Pregnant And Rejected

Selene’s POV

I know the words are a mistake the moment they leave my lips.

It was one thing to tell Bastien Lila isn’t his pup. It was another to instruct him to forget about us, but suggesting we’ll never see each other again was akin to waving a red flag in front of an angry bull – and all three together? Well, that was just stupid.

Bastien lunges toward me, tangling one large hand in my hair and tugging my head back so that I’m forced to look him in the eye. His molten silver gaze bores into me, and his mouth hovers mere inches above my own. My breasts graze the muscled contours of his abdomen, and Luna whine needily in my head.

“What did you just say?” Bastien snarls, hitching me up against him.

“I” I stammer uselessly, not following his train of thought.

“Say it, Selene.” He repeats roughly. “Tell me that we’ll never see each other again.”

I gnaw on my lower lip, trying to figure out what to say to defuse his temper, to get him to leave without forcing me and Lila to go with him. “We won’t, as long as Arabella is out there pulling her strings.” I redirect, feeling a twinge of reassurance when the glazed look in his eye eases. “She wont fail next time, even if I do have my wolf now.” His grip on me tightens, but I press on, hammering in the final nail to the coffin. “And she’ll kill Lila too just to spite me.”

“What do you mean, you told Bastien Lila is mine?” Drake repeats, mouth agog.

After telling my mate that Arabella would kill our child if given the chance, he disappeared so quickly I practically fell to the ground. No matter what he believes regarding Lila’s paternity, his protective instincts toward me extend to my pup, which may be the only part of his sudden appearance I can actually appreciate.

Though I truly don’t know what to believe about Bastien’s relationship with Arabella, I’m confident my accusations will at least provide enough distraction for Drake and I to form a contingency plan now that my location has been discovered by my husband.

Admittedly, Bastien left Aiden behind in Asphodel to keep an eye on us, but I’m not worried. Not yet, at least. For the time being, my sole focus is on getting Drake up to speed and figuring out our next steps.

“I told him she’s yours.” I repeat apologetically. “It wasn’t exactly planned but it’s the easiest explanation and another Alpha is just about the only person that could actually stand in his way.”

rubbing his eyes. “As much as I love her, Lila doesn’t look or smell like me.” He eyes Lila fondly, “She doesn’t call me daddy, you and I don’t live together,

through these same conclusions is because his surprise and conflicted emotions blinded him to reason but that won’t

don’t just give out their sperm left and right, Selene.” Drake

most Alphas!” i exclaim.

progressive.” He chuckles, “It’s not that I don’t want to help, honestly. But we have to find an explanation

for ideas, I throw out, “We could say you’re gay and this was

his eyes to me, ‘No.

my hands up, I finally say, “look, it’s no one’s business how it happened in the first place.” Drake is already rolling his eyes. “That’s private, between you and I. All anyone needs to

I have a child three years after the fact?” Drake ponders, pulling Lila into his lap and bouncing her on his knee. “How do you expect to explain it to this little sausage?” He teases, tickling her belly and holding

of the Nova pack to her life. “This isn’t about either of them.” I utter coolly, “This is

lie we can keep under wraps.

you…” I trail off, “Are you saying you won’t lie for

Drake assures me, “but you have to be sure that story is one you

way he has a thousand times before. I’ve always loved watching them play. Once upon a time I even imagined this might be what it

now. Now that I’ve seen Lila and Bastien together, nothing will ever compare to that joy. It wasn’t just the invisible’ bond tying them together, or the similarities in their expressions. It was the pure rightness of them being together,

in the memory, it takes me a moment to realize

not sure it’s safe for you two here. Is Bastien going

in Asphodel,

that past Bastien.” He cautions. “No wolf can see clearly when it comes to their mate, and yours is even more headstrong

decide. “We can’t run forever. At one point or another I have to put my foot down and say enough is enough.” I reach over my lap to stroke Lila’s cheek. “My mother was chased out of the Calypso territory. I was chased out of the Nova lands. There aren’t many places left on the continent for us to seek refuge in, and I refuse to let my daughter be chased from

Odette’s POV

hear my son’s voice promptly turning my world upside down. I’d been hoping the call was from him, but I was expecting updates about his investigation into the Volana tipline,