Pregnant And Rejected By My Alpha Mate By Caroline Above Chapter 90


    Chapter 90 Leaving Asphodel


    Bastien’s pov


    My small family is gathered in Drake Cavanaugh’s office. Selene and I sit across from the Eros Alpha


    with L bnced between ourps, preparing to announce our departure to Elysium. I was


    anticipating a scene, given the way things went when the other man found out i’d imed Selene,


    however now I’m not so sure.


    Everything was so chaotic after the kidnapping that I didn’t pay attention to the way Drake was looking


    at Selene, but now the difference is striking. Whereas he used to eye my mate with unrequited longing,


    now he studies her with nothing but friendly warmth.


    I have a feeling I know the reason behind this sudden shift, and while I still harbor some resentment for


    the little she-wolf who helped kidnap my mate and pup, solving my Drake problem might just be worth


    my forgiveness. I know she was a victim in all this, but the fact remains that my pup almost died, and


    the father in me just can’t get past that. I know Selene feels the same.


    “I presume you’vee to tell me you’re leaving.” Drake prompts us, a sad smile on his handsome


    face.


    “Yes.” Selene confirms, squeezing my hand. Before the week is out.”


    “Well I can’t say I didn’t expect this.” Drake admits ruefully. “But I’m going to miss having you here.” He


    tells Selene, before looking down at L. “And what am I going to do without my L bean?”


    L giggles and mbers down to dart across the room. Drake scoops her up and sits her on his knee,


    bouncing her enthusiastically while her peels ofughter ring out. This timest week the sight would


    have sent me into a green-eyed rage, but I’m not bothered now that I know L is mine.


    Besides, when the girls were kidnapped Drake and I had to put aside our differences, recognizing that


    their safety was far more important than our pride or egos. I don’t think we’ll ever be friends, but I do


    consider him an ally. Our affection for the she-wolves unites us in a way politics never could.


    “Listen Drake,” Selene broaches, sounding emotional, “I will never be able to repay you for everything


    you did for me. You saved my life so many times I’ve lost count, and in helping me you saved L too.”


    She’s right. If nothing else, I have to be grateful to Drake for taking care of my mate all these years, no


    matter how badly the idea makes me want to throw something.


    “You’ve been an incredible friend to me from the day we met.” Selene continues. “I know things are a


    little difficult right now, but you have to know how grateful I am. And how much I care about you.”


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Drake’s expression goes very serious, and he looks straight at me now, “I’m sorry for the way I reacted


    to your im. It wasn’t right, and not only because of the disrespect it showed you.” His emerald eyes


    turn to Selene. “I was wrong. I thought I was in love with you, because you’re so wonderful my wolf


    couldn’t see anyone else.” He smiles, and I’d recognize that look anywhere. This is a wolf who’s found


    his mate.


    “Sophie?” I suggest, causing Selene to stare up at me in surprise, before swinging her expectant gaze


    back and forth between us.


    “Sophie.” Drake confirms, beaming. “She’s still recovering, but when the time is right..* Heat infuses his


    tone, and I can practically read his thoughts. They’re the veryst thing any man should be


    contemting when holding a pup. Clearing my throat loudly, I drag his attention back to the present.


    Selene frowns with concern, “Drake, are you sure?”


    Protectively cuddling L closer, he answers, “You know it was never her will to hurt anyone, don’t


    you?” His brow furrows with pain and anger, “Martin was hurting her for a long time.”


    “I know that.” Selene says stiffly, “And I wouldn’t me her if she’d onlye after me.” A growl


    bubbles up in my chest before! can stop it, and my sweet mate leans into my side, bombarding me with


    her scent. “But I hope you understand why I can’t forgive herpletely.”


    “I do.” Drake concedes,“Just as I hope you can understand why I can’t hold her at fault.”


    “I understand.” I announce before Selene can answer. My mate could burn down a convent and I


    wouldn’t be able to hold it against her. That’s the way of fated mates. The bond is wonderful and


    impossible all at once.


    “Thank you.” Drake bows his head.


    Selene opens her mouth to argue, and I drop my lips to her ear. “How would you feel if it were me?”


