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?”

not.” He denies, “I sent her away with nothing but her own best interest

and I try to remember the

stern, disapproving certainly, even annoyed. But before we reunited in Asphodel I can’t ever remember him looking at me the way he is now; with such unmitigated fury I want to crawl under the desk

even seem this livid when he found out I

my head, tucking her 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

comprehension that Bastien vi olated my pup this way. Not only did

moans, she’s his pup. He

way. I insist. Not if it isn’t what’s best

and you can’t deny how wonderful

don’t change. I argue, he’s the same overbearing bully he’s always been. He doesn’t listen to. what I want, he doesn’t care

has grown so fierce I have to stop myself from physically shaking

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

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

for my hand, squeezing softly, “I’ve never known Selene to lie, you may want the pup to

with a black look. “Call

snarls, “you’ve crossed a line this time, Durand. This isn’t your territo ry. Neither I, nor my men, are yours to command.” He rounds his desk, standing up

see about that won’t we?” Bastien rumbles,

how 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 which will inevitably follow the test

as surely as Selene is my mate. You

counters. “Selene can choose her own mate, and Lila

you two 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 her.” As much as I appreciate Drake’s help, I

hadn’t no ticed, that puts her on an endangered species list that should

any more than I can bear being trapped in