Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate

#Chapter 76 Prisoner

Selene’s POV

“Mommy.” Lila whines, “it’s too tight!”

don’t relax my arms one bit. As long as my baby is still breathing, I’m going to hold her as tightly as I possibly can, for as long as I possibly can.

Martin brought us to a ramshackle hut in the woods just outside the city. We had to drive for about twenty minutes after docking the boat, and once we arrived the big bully forced us into the odd little shack. Sophie is locked in the basement with Lila and I, both prisoner and accomplice to our predicament.

When Martin appeared and announced his intentions, I hoped he would take me back to his house. Drake will recognize his scent and go straight there, but apparently the foul wolf is smarter than I credited him. We traveled over the lagoon, and unless Bastien and Drake find the boat they won’t have any idea we left the city.

My only hope is that Martin is the caller who reported Lila and I to the tip-line. If he is then he’ll be in for quite the surprise when he tries to deliver us to my mate. If, on the other hand, he wants us for some other reason or knows about Blaise Denisons real bounty… well, we’re in very big trouble.

There’s no way to know which possibility is correct, so once I’ve sufficiently snuggled my pup, my first task is to try to plan an escape. I’m strangely proud of how well I’m keeping it together. If it weren’t for Lila | would probably be having a full blown PTSD episode, but my daughter is keeping my head on my shoul ders.

Maternal instincts really are the most powerful forces I’ve ever encountered – far more magical than those of mere shifters. For all the similarities of Martin and Garrick’s prisons, l’ve managed to shut off my memory and emotions, focusing only on the here and now.

“Have you ever been here before?” I ask Sophie, adjusting Lila on my lap. She’s been very calm ever since I arrived, and I don’t know whether she’s in shock or simply too young to realize the gravity of our sit uation.

“No,” the other woman frowns apologetically, “I’ve hardly ever been out of the marsh. I didn’t know Mar tin had property anywhere else.”

“Did he tell you what he’s planning?” I press, “Do you know why he took us?”

says again, “He kept saying it was for me. I don’t know why I believed him.” She swipes at a rogue tear sliding down her cheek. “He’s never done anything for me, but his mind is so twisted I didn’t put it past him to think he was doing me some big favor.” Shaking her head forlornly, she drops it into her

her shoul der, “Martin only says you are so that you won’t fight back. It’s how his kind control their victims,” I grum ble,

so sorry.” She says for the thousandth time, “I just lost it when I saw you

my lips to Lila’s hair, breathing in her pure, perfect scent. “We have to move past

content to let me smother her with affection now

the will to laugh, but I do. I suppose my extraordinary relief at finding my baby safe and

spondent, “He’s bigger and stronger than all three of us combined.” Her next words are so quiet, I almost miss them, “We’re never

Drake’s POV

doesn’t make any

whole life. I

died ten years ago, and while I can’t imagine Sophie harming a fly, I’m not so certain about Martin. There’s always been something about the wolf I

here.” Hugo announces

not.” Bastien grouses derisively, “but Lila

again, they probably didn’t need them. Lila knows Sophie, and she hasn’t been separated from her parents for more than

can only pray that Selene and Lila are back together, because Goddess

an Alpha.” For a moment I fear he’ll throw something. “And

way.” I snap, I’m just as worried as you are. Your

W

I’m choking and gasping for air, clawing at

out through clenched teeth. It’s the only thing I can hold over this overbearing Alpha’s head, and I don’t care that it isn’t true. It’s enough to

looks ready to snap my neck, and for a moment real fear stabs through my conscious ness. Luckily cooler