Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate

Chapter 23

#Chapter 23 Postponing the Ceremony

Bastien’s POV

The day after my father’s murder the sun rises just like it has every morning for eons. Its rays filter through the gauzy curtains adorning our bedroom windows, announcing dawn’s arrival as if this day is no different than the millions which came before.

This cannot be. Surely the sun cannot shine on a world where my father does not exist. Surely the earth cannot keep spinning when his life has winked out forever.

Yet they do. The world forges on as though nothing has changed – oblivious to the loss of one of its most remarkable creations.

I wish I could snuff out the dawn as brutally as someone did my father’s soul.

All I have left of him now are memories. Every plan we made, every expectation or imagined future is gone. We will never speak again, never go on another hunt or share another laugh. Our relationship is an artifact of the past, an unfinished book whose final chapters will never be written,

I cannot bear it.

What’s worse is I know this is only the beginning. Few wolves outlive their mates by very long, even when they die young. The grief eats them alive, wasting away their physical forms until there is nothing left. How much longer will I have my mother? How long can she survive without half her soul?

The horrible likelihood is that I will soon be without any parents at all, and I’m already losing my own mate. Though the parting may not be as tragic, it will be just as final.

My father’s death bought me one more night with Selene. She’s stretched out on top of me, her breath a warm breeze on my chest, rustling the coarse hair scattered across my pecs. Her serious brow is furrowed even in sleep and I gather her close, afraid to wake her but needing to feel her skin on mine.

Her lashes flutter, parting to reveal her stunning irises. It takes a moment for the memory of last night to rise to the surface, but I know the moment it does. Her face crumples, leaving sleep completely and replacing the sweet innocence of slumber with heart rending grief.

My pain is reflected so clearly in Selene’s eyes my heart forgets to beat. “I was hoping it was all a bad dream.”

“Me too.” I admit, running my fingers through the silky blanket of chestnut hair streaming down her bare back. “I just want to go back to sleep and stay there until this all goes away.“.

Selene does not tell me it’s never going to go away, or that I cannot hide from reality. She simply rests her cheek over my heart and forlornly whispers, “I know.”

My wolf, who has been swinging like a pendulum between sorrow and fury ever since walking into the Alpha’s office last night, quiets ever so slightly. Selene is, and has always been, the only thing that can truly soothe Axel.

“Listen,” I blurt out before I can lose my nerve, “I know the ceremony was supposed to be yesterday but…” My voice is pure gravel. “I can’t… It’s too much.”

had gone tense when I started speaking, liquefies. “It’s alright Bastien, the ceremony

relax in unison, but my relief is only temporary. There

going to be

Selene’s POV

scarcely

for the role, pack leadership had been the farthest thing from our minds

an

23 Postponing

and disrespectful to revoke the title from Gabriel so

his family, Bastien is trying to balance running the pack with overseeing the murder investigation, planning his father’s funeral and caring for his mother. I help him as

him snarling at Aiden and Donavon more than once when they’ve attempted to coax him into taking a break. The two Betas have become so desperate they decided to call in reinforcements, worried that

me, I am the

huge men are hovering over me whispering instructions while I balance a silver serving tray in my arms. “Don’t take no for an answer.”

you have to.” Donavon

interjects,

with great effort do I keep my eyes from rolling

Betas exchange a glance,

I state simply, making a shoeing motion so they’ll clear the way to

up when I enter, his attention is glued to a stack of papers splayed out on the mahogany desk. I set the dinner tray

out blindly, snagging my hand and bringing it to his lips while

eat with me?”

wish I could, baby.”

hips. “Bastien, you need to eat something.” “When I reach a stopping point, I will.”

a stopping point in three days.” I remind him. “You‘ve got to

heavily, “Not right

“When?”

I can.”

a growl. It’s weak and not the least bit

for the first time since I entered. His silver eyes

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