Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 38 Marriage Proposal

Odette’s POV

“I swear to the Goddess.” Donavon crumples the magazine in his hand, lobbing it at the wall, “Where do they get this shit?”

The shiny pages slacken as it falls, brightly colored tabloid headlines peeking out of the wrinkled ball of paper, “Alpha’s secret love child.”

Unfortunately I have an idea where these rumors are coming from. I’ve seen the way Arabella looks at my son, and I can’t stop hearing Selene’s last words to me: She really hates me. She’s attempted worse. Half an hour later my daughter-in law was dead, then Arabella was miraculously found unharmed a few days later – with an iron-clad alibi for her whereabouts at the time of the fire.

Even so, those are not the kinds of accusations one makes without evidence, and a few words from Selene in the height of a very stressful moment isn’t reliable intelligence. I could have completely misinterpreted her meaning. “Does Bastien know?” i query. gesturing to the tabloid.

“He hasn’t left his rooms since the fire.” Donavon reminds me, shaking his head. And he’s not speaking to anyone.”

I understand better than anyone. The only reason I can get myself out of bed in the morning is because Bastien needs me so badly. I’ve been letting him mourn while I run the pack, not that anyone knows what’s happening behind the scenes. However the situation in Elysium is deteriorating without his leadership, and the rumor mill is out of control.

What’s more, I’m deeply afraid that Bastien cannot go on like this much longer. Young as he is, losing a mate can kill a wolf of any age, and as much as I want to give him time to heal, I can’t risk letting him grieve himself to death.

“That’s not all, ma’am.” Donavon says, pulling my attention from the magazine. “We also received a letter from the Elder Council. They want Bastien to increase the frequency of his security reports.”

“They’ve been weekly since Gabriel’s murder.” I scoff, “What do they want, a daily update?”

The Beta purses his lips and raises his eyebrows, confirming my guess.

“That’s ridiculous.” I snap, “They’ve never had that kind of oversight before.”

*Clearly they want to use Selene’s death to bolster their own power.” Donavon complains, “frankly I’d like to tell them where they can shove their reports.”

to Bastien.” I resolve, “he’s got to come back to work, we cannot cave to this sort

large man grimaces, “be careful,

my old friend an imperious glare, “I’m his mother, he can huff and puff all

gently. “He’s an

notch my chin up. “He’s not the only alpha who’s lost his mate, Donavon. And

instinct is to douse the entire space in bleach, starting with my son. The air is perfumed with an unsavory blend of

on my way through the space, but I maintain my focus and head straight for the giant unwashed wolf in the center of the living

jaw covered with weeks’ worth of stubble. An empty bottle of whiskey dangles from his limp hand, and the table in front of him

dig into my skin, and my attention leaps to his face. His eyes are wild, staring at me

jogs a bit of recognition into his hard features, and

one and only.”

his eyes,

can see that.” I remark tartly. “You, my son, need

little and wanted to escape a bath, I have to bite

I put my foot down. “You

apartment, trying not to judge the mess. I know all too well

and smelling of soap, the space almost looks inhabitable again. He sits down at his kitchen island, watching me work with a far odd look in his

out the sponge in his direction. “Of course, it would be better

complaint, replacing my spot over the sink and beginning to scrub dishes while I find a drying cloth. “I know it feels pointless, and silly and tedious, but you just have to force yourself to go through the motions for

more than 30 years. I lost a mate who I never even got to claim. We never had any happy years, we didn’t get to build a life together.” He drops the spunge and closes his fists around the edge of the counter, “ failed her, I wasn’t there when she

Bastien.” I argue

I take a step back, putting some distance between us. “That is the last thing she did before she died. I accused her of kidnapping, put her under house arrest and forced her to run into a situation that killed her.” Bastien thunders, “Still she called me for help! But I didn’t pick up, I failed her one too

restraint do I stop myself from reaching for him. “Darling, why