Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 32 House Arrest

Bastien’s POV

“Enough” i cut through the rising voices: Selene swearing her innocence, the enforcers combatively contending that the evidence is against her, Aiden calling for calm. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. Our priority is finding Arabella.”

No one quells more than Selene under the force of my tone, and I wish I could comfort her. My anger is for the enforcers, not her.

“Our best trackers are on the trail, Alpha.” A resigned Danvers promises, “I’ve already received word that the men you sent rendezvoused with the team.”

“They’ve followed Bella’s scent to New Town.” Aiden confirms. Then, using our mental link he adds, If it were me, and I wanted to frame Selene, I would take Arabella to Garrick’s house.

He’s right. It’s the only property Selene owns independently, and the last place either of us would ever go. Let’s go.

Aiden marches out on my order, no doubt pulling the car around while I wrangle the enforcers back out of the room. “We have a lead.” I announce. “I want everyone ready to move out in five minutes.”

Danvers brow furrows, “What lead?”

T’ll explain on the way.” I deflect, calling mother and the sentries back into the secure room.

“You’re leaving?” Selene’s small voice surprises me. “Now?”

“Yes.” I answer simply.

“What if it’s a trap?” Selene halts me for the second time. “You should let the enforcers go and make sure it’s safe first.”

I don’t even consider the suggestion. I’ve never run from a fight before, I don’t intend to start now, I need to be there for Arabella.”

*Please don’t go, Bastien.” Selene whispers, her cerulean and violet eyes shining.

“I have to.” Once the guards are positioned at the door once more, I command, “Don’t let anyone in until I’m back.”

“Wait.” Tiny feet charge after me, near silent on the persian rug. “You’re locking us in here again?”

written clearly across my wife’s face.

by outrage. “From what?” She hisses, sounding entirely unlike my mate.” thought

to put out this fire, not when another blazes out of control. I need to ensure my mate is safe, and the enforcers want to keep her

close the distance to my wife and drop my lips to her ear. “Don’t

not making this

endearment rings false in

Selene, no matter what other false evidence they find, but I can’t reveal this – not yet. It will be seen as corruption, and I need the investigators on my side until Arabella

wish I could take back the words. “So it isn’t lock down.” She summarizes. “It’s

you call it,” I said. “As long as you

Selene’s POV

“Where the hell do they think I’m hiding her? My hands gesticulate wildly as I pace in front of Odette “Do they imagine I’m

in a long time. Providing comfort seems to have sidelined her sorrow, if only for a while. “Enforcers aren’t trained to question

I grumble, “But I can’t believe Bastien is going along with it.

think he’s just afraid for Bella.” She asserts. “He’s always had

though,” I harp on, unable to let the issue go. “Let’s assume I wanted to kidnap Arabella and actually found a way to accomplish it. Where could I possibly put her? What am I supposed to be doing with her? There’s no ransom and no body and I’ve been here basically 24/7 since before she was taken, so it’s not like I can be off torturing

sitting up with a look of dawning light on her face. “The only things

it so gently.”

ignores my sarcasm, pulling me into the bathroom and out of the guard’s hearing. “The cabin.” She murmurs, “The pack house isn’t technically your property because it transfers to any Alpha, but the cabin is in Bastien’s and your name. It’s the only place they could tie directly to you, and no one has been

fight the urge to jump up and down in

sly smile stretches across her face. “What

than to get out of this room since the first moment Bastien threw me into it. “How?*

searching for some unseen pressure point in the plaster. “One benefit of being Alphas,”

slides open before us. Sweet relief fills me, accompanied by only a fraction of frustration. “Why didn’t you show me

“That was before. Now we know you aren’t in any danger – they can’t blame you for the kidnapping and attack you at the

as she lifts her foot

me sweetling.” She pats my cheek and flashes her fangs, “Gabriel

lights are off.” I frown, peeking over a mossy boulder beyond the treeline of the

seem to rise to the surface in the forest, and being

can almost imagine I feel a stirring in my own blood, a spark of fire in my empty heart. I don’t even feel nauseous here. For the first time since I found out about the baby, not even a sliver of discomfort