Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 111 Eclipse

Sophie’s POV

“It’s almost time.” Hugo is standing in the doorway, watching me with a sort of detached curiosity that makes my skin flush red. ‘It’s as if I’m some sort of strange new oddity, a creature he thought he understood but now realizes he misjudged. A lot of people in the Pack House have been eyeing me this way lately and it makes my skin crawl every time.

I drag my gaze from the Beta, returning it to the full length mirror on the far wall. Of course, my reflection mocks me like all the rest. Here I am, standing in the most stunning dress I’ve ever seen, looking like a completely different person than I did mere months ago but still it’s not enough.

It feels very strange to envy someone who has had such a difficult life, but Goddess help me, I can’t help but wish I was Selene. She is beautiful in a way I will never be. She has this air of mystery, this unknowable quality that enchants every man who meets her. Where her tragedy has left her with an irresistible air of dark romance, my own has left me with naught but sadness,

My looks are decent enough, with my long rose gold hair and hazel eyes that shift between gold and green depending on the light, but whatever beauty I might have possessed has been buried beneath my sorrow. My Cupid’s bow lips are always trapped in a frown, and my lithe figure has been deprived of its curves by stress and privation.

I haven’t the faintest idea why Drake asked me to be his date to the Eclipse ball. Actually that isn’t true I know exactly why he did it pity.

If the Alpha was actually free to invite the she wolf of his choice, I expect it would be someone much closer to his beloved Selene, Someone graceful and lovely, charming and gorgeous without even trying. Instead his guilty conscience forced him to settle for me. He found me this dress, provided every luxury to help me get ready, but I’m still going to be a disappointment. No amount of professional makeup or hair styling can erase the haunted expression I seem doomed to wear for the rest of my life.

Hugo is going to escort me to Drake’s office in a few minutes, where I know my unrequited love is probably working himself into the ground trying to track down Selene’s enemies. He’s been working day and night, constantly on the phone with Bastien and using every moment not dedicated to governing the pack, to their hunt.

I don’t know everything that has happened since Selene left Asphodel, but it’s clear Drake wishes he was in Elysium with her. It still amazes me how my heart can feel so much pain, when it’s completely broken. After all, it’s lying in absolute tatters; it shouldn’t be able to long, love, or grieve. It shouldn’t be able to feel anything at all yet somehow it does. Perhaps Drake has not yet broken it enough.

Tears burn in my eyes as I contemplate how the Alpha could possibly trample my bleeding heart any further, but I force them down, looking up to Hugo with a gravel smile, “I’m ready.”

“You look incredible.” Drake’s words warm me from the inside out, and I actually want to smile. At least, I do until I remember he’s only saying it to be polite.

“You don’t have to say that.” I demure, flushing out of embarrassment rather than flattery.

strides forward and catches my waist, gently applying pressure so that I’ll spin in place and give him the full effect. “Incredible.”

is slicked back, and his strong jaw is clean shaven for once. He smells like oakmoss and sea salt, and he

want to erase my body from the image, leaving

conjure some excuse to get out of the evening, Drake stops me. Are you ready to go?” He

I’ll ever be.” I answer nervously,

heavy from watching Drake captivate the pack, going through his duties with unfathomable ease. I can’t understand how he does it, how

and celebrated like all the others, me simply going through the motions and praying no one will see through my act, while Drake lives and breathes the event. He really is a good Alpha,

of the Alpha, all hoping to catch his attention and shooting daggers at

jaw, already sprinkled with fresh scruff, grazes my cheek as his warm

bonfires glitter on the water,

my face turned up to

arms slide around my waist,

you call me that?” I question grumpily, trying and failing to shrug out of

I see the sweetest creature I can imagine.” His lips trail

I

mean sweet.” Drake retorts

I insist stubbornly, “You don’t call anyone else that sort

purrs, pulling me more tightly

snap, and you shouldn’t

from him again, he doesn’t let

mean?” I counter