Pursuing My Rejected Alpha

“Mmmm... So good...”

“Lulu, you are so good with this...”

“Oooohh...”

Ronan’s muffled sound was heard coming incessantly from the pillow while his mate kneaded his neck, shoulder, back, and waist expertly. The pressure that he applied was not too much and also not too less. It was just right.

Through Lucien’s hands, the knots in Ronan’s body loosened immediately.

At the same time, he began to feel drowsy.

Against his wish, his eyes started to flutter shut.

He was so, so, so tired.

.....

The Alpha soon drifted into the dream world. In his dream, he was swimming in a sea of oranges, bobbing up and down together with the fruits. Above him, the sky was the most beautiful color of blue. The air was permeated with a lavender smell.

The waves brought him and the many oranges to a remote island where Lucien was waiting for him.

Dressed in a simple white shirt and short pants, his mate looked as beautiful as always.

“Ronan,” he whispered while smiling and extending his hand toward him.

Ronan rose to his feet and closed the distance between them in long strides.

Unfortunately, before he could take Lucien’s hand, he woke up with a start.

Ronan blinked at the white ceiling. The sound of ocean breeze could be heard coming from outside.

Ah, yes. He was on the cruise ship, and he had to sleep alone for the entire week.

The Alpha let out a groan, then he rolled into a ball inside his blanket, intent to go back to sleep so that he could take Lucien’s hand and kiss the man until he melted in his arms.

Alas, the dream was already over.

Ronan pushed himself up to a sitting position and inhaled a lungful of fresh air.

His body smelled like lavender thanks to Lucien’s massage, but there was another scent that stuck to him and lingered in his bed. It was Lucien’s.

And it was not a dream. Lucien slept in his arms for the whole night. He only left not long ago, probably to sneak back into the master bedroom.

The dark-haired man snickered in delight. His dearest Luna was still too soft-hearted after all. He could not bear to leave Ronan alone. He loved him too much.

In an excellent mood, the Alpha took a quick shower before heading out of the bedroom. The other three people already started eating breakfast by the balcony.

A huge charcuterie board occupied the center of the table, next to a basket of fresh and warm bread of various kinds. It was filled with cured meats, several kinds of cheese, boiled eggs, fresh strawberries and grapes, avocado slices, donuts, pancakes, waffles, and a few jars of condiments.

The butler stood next to a trolley with milk, coffee, and a selection of tea and fruit juices. When Ronan arrived, he was just passing Lucien a glass of apple juice.

“Good morning, Mr. Silverback. What do you wish to have? Coffee? Tea?” the butler asked.

“Coffee, please. Black, no sugar.”

“Good morning, Ronan,” Lucien greeted his mate with a smile.

He patted the empty spot next to him. “Come and have some breakfast.”

As a response, Ronan pulled Lucien to his feet and gave him a huge smooch on the lips.

“Good morning, baby.”

“Hmmm...”

At the table, Annalynne made a gagging gesture.

Lowell gave Ronan empty stares. When the latter looked at him, he quickly averted his eyes.

Ronan grinned.

So Lowell had not told Annalynne anything? Well, he sure was taking his sweet time.

Ronan grabbed an Emmentaler cheese cube from the charcuterie board in front of Lowell, startling the poor man.

“Time passes quickly,” he reminded the man subtly while popping the cheese cube into his mouth.

“Y-yes,” Lowell agreed. He then proceeded to make himself and Annalynne a sandwich.

“Esteemed lady and gentlemen, the ship is due to arrive at Florentine soon. The town is famous for its fruit orchard in the southern area, and also for the boulangerie and confectionery along the Trianon River.

Are you interested to take a walk for a few hours?”

“Sure,” Ronan said while flashing his mate a bright smile. “They have a great number of cake selections in the town. Let’s go and take a look.”

Being a fan of fancy cakes and sweets in general, this was an invitation that Lucien could hardly say no to. He happily nodded in assent.

Lowell cleared his throat and turned to Annalynne, “Anna, I don’t feel too well. Can we please just stay aboard and talk?”

Annalynne blinked at her boyfriend dumbfoundedly. It’s not like they went on cruises every year. Why would he waste the opportunity by staying behind on the cruise ship?

A knowing smile laced Ronan’s lips.

“Let the butler bring you some medication. There is plenty of time to visit the town. We will go ahead first, you two can come later.”

“Yes, thank you, Alpha Ronan,” Lowell said in a hurry.

And so after breakfast, the two couples parted ways.

Ronan was more than ecstatic to have Lucien for himself again. As soon as they left the ship, he draped his arm around his mate and took him to a famous bakery in town.

“The pies and pastries here are world-class,” he spoke as if he himself was a big fan.

Fortunately, he was not wrong.

Lucien sucked in a deep breath when he put a spoonful of rhubarb and blackcurrant pie into his mouth.

“Wow, it is good,” he mumbled. “No, correction, it is heavenly.”

Ronan grinned at Lucien. He only took the edges and leave the sweetest parts for his mate.

“Like it?”

“Love it.”

“Which one do you love more, the cake or me?”

“Hm, I need to think about it. Why don’t you kiss me so I know which one of you tastes sweeter?”

Ronan laughed. He leaned forward and captured his mate’s lips in a sweet kiss.

They broke their kiss when they heard someone’s voice nearby.

“Alpha Ronan?”

The one who spoke was a tall and beautiful blond woman who stood by a cake counter. Next to her was a boy with dark brown hair. He lit up as soon as he saw Ronan.

“Papa!!!” he shouted while running into Ronan’s arms.