Kieran's POV
I dressed Taylor in white shorts, a t-shirt, and black sneakers upon his insistence. For myself, I chose to go with gray. We had to wait for Daphne for at least twenty minutes, in which Taylor was running out of patience.
"What is taking her so long?" He whined again. This time, I too had to admit that I was getting impatient.
"Go get, Mummy, buddy." I encouraged with a naughty smile. My boy rushed eagerly and before long, he emerged, dragging Daphne with him. My breath held at the sight in front of me. Both were wearing white, and for a second I wondered if I had missed the memo. Daphne was clad in a short white strapless sundress that left her long legs and flawless shoulders exposed. It was my first time to see exposing much skin since I have known her. She is always in her baggy sweatpants or jeans, always pairing them with t-shirts. I must have gawked for long, for I suddenly felt the intense need to breathe. Bringing rapidly, I took a deep breath, averting my gaze.
"If you're done staring, can we go now?" Daphne mocked, sending me into my defensive mode. I gritted my teeth as if that would undo how much of a fool I had made myself appear.
"Daph looks beautiful, daddy." Taylor hammered it in innocently. He looked at me expectantly, and I couldn't disappoint him.
"Yes, she does." I croaked begrudgingly, looking at everything but her. From the corner of my eye, I saw her lips curl in a smirk, and I knew she had won this round.
"Let's go." She murmured, letting Taylor lead her outside happily. Seeing their intertwined fingers, I wished I were included in the equation, but didn't have the heart to embarrass myself again. I might ask and get rejected. So, I opted to follow them closely, admiring their enthusiasm. We had barely walked for five minutes when we bumped into my beta, Amal.
"Daph…" He exclaimed.
Surprisingly, he and Daphne seemed to be well acquainted if the use of what I assumed to be her pet name and the tight hug he gave her was anything to go by. He whispered something in her ear and she burst out laughing, and that irked me and my wolf. How dare he lay a hand on what's mine? Jealousy coursed through my veins and I couldn't control my anger. Not when another male was making my mate laugh, something I might never be able to do in this lifetime, seeing how much she hates me. A threatening growl tore off my throat, making Amal jump away from Daphne, confused. I don't blame him. It's not like I have told the pack who Daphne is to me. I am sure the Beta wouldn't have come that close to Daphne if he knew she was my mate and the Luna.
"Alpha," he dipped his head respectfully. I stalked towards them and grabbed Daphne, pulling her to my side. Amal's eyes widened. Realization dawned. "She is your mate?" I can't tell if it's my jealousy talking, but I swear I heard the palpable disappointment in his tone. My wolf didn't like, and I growled again. Did he perhaps fancy her? The thought alone was enough for me to claim my mate in front of him. Much to Daphne's anger, I tightened my hold on her.
"This is my mate, your Luna." Daphne and Amal discerned the obvious menace in my tone.
"I am sorry," he took a step back. No one in their right mind would dare be touchy with Alpha's unmarked mate. Which means Daphne hadn't bothered telling him who she is to me. But then again, can I blame her? I remember vividly threatening her the first day we met, which no one should know. Then why am I feeling so hurt? And how many more men she has made friends with, withholding the simple fact that she is my mate?
"Amal," Daphne attempted to get off my hold toward Amal but my deathly grip tightened on her waist. My wolf hated how another man's name was rolling so effortlessly on our mate's lips. 'Let me rip his head off.' My wolf begged. As much as the idea thrilled me to no end, this was still my Beta and the pack needed him for stability. Plus, the guy had been completely clueless about Daphne. Knowing what was best for him, Amal sped away without sparing my mate another glance.
"What the hell!" Daphne turned to me furious. Fuck! She is one hot woman when she is mad. I was itching to slam my lips against hers, but Taylor, who had been surprisingly silent throughout the exchange, was looking at us confused. "What gives you the right to act like you own me or something?"
"Technically, you are mine," I growled, loosening my hold on her.
"I am not yours." She argued passionately, and it just riled my wolf up. "Have you forgotten of a small detail like, rejected?" She air quoted the word, for emphasis I guesss, raising her brows, taunting. I was barely controlling my anger. Daphne makes me so angry sometimes that I consider snapping her perfect neck.
"Please don't fight." Taylor whimpered. Daphne quickly knelt in front of him, cupping his face in her slender palm.
"We are not fighting, babe." She lied smoothly. "Sometimes dumb adults need to be put in their place." She spat the last part venomously. I scoffed.
"Like, daddy?" Taylor giggled, making me wonder what was funny.
"Exactly, like, daddy." Daphne concurred with a self-satisfied smile. My anger seemed to subside the second she referred to me as daddy innocently. 'Do I have a daddy kink?' I couldn't help but wonder. It was the second time my cock jerked awake, hearing her say that name.
"But daddy is an Alpha," Taylor wondered. "Alphas are the smartest of them all." He added confidently. "Grandma said so."
"Listen to me, babe." Daphne smiled sweetly, but I wasn't fooled. I knew she was putting on a happy front for the sake of Taylor. "Even the smartest of all can be dumb every so often. "
"Don't be dumb, daddy." Taylor faced me seriously. "Daph doesn't like dumb wolves." The last part sent Daphne and me into chuckles.
"I know that now, buddy." I ruffled my son's hair and we resumed our walk. But instead of trailing behind them, this time I was holding Taylor's hand on one side while Daphne did on the other. We looked like a happy family. My boy couldn't hide his smile. There was no doubt he was happy spending time with Daphne and me together. I had a feeling he was trying to push us closer.
"Is that dried fish?" My mate squealed as we entered the market. She didn't even realize all eyes were on us as she hurried towards the vendor, forcing Taylor and me to keep up. "How much, sir?" She asked eagerly. Per bunch was five coins, and she excitedly asked for two. I bet for her and Taylor. Once again, she ignored me like I didn't exist. It wasn't until she took the first bite that she realized she hadn't carried money. I saw the exact moment she froze and turned to me awkwardly. I bet she wished she hadn't taken a bite yet, for she would have returned despite the craving. Though I guessed what she wanted from her somewhat pleading gaze, I refused to yield until she voiced it. A staring contest commenced. Funny thing is, she didn't need to pay because she was considered Alpha's guest. A fact I am not willing to share. Not yet anyway.