Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 10

Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate Chapter 10

#Chapter 10 Arabella Falls Down the Stairs

Selene’s POV

The steady beeping of a heart monitor greets me when I wake, along with the uncomfortable sensation of needles embedded in my arms. My eyes flutter open, and slowly the sterile white walls of a hospital room take shape around me.

Bastien is already by my side.

“What happened?” I mutter drowsily.

“You had a very high fever.” He tells me, brushing a lock of hair away from my face. “I told you we needed to go to the ER but you were very determined to stay on the floor.” if I imagined a hint of a smile on his lips, it was long gone by his next words. “You fought me like a hellcat and managed to smash your head into the bathroom mirror.”

The beeping next to me speeds up as my anxiety surges. I might not remember it, but I know exactly why I fought him so hard Bastien glances at the machine, mistaking the cause of my worry, “It’s alright.” He promises gently. “There wasn’t any serious injury, just a concussion and a few scrapes.”

“What else did the doctor say?” Please tell me he doesn’t know. Please, please, please.

“Whatever stomach bug you had dehydrated you so much that fever set in. They’re going to pump you full of liquids and send you home.” Bastien explains. My pulse was just starting to slow when he caught me with a look I know only too well. “And when we get there you and I are going to have a little talk about trying to treat your own illnesses,” His voice lowers a full octave,” and biting,”

“Biting?” I squeak.

He nods ominously, “you were very naughty.”

I shrink instinctively beneath his scrutiny. Whatever else has happened between us, at the end of the day he is still my Alpha, and I disobeyed him – attacked him. “How much trouble am I in?”

To my surprise Bastien smiles and raises my hand to his lips, pressing soft kisses to my knuckles. “You aren’t. You scared the shit out of me.” He admits, “I’m too relieved you’re all right to be angry.”

I open my mouth to protest his teasing, but relief dissolves the words from my tongue. I feel a rush of affection for this man, the father of my child. If I was as sick as he makes it sound, he may have saved our lives.

“Thank you for taking care of me, Bastien.” He looks as if he’s about to wave the words away, but I latch onto the hand still holding mine. “Not just for today. For every day over the last three years, I never would have survived without you and I,” I have to pause so I don’t get choked up, I will be eternally grateful that you were in my life.”

“You never have to thank me for taking care of you, Selene.” He answers, his earlier warmth receding as he releases me. “It’s my

job.”

His words send ice through my veins, erasing the warmth of a moment before. Of course, that’s always what this was to him. I’ve never been anything but an obligation, a duty. An Alpha couldn’t throw a helpless young wolf to the elements, not after a pack member took them captive. His guilt and responsibility forced him into this marriage, and if I’m not careful the same qualities could force him to stay for the baby.

I have to find out what the doctors found, what they told him. A spike of terror seizes me, have I lost it? Is that why he doesn’t know? The heart monitor speeds up again and I do the only thing I can: pray to the Goddess I’m wrong.

Bastien has gone to find us some food when I see a doctor approach the nurse’s station outside my room. I rise from bed as quickly as I can, hurrying out of my room and pulling my IV behind me. “Excuse me, are you my physician?”

The man turns to face me, looking mildly surprised. “Mrs. Durand, you really shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“Please, I feel fine, and I need to speak with you alone.” I beseech him.

Bright blue eyes survey me thoughtfully. “As you wish,” he gestures toward the corridor, moving us away from the main desk. “Is

everything alright?” He asks.

“I don’t know.” I admit nervously. “My husband said I hit my head and was dehydrated, but I know you must have run tests and things.” I trip over my words, “That is to say – I mean, I wanted to ask you…”

Sensing the direction of my thoughts, he raises a pacifying hand. “Do not worry, your baby is in perfect health.”

A weight I didn’t realize existed lifts from my shoulders. “Thank you,” I breathe, “But that’s only half of it. From what my husband said… well, it didn’t sound like you told him.”

“No, I didn’t.” He answers with an easy smile.

I blink, confused. “Why not?”

“Mr. Durand brought you in talking about a stomach virus.” The young physician’s dark brow furrows. “It was very clear he did not know about the pregnancy.” He explains, “I did not tell him for two reasons. First, because you are my patient, not him. You may be married and he may be the future Alpha, but we still have doctor patient confidentiality. The only exception is a medical emergency in which you are not able to speak for yourself. That was not the case here. It wasn’t medically necessary, so I did not feel it was my place. You should be the one to tell him when you’re ready.”

Relief courses through me and my cheeks split with a wide grin. “Thank you.”

“That said,” The doctor raises a cautioning finger, “You have to be very careful not to let yourself get dehydrated like this again. What you’re experiencing is not simple morning sickness, but a serious condition causing extreme, persistent illness throughout pregnancy. It can result in dehydration, weight loss, nutrition deficiencies – you’ll need to keep a very close eye on it.”

My heart sinks. “You mean this isn’t going to go away until I have the baby?”