicine.It’s sort of a bartering system. They even came in here and developed all of this.”

That was peculiar. How didn’t Maximus know about this? He thinks the rogues around here entered our kingdom for nefarious reasons, but it looks like they have almost everything they need here. If anything, they just need more land.

He sighed. “I wish we could close everything off and find a way to filter the people who come and go. Many believe they can come in here, get food, and build up their strength just to attack the western kingdom’s pack for whatever they want. No one wants to listen to my suggestion about that.”

Charlotte nodded. “Too many have used our generosity to make us look like enemies to the kingdoms instead of refugees who don’t want the pack life.”

It all clicked into place now. The recent attacks had all bordered on rogue territory, and Maximus had assumed they were a power grab—a move to expand their reach. But that wasn’t the truth. The rogues here weren’t the ones responsible.

If I had known about this before I was rejected, I could have stepped in before the damage was done. I would have had the power as a queen to bridge the divide and integrate the rogues into the bartering system. We could have ensured they had the resources they needed instead of forcing them into desperation. Unfortunately, that chance to broker peace had slipped through my fingers.

“If only the other kings understood,” I said. “You could have the same system with them as you do here, so there could be more supplies coming in.”

They nodded, their focus shifting back to their meal, but my mind remained elsewhere. I needed to return to the kingdom. I had to speak with Maximus about this so I could salvage the situation before it got worse.

I lost my breath as a sharp pang shot through my chest. The bond’s ache resurfaced with brutal force. The pain twisted deep enough to make me wince.

Charlotte and Nathaniel reacted instantly, both leaping from their seats, their concern overriding any hesitation as they rushed to my side.

“What happened, dear?”

“Are you alright?”

I shook my head and pointed at my chest. If they understood rejected mates, then they’d know it was the pain from the severed bond. They frowned at me and looked at each other.

“When you saidrecent, how recent did you mean?”

Even though it would have felt better not to talk about it at all, I could at least tell them that much. “Two days.”

“My goodness, dear. I’m sure you didn’t get any rest outside, either. How about you relax, and I will bring you a cup of tea? There are some herbs in it that can help with any ailment. It’ll even relax you enough to give you a good night’s rest.”

My body still ached from the journey, making the offer even more tempting. I nodded, allowing Charlotte to guide me toward the couch, grateful for the support.

I didn’t want them to feel used—didn’t want to take without offering anything in return. They had already given me more than I could have asked for, and I didn’t know how I could repay them for even a single night of kindness.

But my upbringing taught me better than this. If I wanted them to understand just how much their generosity meant to me, I had to find a way to give something back.

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