Pregnant And Rejected By My Alpha Mate By Caroline Above Chapter 15
Chapter 15 Want To Make Bastien Jealous
Selene‘s POV
My lungs burn as I choke on the salty pool water, trying desperately to keep my eyes open. A razor
sharp pain explodes in my chest, tearing me from the inside out. As my airway seals shut and all the
oxygen leaves my body, I feel a strange sense of peace. As if I know in my heart it‘s over now, and I
can finally rest.
As my eyes shutter for thest time, I catch a final glimpse of the mortal world: An eerie cauldron of
blue and green, dotted with the reflections of the garden‘s fairy lights. The yellow orbs are broken only
by the soft air pockets floating skyward, and then an explosion of bubbles and foam.
An iron bar circles my middle, and suddenly I‘m ascending, catapulting towards the surface. Saltwater
spews from my mouth as I burst into the fresh air. I cough violently, unable to focus on anything but
gulping in as much oxygen as I possibly can. I‘m floating towards the pool‘s edge, vaguely aware of a
warm body holding me aloft.
Half a dozen hands pull me from my watery coffin, rolling me onto my stomach so that I can expel
everyst drop of fluid from my lungs. A heavy nket settles over my shoulders, and I realize I’m
shivering like a wet chihuahua.
Familiar voices break through the haze, fussing and calling my name. I crack my eyes open to find
Odette and Gabriel sitting on my left, both bone dry. I turn my head in the opposite directing, zeroing in
on the man dripping water from every thread of his ruined tux.
His hair is so dark it‘s almost ck, and he watches me with piercing green eyes. He is not nearly so
large as Bastien, but he is undeniable air of an Alpha wolf, but I’m sure I’ve never seen him before.
He must be from another pack, I realize.
“Thank you,” I gasp, reaching for his hand.
The man sps my palm, squeezing gently. “Don‘t mention it.”
“Selene sweetheart, what happened?” Odette is hovering over me like a frenzied mother hen, distress
drawn in every line of her beautiful face.
“Give her some space to breathe, my love.” Gabriel says, scooping me up. “Let’s get her inside.“
As the crowd of guests part to let the Alpha pass, I hear my mother-inw fussing over my savior. “You
must be freezing, pleasee inside and we‘ll find you some dry clothes, Mr. Cavanaugh.”
I recognize the name; the Cavanaughs lead the Eros Pack. This man is too young to be the Alpha, but
i’d bet good money he’s next in line.
Gabriel carries me up to one of the hall’s social parlors, his mate close on his tailmanding the
various sentinels to bring nkets and dry clothes. Every inch of my body feels bruised and drained. I
never knew drowning was so painful and exhausting.
I‘m barely conscious as Gabriel deposits me on a plush settee and Odette gets to work stripping my
sopping dress from my trembling body. She bundles nkets around me, only letting the men enter the
room once I‘mpletely covered.
My mother–inw strokes my drenched hair, “I‘ll call Bastien.” She promises, retrieving her phone.
The Eros Pack heir strides into the room behind Gabriel, dressed in one of the older man‘s suits. His
hair is still wet, but no one at the party will hold that against him. “Selene,” Gabriel broaches gently,
“This is Drake Cavanaugh. Drake, meet my daughter–inw, Selene.”
“Thank you again for saving me.” My voice is a shadow of itself, weak and hoarse.
“I should be thanking you,” Drake grins, “It’s not often I get to y the hero. I might even get a few
dates out of this.”
Myugh is interrupted by a cough, but the warmth remains. This man is all light and charm – nothing
like Bastien. “I’m d I could be of help.” I reply throatily.
“Do you remember what happened?” Gabriel asks me, his salt and pepper brows furrowed.
Like I could forget.
“No.” I lie. I don’t think I can bear the embarrassment of exining the truth. “One minute I was walking
by the pool and the next was in it.
“Sweet girl,” Gabriel murmurs sympathetically, “Bastien should have taught you to swim a long time
ago.”
