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.

uncertainty as if it’s my own. After a long moment with no resolution, I decide, “If you’re this unsure, the answer is no.

one of you please explain

to know is that Blaise Denizen has bounty out for information on Volana wolves. He’s been looking for one for years and if he finds Selene, he

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

Not so close now, are you

telling me such a blatant lie, i’d threaten to put her over my knee, but somehow I don’t mind her disrespecting

kill her?” Drake demands of

coldly. “When I discovered the bounty I set up a shadow system so that we could intercept anyone trying to turn in a

finally registering my earlier

none of the reports we‘ve received have ever identified a true Volana.” I explain. “But yes, I kept it going just in

Goddess you did.

but Selene is still

only give me the chance, little

surrounded her since we first reunited in the garden,

member of my pack tried to report Selene to a homicidal maniac in exchange for money?

don‘t know Denizen is homicidal.” I

kind of line thinking good things are going to result.” Drake snarks, “Did you

*Or it was. Now that I know my wife is alive there are a

Drake correct in

plenty of anger for my mate at this moment, she isn‘t the one I turn on. “Stay out of this.

stay part of this until Selene asks me to do otherwise.‘ He answers, moving around his

towering over him, exuding undiluted menace, “Selene isn’t the one you should be worried about right now.” I instruct

Drake proclaims with bared fangs, “That means she

would be very careful if I were you, Cavanaugh.” I snarl, you‘re coming dangerously close to challenging me for my mate and ! guarantee that isn‘t a fight you can

growls, fulfilling his inherent role as pack mediator.

am I supposed to help Selene when he won’t

Aiden starts, trailing off and surveying the Eros Alpha curiously. “Why did

falsehood in

an exhausted soldier. “Alpha,” He

sense of foreboding spreading through my limbs. “It was a

to look at Selene, finding only

She‘s gone.

Selene‘s POV

first I hadn‘t realized what Drake was doing when he joined my rebuttal about the status of 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 my friend’s willingness to enrage a bigger, stronger

Nova wolves might have beaten me home, but I’m counting on Drake to safeguard my location and force

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 being parted from her, as if

I croon, breathing in her perfect scent as I drop a few kisses to her hair. “I missed you. Did

the kitchen table and smiling over at me. She was a doll. The elder woman reports, gathering her bag.

weekend off, but I’ll call you about

into 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 own features are gazing up at me, they‘re wearing Bastien‘s smile. It strikes me today more than ever. I still can‘t believe he‘s here, and I can‘t believe how viciously Luna has been fighting

to go back, she whines, I miss

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 this part of the day, right now I don’t have an inch of brain space to focus on tales of coloring, puzzles and petting

but I don’t have the first idea where to go. My immediate concern is Bastien, but there’s also the Calypsos to worry about. What are we going

back to Bastien Luna offers unhelpfully. Our