Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 43 Volana Child

Third POV

A decade of planning, three and a half years of hard work, and it might all be undone by a fucking tip line.

I’ve gotten lax, lazy and discouraged by my plans’ low yields. Somehow I missed the developments in the Calypso pack, the search for Volana wolves that could return Selene to Bastien’s orbit.

In some ways it was inevitable. Bastien was bound to visit Eros lands one day, but I always imagined i’d have time to prepare, time to obscure Selene’s presence in Asphodel and erase her scent. I would have been able to hide her, if I’d only had the time.

Granted, it’s not as if things were going off without a hitch before. In fact, Bastien has proved to be imminently more resilient than I predicted. Rather than crumpling under grief and the crushing pressure of leadership, he’s persevered, growing even stronger and sharper than before.

Maybe I should have killed Selene after all. If Bastien’s mate had truly died he would never have been able to recover, let alone make a comeback. Even so, I could not bring myself to destroy such an innocent life, no matter her relationship with my cousin.

She understands what it’s like to have everything stolen. She understands having to rebuild a life from scratch, and not having any power or control in your own fate. Not like Bastien and his father, not like the Betas and leaders of the Nova Pack who have never wanted for anything, who have known only power and privilege. They owe their entire lives to accidents of fate, lucking out by being born first or being born wealthy.

It’s not as if I was born without any advantages myself, or like I haven’t enjoyed any turns of good luck. The difference is that I have also lost. I paid costs no one should bear, despite deserving so much better. I may be at the top of my game, but I could have achieved so much more by now if I was leading the Novas; they are the most powerful pack on the continent, second only to the Calypsos. At their helm I could turn one pack into an empire.

One day soon I will see the fruits of my labor, when I finally destroy my cousin and take my rightful place as Elysium’s Alpha. But first I have to find a way to get Selene away from Bastien, and make sure he never learns about Lila. I need him weak and vulnerable, to take away his reasons to live- not give him more to hang onto.

I don’t understand the Calypsos’ hunt for Volana wolves, but I don’t particularly care about that – so long as Selene is far away from Bastien. She’s going to have to leave Eros territory, at least for a little while. I hate to see her start over yet again, but she’s done it twice already – what‘s one more time?

Bastien‘s POV

“How do we know you aren‘t saying all this to scare me into coming back to Elysium? Selene questions, her slender arms wrapped protectively around herself.

Axel is pulling at my limbs, it’s our job to soothe her, she shouldn’t have to comfort herself.

If we go near her now she’ll spook. I argue.

He refuses to listen. She has her wolf again. He purrs, sending out waves of affection to the animal lurking beneath the tiny brunette‘s skin. She can feel the bond.

Selene stiffens slightly, narrowing her eyes in my direction and shifting restlessly. Feeling it doesn‘t seem to be softening her up.

Cavanaugh has been lying to her, whispering all sorts of vile conspiracies in her ear. Axel asserts fiercely, we just have to explain.

It’s not just Cavanaugh. I admit ruefully, alive or dead, we still parted on very bad terms.

We have to fight.

Of course we‘re going to fight for her. I growl, cutting Axel off. We simply can’t do it the way we used to. She’s grown up: she’s stronger now, more sure of herself. I’m afraid the days of cuddling her into submission are gone.

“I wouldn’t lie about this.” I admonish the accusation with stern rebuke, “you know better than to think I’d ever frighten you for my own gain.”

“Hold on.” Drake steps forward with raised palms, “Slow down and back up. Why are the Calypsos after Volana wolves?

I return my attention to Selene, closely studying her countenance. “Does he know?”

My mate averts her gaze, shaking her head and biting her lip.

“Do you want to tell him? I prompt, stepping nearer.

I can feel her uncertainty as if it’s my own. After a long moment with no resolution, I decide,

you please explain what‘s going on here?” Drake

Denizen has bounty out for information on Volana wolves. He’s been

leap to Selene. “There’s been a bounty on you all

smugly, Not so close now,

put her over my

her?” Drake demands

a leash.” I summarize coldly. “When I discovered the bounty I set up a shadow system so that we could intercept anyone trying to turn in a Volana before Denizen‘s own search could spread

interrupts abruptly, finally registering my earlier words with an odd catch

reports we‘ve received have ever identified a true Volana.” I explain. “But yes, I kept

thank the Goddess you

his mouth to speak, but Selene is

explain that and much more if you‘d only give me the chance, little wolf.” I offer

which had surrounded her since we first reunited in the garden, Selene straightens up and glowers at me,

you‘re telling me that a member of my pack tried to report Selene to

defense, they probably don‘t know

find it hard to believe anyone calls that kind of line thinking good things are going to result.” Drake snarks, “Did

why we‘re here.” I begin, changing my mind halfway through the thought, *Or it was. Now that I know my wife is alive

Drake correct

this moment, she isn‘t the one I turn on. “Stay out of this. I bark at

He answers, moving around his desk to stand in front of me.

than the Eros wolf, I take great pleasure in towering over him, exuding undiluted menace, “Selene isn’t the one you should be

me.” Drake proclaims with bared fangs, “That

coming dangerously close to challenging me for my mate and ! guarantee that isn‘t

this. Donavon growls, fulfilling his inherent role as pack mediator. “Swinging your dicks around isn‘t helping

he won’t

don’t know that either-” Aiden starts, trailing off and surveying the Eros Alpha

almost imperceptibly, betraying the falsehood in his answer, “I meant

of an exhausted soldier. “Alpha,” He sighs, “We all forgot – in the excitement about Selene. the report wasn’t just about

of foreboding spreading through

to look at Selene, finding only an empty

She‘s gone.

Selene‘s POV

my marriage, but as soon as Bastien turned away from me, I understood. If there’s one sure fire way to distract an Alpha, it’s to provoke their possessive instincts regarding their mate, and

a bit afraid the Nova wolves might have beaten me home, but I’m counting on Drake to safeguard my location and force Bastien and his men to track me

by the door and kneeling to intercept the tiny bundle of love already rushing my legs. I scoop up my giggling daughter, my heart swelling with happiness despite the urgency of our situation I‘ll never get used to the rush of joy I feel every time I return home after

scent as I drop a few kisses to her

babysitter stands on cue, tidying up the kitchen table and smiling over at me. She was a doll. The elder woman reports, gathering

correct “I’ve decided to take the weekend

the miniature mirror–image in my arms. Lila really is my carbon copy, in all ways but one. She has my hair and eyes, my skin and bone structure, my voice but her expressions and mannerisms are all Bastien’s. I’m not sure how it happened, after all, aren‘t those

Bastien‘s smile. It strikes me today more than ever. I still can‘t believe he‘s here,

go back, she whines,

don’t know him well enough to miss him. I snipe internally, I do and I promise, you don‘t Liar I stride into the nursery, setting Lila down and beginning to throw clothes and toys into a bag while she tells me about her day in half–formed sentences and misshapen words. As much as I usually adore

have the first idea where to go. My immediate concern

offers unhelpfully.