Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 29 Arabella’s Offer

Selene’s POV

Ever since I got pregnant I’ve been sleeping through the night (and in fact, much of the day) without any problem; but tonight! wake closer to dawn than dusk, feeling nothing out of order beyond a heavy weight pressing down the mattress near my hip. I blink and rub my eyes, surprised to discover I can actually see Bastien through the pitch black night.

He’s sitting by my side, his elbows braced on his knees and his head in his hands. He’s stripped off everything but his boxers, every hard ridge and valley of his powerful form exposed to my view. I sit up slowly, unease fluttering in my belly.

“Bastien?” I reach for his shoulder, settling my hand firmly on his warm skin and beginning the tender caresses I already know he needs. “What’s wrong?”

His head turns my way, an oddly hollow look in his usually soulful eyes. “I’m glad you weren’t there tonight.” Bastien tells me roughly, “If this is what it’s going to be like, the more time we spend apart the better.”

I retract my hand abruptly, feeling as if he punched me in the gut rather than speaking. I pull my knees up to my chest, unsure whether I should stay or leave. Bastien doesn’t seem to notice I’m no longer touching him, though I’m not sure he realized I was touching him to begin with.

“I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.” He announces. “This isn’t

it wasn’t supposed to be this way.”

As ever, my eyes betray me, flooding with tears large enough that my husband can smell the salt. He reaches for my hand, his mouth twitches in a grimace, “I’m sorry I put you through this.”

“I’m sorry too.” I sniffle, feeling as if my lungs have collapsed in my chest. “More than you know.”

Bastien’s POV

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Arabella is standing in my doorway, her bleached blonde hair piled on top of her head in a complicated twist. At first I’m confused to see her in the Pack House so late, then my mind jumps to the worst.

“What’s wrong?” I jolt to my feet, “who’s hurt? What’s on fire?”

Arabella greets my cynical panic with a tinkling laugh, “Honestly Bastien, you should write greeting cards.” She teases. “Nothing’s wrong. I came to check on you.”

“Oh.” I breathe, slowly lowering back into my chair and glancing at the clock. “At midnight?”

She flashes her gleaming white teeth. “I was on my way home from the bar and saw your light on.” As quickly as she smiled, she switches to a pout. “You’ve had a really rough few weeks.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “It’s been rough without Dad. I’m sorry I haven’t checked in with you more. How are you doing?”

Arabella has been putting on a strong front since the murder, like she always does, but my father raised her from the time she was a child. I know how much pain she must be in. She shrugs, “I’m keeping my head up.”

“Bella, you know I’m here if you ever want to talk. Right?” We‘ve only connected a few times since the funeral. For the most part she’s kept her distance, but she’s always preferred to grieve alone. It was the same with Flynn. Even so, I have to wonder whether she has anyone to truly confide in.

“And you know that goes

don’t think you have enough time for that.”

“Try me,” Arabella offers.

it.” I grumble. “The pack hates me. Mom’s barely hanging on. The investigation is going nowhere. I was too selfish after Dad died to let Selene go and now I’ve subjected her to the pack’s derision and put her in danger from whoever is so determined to bring down the family.” The words pour out of my mouth in a rapid stream. “And I’ve probably undone all

is happening with the investigation?”

voice sounds strange to my own ears, too devoid of the emotion eating me alive on the inside. “The enforcers know how the murderer got in, they know a male wolf was responsible, but

up

the time

the initial

unbelievable.” Arabella complains with an odd note in her voice.

cases too long prevents them from investigating more recent crimes with stronger leads, and that

Arabella praises me

about the only person that thinks

think.” Her graceful hands land on my shoulders, massaging my tight muscles. “In fact, if you need help

bit too languid to be innocent. Before I met Selene, I always planned on making an offer or marriage to Arabella and she knew it. However after finding my mate I

were after Selene leaves. I shrug off her hands. I don’t want anyone

She’s really having a hard time. Bizarrely, things going so badly for me seem to have given her a little motivation to carry on-like me needing her has provided some of the purpose she lost.

course.” Arabella promises, “Like I said, whatever I can do.

you, sister.” I say pointedly, hammering

purrs

Selene’s POV

days, I wake in the

no idea what roused me from sleep. I scan the room and then check in with my

able to go back to sleep. Instead I slide out from the silky sheets

Not a sight or

be in his office working – that or he’s passed out over the keyboard. With a sleepy groan I shove my feet into a pair of slippers and

the festival, I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around him which isn’t a great way to feel in one’s own house. Granted I probably won’t be here much longer based on his

the second floor landing one of the sentries pokes his head around the corner,

whisper, conscious of Odette’s bedroom door standing only a few feet away.

arrived a little while

gradually finding the will to respond,

the stairs. I know I’m not going to find anything I want to see. If anything, I’m going to find only heartbreak. It’s not a surprise exactly, not after the jewelry store, but I never imagined they were carrying on the

Bastien’s study, the unmistakable sounds of voices audible within. Just before I enter the office corridor I hear the door click open. I halt immediately, peering around the corner just in time to see

already did, I was wrong. Seeing them so happy together, sneaking around even while the world seems to be crumbling around this family.. it’s