Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 23

 Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate Chapter 23

#Chapter 23 Postponing the Ceremony

Bastien’s POV

The day after my father’s murder the sun rises just like it has every morning for eons. Its rays filter through the gauzy curtains adorning our bedroom windows, announcing dawn’s arrival as if this day is no different than the millions which came before.

This cannot be. Surely the sun cannot shine on a world where my father does not exist. Surely the earth cannot keep spinning when his life has winked out forever.

Yet they do. The world forges on as though nothing has changed – oblivious to the loss of one of its most remarkable creations.

I wish I could snuff out the dawn as brutally as someone did my father’s soul.

All I have left of him now are memories. Every plan we made, every expectation or imagined future is gone. We will never speak again, never go on another hunt or share another laugh. Our relationship is an artifact of the past, an unfinished book whose final chapters will never be written,

I cannot bear it.

What’s worse is I know this is only the beginning. Few wolves outlive their mates by very long, even when they die young. The grief eats them alive, wasting away their physical forms until there is nothing left. How much longer will I have my mother? How long can she survive without half her soul?

The horrible likelihood is that I will soon be without any parents at all, and I’m already losing my own mate. Though the parting may not be as tragic, it will be just as final.

My father’s death bought me one more night with Selene. She’s stretched out on top of me, her breath a warm breeze on my chest, rustling the coarse hair scattered across my pecs. Her serious brow is furrowed even in sleep and I gather her close, afraid to wake her but needing to feel her skin on mine.

Her lashes flutter, parting to reveal her stunning irises. It takes a moment for the memory of last night to rise to the surface, but I know the moment it does. Her face crumples, leaving sleep completely and replacing the sweet innocence of slumber with heart rending grief.

My pain is reflected so clearly in Selene’s eyes my heart forgets to beat. “I was hoping it was all a bad dream.”

“Me too.” I admit, running my fingers through the silky blanket of chestnut hair streaming down her bare back. “I just want to go back to sleep and stay there until this all goes away.“.

Selene does not tell me it’s never going to go away, or that I cannot hide from reality. She simply rests her cheek over my heart and forlornly whispers, “I know.”

My wolf, who has been swinging like a pendulum between sorrow and fury ever since walking into the Alpha’s office last night, quiets ever so slightly. Selene is, and has always been, the only thing that can truly soothe Axel.

“Listen,” I blurt out before I can lose my nerve, “I know the ceremony was supposed to be yesterday but…” My voice is pure gravel. “I can’t… It’s too much.”

Her small body, which had gone tense when I started speaking, liquefies. “It’s alright Bastien, the ceremony can wait until you’re ready.”

Axel and I relax in unison, but my relief is only temporary. There is one very large problem with her concession.

I’m never going to be ready.

Selene’s POV

In a matter of days Odette has gone from a beautiful, vivacious she-wolf, to an empty shell; a shadow of her former self. Bastien is scarcely better. After emerging from our apartment the day after the attack, the elder council formally recognized him as Alpha, pushing him deeper into shock and confusion.

Though we all knew Bastien was next in line for the role, pack leadership had been the farthest thing from our minds in the wake

an

#Chapter 23 Postponing the Ceremony

of the murder. It seemed distasteful and disrespectful to revoke the title from Gabriel so quickly, but the council was determined there should not be any lapses in governance.

Now, instead of taking time to grieve with his family, Bastien is trying to balance running the pack with overseeing the murder investigation, planning his father’s funeral and caring for his mother. I help him as much as I can, especially with Odette and the memorial, but there are simply not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

Bastien barely leaves his office, and I’ve heard him snarling at Aiden and Donavon more than once when they’ve attempted to coax him into taking a break. The two Betas have become so desperate they decided to call in reinforcements, worried that if he doesn’t stop soon he’ll collapse.

Unfortunately for me, I am the reinforcements.

We‘re in the kitchen and the huge men are hovering over me whispering instructions while I balance a silver serving tray in my arms. “Don’t take no for an answer.” Aiden is saying. “You don’t have to be forceful, just persistent.”

“Cry, if you have to.” Donavon adds.

“And maintain physical contact.” Aiden interjects, “it will keep him calm.”

Honestly, they’re speaking about Bastien as if he’s a wild bear. Only with great effort do I keep my eyes from rolling into the back of my head. “You do know we’ve been married three years, right?”

“You haven’t reached a stopping point in three days.” I remind him. “You‘ve got to take a break.”

Bastien freezes, pulling his gaze from his work for the first time since I entered. His silver eyes pierce straight through me. “Did you just growl at me, little wolf?

Bastien unfolds from his chair, rising up and up until he’s looming over me in all his glory. He looks angry, but his voice is warm. m always your Alpha.” He declares firmly, “But since you seem to need reminding – bring the tray.”