Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate

#Chapter 10 Arabella Falls Down the Stairs

Selene’s POV

The steady beeping of a heart monitor greets me when I wake, along with the uncomfortable sensation of needles embedded in my arms. My eyes flutter open, and slowly the sterile white walls of a hospital room take shape around me.

Bastien is already by my side.

“What happened?” I mutter drowsily.

“You had a very high fever.” He tells me, brushing a lock of hair away from my face. “I told you we needed to go to the ER but you were very determined to stay on the floor.” if I imagined a hint of a smile on his lips, it was long gone by his next words. “You fought me like a hellcat and managed to smash your head into the bathroom mirror.”

The beeping next to me speeds up as my anxiety surges. I might not remember it, but I know exactly why I fought him so hard Bastien glances at the machine, mistaking the cause of my worry, “It’s alright.” He promises gently. “There wasn’t any serious injury, just a concussion and a few scrapes.”

“What else did the doctor say?” Please tell me he doesn’t know. Please, please, please.

“Whatever stomach bug you had dehydrated you so much that fever set in. They’re going to pump you full of liquids and send you home.” Bastien explains. My pulse was just starting to slow when he caught me with a look I know only too well. “And when we get there you and I are going to have a little talk about trying to treat your own illnesses,” His voice lowers a full octave,” and biting,”

“Biting?” I squeak.

He nods ominously, “you were very naughty.”

I shrink instinctively beneath his scrutiny. Whatever else has happened between us, at the end of the day he is still my Alpha, and I disobeyed him – attacked him. “How much trouble am I in?”

To my surprise Bastien smiles and raises my hand to his lips, pressing soft kisses to my knuckles. “You aren’t. You scared the shit out of me.” He admits, “I’m too relieved you’re all right to be angry.”

I open my mouth to protest his teasing, but relief dissolves the words from my tongue. I feel a rush of affection for this man, the father of my child. If I was as sick as he makes it sound, he may have saved our lives.

“Thank you for taking care of me, Bastien.” He looks as if he’s about to wave the words away, but I latch onto the hand still holding mine. “Not just for today. For every day over the last three years, I never would have survived without you and I,” I have to pause so I don’t get choked up, I will be eternally grateful that you were in my life.”

“You never have to thank me for taking care of you, Selene.” He answers, his earlier warmth receding as he releases me. “It’s my

job.”

I’ve never been anything but an obligation, a duty. An Alpha couldn’t throw a helpless young wolf to the elements, not after a pack member took them captive. His guilt and responsibility forced him into this marriage, and if I’m not careful the same qualities could force

I lost it? Is that why he doesn’t know? The heart monitor speeds up again and I do the only

when I see a doctor approach the nurse’s station outside my room. I rise from bed as quickly as I can, hurrying out of my room and pulling my IV behind

me, looking mildly surprised. “Mrs. Durand, you really shouldn’t be out of

I feel fine, and I need to

thoughtfully. “As you wish,” he gestures toward the corridor, moving us away

everything alright?” He asks.

hit my head and was dehydrated, but I know you must have run tests and things.” I

a pacifying hand. “Do not worry, your baby is

didn’t realize existed lifts from my shoulders. “Thank you,” I breathe, “But that’s only half of it.

didn’t.” He answers with an

blink, confused.

tell him for two reasons. First, because you are my patient, not him. You may be married and he may be the future Alpha, but we still have doctor patient confidentiality. The only exception is a medical emergency in which you are not able to speak for yourself. That was not the case here. It wasn’t medically necessary, so I did not feel it was my place.

through me and my cheeks split with a wide

again. What you’re experiencing is not simple morning sickness, but a serious condition causing extreme, persistent illness throughout pregnancy. It can result in dehydration, weight loss, nutrition deficiencies – you’ll

“You mean this isn’t going

need to take extreme care to maintain your strength. You

I nod

other thing.” The doctor

“Yes?”

mean to presume.” He hedges, “But I just thought you might want to know. It will only be your

“I don’t understand, I thought

to anyone at that point. Pregnancy changes your body’s pheromones. It alters your scent. Once you hit 12 weeks your husband and every other male in scenting distance will

resulting from Garrick’s imprisonment, I have often found these basic facts of life to be the most frustrating.

my thanks and begin to turn back towards

make it part way, as I pivot toward the desk a flash of blonde hair appears in my periphery. I

Arabella

frozen in place halfway down the hall, and the look on her face makes it clear:

top of the main staircase. She is staring at me with those wide

The shock is plain in