Rejected and Pregnant by the Alpha King (Forbidden Alpha Kings #4)

17. Raine

17

Raine

I awake surrounded by warmth and softness.

Unexpected, considering the last thing I remember is collapsing onto the ground in front of a bunch of Pollis enforcers and begging to be brought before their alpha.

Peeling my eyes open, I blink a few times as my body adjusts, still sore from running for so long without stopping. My body aches, but thankfully I’ve slept long enough for my wolf’s healing to have kicked in by now.

The room I’m in is unfamiliar, but similar to the one I stayed in while attending the ball. Instead of two beds, this room only has one.

Peeling off the covers that have been tucked around me, I slide to the edge of the bed and test my weight on my feet. Sore, but not bad. Manageable, at least.

Inside of me, my wolf roils, happy that I’m finally awake.

“Let’s see what’s going on,” I mumble to her, and finally stand.

I’m in different clothes than what I remember coming in, and I try to not let that shake me. Hopefully Aiden has some lady attendants who were kind enough to change me before tucking me into bed—actually, I’m sure of it.

Because why would he allow his mate to sleep in filthy clothes?

Heading over to the door, I try the handle and am shocked to realize that it’s been locked from the outside.

What the hell?

I try it a few more times, but the door doesn’t budge and the handle doesn’t turn.

Why am I locked inside of this room? To keep me safe? But that doesn’t make sense…

Unless Daniel came after me while I was asleep and they were worried about me leaving without an escort. Obviously as Aiden’s mate, they’d want to protect me at all costs. I am the future Luna of this pack, after all.

I knock on the door a few times, calling out to…who knows. Anyone, I guess.

It takes a few minutes but soon, the lock clicks and the knob turns. I take a step back to allow the door to open, revealing two enforcers standing in front of it.

“Did you need something?”

I nod. “I need to speak with your alpha. Immediately.”

For some reason, they exchange an odd look with each other.

“That…won’t be possible, miss,” one of them says.

“Why not?” My brows knit together.

Perhaps Aiden’s still keeping our relationship under wraps to keep me safe.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Daniel sent spies here to infiltrate and get to me. The unfortunate truth about running away from my homeland is that I know Daniel will do anything he can in order to get me back before I can get to Aiden.

Especially now that he knows I’m pregnant.

“It’s urgent,” I say. “Please tell him that Raine wishes to speak with him.”

They both stand there awkwardly, neither of them moving from their spots. I try to see it from their shoes—a female blasting through their border checkpoints and passing out as she speaks their alpha’s name, only for her to wake up however long afterward and demand an audience with him.

To anyone who doesn’t know the full story, the situation would be strange at best. I’d be skeptical too if I were in their shoes.

“Please?” I ask. “He’s expecting me.”

One of the enforcers, the one on the left, sighs. “I’ll…go tell him you’re awake.”

I hold back my grin, relief flooding through me instantly. “Thank you.”

Both of them nod and then yank the door closed, locking me back inside.

Looking out of the window, I notice that rain is falling heavily outside, fitting for the conversation I’m about to have with my mate. I can’t imagine how he’ll react—both to the news that I’m here and asking for his help in freeing my friend, and that I’m carrying his future heir.

What will the rest of his pack think of that?

Sighing to myself, I settle back down onto the bed and wait.

***

The door opens a while later to the two enforcers from earlier.

“He’ll see you now.”

I practically jump off the bed and jog over to them, my wolf crooning inside my head. The prospect of seeing Aiden after weeks of being separated is both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.

Will he put on a front in front of his pack when seeing me? Or will emotions overtake him, causing him to drag me off into a secret room in order to have our proper reunion? Honestly, I’m hoping for the latter.

I’ve been so damn touch-starved lately. My body craves what I was given the last time I was here, Aiden’s touch so deeply ingrained in me that it’s all I think about before I fall asleep at night.

I want his hands all over me, our bodies pressed together as he makes love to me and kisses me while we finish together.

One of the enforcers chuffs in front of me, probably smelling my pheromones. But whatever, I don’t care. It’ll all make sense to them once Aiden claims me.

I’m led down to the ballroom, which has been transformed from a beautiful party venue to a royal chamber. The double doors are open, with two enforcers standing in front who greet the two escorting me. They glance my way, strange looks appearing on their faces when we pass by.

My nerves kick in again.

The possibility of Aiden’s pack also not accepting me has me on edge. I don’t want to go from one pack that hates me to a new one where I have absolutely no friends. At least back in Andromeda I have Delilah.

I’m scared though. What if the reason Aiden’s been having such a hard time with this is because he knows his people are resistant to change?

A long carpet stretches from the entrance of the ballroom all the way to the back wall, where a large set of stone risers has been placed. On top of them are two chairs, both of which are occupied.

My heart skips a beat when I finally lay eyes on my mate.

He’s sitting in the tallest chair, dressed in a fine silk shirt that’s buttoned to just below his collar. The pants he wears are dark, tucked into calf-length boots that make him look tough and regal at the same time. His sand-colored hair has been slicked back from his face, giving him a more mature look.

My eyes catch sight of the other chair next to him, which is also occupied.

I nearly trip over my own two feet as I spot the female I caught him with the third night of the ball.

What the hell is she doing here?

My throat tightens.

She must be some kind of advisor…

Right?

“You requested an audience,” Aiden speaks, his voice even.

I nod, stepping forward to the first riser. A hand quickly latches onto my arm, holding me back from advancing any farther. I look up to see one of the enforcers holding onto me, his eyes trained steadily ahead at his alpha, waiting for instructions.

Aiden waits in utter silence for me to speak.

My heart begins to pound while something in the back of my mind whispers that I’m in trouble.

But why would I be?

“I came to see you.” I swallow, trying to clear my throat as my voice grows scratchy. “I-I ran from my pack.”

He doesn’t say anything, nor does anyone else. He simply stares at me with a blank look on his face, utterly devoid of all emotion. The atmosphere in here is unnerving. Why isn’t he saying anything?

I press on. “My alpha…he…he locked me away in a cell beneath his estate for weeks. I managed to escape and I came here right away.”

My eyes begin to water, the horribleness of what was done to me finally hitting me.

To my surprise, Aiden simply leans back in his chair and lets out a small sigh. “And what did you come here for?”

My jaw drops. “What?”

“I assume you came here for…something? To complain, to…what?”

Dumbfounded, I say, “I came to tell you. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Why would you? What your alpha does with his pack is his own business.”

“He locked me in a cell , Aiden,” I bite out.

Instantly, both enforcers grab me and thrust me down to my knees.

“You will address his Grace with respect ,” one of them spits at me.

Fear shoots through me as I look up at them and then back to my mate. I’m so confused—why isn’t he helping me? Why doesn’t he care? Does our bond mean nothing to him anymore?

Aiden slowly rises from his chair and makes his way down the risers to where we are. He untucks something from his pocket, pulling it out as he grows closer to me. My entire body stiffens when I see that it’s my pregnancy test, along with the letter I wrote to him.

How the hell did he get those? And from where ?

He clears his throat and holds the letter up in front of his face.