Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate

#Chapter 24 The Funeral

Selene’s POV

“What is this?” I choke, my heart racing as I stare down at the reward flier.

“Nothing.” Bastien reaches for the paper, but I lean back over the armrest until I’m on the verge of falling. I may not be able to extend my arms past his reach, but I trust he’ll choose catching me over reclaiming the page.

Luckily he does exactly that, clamping his hands on my hips to keep me anchored while I twist my body away from him. “It’s clearly something.”

“Selene, stop that.” He admonishes, pulling me back into the chair, “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

With a huff I obey, waving the flier in front of his nose. “How long have you known about this? Where did you find it, how long has this been going on?”

Bastien sighs, “Sweetheart this is why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you to worry for nothing. I’m handling it.”

“If it were nothing you wouldn’t need to handle it.” I reason sharply, squirming to escape his lap and failing. “And what exactly does that mean? How in the Goddess’s name are you planning to contain this? It already made it this far, how do you know someone hasn’t already reported me?”

Bastien is wrapped around me like a blanket, using the pressure of his limbs to soothe me despite the fact that I very much do not want to be soothed, “We didn’t find this here. It was in the far East outside of Calypso territory.” He explains, not letting up. “I promise no one has reported you and we’re setting up a shadow system so that we can intercept any reports from this part of the continent.”

“How did you find it if it was so far away?” I question sulkily.

Bastien clears his throat evasively, “We have spies.”

“Spies?” I repeat, “We have spies on the Calypso pack?”

“Yes.” Bastien confesses. “I sent them before we got married.”

My heart feels like it’s imploding. All of a sudden Bastien’s request to postpone the rejection ceremony and Arabella’s distance makes a lot more sense. Moving forward with the ceremony wouldn’t have been appropriate amidst the murder, and I do believe Bastien was too overwhelmed to focus on it, but would we be delaying it indefinitely if it were not for this threat?

No matter what he says, I know Bastien considers this a serious danger – the fact that he hid it speaks volumes and it provides an extremely strong motive to keep me close. Bastien considers everyone in the pack his responsibility, but especially me. Me – the mate the pack failed to protect as a child and ended up permanently disabled as a result.

“How long have you known about this?” I croak.

“A few days.” Bastien confesses grimly.

Gabriel died a few days ago too. Would we have made it to the altar if he hadn’t been murdered? I want to ask him this very question, but I’m too afraid to hear the answer. What difference would it make? None of this changes the fact that he doesn’t want me, that this entire marriage has been a sham.

others?” I inquire instead, “The

“There are precious few

one of those precious few are

assents with a single, firm nod. “Perhaps, but you are

I exclaim, looking up into my husband’s molten eyes. His jaw twitches, a hard edge in his expression I’ve rarely seen directed at me. His cozy embrace feels suddenly cold, and

you want to look at it.”

#Chapter 24 The Funeral

room without retrieving the dinner tray, tossing a curt acknowledgement to the Betas hovering outside the office like

Aiden calls after

the apartment awhirl with hurt and confusion. I lock myself in for the rest of the night, hoping Bastien will come to bed but unsurprised when I wake up as I

Bastien’s POV

sunshine, the Goddess sends a gale through Elysium, dropping the temperature by ten degrees and dumping

gray clouds and cascading water. My little wolf stands on my right, beautiful and somber in a simple mourning gown. My mother frames my other side, a dark veil over her

out around us, decked out head to toe in grim formal wear and clutching umbrellas. Tonight we will shed it all and take to the forest, but for the

and far gather. The Eros and Vega Pack leaders, as well as dignitaries and representatives from other shifter communities across the

shielded by a vaulted tent which will only be lifted when the fire is lit and the flames strong enough to withstand the rain. My father’s body lays peacefully at its apex, lovingly shrouded in flags bearing the crests of the Nova Pack, Elysium, and the Durand

I might begin to cry again, and I pull strength from my sweet wife. We haven’t yet settled our

thoughts that ran through my head when she mentioned the possibility of other Volana

know in my heart I would never sacrifice one innocent life for another. But logic is cruel, and I’m ashamed to admit that I did consider the advantage another

the unforgivable thoughts away, focusing on

and red of fire. Instead the bright

presence might be understandable, but we haven’t had any contact with them in years. The last time we met, they were aiding and abetting my uncle s

squeezing my mother’s shoulders as she weeps. The Gemini leaders circle the perimeter of the crowd, the unmistakable scent of strange wolves permeating through the masses.

between man and wolf, but being and spirit – the final transition between this world and the next. As I watch his physical form splinter and dissolve, the last vestiges of my family around me, I’m struck once again of all the

of wolves like savage ripples. Muted growls gradually evolve into vicious snaps and barks, before silk and wool rend and tear as formal clothing is

fur and claws.

half the attendees have shifted, the remainder scattering away from the quickly boiling conflict. I look helplessly between Mom and Selene, before shoving them both into Aiden’s waiting arms, “get them back

charging into the unfolding fight without pausing to shift. I refuse to lend any credibility to this chaos. Instead I

necks and throwing them

the crowd until I’ve reached the heart of the brawl. In the center of it all, a trio of navy-clad men wait,

He looks as if he’s been to hell and back, and I have to respect his imposing stature. When we near, damp smoke clogging the air at our backs, he

to ask you

would be obvious.” The

Bastien’s POV