Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 65

 

Bastien’s POV

I close the bedroom door as quietly as I can, unsurprised to find my mate waiting on the other side. I al most smile; some things never change. My little mate seems just as prone to eavesdropping as ever, and

UU

stands with her arms coiled defensively around her body, eyeing me with apprehension.

“Still listening at doorways, little wolf?” I ask, striding forward until I’m towering over Selene and she’s forced to back away to escape my shadow.

Rather than answering, she glowers and says, “Why did you do that?”

“Do what?” | feign ignorance, “Put your pup to bed?”

“No.” She corrects me immediately. “Why did you say those things to her?”

“Because Lila wanted a bedtime story.” I shrug, watching her skirt away from me with amusement. She should know better than to run from a predator – especially her mate. I follow her at a distance, never com ing close enough to make contact, but making my intentions all too clear.

You can run, little wolf. Axel rumbles, but you can’t hide.

“What did you think of it?”

Selene is beginning to look rather distraught, like a cornered rabbit with nowhere to turn. “It sounded like a fairy tale.” She replies dismissively.

“So?” | ask, taking too much pleasure in baiting her. “What could be better for a growing pup?”

“Fairy tales aren’t real.” Selene argues, a red flush working its way up her cheeks.

I study my mate for a long moment, absorbing the blend of fear and arousal muddying her pristine scent. I can hear her pounding heart and panting breaths, and see the confusion tangling her nerves. Her pupils are great black discs, surrounded by coronas of blue and violet.

Perfect. Axel purrs in my head.

I have to agree. My mate is straddling the precipice of lust and nervousness which never fails to send my blood rushing south. It’s been too long – far, far too long – since I’ve seen her this way, and far too long since we‘ve mated. She’s perfectly primed, probably nearing her heat and pushed over the edge by my wolf s provocation. But I still must wait a little while longer.

“Why aren’t you with Drake, Selene?” | question sharply.

Completely thrown off balance by the unexpected question, Selene scrabbles for an answer before fee bly claiming, “I am.”

“No. You joined his pack, you let him father your child, but you aren’t together.” I assert, prowling near er. “He hasn’t marked you, he hasn’t formally recognized Lila as his child, and he hasn’t moved you into the Pack House until now.”

“Because I didn’t want him to.” She counters, crossing her slender arms over her chest defiantly. “I didn’ t want a mate – I don’t want a mate.” She amends, “Drake understands that. He respects it. There are no strings in our relationship.”

“And why are you so determined to live without a mate?” I inquire, “what is so terrible about strings?”

“Stop it, Bastien.” Selene pleads, “I know what you’re doing and it’s not going to work.”

#Chapter 65 Worth It

“What am I doing?” I ask innocently, stalking her skittish movements.

“You’re trying to make me think you love me, and that you’ll accept Lila no matter her paternity – so that I’ll mate with you.” She accuses, looking over her shoulder to make sure her escape path is clear.

Tracing my hand up and down Selene’s spine, I search her expression, “How, sweetheart?”

“Careful, little wolf,” | growl, tightening my grip on her small body. “I don’t mind if you eavesdrop, or push me away, or even run from me.” It takes nearly all my strength to keep the anger I’m feeling out of my voice, and I only succeed in part. “But don’t you ever, ever, accuse me of not loving you.”

I slide my hand into her long hair, tangling my fingers into a fist and tugging her head back so she’s forced to look me in the eye. “I love you, Selene.” I profess. “I have always loved you and I’m so sorry I didn’t show you enough.” I insist. “I was trying to protect myself. I didn’t think you could feel our bond without your wolf and I believed you were going to leave me.”

Selene’s black lashes fall shut, forcing out a few tears which slide in rivulets down her cheeks. Her full lower lip trembles dangerously, and I lower my forehead to hers, “And I do know you, Selene.” | murmur. “You’re my mate, I would know you anywhere.”

She shakes her head helplessly from right to left, never parting her skin from mine. “I want to believe you.” The words are so quiet, I can barely hear them.

“Why can’t you?” | press, massaging her nape and letting Axel’s purrs of encouragement vibrate in my chest.

Selene gathers in a deep breath, building up the courage to voice her fears. “Because it doesn’t make any sense.” She exclaims weakly. “You could have anyone. Why would you want me?”

A fresh burst of rage sets my blood to boil, sending the molten liquid surging through my veins with ruthless fury. My mother was right. I wish I could kill Garrick all over again for what he did to my mate. That anyone could put such wretched thoughts in her mind is enough to make me physically ill, and I want to go back in time and rip the wolf from limb to limb.

#Chapter 65 Worth It

“Look at me, Selene.” I instruct huskily, trying to keep my grip on her body gentle even as visions of dis membering her stepfather dance in my head.

It takes a minute for her to comply, but her soaked lashes eventually part, and I plummet into pools of cerulean and lilac. “That’s it.” | praise gently, petting her everywhere our bodies connect. Forcing the con nection as long as I can bear before answering her question, I finally explain, “I want you, because you are all I have ever wanted in a mate, and everything I never knew I needed.”

Selene tries to close her eyes again, but I tug lightly on her hair, prompting her to meet my gaze with out reserve, “The goddess created us for each other.” I remind her, “There could never be anyone else for me. It has always been you, Selene.”

I’m not sure whether my words overwhelmed her, or her own complicated feelings are rising to the sur face, but her eyes begin to overflow again. I let her bury her face in my chest now, wanting to soothe away her hurts even as I strive to push her out of her comfort zone. “I’m scared.” She breathes shakily.

“I know, baby.” I sigh, pressing my lips to her temple. “That’s how you know it’s worth it.”

As the last words leave my mouth, a loud rap sounds on the door. Without waiting for permission to enter, the wooden panel swings open, revealing Drake Cavanaugh at its center. His gaze is locked on Se lene, on her position ensconced in my arms and the tears in her eyes.

Tonly have a moment to react. One second Drake is watching us with disgruntled disbelief, the next he s flying at me in a fit of temper so violent his wolf bursts through his skin. I only have time to toss Selene out of the way before shifting to meet him.

Whatever his motives, the Eros Alpha just made a critical mistake. It is one thing to attack me on neu tral ground or a battlefield, it is another thing entirely to let fly when my mate still stands in the line of fire No matter what he intended, Drake Cavanaugh just gave me license to put him down – once and for all.