The Alpha’s Little Rogue

Chapter 134

Raphael's POV I'm sitting at the dining table and shoving food that tastes like cardboard into my mouth.

I feel numb.

The look in Daphne's eyes when she saw me keeps playing at the back of my head like a broken record. She didn't feel the mate bond. She didn't feel a connection with me.

Giving up on dinner, I stand up with my plate and head into the kitchen where I proceed to dump the dish into the sink.

Next, I head out the door and into the woods where Caden and Alex are already waiting for me.

They stop whatever it is they're arguing about when they see me heading their way and I don't pester them to tell me what their conversation was about. A new achievement for me.

"Can we start now?" I ask, walking ahead of them to the borders to get on with our routine patrolling. The sooner we're done with it, the sooner I can head back to my room and sleep of this terrible day. Caden and Alex follow me wordlessly.

"I'm taking North," I inform and start heading in that direction when a hand closes around mine. It's Caden's.

I turn towards him with an arched brow.

"Are you ok?" He asks. "Something seems off about you."

"I'm fine," I reply through clenched teeth, annoyed at him for no apparent reason. "I'm tired because of the training. I just want to be done with patrol so I get to head back to the pack house." I drag my hand out of his hold. "Thanks again for doing that. Alessia really appreciates it." He smiles at the mention of his mate and his eyes twinkle like they always do when she appears in a conversation.

doing?" I may be in a salty mood but I still

month from now,' he replies,

really am. I just wish that I also had a bit

of what name to give the baby?" Alex asks, finally joining in on our

still

I

push. "No offense

cracks on my lips as we continue our banter. The sour mood I was in a while ago lifts with the

a side glance. "Are you sure that nothing is on your mind?"

They mean well

nod. "I'm sure."

the thing about having Alex and Caden as my closest friends. They may not know the details of what exactly is plaguing my mind but they will

trying to

get this over with. I don't like leaving Alessia all by

fear that something is going

roll. "Nothing is going to happen. Besides, she'll be able to

Alessia as a fragile little pup. She's an Alpha for goodness sake. "Also, you'll be the first person that she'll mind link

look half satisfied with my words as he walks ahead of us

exactly that way when Scarlett was pregnant with our pup. I didn't want her out of my sight for even a second." He

always found their endless pining and longing borderline annoying and amusing at best. Now, I feel... envious? My chest squeezes as I register the emotion I'm currently battling with; a huge green