The Alpha’s Rejected Bride
Chapter 44

Rayan

pov

I woke up early in the morning and cancel all the meetings I had.

I walk to my new son's room, I've been there but I'm always with Lucille.

I slightly open the door and peek my head in. There are baby sounds that are coming from the crib. I step into the room. Ahyan is standing in his crib, one hand holding the rail, the other his toy.

His neck slowly turns to me, his smile falters and curiosity takes over his face. He has seen me several times but never alone, his obsidian eyes look past me to the door expectantly. I bet he's surprised that Lucy or any of the girls are not coming. I smile to try to put him at ease but he doesn't smile back. Now I'm standing just looking awkward.

He ignores me, sits down, and goes back to playing. I clear my throat

"Ahyan?" I call. He looks at me, waiting. So, he knows his name already.

'He's been here for weeks,' Rex reminds me. I draw closer to him and ruffle his hair, he shakes his head In disapproval

"What does mama do first?" I get my phone out of my pocket and read the text Lucy sent me a few hours ago.

I have to bathe him first. " Wanna shower?" I ask, he makes baby sounds and I take that as a yes, I pick him up. While in the bathroom I take off his romper and make sure the water is just the right temperature before I put him in.

He looks at the water, he is smiling and giggling.

Hitting the water with his tiny hands and for the first time, he smiles at me. He f*****g smiles, quickly for evidence, I snap a picture to send to my mate.

Getting Ahyan out of the tab is a hassle, he loves playing with the bubbles and splashing water.

"No, let's get you ready for the day," I murmur to the baby, he has a deep frown on his face as I lay him on the dresser, I open my YouTube and watch videos on how to dress a kid, they make it seem easy but they haven't met mine, he fuses a lot. I didn't know kids had so much energy.

When I'm done, I carry him downstairs, on my way there I find my brothers in the hallway, Jasper is scolding Enol, I wonder what my little brat of a brother did.

"Morning," I greet. They turn their attention to me

"Hi, Ahyan," Enol waves enthusiastically at the boy in my arms, the boy seems familiar with him and he smiles. Enol makes funny awkward faces and the boy is giggling. Even Jasper comes close to holding his nephew.

Ahyan doesn't smile at him.

"He doesn't like me," Jasper scowls

"I'm sure he recognizes you as the uncle who wanted to send him to an awful academy," Enol laughs and Jasper looks livid.

"I didn't, it was the council! Why do you always make me the bad guy around here?" He asks exasperated. We shrug.

"You're the goody two shoes, they are always the bad guys,"

Jasper snarls.

Butler Cullen and two staff members approach us and bow.

They are complimenting about how cute the little prince in my arms is and I find myself smiling.

"Young masters, do you need anything?" The butler asks politely.

"Can someone make him food, what do babies eat?" I ask Jasper. He shrugs. We've never had a child this young before.

"Sir, do you want me to look after him?" A young woman asks in a timid voice. I shake my head.

"Just make him food and bring it to my parents' apartment,"

My brothers and I go to my mother's apartment where we are to have breakfast this morning.

We knock on the door and we are allowed in by Miss Savannah.

She is adoring little Ahyan while he keeps his serious face. Oh boy. Can't he smile? He's so rude, kinda like me when I was a child. It's true what they say; like father like son.

My parents walk out of the room, I frown when I look at my mother, she seems frail and her skin is white, her eyes are sunken.

We exchange pleasantries and won't stop gushing over her new grandson.

"He's so adorable and Rayan, these clothes are not matching at all, you're lucky he's handsome," Mom lightly pinches his cheeks.

"I have a present for him," Dad announces. My brothers and I exchange a look. What kind of present? He takes out one of his wristbands and puts it on Ahyan. It's a royal artifact that symbolizes royalty to supernatural. It's generational and every royal wears one. The king caresses Ahyan's cheek and a white halo surrounds us. Its energy Is unmatched and powerful. We are all looking at it in awe, and the little boy jumps and squeals in my arms.

Once it fades, my father smiles and says,

"Welcome to the family, Prince Ahyan Altamonte,"

The love they are showing Ahyan is something I didn't imagine. Everyone is so accepting of him.

