Rebirth of the Alpha's Slave Mate (Samantha and Kade) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Alistair’s face puckered. “Well, she’s still the child of a slave-hardly fit to be an heir to Crescent Hollow. Perhaps the grandparents can take her in, if Kade refuses to take her to the wilds.”

Margaret’s eyes lit up. “Yes, I-”

“Absolutely not,” Jack cut her off. “We have no room for a baby, and Margaret and I have already done our part in raising two girls. We’re at retirement age, not fit to care for a little one.”

Margaret’s shoulders slumped at that, and she fell silent. Kade glanced at her, noticing the way she hung her head. She didn’t protest her husband’s decision, even though it was her own grandchild that they were discussing.

“Besides,” Jack went on, “the baby is illegitimate. I’d say that taking her to the wilds is probably for the best, especially given the recent attack.”

Margaret made a little sound of distress, but Jack wouldn’t hear of it any more.

Over the following day, the Beta family continued to push for Kade to make a decision. Apparently, Alistair’s cough worsened slightly overnight, which contributed to their worry. Debbie also had one of her longest episodes to date.

“You must make a decision!” Priscilla pleaded over the distant sounds of Debbie’s screams coming from upstairs. “Take the child to the wilds-it will be merciful for us all, including the baby!”

Kade’s jaw clenched. He looked around the room at his advisors, then at the door, where Debbie’s distant screams and breaking glass were echoing through the corridor outside.

He had never been the superstitious type. But with everything going on, and no one to care for the child, he was at the end of his rope.

“Fine. We’ll hold a vote,” he said. “Everyone in favor of taking the girl to the wilds, raise your hand.”

Alistair and Priscilla’s hands shot up immediately. Ajax hesitated under Kade’s stern gaze, but he slowly raised his hand as well. Kade’s Delta, Arnold, thought for a moment before voting in favor of the decision.

Jack voted in favor a second later, followed by Margaret reluctantly raising her hand. Only Serena left her hand down.

“Well, it seems we’ve been outnumbered.” Kade pushed his chair back and stood. “Let me be the one to do it, at least.”

Without a word, Kade stormed out of the study and upstairs, past the chaotic cacophony that was Debbie’s room and further down the hall to the nursery that had been set up for the child since Samantha’s death.

Kade hadn’t set foot in here since Samantha had died. He… couldn’t.

He didn’t want to admit it, but looking at the child that looked half like him and half like Samantha made his chest ache in a way he wasn’t ready for. There were many nights that he stood outside this door, willing himself to go in, but he walked away every time.

Now, to think that he was entering with the intention of taking the girl to the forest… It filled him with a dread so great that it made it hard to breathe.

Slowly, too slowly, Kade walked up to the crib where the little form was wriggling within. She was crying, squirming in her swaddle, one fist having freed itself. Her face was scrunched up like a raisin and her cries were shrill.

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Chapter 44

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