Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 75 The Meeting

Selene’s POV

The Lethe bridge is suspended over the turquoise waters of the lagoon, its silver cables and solid deck reflected in the crystalline surface. A few meandering shifters and workers on late lunch breaks are scat tered along the length of the bridge, none of whom look anything like the rogues I imagined.

Unease seethes in my belly. This feels wrong. Granted, I’ve experienced nothing but pure anguish since Lila was taken, but this is different. Something about this meeting seems off, though I can’t put my finger on any one thing in particular. It’s partly the lack of visible suspects, but I also can’t believe the kidnappe asked for a meeting in such a public place, and in broad daylight too.

And why wasn’t there a ransom? Why did they only ask for a meeting?

I’m still standing at the mouth of the bridge, scanning the long structure for likely suspects, but finding none. Suddenly a soft voice sounds behind me, and a familiar scent ripples through the air. “Selene?”

I whip around, my heart skipping a beat as I lay eyes on the speaker. My brow furrows, this isn’t what expected. I’d recognize the lovely hazel eyes and strawberry blonde hair anywhere, but they are terribly out of place in this moment. “Sophie?”

Her eyes are red-rimmed and a dark bruise is blooming over her high cheekbone. My first instinct is worry, but then I smell Lila. Sophie smells like my pup – and that can only mean one thing. My disquiet flourishes into fresh anger, and my eyes narrow to slits, “You?”

She immediately begins shaking her head. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Tears well in her eyes, “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Where is my daughter?” I hiss.

“She’s safe.” Sophie promises with a hiccup. “I only wanted to talk to you to convince you to leave Drake.”

Fire explodes from deep within, and Luna begins clawing to get out. The instinct to shift to attack is almost undeniable. “You kidnapped my daughter because of a silly crush!?” I thunder.

“I didn’t… I don’t…” She sobs helplessly, unable to conjure an explanation for her insane plan. I’ve known how Sophie feels about Drake for a long time, and until now she’s had my sympathy. If anyone understands unrequited love, it’s me. However this is too far, much too far,

won’t make him love you, Sophie.” I snap harshly. “We’re

if she wants

back. “No. I

in horror, “But… Lila… it’s

realize my blunder. I can’t keep up the lie about Lila’s paternity and also maintain that Drake and I have never been together, but my

lip is trembling fiercely, and she’s slowly folding in on herself, “I’ve been so stupid.” She shudders

my neck stand on end. “Sophie, how did you get that bruise on your cheek?” I interrupt, a sickening feeling in my stomach. I’ve only met Martin

A suspicious number of injuries over the years, her skittishness, and discomfort around any

been a man’s prisoner, I know exactly how horrifically they can twist your thoughts and feelings. My fury ebbs slightly, followed instantly by a great

to reply, the very last words I wanted to

A snide voice interrupts her. We both turn to

are you doing here?” Sophie

his eyes, “You stupid girl,” Martin jeers, “haven’t you

bring me here for any promise,” I assert hoarsely, “You left

lips as he strides forward. “Very good.” He taunts, the humor vanishing

Bastien’s POV

return to the packhouse. Now that I’ve marked Selene, I can feel when she’s close by and she isn’t. I cannot smell her or sense her presence, and Axel immediately goes

too. He growls in my head, We shouldn’t ever have let her out

don’t know that for sure. I try to reason, but my heart is pounding frantically in my chest. I run up to Selene’s suite, blood rushing in my ears. I can hear Aiden and Donovan calling out after me, their footsteps pounding up the stairs at my back, but I ignore them. I don’t

for traces of shifters who do not belong. I catch only the tiniest hint of an unfamiliar

struggle, no knocked over furniture or broken vases. Everything is as it should be, appearing exactly as we left

against the people responsible for stealing our females. I’ll rip out their throats one by one. I’ll skin them alive and use their