    My mate throws me a sulky look, but settles without further protestation. “There’s one more thing I have


    to ask you before we can put all this behind us.” I broach carefully.


    “Go ahead,” Drake encourages. “I don’t want us to part on uneven footing any more than you do.”


    It’s amazing how much I can respect the other Alpha when he’s not drooling over my mate. “We’re still


    not sure what happened with the DNA test.” I exin, “Did you have anything to do with it?”


    Cavanaugh looks every bit as concerned as I feel. “No, I didn’t know anything about it until the results


    came back.” He starts bouncing L again, distracting her as our conversation grows tense, “You had


    them run in Elysium, didn’t you?”


    “Yes,” I confirm, “And I know it wasn’t the courier.” Given that the courier was my mother, who just


    yesterday told me she’d figured out L was mine even before the kidnapping.


    “Maybe the sample was simply contaminated in theb.” Selene suggests, not sounding like she


    believes it.


    Shaking my head, I caress her velvety arm. “I don’t think so, little wolf.” I wish I could shield her from


    this, but she needs to know what we’re up against. “Someone in Elysium has been undermining me for


    years. I think this is more of the same.”


    “Arābe.” Selene immediately reminds me, “Arabe was undermining you for years.”


    “She was already gone by the time the sample made it to the city.” I remind her.


    “I know,” Selene agrees, “But maybe she wasn’t working alone.”


    “What do you mean?” I ask in befuddlement, “She wanted you out of the way so I would be free to


    marry her, what good would it do to sabotage me?”


    Selene’s brow knits up in thought, and I have to resist the urge to smooth out the wrinkles. She looks


    so cute, but I don’t want her to think I’m not taking her seriously.


    “Maybe we’ve been assuming the wrong motive.” She suggests. “Arabe always seemed like she was


    more interested in power than in you like you were simply a means to an end. If she wanted to control


    the Nova pack and you made it clear it wasn’t going to happen through marriage, maybe she would just


    try to get you out of the waypletely align herself with whoever has been working against you all


    this time.”


    It’s an interesting thought, and though it goes against my preconceived notions, I have to admit it


    makes sense. Arabe stoppeding onto me a long time ago, after I rejected her one too many


    times. Did I misconstrue her advances? Did I really know so little about Flynn’s baby sister?


    “Either way I think you’ve got a very serious situation on your hands,” Drake assesses, looking


    reluctant, “Are you sure going back to Elysium is the safest option?”


    Selene instinctively snuggles close to me, her unease absolutely palpable. She’s watching L like she


    wants to grab the pup out of Drake’s arms, so I press a few reassuring kisses to her temple. “We’re a


    family.” I reply, we need to be together.”


    Drake nods in understanding. “Well, you know you always have allies in Asphodel.” He grins at L,


    who is now ying with his wolf-shaped paperweight. And a second home, should you ever need one.”


    “Thank you.” Selene says again, leaving the couch to go hug Drake and retrieve our pup, “You’re


    wee in Elysium anytime.”


    “I’ll miss you.” He squeezes her tightly and hands over L, “both of you.”


    For the first time, L seems to realize she won’t be able to see her beloved uncle every day. “Uncle


    Rake’s noting to Lysium?”


    A pang of regret ms into me. We’ve told L that she’ll be moving, but I don’t think she truly


    understands. After all, what toddler could? How much is she going to miss Asphodel the only home


    she’s ever known? What if she doesn’t like Elysium? We don’t have water and exciting animals, only


    caves and endless forests.


    “No my darling,” Selene tells her gently, “but he’s going to visit. Isn’t he?” She questions pointedly.


    “Absolutely.” He agrees, kissing L’s soft cheek. “And we can talk whenever you want.”


    This seems to satisfy my pup, though I fear she still doesn’t realize what all this means. I’m thest to


    depart, hanging back with Drake while Selene takes L downstairs. “You’ll keep an eye out for the


    bounty?” I prompt.


    “Every day.” He vows, shaking my hand. “But you can’t keep this up forever, Bastien. Sooner orter


    you’re going to have to deal with ise.” His gaze shifts to the doorway through which my mate just


    exited, “They’ll never be safe until you do.”


    “I know.” I sigh with resignation. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”