Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 20

 Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate Chapter 20

#Chapter 20 Bastien And Arabella Buy Rings

Selene’s POV

Drake sits across from me, appearing surprised but sympathetic as he processes my revelation. “Bastien doesn’t know?” He asks.

“No.” I confirm simply, “And he’s not going to find out.” I rub the back of my neck, “Our situation has always been complicated, but Bastien is a good man. If he found out the truth he would never go through with the rejection, and I won’t have him stay with me out of pity or obligation.”

“For what it’s worth,” Drake offers kindly, “I think he’s a fool for wanting to reject you at all.”

“Then you’re one of the few.” I reply honestly.

He frowns, “Is the baby the reason you’re leaving?”

“It’s the reason I realized I had to go,” I confess, “But in all honesty I don’t think I could have stayed either way. I don’t want to watch Bastien marry someone else.” Hot tears burn my eyes, “And I’m sick of being the pack side show. I need a fresh start, someplace where nobody knows me. Where my baby and I can be safe.”

Drake squeezes my hand. “I understand.” I swipe at an escaped tear and he offers me his napkin. I take it with appreciation, dabbing my eyes. “If you want to come to Asphodel, I will help you in any way I can. We’ll find you a place to live, a job, we’ll introduce you to the pack as a distant cousin and never mention the Novas at all.”

I blink in surprise, a kernel of hope blooming in my chest. “What about your father?”

“My father is getting older, most pack business has been under my control for a few years now.” Drake explains. “If I tell him it is important we help you, on your terms, he will respect my decision.”

“I don’t understand why you would do this for me.” I state warily.

“Has the world truly been so cruel to you that kindness is cause for such suspicion?” From anyone else the words might have sounded self-righteous or judgemental, but from Drake they merely sounded aggrieved.

“Yes.” I confirm icily, “It has.”

He frowns deeply, taking my hand again. “I’m sorry, Selene.” He professes, “It won’t have to be that way for much longer.”

“Truly?” I ask in disbelief.

“Truly.” He vows, “Have you thought about how you want to do it?”

“How I’m going to leave, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“Not really, I’ve mostly been thinking about the after” part of the equation.” I wince at my own shortsightedness.

“That’s alright.” Drake insists.

“It has to be soon.” | announce abruptly, “before he can figure out that I’m with pup.”

“Don’t worry.” He advises, “We’ll come up with a plan together. By this time next week, it will be like you were never here.”

1 Day Until the Rejection Ceremony

The day before our rejection ceremony | slip away to Elysium’s shopping center, intent on purchasing new clothes and supplies for my imminent departure. Drake and I talked for many hours on Sunday, laying out plans for my flight from Elysium.

He helped me realize that slipping away in the night would not be enough to truly escape. As I already suspected, Gabriel and

Bastien’s sense of responsibility for my wellbeing would result in a search, one that would extend into Eros territory and may not be thwarted by the Alpha’s protection alone.

If I truly want to be free of my past, I must sever myself from it completely, leaving no room for doubt or second guesses among those I leave behind. It had not been easy for Drake to convince me to fake my death. After all, I do not want to hurt the people! love with such a cruel lie, but in the end I saw that there is no other way.

Through the shining glass window of a high end jewelry store, I can clearly make out Bastien and Arabella bent over a jewelry counter, wide smiles on their faces.

Perhaps it is the fact that our rejection is still before us. Bastien and I are still married for the time being, and it seems wildly insensitive and disrespectful for them to be publicly advertising their relationship this way.

“We are still married you know,” I remind her hotly.