Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 89 Breeding

Selene’s pov

“What?” I ask, unable to conjure any other words.

“I’ve been away too long,” Bastien sighs, “And so have you.” He adds pointedly. Suddenly I realize he must have dropped everything to come here. He has so many responsibilities in Elysium, I don’t know how he managed it. Who’s been running the pack while he’s been busy chasing me around Asphodel? The council?

Next I wonder how none of this occurred to me before. We can hardly be together while living in separate cities. In Bastien’s mind, I probably agreed to come back to Elysium the moment I let him claim me. The last card in my hand had been needing to keep Lila near her father, and that excuse went out the window when I told him the truth about the DNA test.

“Bastien, I have a life here.” I reply hesitantly,

“You had a life there too:” Bastien reminds me, brushing a few strands of hair out of my eyes.

“No.” I correct him. “I had you and nothing else. Here I have a business, friends, a purpose beyond standing beside you and looking pretty.”

“That’s not what I want for you, Selene. You can have all those things in Elysium. You could have had those things before if…” He trails off, uncertain why I hadn’t shown an interest in opening a cafe or having a life of my own when we were married. Puzzled and clearly concerned he asks, Did you think I wouldn’t let you?”

“No.” I exhale heavily, “It wasn’t anything you did, well, not in the way you mean.” I amend, reaching up to stroke my mate’s clenched jaw. “You have to understand. When you first rescued me I was completely helpless. I did need you to do everything for me, and you were so willing to take on that role that you never pushed me to step out of my comfort zone or do anything for myself. At the time I thought it was because you didn’t think I was capable of standing on my own two feet.” I share, reaching into my memories.

“If I coddled you, it’s because I love you.” Bastien informs me, looking perturbed. “I didn’t push you because taking care of you was never a burden to me, I wanted to do everything for you. I never wanted you to have to struggle again.”

“I know that now.” I assure him gently, but I never learned how to fend for myself. I never got far enough out into the world to find myself, to figure out who I was and what I wanted out of life.”

Bastien argues protectively. “You made incredible progress in that time, considering where you started. Goddess, Selene, you were trapped in a basement through your entire adolescence.” He reminds me as if I could forget. “You had to learn everything from scratch, all while trying to figure out how to be

“When I came here I didn’t have a choice. Drake helped me get the apartment and provided for me financially, but I had to figure out

Elysium.” Bastien beseeches,

to choose my words carefully, but I’m not sure how successful my efforts are. My mate is

you Selene? That you and Lila would stay here when I went

me?” I squeak, not sure I heard

eyes. “You’re

me things I already know this evening. “So?” I exclaim, throwing my

very deliberately, “You’re the most fertile you’ll ever be, and we’ve had unprotected sex a dozen times since it

the edge of the island to brace myself. Suddenly my knees feel like jelly. How could I have failed to connect those dots? Without contraception heat cycles almost

having another pup. I wouldn’ t have ever wanted one with anyone but Bastien and I never thought

through a pregnancy now, how different it might be from the first time with Bastien by my side. I try to imagine having another pup, a sibling for Lila, maybe a little boy a miniature

know it’s possible, I desperately want to have another child with Bastien, but I’m not sure I’m ready to do it right this minute. We still have a lot to

He seems to expect it, treating it like it’s

you planning this?” I hiss, “Have you been trying to get me

rubs the back of his neck, looking decidedly guilty. “The thought did occur to me,” He admits,

you didn’t believe I would thoughtlessly jump into such a big commitment when things were so uncertain between us when we live in different cities! When my first pup is already endangered

body is pressed against his, and his silver eyes are glaring down at me. “It’s instinct, Selene.” He states sternly,

our bond with another baby? Is