We are sitting at the table, waiting as the servants bring food.

"Mother, how are you feeling?" Jasper asks a question that has been on my mind. The Queen forces a smile on her lips.

"I'm better than yesterday, my son,"

She's lying. My heart breaks for her. Dad smiles at her and she returns it. Even after 25 years in a relationship, my parents still love each other endlessly. Their loyalty to one another is amazing and their love is one of a kind, it's as Intense as it was the day they met. I'm reminded of my Lucy, my feelings for her are overwhelming and just the thought of losing her is scary, I might just crumble to pieces if that were to happen.

I'm looking at my father, he knows that sooner or later he might lose his mate, he can feel her wolf getting weaker as we can. There is a sadness lingering in the air, even Enol is quiet.

Ahyan's squeals get me out of my thoughts. He is hitting the table with a toy.

The maids start to serve food and a special plate comes for Ahyan.

Mother claps her hands.

"Can you give me my grandchild now," she stretches her hands. I smile and I get to my feet, handing her the baby.

"Have you found anything about him?" Asks father.

Jasper was in charge.

"No, father. And we are yet to know what he is. Yadiel says he can't tell because he's too young," he explains. Dad nods.

Ahyan is only a year and a month old, so we will know in a few years what he is. We don't know who left him there, we searched the whole area to no avail.

"Did you make his stay here legal?" Mom asks as she feeds him.

"Oh my love, didn't you hear?" Father laughs

"Hear what, babe? You never tell me things these days," his wife complains.

"Oh, sorry dear, but I don't like you worrying. Our Lucy, make sure they didn't send little Ahyan to the academy. They tried to intimidate her but she spoke up and reminded her just who she was. She left senator Chien scared and impressed the bureaucracy. it's all the council talks about these days!" I'm smiling, I heard that everyone was impressed by Lucy and the news spread like wildfire. Most of them applauded her for saving a child.

My mom is laughing as Dad tells her details of what happened, the man knows how to tell a story.

"I'm sure Chien was furious, he must hate dear Lucy,"

Mom adds. The Chien family are our associates. For a long time they thought, Olivia had a chance to be Queen.

"Well, she showed him who's queen, you should have been there to see it," Enol muses.

"And Martias?"

"You know him, he was only worried about the people, but up to now, nothing negative has come out," Jasper says.

Tomorrow is Lucile's birthday so we continue to discuss that. Tomorrow, if she's strong enough, she might shift.

After breakfast, I make my way to my suite, Ahyan is sleeping peacefully on my bed and I use this time to make a couple of calls.

My phone keeps beeping, it's messages from Olivia, she is getting desperate.

Olivia Chien: why are you doing this to me? We need to talk

Before I can finish reading one, another comes. I put my phone in a silent mood and begin to work while listening for Ahyan's heartbeat in my bedroom, he's still sleeping.

An hour or so later, I hear the cries of Ahyan. I get out of my chair and go to him, he's crying while rubbing his eyes. He stops once he sees me and frowns. I wipe his tears away before picking him up. He is laying his head on my shoulder. "Hey, you thought I left?" I whisper. He looks at me only to go back to resting his head on my shoulder.

"Ahyan? Can you say dada?" I ask. He is quiet.

I give up on that, I think he's missing Lucy, this is the first time they have been apart from each other this long.

I put him in warm clothes and decide to go outside. We go to the lake, I put him down to play while I sit on the bench.

I'm thinking of sending my mate a text message but I stop myself. Ahyan is enjoying himself crawling and trying to catch the doves.

"Aah!" He screams as another one gets away. He is beginning to look frustrated, he tries again but they get flying into the air or sit somewhere else. He starts to cry as he points at the doves.

"Wow, very manly Ahyan," I say sarcastically. I don't carry him this time. I point at another one next to him, he is speaking gibberish.

He crawls stealthily towards it but it flies away. He starts to cry and I call him here. Ahyan is crawling here. I pick him up and he stands on his feet while holding the bench

"Can you say, Daddy?" I try again, he only smiles and goes back to playing. One thing about him is that he is not a quitter.

