Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 7 Bastien is Drunk

10 Days Until the Rejection Ceremony

Selene’s POV

The spinning blades of the ceiling fan whirl over my head, their swift revolutions mesmerize my senses, distracting me from all the unwelcome thoughts in my head.

Today is my three year anniversary, but instead of champagne and gifts, I lay alone in my bed while my husband is out doing Goddess knows what. I’ve been staring at the ceiling for the better part of an hour, and I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.

When I lost Luna, I thought I’d lost the ability to love. I imagined that nothing could ever come close to the pain of her death, that my heart was incapable of feeling any deep emotions without her.

I wasn’t entirely wrong; I do feel things less intensely than I did before. But if I’d known there was an emotion so powerful that it could destroy me even when I can’t feel it completely, I would never have married Bastien.

My husband is going to reject me in ten days, and I can’t even be angry with him. Bastien sacrificed three years of his life for me; he put off his own dreams, his own happiness, to care for me. He doesn’t owe me anything, and to ask him to stay married to me when he doesn’t want to would be incredibly selfish.

It’s Bastien’s turn to start a new chapter, and as painful as it is to contemplate, I have to let him. I owe him that and so much more; it’s not his fault he doesn’t love me.

I’m still lying there when my phone rings.

Bastien’s name flashes across the screen, and I pause a moment before answering. There’s no reason to broadcast my desperation. “Hello?”

I do not hear my husband’s voice on the other end of the line. Instead a woman’s high, tinkling laugh filters through the receiver. “Oh Bastien you’re too much!”

I don’t recognize the voice, “Hello?” I try again, the call sounds very muffled. A pocket-dial perhaps?

“Bella, would you behave for once?” I know that voice only too well.

“Only if you make me.” I can practically hear her eyelashes batting through the phone. Some of the static fades, her voice suddenly sounding very clear. “Mmm,” She moans, “You remember just how I like it.”

I stab my finger into the ‘end call’ button, cutting off the exchange before the nausea rising in my throat can overwhelm me.

Arabella Winters has returned to Elysium, and Bastien is spending our anniversary with her instead of me. The she wolf disappeared after my mating ceremony, traveling around to other packs in search of adventure or a new beginning. But whatever Arabella had been looking for, she clearly hadn’t found. Perhaps because she already knew where it was, but it was simply out of reach.

Well, it won’t be out of reach for much longer.

As disgusted as I am by the phone call, I know I don’t really have a right to be angry with Bastien. Our marriage has always been one of convenience, and I don’t want to get in the way of his happiness. I wish he would wait until we are officially separated, but he’s given me everything. The least I can do is return the favor.

I don’t want to be an anchor chaining Bastien to the past when he deserves to forge his own future, but that’s exactly what I will become if I tell him about the baby.

He can’t know, not ever.

After the rejection ceremony I’ll take some time to get my affairs in order, and then I’ll leave. I’ll take a page out of Arabella’s book and search for a new beginning with a new pack. In some ways it’s freeing. The last time I started over I didn’t get to choose my path. I love Bastien, but even the most successful arranged marriage will always be tainted by its forced beginning.

Besides, I have a lot to look forward to as well. After all, I will be taking a piece of Bastien with me. I will have my baby; someone who I can love unconditionally and who will love me in return.

I slide my palm to my belly, resting it over the most precious secret I’ve ever held. I imagine this is how my mother must have felt when my father died the similarities between our journeys do not escape me, but I’m determined not to continue on her path.

My mother was running for her life when she left the Calypso pack, she didn’t have any resources or plans, she was in such dire straits she could not turn down an offer for help, no matter from whom it came. That will not be my story.

will be taking everything I possess with me, everything I need to start fresh. I will not need to indebt myself to a man in order to survive,

phone rings again. This time it’s Aiden and I answer

“Aiden?”

followed by the Beta’s baritone. “Selene, I’m sorry to call you like this, but we have a bit of a situation: Bastien is plastered and apparently determined to give himself alcohol poisoning. We can’t get him to stop, and I don’t

“Where are you?”

Aiden shouts over the deafening background

know the bar, though I’ve never been inside. I’ve gotten used to being around people in controlled settings,

drive, focusing on keeping myself calm rather than pondering the undoubtedly unpleasant scene awaiting me. Some anniversary this is. It’s so late there’s not any traffic, so

and imposing doorway with great trepidation. Taking one final soothing

First, Bastien is not the only one on a bender. The bar is in borderline chaos, so packed with wolves I think it must be a fire hazard. Second, Aiden is not Bastien’s only drinking buddy. Arabella stands close by his side, her body language making the

simmering closer and closer

drinks heavily enough his demons emerge to torment him. I’ve never known what happened in his

the malay. I would prefer to stay near an exit,

through the crowd, appreciating how naturally it parts for me. Though no one bothers pretending they are not watching the unfolding scene with avid interest, the bar patrons do me the courtesy of staying in place even after I pass, leaving a wide path to the

vivid flash of emotion in his eyes broadcasts

the crowd as he closes the distance between us. If I didn’t know any better I’d think he’s scanning the room for threats, but that

sort of cage with his arms when he reaches me, wrapping his large body around me protectively. “What are you

have to admit I feel infinitely calmer than I did a second ago. I’m also deeply relieved to find he is not angry or put out by my arrival. “I came to take you

a long moment, “You could have called,

all. Bastien isn’t one for public scenes, and it occurs to me that he’s probably especially opposed to creating one in front of Arabella.

instantly, “Of

around to the passenger seat and

at the sound of

on, big bad wolf.” I tease, “Let’s get you

in his eyes. “Is that an

what I would give for one last night with him. Unfortunately I don’t think he’s in any state to make good on the offer. “I meant your bed.” I finally answer, “But I’ll tell you what: If you can get yourself up and into the house, I’ll invite you to do whatever you want with me, wherever you

into my stomach. He carts me into the house like a sack of potatoes, navigating to

Selene’s POV

at Bastien with wide eyes, my heart racing in my chest, so loud

excitement and fear war

mattress on either side of my head. He swallows my

kiss after kiss from my lips. I open myself to him, giving my body up for his conquest and letting him sweep me away from reality. I lose all sense of my surroundings, the

felt such desperation to make us one. I am painfully aware that this kiss will be our last, that we

as possible. I know the moment we stop, it will all be over for good. I want to brand his lips into my skin, I want to scorch the image of him, powerful

arms. I arch my back, straining toward his body in a feverish attempt to find relief for

me to the very limits of pleasure. He works me over until my body is no longer my own, until my very existence has been reduced to a throbbing, searing ache

with satisfaction. “Greedy little wolf.” He chuckles, dragging my lips from mine. He lays a

up to the soft spot behind my ear where he

he’s laving the tender flesh where my neck meets my shoulder, tasting me. I can’t take it anymore. Please, Bastien, I want

of his body to mine. I writhe beneath him with delicious friction and he loosens his commanding grip. freeing my wrists. I bury my hands in his hair, nipping at his lower lip

gaze, and I’m at a loss to determine whether he is sad

I freeze.

until he rolls off me. There it is, the truth I’ve always known but he’s never spoken. Arabella is Bastien’s mate, and I took him from her. He sacrificed his

much, that I’m responsible for that tortured expression on his face I sit up slowly and glancing at Bastien over my shoulder. He’s laying on his back, looking