CHASED BY MY REJECTED MATE

CHAPTER ELEVEN

TYLER

When I heard him ask that, his small voice cut through me like a blade.

Of course, he didn’t know me.

I had never been there. Never tucked him in. Never brought him his favorite snacks. Never stood at the school gate with a proud smile.

I was just a stranger to him. A stranger with the same eyes and a stranger who caused all this.

And now, all I could do was look at him and hope that someday, somehow, he’d forgive me.

Kat apologized to the teacher quickly, and the woman gave her a small smile.

“You can take Rex home for the day,” the teacher said kindly. “Let him rest. He can return to school tomorrow.”

Kat nodded, thanked her again, and the teacher went back into the building.

I stood there in silence, waiting.

I wanted Kat to say something. I needed her to. Even though my heart ached to kneel down and tell Rex the truth myself. That I was his father.

I knew that even if at all she had it in mind to do that before, she wouldn’t just say it anymore. I wasn’t even going to advise her to do it.

If at all she wanted to, I had it in mind to stop her. She wasn’t supposed to say it.

Not like this. Not when he had just been crying and was clearly shaken from the fight.

If she had kept it from him all these years, she wouldn’t suddenly blurt it out now. I knew Kat was more sensible than to do that at a moment like this.

Kat bent down beside Rex again and gently wiped away the tear stains on his cheeks. “Rex,” she said softly, “This is Alpha Tyler. He’s the Alpha of the Dreadwood Pack. He’s also a friend of Julian and me.”

Rex blinked up at me with wide, amazed eyes. He rubbed his little fists against his face again, and I watched as a small smile slowly replaced his frown.

“No way!” he gasped. “He’s the Alpha of Dreadwood Pack? The one my classmates say they wanna be like when they grow up?”

Kat smiled and nodded.

Rex turned fully to me now, his little face lit with wonder. “I’ve always wanted to see you someday,” he said, voice full of excitement. “All my classmates talk about you! They even have your pictures on their lunch boxes and lockers!”

I was stunned for a second. But it felt good to get that kind of reaction from him.

He admired me. My son who didn’t even know I was his father looked up to me already.

And here I was, just standing there, full of regret for missing everything. His first steps. His first words. The first time he ran into his mother’s arms calling out her name.

“Wow,” I said, crouching slowly to his level, ignoring the pain in my chest. “That means a lot to me, Rex. I’m happy to meet you. And I hope we can be friends.”

He nodded excitedly. “Yes! I’d love to!”

That joy on his face made my heart swell and sink at the same time. He was such a bright little boy. He reminded me so much of myself when I was little.

Suddenly, Rex turned to his mother. “But, Mom,” he said with a confused look, “If you’re friends with the Alpha of Dreadwood pack which is the wealthiest of all packs. Then why can’t we eat three times a day?”

My breath caught. Kat couldn’t afford to feed my son and herself? And she had a wealthy fianceè?

My heart felt like it was being squeezed. It was guilt. I felt bad that I stayed in my pack lacking nothing while my mate and our son suffered.

I was right to not want to give up on her. I was the only one who could take care of her. Julian couldn’t, or else he should have known about Kat’s feeding difficulty.

This made me more determined to win her back. To win her love and that my son back so that we could all go back home as one family.

Kat’s face turned red so fast I thought she was going to vanish. “Rex!” she scolded quickly, glaring at him with wide eyes. “You shouldn’t say that!”

“But it’s true,” Rex pouted. “You always say we need to manage and save—”

“Rex,” she warned again in a quiet but firm voice.

Julian and I looked at each other, and we both asked at the same time, “You can’t afford three square meals?”

When he looked at me I could see that he was embarrassed and knew that I would think he couldn't take care of my Son if he married Kat.

Kat’s face darkened. She glared at the two of us like we’d just said the worst thing in the world but that didn't hide the fact she was very embarrassed.

“That’s not a conversation to have in front of a child,” she snapped quietly but seriously. “Mind yourselves.”

She stood up quickly and picked up Rex, balancing him on her hip like she’d done it a million times before.

She started walking toward Julian’s car, clearly wanting to get away from the topic. But I noticed the way Rex kept looking back at me with those curious eyes.

And then it happened.

Just as I got to my car to follow behind them, I heard his little voice call out again.

“Wait!”

I looked back quickly.

Rex was squirming in his mother’s arms. “I want Alpha Tyler to take me home!” he said, pointing at me. “Please? I’ve always wanted a ride in a real sports car! Please, Mom?”

Kat stopped walking.

Then I watched her closely. Her shoulders were stiff, and I knew she was thinking hard about what to say.

However, I slowly walked a few steps closer to them, keeping my voice calm and quiet. “Kat… would you allow me to take Rex home?”