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.

everything I need to start fresh. I will not need to indebt myself to a

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

“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

“Where are you?”

over the deafening

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

exercises as I 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,

and imposing doorway with

with wolves I think it must be a fire hazard. Second, Aiden is not Bastien’s only drinking buddy. Arabella stands close

concealed fury simmering closer and closer to its boiling point.

seen Bastien like this before; if he drinks heavily enough his demons emerge to torment him. I’ve never known what happened

stay near an exit, I do not like the idea of not having a viable escape

are not watching the unfolding scene with avid interest, the bar patrons do me the courtesy

his eyes broadcasts his surprise once he does. My presence seems to sober him slightly, some of the manic energy he’d been

pulls up to his full, imposing height and prowls forward, sweeping his gaze across 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 doesn’t make

he reaches me, wrapping his large body around me

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

for a long moment, “You could have called, I

isn’t one for public scenes, and it occurs to me

responds instantly, “Of

time we get home Bastien is all but passed out. I circle around to the passenger seat and undo his seatbelt, shaking him gently. “Bastien. Wake up,

sound of my voice,

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

ignite in his eyes. “Is that

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,

of potatoes, navigating to his bedroom and tossing

Selene’s POV

up at Bastien with wide eyes, my heart racing in my chest, so loud I’m sure

and fear war for control of my body, swirling

and pinning my hands against the mattress on either side

before, I immediately let go when Bastien takes control going soft and supple as he extracts kiss after kiss from my lips. I open myself to him, giving my

desperation to make us one. I am

I want to brand his lips into my skin, I want to scorch the image of him, powerful and fierce above me, into

pain and pleasure until I’m gasping and moaning in his arms. I arch my back, straining toward his body in a feverish attempt to find relief for my sensitive

but it won’t be soon enough. Bastien knows my body better than his own, and he revels in taking me to the very limits

down with a frustrated whine, and Bastien all but purrs with satisfaction. “Greedy little wolf.” He chuckles, dragging my lips from mine. He

spot behind my

me. I can’t take it anymore. Please, Bastien,

deliriously with my own. Bastien finally settles between my legs, fusing every inch 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

pulling back only far enough to meet my eyes. Flames engulf Bastien’s intense gaze, and I’m at a loss to determine whether he is sad or angry. “We were

I freeze.

room. I push at Bastien’s shoulders 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

my insides like acid. I hate that I’ve cost him so 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 at me with such pain and regret I feel sure he didn’t mean to reveal that secret. Or perhaps he regrets caving to drunken lust when he’s finally free to be with his