Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 53

Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate Chapter 53

Arabella’s POV

“We have a problem.” A deep voice thunders over the phone line.

My senses sharpen, locking onto the familiar sound, “I thought everything was set for the next phase?”

“It’s not that.” My longtime ally answers. “Bastien found Selene.”

“Excuse me?” It takes a moment for the air to return to my lungs, “Selene is dead. How can he have found her?”

“It’s possible she’s not as dead as I led you to believe.” He hedges.

“What the fuck does that mean?” I hiss, “Either someone’s dead or they aren’t. Besides, you didn’t lead me to believe anything – 1 did it, not you!”

“Yes well I got cold feet!” He blurts out, “I pulled her out, alright? She’s been in Asphodel until now without anyone being the wiser.”

This is unbelievable. I always knew it was a bad idea to join forces, but I never imagined the idiot could screw things up this badly. I swear, only men make such stupid, block-headed mistakes. The bastard probably got it into his head he was in love with the little halfling and got cold feet.

“And her brat?” I demand. “She was breeding, you remember?”

“Luckily she had the sense to tell Durand the kid isn’t his.” My partner promises, “But they’ve met. She told him about your involvement, and from the looks of it, he believed her.”

I clench my eyes shut, rubbing my temples and praying for patience. “What does that mean?”.

“It means the enforcers are on their way to arrest you.” He announces solemnly, “You don’t have much time.”

My eyes snap open, darting to the window in search of flashing lights. Finding none, I begin yanking clothes and provisions from my drawers, “Is that all?”

“For now.” My friend reports, “Do you have a plan?”

I laugh without humor, unzipping my luggage with excessive force “I always have a plan.”

“So what is it, where will you go?”

“That doesn’t concern you.” I mutter icily, “All you need to know is that I’m out there, and I’m watching you. If I were you, I’d get your act together – before it’s too late.”

Drake’s POV

I’m still hanging up the phone when Bastien Durand enters, smoke billowing from his ears. I plaster a smirk on my face, determined not to show the other Alpha any weakness. I was feeling much more confident about things before Selene told him that Lila is my child.

“Hello Bastien.” | greet him coolly.

“Drake.” He nods stiffly, “We need to get a few things straight.”

“Is that so?” I snort, doing my best to pique his temper.

“Don’t bother posturing.” He grumbles, “It won’t do you any good.” Without waiting for an invitation, he drops into one of the lounge chairs in front of my desk, slouching in a show of outright disrespect. If I could afford to challenge the other wolf I might object, but we both know he’s stronger than I am.

“What is it you wish to discuss, Bastien?” I sigh.

“Selene is mine.” He declares, not bothering to look at me. “And whether or not Lila share’s my blood, she belongs to my mate, and that makes her mine too.”

“My relationship with my mate is our business, not yours.” The other wolf directs reproachfully. “We‘ll sort our issues out when the time comes, but I expect you to be far out of the way by then.”

Cold silver eyes catch me in their crosshairs, “She said she wasn’t responsible for faking her death.”

“You egotistical ass,” I scoff, “Do you really think she would tell you if she did? She was so terrified of you she fled through rogue territories to get away from you. Why in the Goddess’s name do you think she would be up front with someone who frightened her so much?

“You’re lying.” He snarls.

Bastien’s wolf claws at the surface of his skin, his eyes glowing, fangs and claws extended. His barrel-like chest heaves with shallow, furious breaths. Just as I think he’s about to explode, the fires in his eyes bank, and cold resolve settles over his powerful haunches. “I’m not as easy to manipulate as that, Cavanaugh.” He thunders, prowling around me in circles. “You think I don’t know that you‘ve been in love with her since the moment you laid eyes on her?”