Pregnant And Rejected

Bastien’s POV

I’ve never spent much time in Asphodel.

When I was a boy my father dragged me all over the continent, visiting different territories and packs, learning the lay of the land and meeting other Alphas, but I never liked anyplace as well as Elysium. Now, watching Selene and Lila commune with the strange animals who live in the watery mangroves of the Eros Pack’s capital, I can almost appreciate the strange, floating city.

A soft, furry snout emerges from the water, kissing Lila’s tiny toddler hand and making the pup squeal with delight. Selene keeps one slender arm locked around her daughter’s middle so the child doesn’t leap from the dock, but her own beaming grin is so wide 1 feel tempted to step forward and impose the same protection on my mate.

As if she can feel my gaze on her, Selene glances over her shoulder, her bright, intelligent eyes narrowing on me as her full mouth forms a luscious pout. I offer her a wolfish grin, Axel purring in my chest when a visible quiver vibrates up Selene’s spine despite her grumpy expression.

I’m only vaguely aware of my Beta approaching on my left, desperately trying to ignore his grim energy in favor of the vision before me on the pier. Arabella fled Elysium.

Well that certainly dampened the mood. She what?

Someone tipped her off, clearly. Donovan responds evenly, She was gone before the warrant was even issued.

Then it’s true. Aiden joins our silent conversation, appearing on my other side.

You doubted it? Donavon questions skeptically. Where Arabella’s romantic interest in me had exposed the less savory aspects of her nature long ago, and Donavon’s experience standing in as one of her guardians had offered him the same clarity, Aiden’s idealistic view of our surrogate little sister has never quite been challenged until now that is.

No. He rebuts, I just hoped… I suppose it was just denial. Aiden finally confesses. We grew up with her after all. Can you blame me for not wanting to believe it?

No. I answer easily. I don’t want to believe it either but I refuse to allow my own wishes to blind me to the truth. Guilt floods me as we stand there watching the identical she-wolves playing in the water, both so small in their own ways. The fact is I let myself ignore Arabella’s faults for way too long. If I hadn’t, none of this might have ever happened.

on me, and I know what Donovan is going to ask before the thought leaves his head. Do you want us to go after

few years ago my allegiance to Flynn would have rendered the question unnecessary, even this time last yeah, I’m not sure how I would have answered. Now I don’t give it a second thought: Hunt her down.

center-city neighborhood my mate and her pup called home. Though Selene had agreed to accompany our party on a diplomatic tour around the city only after significant cajoling, her daughter’s exhaustion seemed to provide the

carry Lila the rest of the way, bearing the brunt of the physical toll. Halting her imminent excuses to slip away, Selene

snuggled the

sliver of guilt a: I plucked a few hairs from the sleeping pups’ head and passed them to Aiden. “Here, get these back to Elysium straight away. I want

of my own DNA to compare against Lila’s. Though I have no doubt the hospitals in Asphodel are world-class, I don’t trust Eros wolves with such delicate matters.

Selane’s defensiveness only raises my suspicions that

don’t think you have anything to worry about.” Donovan confides, “That

“All due respect Donovan, I think I have even more to worry about if she

start worrying.” Aiden frowns, carefully wrapping up Lila’s sample. “Because Donovan’s right. If this pup isn’t

Selene’s POV

as I push the door open. Stepping just inside, I reach out for Lila, sighing in frustration when Bastien

sofa. Sirpanien.”

the space, pulling off his jacket and then Lila’s before settling on my sofa. Stripping off my own outerwear, I promptly swipe my baby away from the big predator and cuddle

as I suggested, Bastien scoots closer, throwing one burly arm over my shoulder and circling the other around Lila. “I put

sit up, holding my body away from his intoxicating touch

one large paw over

their full implications washing over me like a drowning

growling before the words can

you could have found that out