Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 183 – Bastien Meets his Cellmates

LV1

Bastien

It‘s dark when I wake – the pitch black of a windowless cell, the air cold and damp. I know I‘m underground without being told, and even before I remember the events that led me to this place, I know something is horribly wrong.

Slowly the details filter back into my mind, and before I can even process my turbulent feelings Axel bursts out of me. I circle the cell, smelling every corner of the space and trying to gain my bearings. It‘s a cramped space lined with bars of pure silver, boasting nothing whatsoever to support human life. There are no objects present – no furniture, not a bucket for waste or vessel for water, nothing.

I can see other cells through the dim light, and the shadows of other shifters lurking in the peripheries. I‘ve never been in a cage like this, but it makes my wolf feel as feral as a rabid dog. I don‘t know how Selene survived living in such conditions for a week, let alone eight years. Of course it doesn‘t help that I know she‘s in horrible danger right now.

The desire to kill Blaise if a bloodlust unlike anything l ve ever known. I‘m so overwhelmed with violent energy that I can‘t help but charge back and forth before the bars, snarling viciously. I don‘t know what to do – I‘ve got to find a way out of here. Every second that I‘m trapped in this dis

mal cell is going to cost Selene dearly.

As unfair as I know it is, I‘m also beyond angry with my mate. I know in her shoes I would have done exactly the same thing. In fact, I already did when I agreed to marry Arabella to protect her. Still, I would rather die a thousand deaths than lose her and the baby, or make them suffer this way. I know Selene was worried about Blaise discovering Lila, but Drake and I had emergency plans in place in case the worst happened. She could have run and gone on with out me.

Axel howls with pain just imagining where Selene is in this moment, and what she‘s already been forced to survive in my honor. How much time has even passed since the events at the church? Horrible, unwelcome picture flood my mind, of Blaise torturing and abusing my mate, and her allowing him in order to protect me. It isn‘t right. I have to help her.

My entire body is shaking with wrath, a seething craze of outrage and despair. Just as I feel I might spontaneously combust, an irritated voice floats through the darkness to wards me. “Would you shut up! You‘re not going to get out of here by ranting and raving that way.”

“Give him a break, Grayson. You were like this too at first.” The second voice is rugged, mature and sounds very tired. “They all are.”

gripes. “It‘s giving me a headache and it‘s not as if it

you?” | call out in answer, “Where

leader here is Grayson. We‘re in Blaise‘s dungeon – though if it helps to know he must think you‘re something

help.” I hiss, “The only thing that will help is getting

not going to happen.” The first voice snipes. “Take it from me,

can‘t give up.” | snap. “I

scoffs, “This one thinks he‘s the only man ever

break Grayson,” James advises patient “How long have you two been here?” | ask, feeling

knows the chal lenges better than the people on the ground – or in this case, in the ground. If they feel it‘s impossible, they proba bly have a damned good reason for

for me.” James announces bleakly. “And

years.” Grayson interrupts the other man, “and trust me, we‘ve tried everything possible to escape during our combined decades here. If there was a way, we would

me such devastating answers, and I suddenly understand every ounce of Grayson‘s nihilism. “Why hasn‘t he just killed you?” | ask bluntly, knowing that softening my words won‘t do a damn bit of good with men as hardened as these. “I just watched

James surmis es, “He needs us for something. We have information he

every few days he brings out the interrogators to rip off our fingernails and jab us with spikes.” Grayson con

to. Normally he gives you just enough time to heal be fore pulling you

murmur, feeling a rush of admiration for the strength these two

and as miserable as living out the rest of our lives in cages is, I‘d far rather defy him and suffer than submit. He‘s taken everything from me, I‘ll never give him what he

I made sure I would never be able to answer his ques tions, even if I wanted to break.” James

is it he wants to know from

first, pup.”

feeling suddenly like I want to cry. “He has my pregnant mate, and