Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate

Chapter 38

Chapter 38 Marriage Proposal

Odette’s POV

“I swear to the Goddess.” Donavon crumples the magazine in his hand, lobbing it at the wall, “Where do they get this shit?”

The shiny pages slacken as it falls, brightly colored tabloid headlines peeking out of the wrinkled ball of paper, “Alpha’s secret love child.”

Unfortunately I have an idea where these rumors are coming from. I’ve seen the way Arabella looks at my son, and I can’t stop hearing Selene’s last words to me: She really hates me. She’s attempted worse. Half an hour later my daughter-in law was dead, then Arabella was miraculously found unharmed a few days later – with an iron-clad alibi for her whereabouts at the time of the

fire

Even so, those are not the kinds of accusations one makes without evidence, and a few words from Selene in the height of a very stressful moment isn’t reliable intelligence. I could have completely misinterpreted her meaning. “Does Bastien know?” i query. gesturing to the tabloid.

“He hasn’t left his rooms since the fire.” Donavon reminds me, shaking his head. And he’s not speaking to anyone.”

I understand better than anyone. The only reason I can get myself out of bed in the morning is because Bastien needs me so badly. I’ve been letting him mourn while I run the pack, not that anyone knows what’s happening behind the scenes. However the situation in Elysium is deteriorating without his leadership, and the rumor mill is out of control.

What’s more, I’m deeply afraid that Bastien cannot go on like this much longer. Young as he is, losing a mate can kill a wolf of any age, and as much as I want to give him time to heal, I can’t risk letting him grieve himself to death.

“That’s not all, ma’am.” Donavon says, pulling my attention from the magazine. “We also received a letter from the Elder Council. They want Bastien to increase the frequency of his security reports.”

“They’ve been weekly since Gabriel’s murder.” I scoff, “What do they want, a daily update?”

The Beta purses his lips and raises his eyebrows, confirming my guess.

“That’s ridiculous.” I snap, “They’ve never had that kind of oversight before.”

use Selene’s death to bolster their own power.” Donavon complains, “frankly

to come back to work, we

large man grimaces, “be

giving my old friend an imperious glare, “I’m his mother, he can huff and puff all he wants, but

“He’s an Alpha who lost his mate. Pushing him is

the only alpha who’s lost his mate, Donavon. And I’ve had more time

instinct is to douse the entire space in bleach, starting with my son. The air is perfumed with an unsavory blend

filling it on my way through the space, but I maintain my focus

grimy and his jaw covered with weeks’ worth of stubble. An empty bottle of whiskey dangles from his limp hand, and the

before I can touch him. His powerful fingers dig into my skin, and my attention leaps to his face. His eyes are wild, staring at me without recognition. “Sweetheart, you’re hurting

him softly.

voice jogs a bit of recognition into his hard features, and he slackens his

and

his eyes, “I’m sorry, you

need to take a

to escape a bath,

I put my foot down. “You

apartment, trying not to judge the mess. I know all too well how crushing grief can

his kitchen island, watching me work with

out the sponge in his direction. “Of

spot over the sink and beginning to scrub dishes while I find a drying cloth. “I know it feels pointless, and silly and tedious, but you just have to

lost a mate who adored you for more than 30 years. I lost a mate who I never even got to claim. We never had any happy years, we didn’t get to build a life together.” He drops the spunge

Bastien.”

between us. “That is the last thing she did before she died. I accused her of kidnapping, put her under house arrest and forced her to run into a situation that killed her.” Bastien

heart sinks, and only with much restraint do I stop myself from reaching for him. “Darling, why didn’t you

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