Pregnant And Rejected

Selene’s POV

This can’t be happening.

Two minutes ago I was being engulfed by my mother-in-law’s warmth and affirmations of love, now the rug has been pulled out from under me so abruptly I think I might actually collapse.

Certainly Bastien’s words on the ferry had startled me, frightened me even. I suspected he intended to do something like this, the way he kept muttering ‘we’ll see.” But I never imagined it had already been done. I thought I had time to counteract him, to come up with a plan.

What do you mean?” I ask hoarsely, “I already told you, she isn’t yours.”

‘You did.” Bastien acknowledges with a razor sharp tongue. “But I had a DNA sample sent back to Ely sium just to be sure.”

Odette looks back and forth between us, doubt marring her features. “You didn’t know he took a sam ple from your pup?”

“No.” I growl, “I did not.”

My former mother-in-law swats her son’s arm. “Bastien, how could you?”

“You didn’t have any right to do that.” Drake adds coldly, glancing towards the door where Hugo disap peared with Lila.

“I had every right.” My mate combats, “An Alpha’s pup is not just any child, my mate doesn’t have the right to keep her from me.”

“Maybe not.” Odette agrees calmly, “but you don’t know that she is yours. Selene is her mother, it’s her decision whether or not someone takes her child’s DNA.”

“Is that why you sent her away when I shifted?” I demand thickly, “not to protect her but so you could steal her hair or nails or whatever else you used?”

has the grace to look offended. “Of course not.” He denies, “I sent her away with nothing but her own best interest in mind – not to mention

I try to remember the last time Bastien was truly angry

ever remember him looking at me the way he is now; with such unmitigated fury I want to crawl

seem this livid when he

tail between her legs and rolling submissively onto her back. I know his fury is hurting her, that she hates feeling as if she’s failed him. Once upon a time I would have reacted exactly the same way however Bastien isn’t

instincts are raging a battle of their own, outraged beyond comprehension that Bastien vi olated my pup this way. Not only did he steal her DNA, he violated my trust. He took

his pup. He

this way. I insist. Not if it isn’t

out. Luna insists, and you can’t deny

always been. He doesn’t listen to. what I

has grown so fierce I have to stop myself from physically shaking my head. It’s torture to be near him, yet

Honestly, I do. I pronounce. But this is for the best. Being apart from him isn’t what hurts most, it’s being with him while he breaks your heart over and over again. I can feel every eye in the room survey ing me now, but I can’t continue the external fight before resolving my battle with my wolf. One day you’ll thank me for not letting him destroy

these days, you’re going to have to admit that the only person whose interests you act in, are your own.” | assert, far more confidently than I feel. “If you really cared about me or Lila, you would respect my wishes. You would trust me when I

squeezing softly, “I’ve never known Selene to lie, you may want the pup to be yours,

Bastien turns to Drake with a black look.

men, are yours to command.” He rounds his desk, standing up as tall as he can before my massive mate, “And Selene and Lila are not

won’t we?” Bastien rumbles, brandishing the

do we know that you haven’t doctored that paper to show the results you want?!” Drake de mands, cunningly offering me an argument for the fight

pup is mine as surely as Selene is my mate. You need to get over whatever little fantasy

counters. “Selene can choose her

stop fighting over her like she’s a piece of meat!” | all but shout, surprising both men so much they fall silent. “I don’t care what those results say.” | profess passionately, “Lila is mine. I bore her, I birthed her, and I raised

She’s a Volana.” I remind them. “And in case you hadn’t no ticed, that puts her on an endangered species list

it’s spinning out of control, and I cannot bear being apart from Lila any more than I can bear being trapped in this room.