Pregnant And Rejected

173 – Let the fun begin

Bastien “Arabella what was all that?” I demand as soon as the apartment door is closed behind us. The blonde stares at me in innocent confusion. “What do you mean?”

“All those things Selene said, about Frederic being exiled and her being hospitalized – about me still having my memory after the assassination attempt?” I’ve been replaying the conversation over and over in my head, every confusing detail sticking in my mind, and new baffling details reappearing every minute.

Why didn’t Selene hide the fact that she had powers? Why did she have a teacher with her and talk about them like she was just beginning to learn? Why was she asking me to come home when my absence could only help her scheme? More striking than anything else, was how sincere she’d seemed, from the way she clung to me when we first saw each other, to the moment we parted. If it truly was an act, she was the best actress in the world.

“Bastien, this is what she does!” Arabella groans, “I can already see you doubting yourself. She’s the most talented gaslighter I’ve ever met. She twists facts and bends the truth and is so convincing that she can convince people they‘re wrong about what they know in their hearts. You can’t be fooled by her sweet, innocent act.” She insists, frowning. “I don’t know what news she was talking about, but if Frederic has been exiled, I guarantee you it was Selene’s doing – so that she wouldn’t have to share her power with him. Now that she’s gotten a taste she probably wants to run the pack on her own.”

“A female Alpha?” | question. It’s not unheard of, but if she accomplished such a thing she’d been the first in generations.

“She’s certainly powerful enough.” Arabella shrugs.

My head aches trying to unravel this logic. Selene couldn’t both pretend to be innocent and harmless, and claim to be powerful anough to lead a pack like the Novas.

Selene’s last question rang in my head like a relentless warning bell, is the person trying to deceive you the one asking you to face reality head on, or is it the one who wants you to stay here with your head in the sand? “Why are you so determined that we don’t return to Elysium yet?” I ask

“Because of her!” Arabella bursts out, her voice thick with emotion. “I was afraid this would happen, I was afraid that if we went back everything would go back to the way it was before. That you’d fall for her tricks and go back to hating me. That’s why I wanted to get married first, so that at least then I’d have a little bit of security.” She sniffles, her eyes shining with tears, “I can’t lost you again, Bastien!”

dreams – older, stronger and much healthier, but every bit as sweet. She felt so right in my arms and everything she said made so much sense. I’ve

She whimpers, “I’m being such a baby. Why don’t make

mutter, not

reappears and offers me a cup, still steaming and blissfully aromatic. I take a few sips and

about it, what was I thinking about a moment ago? Why was I so agitated when everything seems fine?

my wolf. It takes a moment, but then his familiar voice sounds in my ear.

so anxious but for the woman who is currently destroying my reputation and my pack? Shaking off my unease, I remind myself that Arabella and I will be home soon enough. I’ll deal with Solene once and for

“Helene, this is not fun!” I shout,

night in Tartarus, and we’ve returned to the park to practice my moonlight magic once more, but tonight feels very different from yesterday. Instead of the gradual harnessing I achieved to lead me towards Bastien – and apparently call him to me – today the power floods over me like a tidal wave. At first I merely noticed a soft glow at my fingertips, but before long my entire body was lit up like some strange new species of bioluminescent wolf, and my feet left the ground. Now

from there you’re

She grins, “nothing motivates like a healthy dose of fear.” “I’d like to give you a healthy dose of your own damned medicine.”

Helene chuckles, not sounding the

my nerves. Just focus. Use the power to get your feet back on the ground. If your feet are on the ground, you can find Bastien. You can’t find him if you’re floating here like a canine

I feel the air shift around me, and the harder I concentrate, the softer the breeze becomes. Before long I feel my feet reconnecting with the ground, and triumph rushes through my

Helene praises. “Very good,

emanating from my body within, again reminding myself that the sooner all this is sorted out, the sooner I can find my mate. Every muscle in my body goes taut with the effort, but when I peek my