Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate

Chapter 49

Selene’s POV 

After eight years in a veritable dungeon, I thought freedom was escaping to Elysium. 

After spending three years married to a man who didn‘t love me and obligated to help lead a pack of shifters who hated me, thought freedom was finding my independence in Asphodel. 

After nearly four years of living without my wolf, I thought freedom was getting her back when I became a mother.. 

I was wrong every time. 

This is freedom. Transforming, releasing my soul and setting her loose – that is the freedom I‘ve been missing my entire life. Running on all fours through the rolling Vega hills with no map and no limitations, no hurdles to jump or weights slowing me down. it’s adrenaline like I‘ve never experienced. 

I don‘t care that I‘m not in the forest, or that it‘s broad daylight. I don‘t care that I‘m still getting used to four legs and a tail, which makes my loping strides significantly less graceful than Bastien‘s. The truth is that I don‘t have a care in the world. 

Even my concern for Lila has been dampened amidst this incredible high, partly because I now recognize the wisdom of removing her from the scene of my shift, and partly because I simply cannot bring myself to feel anything but happiness in this moment. 

Bastien runs alongside me, hanging back to keep pace with me rather than running miles ahead as he could. Luna couldn‘t be more thrilled, as far as she‘s concerned, the only thing better than being free, is being free with Bastien, 

Her response to the Alpha has been very illuminating for me. I‘m beginning to understand how the mating bond can drive shifters mad, or destroy relationships between chosen mates. If Luna had her way I would be back in Bastien‘s bed already, but fortunately for us, I have not forgotten our past. 

He can try to rewrite our story as many ways as he wishes, but the fact remains he had his chance with me, and he wasted it 

Bastien‘s POV 

a blur of snowy limbs, I don‘t even mind glowing

left behind, every equinox she spent at home rather than in the forest – she never complained, but I know how

worth it. Her transformation was harrowing to say the least When we get back I have every intention of calling my mother to thank her for seeing me through the process when I was a young teenager If my little mate could do that amount of damage to the safehouse, I can only imagine how

was watching someone you love go through such unbelievable agony. I‘m glad I was there for her, particularly because I wasn‘t when she gave birth. No matter how hard I try to put the thoughts from

reach a stopping point, namely when Selene has run so far she can no longer make her legs work, she collapses in a puddle of worn out wolf, a goofy grin on her face. I settle next to her, stretching out on the cool

slips away, and I have a sense of terrible foreboding that our brief detente is coming

remember I ask, wondering if she was lucid enough to recall our argument about Arabella and matehood I still don‘t understand where her misconceptions came from, or why she was so distraught. After all, she was in love with someone else throughout our entire marriage, so why did it bother her so much to

are so many more questions left to answer, but I know one thing for certain – regardless of any misunderstandings, my mate felt unloved, and that is my fault and my fault alone. It can’t be explained away or justified, I failed to make my feelings for her clear

much. She

conversation? I prompt.

Thank you, by the way, after

through the night using our mental links. He always reported the

you don‘t remember anything else?

white wolf eyes me warily,

really thought we‘d made a breakthrough. A few years ago I wouldn‘t have worried about her forgetting. I would have simply sat her down and rehashed the conversation from the start. Even if Selene was

get to such a low place that my wife would turn to Drake instead of me? How little did she have to trust me that she would run from

answer to at least part of

She blinks, taken aback.

Bella. I explain. I knew she‘d clear you once we did.

Then, looking curious, where did you

share, struggling to recall those horrible

There‘s an odd note of sarcasm in her

expect. Breathing a heavy sigh I continue. They‘re still out there

they were related? She asks

ransom, what other explanation is there but to cause terror? I