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. “I promise

“From what?” She hisses, sounding entirely unlike my mate.” thought I was the kidnapper. Why do I have to

control. I need to

a weary sigh, I close the distance to my wife and drop my lips to her ear. “Don’t make this harder than it has

this anything!”

this or enforcer custody, sweetheart.” The endearment rings false in

no intention of allowing the enforcers anywhere near 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 is safe and the immediate threat neutralized.

take back the words. “So it

what you call it,” I said. “As long

Selene’s POV

I’m hiding her? My hands gesticulate wildly as I pace in front of Odette “Do they imagine I’m such a

Darling.” Odette soothes, more alert than I’ve seen her in a long time. Providing comfort seems to have sidelined her sorrow, if only for a while. “Enforcers aren’t trained to

can’t believe Bastien is going along with it. Doesn’t

he’s just afraid for Bella.” She asserts. “He’s always had a blind spot when it

doing with her? There’s no ransom and no body and I’ve been here basically 24/7 since before she was

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

it

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

to jump up and down in

moments.” A sly smile stretches across her face. “What do you say, we

to get out of this room since the first moment Bastien threw me into it.

unseen pressure point in the plaster. “One benefit of being Alphas,” she shares smugly, we get

loudly, and a hidden doorway slides open before us. Sweet relief fills me, accompanied by

Now we know you aren’t in any danger – they can’t blame you

catch her arm as she lifts her

worry about me sweetling.” She pats my cheek and flashes her fangs,

over a mossy boulder beyond the treeline of the cabin’s

rise to the surface in the forest, and being near them when it happens makes me ache

a spark of fire in my empty heart. I don’t even feel nauseous here.