Our conversation is abruptly silenced by the sound of Odette‘s raised voice. “What do you mean you
can‘t?” The door to the hallway is closed, but her words are as clear as day. “Did you hear what I said?
Your wife almost died. You cannot tell me there is anything more urgent than this.”
We all pause, and I feel a familiar lump in my throat. No exnation was needed. Bastien was
choosing Arabe over me – again.
The same kindling mes I felt before confronting that horrible gossip ignited once more. Suddenly I did
not want to simply curl up and wait for Bastien toe sweep me home. No, I want to make him see
what he’s missing, and I know exactly how I’m going to do it.
*So, just so we’re on the same page, you want to use me to make your husband jealous?”
I’m standing before a mirror again, in my second dress of the night. My hair has been blown dry and
though I still feel like death warmed over, I‘m determined to rally.
Unlike the molten silver dress the pool destroyed, the emerald gown I now wear reveals far more than it
leaves to the imagination. Its silk bodice appears almost painted on and the flowing skirt is slit straight
to my hip.
“I didn‘t say that,” I hedge, smothering a smile. “But if that‘s how you want to interpret it, go right
ahead.”
“Oh I have no objections,” Drake teases, “I just want to make sure I know the n.”
I’m quicklying to like Drake. He is warm and easy-going, always ready with augh. “Well in that
case, yes. That’s about the size of it.”
Normally I wouldn‘t dream of doing something like this, ying games or seeking petty revenge for
Bastien‘s neglect. I know he cares for me as best he can, but part of me is still aching from the rejection
announcement.
“Can I ask you something?” I request, slowly working up my nerves.
“Of course.” The young wolf replies.
“This will probably sound very odd, but I don‘t know a lot about our kind.” I admit.
Drake nods, appearing suddenly serious. “I‘m aware of your history.” An apologetic look crosses his
countenance, “Gabriel notified my father when your step–father ran. He thought he might seek refuge
in our territory.”
“Ah.” I say simply. “Then it won‘te as a surprise to you that my knowledge of pack behavior and
traditions is a bitcking.” He offers me a conceding nod. “I heard something tonight I didn‘t
understand, and I wondered if maybe you could exin it to me.”
Drake raises one dark brow. “I don‘t suppose this has anything to do with the woman who pushed you
into the pool.”
Igape at him, “You saw?”
“I have to say you‘re being a lot more forgiving about it than I would be in your shoes.” He remarks
blithely.
All I can do is blink in surprise. “But you didn‘t say.”
Drake shoots me a look. “Heroes don‘t tattle. You clearly didn‘t want Gabriel to know.”
purse my lips, “I think this hero stuff is starting to go to your head.”
“What was your question, Selene?” Drakeughs.
“What’s the difference between marriage and iming a mate?” I can feel the vermillion flush heating
my cheeks.
The future Alpha does not look surprised. “You mean marking?”
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“Yes.” That is exactly the word those horrible women used.
“Well,” Drake clears his throat, “marriage is only half of mating – a legal union. But to truly im one‘s
mate, you have to mark them.”
“Like scent marking?” | rify.
“Yes.” He answers, “Only this is permanent. It‘s a bite which infuses your mate‘s scent into your body
so that it may never be washed off or covered up. Marking your mate is the ultimatemitment – it
solidifies the soul bond, connecting your wolvespletely and making it impossible to be parted.”
I can feel a lump rising in my throat. “So if someone lost their wolf?”
Drake sighs deeply, “I don‘t have an answer for that one. You‘re the only person I‘ve ever heard of
experiencing that, and I have no idea if it‘d be possible to bond with someone who has been
disconnected from their soul.”
I blink away a rogue tear. “It’s not like it matters. I may not even have a fated mate. I was just curious.”
“Plenty of people marry without marking each other, Selene. Not every union is divined by fate.” He
reminds me.
“I know.” offer up a watery smile.
Drake tsks and takes my face in his hands, brushing my tears away with his thumbs.
At that moment the parlor door swings open, and an animalistic snarl fills the air. “Take your hands off
my wife.”