Page 74 of Rejected and Pregnant by the Lycan King

Time went by, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. Eventually, I walked over to the chair and sat down, keeping my face so close to my son’s to keep him calm. He touched my face all over, and if I moved, he whimpered. His eyes would close and forcefully open, like he was fighting sleep. I started to hum and rock him from side to side, moving my entire body in the motion so I didn’t break away from him. When his eyes finally closed, I moved him against me, and the little sigh that came out of him made my heart burst.

Even my lycan felt at peace with him against my chest. The way he sighed in contentment when he heard my heartbeatmade me want to cry. So many had told me how a pup would change your life, and I didn’t think it was anything like this. Yeah, I understood how it would lead to a lifetime of restless nights, worry, and stress… but I didn’t know it also meant the immediate feeling of having him wrapped around your finger. I didn’t even want to move because it would wake him. Whatever this little boy wanted, I would go to the ends of the earth to give it to him.

Kylie stirred in her bed, and I stilled as she rolled over to see me sitting in the chair. Her eyes went wide, and she jumped in bed to sit up. I could see the fire of rage in her eyes at the sight of me next to her, but when her gaze found our son sleeping on me, they hardened even more.

Fuck.

“What are you doing here, and what are you doing with my pup?” she said through her teeth in a hushed but harsh tone.

There wasn’t a chance in hell I would move right now. My son sleeping on me was something I would cherish for a long time, but I also would never scare him awake.

“I came to talk to you,” I whispered. “He was stirring in his bassinet, and I didn’t want him waking you.”

Her eyes narrowed at me. “So you just picked him up?”

“He’s my son, too.”

She growled but kept it low and threatening so the baby wouldn’t wake. This was going to be a long day. No matter what, I couldn’tlet her just kick me out of my child’s life. Now that I had experienced it, I was going to do everything I could to keep it.

“You said you wanted to talk, and I want to talk. You may be mad at me, and I deserve your anger, but we need to get one thing straight here: I’m not going anywhere.”

She growled, then sighed. “Fine. If you’re ready to talk, then we can talk.”

“I don’t know why, but I can’t remember everything about this curse. I was like anyone else before I met you. I spent a fair amount of time not caring whether I found my mate or not. During that time, I had a lot of flings and short relationships.” I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I must have done something to the witch. The only thing I know is that when you walked away from me, I felt the large hole you left behind. I regretted doubting you the moment you walked out the door. I knew there was no stopping you, and I knew I severed the bond between us. I cannot express to you how sorry I am about that. I will say sorry every single day of my life if it means you will understand that I never want to hurt you.”

The way she looked at me made my heart break. There was so much going on in her head, and I wanted to wrap her in my arms so badly. I missed the way she felt in my embrace, and I knew she would still keep me at a distance until we worked things out.

Once she forgave me, I would worship her the way she deserved. All those lonely nights would change to hearing her moan my name, whether from me massaging her to ease the stress of running the kingdom or from the way I would use my hands, fingers, tongue, and cock.

Ugh. I can’t think like that. Not right now when I am holding my pup against my chest and my mate is staring at me like she is conflicted about wanting to kill me or kiss me.

“How do I know you won’t let someone come between us again?”

“Because I would rather have my skin peeled off piece by piece than live another day without you by my side.”

She wrapped her arms around herself like she was cold, and I squirmed in my seat as I fought the strong urge to go to her and hug her. My lycan paced inside me again as he saw his mate go through a level of anguish we couldn’t help with.

“What does being a mate mean to you?” Kylie asked me.

My eyes widened at her asking the same question as Nathaniel. I shouldn’t have been surprised; Nathaniel had been the one to be there for her while I was being a child about losing my mate. But I knew the answer to this question.

“It means I found the missing piece of my soul. The person I would choose over everything and anyone else in the world. The only person who might end up getting more attention than you would be this baby who is asleep in my arms. But when I am not there for my child, I will be there for you. If there is ever a situation where I have to choose between you or even the kingdom, I will choose you.”

She let out a laugh. “How do you expect me to believe you? I would have chosen you over everyone. You were supposed to be the person who couldn’t hurt me, yet you were the one who destroyed me.”

My throat grew scratchy, and my heart felt like it had been ripped in two at her statement. Damn, was I an asshole? How could I allow this to happen?

“Just so you know, I destroyed myself too. I had to lock myself in my office because if anyone talked to me outside of Eli, I damn near killed them. Everyone was afraid to come near me because of it. Eli and Amara have been the ones running the kingdom because I was obsessed with trying to find where you were. If it weren’t for them, the kingdom would be in shambles because I didn’t know what to do with my life without you in it.”

Kylie let out a breath as if she were ready to sob. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing in the moment, but I did my best to stay in my seat. The way my emotions warred with my lycan because I hated to see her cry became a new struggle while she stared at me.

“I don’t know what to do right now,” she said to me.

“How about we take it one step at a time?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure when I will trust you.”

I sighed, but I understood where she was coming from. So much had happened, and it would take a while before she was won over. I wouldn’t see her until my words were backed up with actions. It would take time, but I was willing to do whatever it took to show her I meant this.

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