Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate

Bastien

“You bitch.” | growl, glaring at Arabella. Without my full memory, I can’t begin to fathom why she is doing this, but it’s clear now Arabella is not my friend. The only reason she’ seven still standing is because she has my mate, and I don’ t have the first idea how to find her in this strange city.

“Ouch, Bastien!” She pretends to pout, “You’ll hurt my feelings with talk like that.”

“Where is she?” | demand, “why are you doing this?” Axel is seething in my chest, begging me to let him out so he can put an end to this woman. It all feels impossibly strange. A few days ago I still saw Bella as Flynn’s under standably flawed little sister, now years worth of memories have reappeared in my mind all at once, and I’m seeing her more and more as an unforgivable villain.

“You know I don’t remember much about my mother,” she tells me, “but I’ve always remembered her telling me that some men needed a little bit of extra encouragement to get down the aisle. I guess what they say is right – Mom my does know best.”

“Why go through all this, just to marry me?” I demand, She tilts her head back and laughs, a light, tinkling sound. “You know this never gets old. I thought having the same conversation over and over would get really tiring, but I never cease to enjoy the way your poor memory al ways leads you to the same ridiculous conclusion.” Arabella sneers, “I suppose after a lifetime of being told you were sooo superior I’ll take any opportunity to disprove it.”

“What are you talking about?” I hiss.

“I don’t want to marry you, for you Bastien.” She an nounces sharply, “I want to marry you for your power: Nothing more.”

“And you think this will make me agree?” | demand, brandishing the phone. “Why should I play into your hands when I could just kill you now?”

“Because if you kill me, you’ll never find her.” Arabella grins, “I’m the only one who knows where she is. If I don’t go by to feed her and give her water, she and your unborn pup will die.”

“… she’s breeding?” | gape, feeling both horrified and thrilled.

“You know she’s been a lot more forgiving than I would be in her shoes.” Arabella ponders aloud. “I mean, if my mate forgot me and my pups so easily, I’d never want to go near him again.”

“That isn’t fair.” I snarl, “It’s not as if it was my choice.” Even as we stand here talking, more of my memories re turn, including Selene sharing what really happened the night she left Elysium. Unbridled fury washes over me, and it takes all my strength to keep my temper in check as Ara bella carries out her game.

“Well this is certainly going to be your choice, pretty boy.” She taunts. “You can walk down that aisle with me, or you can say goodbye to your foul little family.”

after?” | hiss. “What then? You think we’ll just go back to Elysium like nothing has changed, like you aren’t

“It’s to be flexible and adapt your plans as the

ask fiercely, “I have other ways of getting

how do you know when the last time it is I paid your little mate a visit? What if she’s dehydrating to death right now? Can you really afford to tie me up and torture me when her life hangs

that normal women – and poor selene with her severe

completely beyond my depth for what might be

Arabella challenges, “How

in this moment, but I also know the alternative to giving in to Arabella is losing my mate. I want to believe that I could track Selene even if I killed Arabella now, but I’m in

know you won’t just kill her once you get what you want?” I press, struggling to contain

no doubt she’ll die if you don’t

for the time be ing. “I’ll marry

seeing reason.” Arching her brow and adopting a mocking tone, she adds, “Get ready honey, the

mutter

a black tuxedo jacket into my arms. “The

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Selene

of my life without getting kidnapped again, I’ll

– I mean re ally, what kind of grown woman gets kidnapped more than once and still doesn’t learn her lesson? My only hope is that Helene was unharmed by Arabella’s blow, and was able to recover quickly enough to escape. My own magic isn’t do ing much to help me. Arabella seems to have had the fore sight to chain me with silver, which apparently dampens my power enough to keep me

spinning out of control. Arabella had the decency to leave me a bucket

pushing food and water through a compartment in the door, but so far he’s seemed complete ly immune to my charms. I’ve tried talking to him and con vincing him to