***

After lunch, we decide to go to the amusement park, I wear a black hoodie and cover my head so I'm unrecognizable to the public. I change the baby into a matching dark outfit then put him in a baby stroller before heading out. On our way out I meet Darren, damn it. He narrows his gaze on us

"Are you going to rob a bank? What's this? Robinhood?" He is teasing and laughing. I scowl and look at my son, he is not smiling. Darren tries to play with him but he doesn't smile back until he makes the stupidest smile. "I'm going to the park, move,"

"Too many people, should I close it for you?" He says seriously. While being royal in a city as mighty as this one is amazing and a blessing, sometimes it can be just too much, the pictures, the scrutiny, and the praise. All that can be overwhelming sometimes. I take off my hoodie and carry the baby stroller.

We can just go in the clearing not far from here plus, Rexan has been wanting to meet him.

" Alright, I'll see you later," I say walking away.

Darren is now looking serious. He nods and says

"I'm glad you accepted this child, he brings you..." he pauses in thought then adds " peace,"

I smile and nod before leaving.

Ahyan Is a gift that the goddess gave us. He is calm and easy, and I'm glad we got to bond today.

Reaching the clearing, the guards who were patrolling leave the area.

"Ahyan, wanna meet someone?" I ask. He doesn't seem excited, just looking at me.

I take off my attire and within a second I shift into my wolf, Rexan is walking closer to the stroller and the baby's eyes are wide, he looks amazed. Instead of crying, he stretches out his little hand with excitement on his face. I try to mind link him, royals can do that with any supernatural around.

'Hi Ahyan, I'm Rexan,' The boy looks around in confusion. Could it be that he heard?

He squeals and jumps in his stroller. Ahyan is excited! His fingers are in my fur and carefully, I hold him by his shirt with my fangs and put him on the leveled grass.

Rexan nudges him with his snout and he throws his head back in laughter. He is between my legs while holding them for support.

'He can't walk?' Rexan asks me.

'He can but not for a long distances,' I notice he can stand and try to walk with support from items like chairs and tables.

We play in the clearing and it's pure Bliss.

I think Ahyan likes my wolf better than me. His giggles are all you can hear and it's music to my ears.

I notice it's getting darker and colder, so despite my wolf's protest, I shift back.

I Swiftly get into my clothes and wave at Ahyan, he recognizes me immediately and he stretches his arms to me, indicating the wants he carried. I do. He is smiling.

"Wanna go home, I'm sure mama is back," I whisper.

"Mama?"

No no no, he was supposed to say Dada first.

I smile and only nod." Mama!" He squeals happily. My Lucy will be pleased to hear this.

"Can you say dada?" I ask a long silence follows. I sigh and just hug him. I won't force it, when the time is right, he will say it. I want to put him back into the stroller when a voice stops me.

"Hi, Dada,"

I twist my neck and Lucy is approaching, I can smell alcohol all the way here. She is smiling and I go to meet her halfway, I give a long deep kiss while Ahyan won't be still in my arms, he's now fusing for me to realize him. We pull away and before I can properly give him to Lucy, he jumps to her.

"Oh, baby!" Lucy looks taken aback but smiles and kisses him so many times.

"Did you have fun with Dada?"

Ahyan looks at me and softly says.

"Dada,"

My wolf howls in happiness and I feel my heart pound against my chest.

"Yes, Dada," Lucy is pointing at me and emphasizing the word Dada.

I kiss Ahyan softly then Lucy. I hold her hand as we leave the clearing. I'll send someone to bring the stroller.

"Did you have fun with your colleagues?" I inquire.

"Too much, actually the director -" she suddenly stops talking. Worriedly, I ask if she's alright. She shakes her head negatively and gives me the baby.

'My prince, my body is in so much pain,' her breaths are ragged. For a while I'm shocked, she just mind linked me.

Jasper, come to the clearing...now, I holler through the mind link.

Lucy holds her head and screams before falling to the ground.

'Someone come get Ahyan,' I whisper while watching my mate thrash on the ground.

"Mama," an innocent voice rings in my ears. I lay Ahyan's head on my shoulder and I crouch down to touch Lucy, her body is hot. Very hot. 'Dad, Mom, I think Lucy is shifting,'