Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 75

Selene’s POV

The Lethe bridge is suspended over the turquoise waters of the lagoon, its silver cables and solid deck reflected in the crystalline surface. A few meandering shifters and workers on late lunch breaks are scat tered along the length of the bridge, none of whom look anything like the rogues I imagined.

Unease seethes in my belly. This feels wrong. Granted, I’ve experienced nothing but pure anguish since Lila was taken, but this is different. Something about this meeting seems off, though I can’t put my finger on any one thing in particular. It’s partly the lack of visible suspects, but I also can’t believe the kidnappe asked for a meeting in such a public place, and in broad daylight too.

And why wasn’t there a ransom? Why did they only ask for a meeting?

I’m still standing at the mouth of the bridge, scanning the long structure for likely suspects, but finding none. Suddenly a soft voice sounds behind me, and a familiar scent ripples through the air. “Selene?”

.

I whip around, my heart skipping a beat as I lay eyes on the speaker. My brow furrows, this isn’t what expected. I’d recognize the lovely hazel eyes and strawberry blonde hair anywhere, but they are terribly out of place in this moment. “Sophie?”

Her eyes are red-rimmed and a dark bruise is blooming over her high cheekbone. My first instinct is worry, but then I smell Lila. Sophie smells like my pup – and that can only mean one thing. My disquiet flourishes into fresh anger, and my eyes narrow to slits, “You?”

She immediately begins shaking her head. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Tears well in her eyes, “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Where is my daughter?” I hiss.

“She’s safe.” Sophie promises with a hiccup. “I only wanted to talk to you… to convince you to leave Drake.”

Fire explodes from deep within, and Luna begins clawing to get out. The instinct to shift – to attack – is almost undeniable. “You kidnapped my daughter because of a silly crush!?” I thunder.

“I didn’t… I don’t…” She sobs helplessly, unable to conjure an explanation for her insane plan. I’ve known how Sophie feels about Drake for a long time, and until now she’s had my sympathy. If anyone understands unrequited love, it’s me. However this is too far, much too far,

“Splitting us up won’t make him love you, Sophie.” I snap harshly. “We’re not even together.”

“I saw you kissing!” She bursts out, looking as if she wants the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

I breathe in a heavy sigh, trying to find patience. I’m no longer terrified for my pup’s life, but I won’t re lax until I have her back. “No. I ducked his kiss, and it will never happen.” I share, brushing my hair back to expose Bastien’s mark. “I already have a mate, I don’t need another.”

Sophie’s eyes widen in horror, “But… Lila… it’s all over the pack that she’s his.”

.

Suddenly I realize my blunder. I can’t keep up the lie about Lila’s paternity and also maintain that Drake and I have never been together, but my daughter’s safety comes first. “She isn’t.” I announce coolly.

The other woman’s lip is trembling fiercely, and she’s slowly folding in on herself, “I’ve been so stupid.” She shudders as if invoking the name of a demon, “Martin… He said…”

The fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “Sophie, how did you get that bruise on your cheek?” I interrupt, a sickening feeling in my stomach. I’ve only met Martin twice, but I’ve never liked him.

*Chapter 75 The Meeting

As I look at Sophie now, the clues begin to fall into place. A suspicious number of injuries over the years, her skittishness, and discomfort around any men but Drake.

Sophie averts her eyes and shakes her head, looking so utterly deleated that my heart opens for her – just a crack. I’ve been a man’s prisoner, I know exactly how horrifically they can twist your thoughts and feelings. My fury ebbs slightly, followed instantly by a great resurgence of terror, I take Sophie by the shoul ders, giving her a little jerk and pulling her eyes up to mine. “I need you to tell me where my daughter is.” || insist. “Right now.”

My heart stops beating as the other woman begins to reply, the very last words I wanted to hear al ready on her lips, “Martin-”

“I should have known you’d bungle this.” A snide voice interrupts her. We both turn to find her brother leaning against the railing, malice glittering in his eyes.

Sophie hasn’t, but I have. “You didn’t bring me here for any promise,” | assert hoarsely, “You left that note to get me away from the Alphas.”

Crashing in so violently that the door comes off its hinges, I scour the set of familiar rooms, scenting the air for traces of shifters who do not belong. I catch only the tiniest hint of an unfamiliar wolf. The aro ma is completely separate from my mate’s, and I don’t think they were actually near each other.

There are no signs of a struggle, no knocked over furniture or broken vases. Everything is as it should be, appearing exactly as we left it. Everything except for a single piece of parchment on the coffee table.