Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 49

Selene’s POV

After eight years in a veritable dungeon, I thought freedom was escaping to Elysium.

After spending three years married to a man who didn‘t love me and obligated to help lead a pack of shifters who hated me, thought freedom was finding my independence in Asphodel.

After nearly four years of living without my wolf, I thought freedom was getting her back when I became a mother..

I was wrong every time.

This is freedom. Transforming, releasing my soul and setting her loose – that is the freedom I‘ve been missing my entire life. Running on all fours through the rolling Vega hills with no map and no limitations, no hurdles to jump or weights slowing me down. it’s adrenaline like I‘ve never experienced.

I don‘t care that I‘m not in the forest, or that it‘s broad daylight. I don‘t care that I‘m still getting used to four legs and a tail, which makes my loping strides significantly less graceful than Bastien‘s. The truth is that I don‘t have a care in the world.

Even my concern for Lila has been dampened amidst this incredible high, partly because I now recognize the wisdom of removing her from the scene of my shift, and partly because I simply cannot bring myself to feel anything but happiness in this moment.

Bastien runs alongside me, hanging back to keep pace with me rather than running miles ahead as he could. Luna couldn‘t be more thrilled, as far as she‘s concerned, the only thing better than being free, is being free with Bastien.

Her response to the Alpha has been very illuminating for me. I‘m beginning to understand how the mating bond can drive shifters mad, or destroy relationships between chosen mates. If Luna had her way I would be back in Bastien‘s bed already, but fortunately for us, I have not forgotten our past.

He can try to rewrite our story as many ways as he wishes, but the fact remains he had his chance with me, and he wasted it.

Bastien‘s POV

Selene‘s pearly white coat stands out against the deep green hills like the moon in darkened skies Watching her streak over the dales in a blur of snowy limbs, I don‘t even mind glowing my pace to run next 10 her She‘s more ecstatic than I‘ve ever seen her, completely lost to the thrill of freedom and finally experiencing the joy she so richly deserves.

full moon run for which she was left behind, every equinox she spent at home rather than in the forest – she never complained, but I know how

for all the pain of last night, this is so worth it. Her transformation was harrowing to say the least When we get back I have every intention of calling my mother to thank her for seeing me through the process when I was a young teenager If my little mate could do that amount of damage to the safehouse, I can only imagine how much of the house

how hard I try to put the thoughts from my mind, I can‘t help but wonder who was there. If Lila is mine – though

namely when Selene has run so far she can no longer make her legs work, she collapses in a puddle of worn out wolf, a goofy grin on her face. I settle next to her, stretching out on the cool ground and waiting for her energy to be replenished enough

Little by little the elation that has dominated her aura since waking up as a wolf slips away, and I have a sense of terrible foreboding that our brief detente is coming

she was lucid enough to recall our argument about Arabella and matehood I still don‘t understand where her misconceptions came from, or why she was

I know one thing for certain – regardless of any misunderstandings, my mate felt unloved, and that is my fault and my fault alone. It can’t be explained away or justified,

She

Our conversation? I prompt.

Lila go with Aiden. She offers, Thank you, by the way, after seeing the house this morning… well I‘m glad she wasn‘t

times through the night using our mental links. He always reported the same

you don‘t remember

eyes me

wouldn‘t have worried about her forgetting. I would have simply sat her down and rehashed the conversation from the start. Even if Selene was still as pliable as she‘ d been back then, I‘m coming to realize I might not have known half as much about my marriage

how did we get to such a low place that my wife would turn to Drake instead of me? How little did

of that. I never thought you kidnapped

blinks,

long enough to find Bella. I explain. I knew she‘d clear you once we did. The fact is wanted you under

you I don‘t want explanations. Selene retorts. Then,

struggling to recall those horrible

ever catch the person responsible? There‘s an odd note of sarcasm in her

I continue. They‘re still out there somewhere, still trying to pull the strings and wreak

be sure they were related?

a ransom, what other explanation is there but to