Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate

Selene’s POV

I know the words are a mistake the moment they leave my lips,

It was one thing to tell Bastien Lila isn’t his pup. It was another to instruct him to forget about us, but suggesting we’ll never see each other again was akin to waving a red flag in front of an angry bull – and all three together? Well, that was just stupid.

Bastien lunges toward me, tangling one large hand in my hair and tugging my head back so that I’m forced to look him in the eye. His molten silver gaze bores into me, and his mouth hovers mere inches above my own. My breasts graze the muscled contours of his abdomen, and Luna whine needily in my head.

“What did you just say?” Bastien snarls, hitching me up against him.

“1-” | stammer uselessly, not following his train of thought.

“Say it, Selene.” He repeats roughly. “Tell me that we’ll never see each other again.”

Ignaw on my lower lip, trying to figure out what to say to defuse his temper, to get him to leave without forcing me and Lila to go with him. “We won’t, as long as Arabella is out there pulling her strings.” | redirect, feeling a twinge of reassurance when the glazed look in his eye eases. “She wont fail next time, even if I do have my wolf now.” His grip on me tightens, but I press on, hammering in the final nail to the coffin. “And she’ll kill Lila too – just to spite me.”

“What do you mean, you told Bastien Lila is mine?” Drake repeats, mouth agog.

After telling my mate that Arabella would kill our child if given the chance, he disappeared so quickly I practically fell to the ground. No matter what he believes regarding Lila’s paternity, his protective instincts toward me extend to my pup, which may be the only part of his sudden appearance I can actually appreciate

Though I truly don’t know what to believe about Bastien’s relationship with Arabella, I’m confident my accusations will at least provide enough distraction for Drake and I to form a contingency plan now that my location has been discovered by my husband.

Admittedly, Bastien left Aiden behind in Asphodel to keep an eye on us, but I’m not worried. Not yet, at least. For the time being, my sole focus is on getting Drake up to speed and figuring out our next steps.

easiest explanation and another Alpha is just about the only person

groans, rubbing his eyes. “As much as I love her, Lila doesn’t look or smell like me.” He eyes Lila fondly, “She doesn’t call me daddy, you and I don’t live together, I’m not in any of your photos, she doesn’t have status in the pack…” He’s listing off the problems,

only reason why Bastien hasn’t already run through these same conclusions is because his surprise and conflicted emotions blinded him to reason – but that won’t last for long. “We could say I wanted a baby

give out their sperm left and right, Selene.” Drake counters with exasperation, “with good

like most Alphas!” i

that progressive.” He chuckles, “It’s not that I don’t want to help, honestly. But we have to find an explanation that will stand up to scrutiny for more

could say you’re gay and this was

cuts his eyes to

up, I finally say, “look, it’s no one’s business how it happened in the first place.” Drake is

tell the pack I have a child three years after the fact?” Drake ponders, pulling Lila into his lap and bouncing her on his knee. “How do you expect to explain it to this little sausage?” He teases,

52 Bringing

the Nova pack to her life. “This isn’t about either of them.” I utter coolly, “This is about Bastien. As far as I’m concerned, no one else needs

than this, Selene.” Drake shakes his head. “This isn’t a lie we can keep under wraps. You have to decide what’s more important: tricking Bastien;

you saying

Drake assures me, “but you have to be sure that story is one

you, Drake.” I smile, watching him play with Lila the same way he has a thousand times before. I’ve always loved watching them play. Once upon a time I even imagined this might be what it must be

that joy. It wasn’t just the invisible’ bond tying them together, or the similarities in their expressions. It

it takes me a moment to realize Drake

worried, that’s all.” Drake admits, “Even with the lie, I’m not sure it’s safe for you two here. Is

Asphodel, he can’t challenge your decision without

past Bastien.” He cautions. “No wolf can see clearly when it comes to their mate, and yours

end sometime.” I decide. “We can’t run forever. At one point or another I have to put my foot down and say enough is enough.” I reach over my lap to stroke Lila’s cheek. “My mother was chased out of the Calypso territory. I was chased out of the Nova lands. There aren’t many places left on the

Odette’s POV