Selene
The moment the car door closes and Lila is secured in her carseat, I demand, “alright, we’re in the car. Now tell me what’s going on.”
“Selene.” Donovan sighs, “I’m sorry if we got your hoped up but we haven’t heard from Bastien.”
“But-” I object, replaying our conversation in the hospital over in my head, “Aiden said the orders were coming directly from him.”
“We didn’t know you’d gone back to Dr. Kane.” Donovan explains gravely, “Bastien told us before he left that he doesn’t want you anywhere near the man.”
“Now tell her why.” Drake instructs grumpily. “Honestly, how do you expect her to know she’s supposed to stay away from people if you don’t tell her.”
“Bastien told her when he was here.” Aiden argues.
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SeleneI’m amazed at the difference one little pill can make. I feel like a completely different person now that I’ve thrown out Dr. Kane’s (if that’s truly his name) placebos. Dr. Lee’s medicines have reduced my morning sickness so much that the condition actually lives up to its name and only strikes in the morning. I’ve even put on a pound!It’s only been three days since leaving the hospital, and I couldn’t be happier to be home, even though everything else in my life is a bloody disaster. I keep trying to call Bastien every morning, but he never picks up, the line never even rings. It goes straight to voicemail.In addition to my mate’s absence and my pup’s continuous questions about where her Daddy is, the pack is all in an uproar. Apparently while I was stuck in the hospital Aiden and Donovan captured Odile, then immediately lost her. The worst part is that I think
Selene“You can’t be serious.” I drawl, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at Drake.“What?” He counters in exasperation, “She’s a powerful witch, why wouldn’t you seek her help?”“Because she’ll never work with me without knowing the source of my power.” I exclaim. After the almost kidnapping at the zoo, the Beta’s placed Lila and I on lockdown, while Drake holed Sophie up in his rooms and presumably showed her how grateful he is that she’s safe. Every time I’ve seen either of them since, they’ve been wearing dopey lovesick smiles and Sophie’s been wearing long sleeves and long pants that tell me she’s trying to hide more than a few hickeys and lovebites. On the other hand the betas were true to their promise and immediately began searching for a teacher to help me with my powers. After everything calm
When Drake and I return from meeting Helene, Lila seems like the only one who’s happy to see us. She runs over and leaps into my arms, kissing me on the cheek and immediately rattling off stories from her day. Unfortunately everyone else is gathered on the couch in front of the television, looking very somber indeed. “What’s wrong?” Drake asks, striding over to his mate and lifting her off the couch, before sitting in her spot and settling her in his lap. Sophie simply nods towards the television in answer.Oh no, I think, this must be about the kidnapping. The attempt on Lila, Sophie and I has been headline news ever since it happened, particularly because Bastien has still not reappeared. It turns out it didn’t really matter whether Frederic’s latest attempt - and we’re all certain he is the one who was behind the plot - succeeded or not. The almost disaster was plenty damning in the eyes of the pac
ArabellaAs much as I wanted to slap my supplier right in the face when he advised me to try being lovable, I can’t deny he had a point. I need Bastien to fall head over heels in love with me, and I haven’t been trying very hard thus far. After all, I have to convince him we’re meant to be together so completely that he won’t believe the truth even when his betas say it to his face. He has to be so blinded by affection that he won’t recognize his own mate if they meet again. I’ve got my work cut out for me. At least I have one advantage, which is that I know what he likes. I just have to act as pathetic and helpless as Selene, and the big idiot will fall at my feet. No one is easier to manipulate than an alpha with a hero complex, except maybe one who’s being drugged. That’s the other tool in my limited arsenal. I’ve decided to up the dosage of the memory potion a bit, so that he’s e
BastienAll I ever seem to do these days is pace. Pace, scour the news from Elysium and try to figure out what hell I’m going to do. I cannot stomach the idea of standing by and doing nothing, but Arabella gets so frantic every time I mention going back or taking action that I’ve learned to cool my temper around her. It’s strange, I’ve witnessed a thousand of Bella’s tantrums over the years, but she’s never been a cowardly wolf. No, her fits have almost always been about not getting her way, this is the first time I’ve ever seen her so beside herself out of fear. She must have been terribly traumatized to be this afraid, and things must be even worse in Elysium then I realized if she feels she has no allies there. I still find it hard to believe my mother, Aiden and Donovan would all be so easily fooled by Selene, but everything I read in the papers or see on TV backs up what Arabella says. &nbs
BastienIt’s not much of a proposal, and certainly not how I ever planned on asking a woman to marry me, but given our dire straits, it will have to do. “We’ll get married.” I say again, sharing my idea as it forms in my mind. “I’ll reject Selene, we can have the papers sent from here via courier.”“She’ll never sign.” Arabella argues, even though her doe eyes wide and hopeful.“She won’t have to.” I announce, “with all the crimes she’s guilty of, we can get the marriage annulled. It’s not a true union if one party is tricked into it, and regardless I’m the Alpha.” I remind Arabella. My elite status gives me privileges even my spouse doesn’t enjoy. “She doesn’t have to agree to being rejected, as long as I want it.”“You’d really do that?” Arabella asks in awe. “Tr
SeleneI don’t think I’ll ever get used to people recognizing me on the street, as if I’m some sort of celebrity rather than a girl who spent 8 years alone in a basement with no one for company but my trapped wolf. Now it’s impossible for me to go anywhere without being recognized.Even now, as rain falls in sheets around me and I’m bundled up against the crisp chill of the autumn air, walking down the street is a veritable minefield. Half of the people who stop me merely wish to offer me congratulations on the new baby, but the other half pepper me with questions about Bastien’s whereabouts. I’ve almost reached the hospital when a reporter catches me, running forward with a microphone and camera crew in tow. “Selene, I’m Katrina Davies from the Evening Standard, do you have a moment to speak with us?”“I can spare a moment,” I agree, unsure of whether this is
FredericWell this is interesting. I didn’t think Selene had it in her to stand up for herself, clearly the betas and Drake have been a worse influence on her than I realized. On the other hand, she is here, and that gives as an opportunity to help her see the error of her ways.“What do you mean?” I ask, spreading my hands in front of me and inviting her to continue.“Don’t give me that.” Selene snaps, “You just publicly challenged my husband.”Goodness, she can be feisty when she wants to. My wolf growls. Just another bad habit to train out of her. I think back. There were always bound to be a few. And look, she looks much better, she must have figured out about the pills. My wolf points out, sounding even more irritated than before.I too have to admit that’s a problem. I had been hoping she’d miscarry without the right dru