CHASED BY MY REJECTED MATE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

TYLER

I watched Rex closely as he sat quietly in the backseat. His tiny hands were folded on his lap, and his little eyes kept sneaking glances at me through the rearview mirror.

He looked like he wanted to say what he wanted to tell me but kept changing his mind. His mouth would open a little, and then he’d press his lips shut again.

I could feel it. He was struggling with something inside. This made me wonder what on earth he wanted to tell me.

I smiled gently and turned a bit in my seat to face him. My curiosity was beginning to make me impatient.

“Hey, kiddo,” I said in a soft voice, not wanting to scare him or push him too hard. “You can tell me anything, alright? I promise, whatever it is… it’ll be our little secret.”

His eyes lifted to mine, still filled with uncertainty, but after a few seconds, he nodded slowly. “Okay…”

I held my breath, waiting patiently.

“But I only met you today,” he began in that tiny voice kids have. “I don’t think it’s right for me to tell you this.”

My heart squeezed. “What do you mean, Rex?”

He tilted his head, looking at me seriously. “Are you really my mommy’s friend?”

I smiled. “Yes. I am. Of course.”

He seemed to accept that answer and gave a small nod again, then said something that made me sad and happy at the same time.

“I really want a Daddy…” he whispered. “But… I don’t want Julian to be my Daddy.”

“What? Why did something happen? You can talk to me.” I asked him, trying to hide the hope building in my chest.

What he said made me sure that I had a chance to win him over. Since he didn't want Julian to be his Daddy, if I cared for him like I should, maybe he would want me.

Moreover, I was going to stick around a little longer. I came to this pack strictly on business with Julian but since I got to see Kat and Rex, I was going to try my best so that I would take them back with me.

Rex wanted to answer me, but before he could answer, we had arrived at Kat’s place.

That was when my eyes drifted to the neighborhood, and immediately, my heart sank.

I wasn’t paying much attention to my surroundings before because I was focused on hearing Rex. My eyes were only trained on Julian’s car as I drove behind him.

But looking at the buildings in the neighborhood, they were old. The streets were cracked, and the fences looked like they’d been patched too many times.

The walls had peeling paint, and the yard outside looked barely kept. It was clear this wasn’t a safe place for a woman and a child to live. Not even close.

Buy Kat lived here?

My chest tightened with guilt. I caused all this. I subjected Kat to this and I didn't blame her if she didn't want to forgive me.

Where else was I expecting her to? Back to her family that treated her badly? What was I thinking? I shouldn't have told her to leave.

I should have just left the house until I calmed down and then gone back home and talked things over with her. It was all my fault.

For the past four years, I had been living in comfort. I had a massive house, luxury, guards, everything. And yet… the woman I once called my mate… the woman carrying my child… my own son had been surviving in this kind of place?

How could this happen?

And then, another thought hit me even harder. If Kat was really engaged to Julian and if they were planning a wedding soon, why was she living here?

Julian wasn’t poor. He wasn’t as rich as me, but he came from a well-off family. If he truly cared, why wasn’t he taking care of them? Why wasn’t he providing a better life for them?

Something didn’t sit right with me.

Was Kat really engaged to him? Or was she just pretending?

Why didn’t Julian, who was Kat’s so-called fiance, get a better apartment for Kat and Rex? Why didn't he know that they barely had three square meals?

Or did he know and pretend not to?

So many questions raced through my mind that I almost didn’t notice Kat opening the door of my car.

She came around to Rex’s side of the car and gently unbuckled him. “Come on, baby,” she said as she lifted him out of the seat.

I watched as Rex clung to her, and Julian came over to stand beside them. I despised the guy.

What did Kat even see in him? He wasn’t as handsome as I was.

I reached for my seatbelt, ready to follow them out. I couldn’t leave now, not without knowing the truth, not without seeing where my son lived, not without understanding what had happened in these four years.

But just as I was about to open my door, Kat came back, alone, and slipped into the passenger seat beside me. She closed the door, her face calm but unreadable.

I glanced around. “Where’s Rex?” I asked, confused.

“He’s with Julian,” she said quietly, her hands resting on her lap.

I looked at her, my brows furrowed. “Is this really where you live, Kat?” I asked, my voice low. “Or did you just bring me here because… you don’t want me to know where you stay?”

Her eyes slowly lifted to mine, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. I couldn't even tell how she was feeling or guess what she was thinking because her face was unreadable.

Then she did something I didn’t expect.

She leaned forward… and kissed me.