Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 96

#Chapter 96 Headlines

Selene

The day after we arrive home, Bastien is stuck in meetings from dawn to dusk. He barely made it home in time to read Lila her bedtime story, and when he emerges from her room half an hour later, he looks absolutely exhausted.

I’m waiting in the kitchen with a tumbler of scotch, but Bastien bypasses the alcohol completely and wraps his big body around me like a blanket. Burying his head in the curve of my neck, he pulls my hair out of its pins so that it falls around him in a chocolate cascade.

“What happened?” I murmur, brushing my fingers through his thick hair.

He inhales deeply, breathing in my scent and sighing with relief, before raising his head. There are dark circles under his eyes, but those molten irises are as sharp as ever when he studies my lips and moves in for a long, luxurious kiss.

When he’s had his fill, he tucks my head under his chin and clutches me to his chest. “Nothing bad.” He shares, though in this position I can’t see his face. “It was just a really long day.”

“What did the elder council say?” I inquire, not wanting to bombard him with questions but incredibly anxious after what happened yesterday. It seemed bad enough that the city was rallying against me, the last thing we need is for them to turn

against Bastien – and somehow I imagine strangling the Chief Elder isn’t going to earn him any brownie points.

“Believe it or not, Grigore wasn’t exactly popular with his colleagues or the people.” Bastien explains, referring to the man by his given name now that he’s been stripped of his position.

“Oh I believe it,” I snort.

Finally setting me away from him, Bastien retrieves the glass of scotch, as well as the freshly microwaved plate of leftovers ! prepared for him while he was reading to Lila.

“Apparently Arabella was working her charms on him for a while before she left, and our little welcoming committee yesterday was the result of his outrage over her exile.” He continues, moving to the dining room table.

“Working her charms?” I repeat, following him with a glass of wine in hand.

“I don’t know the extent and frankly I don’t want to.” Bastien remarks, sounding fairly revolted. “But I’d put nothing past her.”

Now I understand why he seems so put off. Grigore is about as old as dirt, the idea of anyone as young as Arabella “charming” him is disturbing – to say the least.

“Anyway, it seems Grigore’s been very busy trying to turn the pack against you ever since.” My mate goes on. “but luckily he’s so vile that most people actually sided with you because he told them not to.”

“What are you talking about?” I scoff, “it didn’t look like anyone was on my side yesterday.”

To my surprise Bastien grins, rising from his chair to collect the newspapers stacked by the door. I didn’t go anywhere near them this morning because I was convinced they would be nothing but horrid. Now my husband drops three different daily chronicles in front of me, all boasting headlines that shock me to the core.

Alpha Returns, Rids Elder Council of Chronic Plague

Attempted Murderess Arabella Winters Exposed, Alpha’s Pup Rescued by Mother’s Sacrifice

Selene Durand Alive and Well, Gifts Alpha with a Daughter

“The pack came out to watch our arrival because they were curious after all the gossip. It wasn’t an angry mob, just an interested one.” Bastien declares.

“I don’t understand,” I breathe, staring at the newspapers, “Was this you?”

“No.” He smiles, “A few of the elders got chatty with the press, but I didn’t plant or leak anything.”

“But this doesn’t make sense.” I insist. “People hated me when I lived here.”

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#Chapter 96 Headlines

“A few jealous she-wolves might have, and many didn’t trust you were strong enough to lead without your wolf – but that wasn’t dislike. In fact, I’d say the majority of people had great sympathy for you.”

“I hear you, but I still don’t trust this,” I confess. “It feels too good to be true.”

“Oh we’re not out of the water yet.” Bastien sighs, “The Council is throwing us a Banquet tomorrow, to welcome you home and introduce Lila to the pack.”

My heart sinks. Not another overly formal event full of two-faced rich people. And Lila’s expected to go? What is a toddler going to do at a banquet, how is she supposed to be introduced, it’s not like she can make a speech.

“Do we have a choice?” I moan.

“Not if we want to keep them on our side.” Bastien informs me.

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#Chapter 96 Headlines

I huff with disappointment, then look up at my husband with sudden skepticism. “Wait, if the worst part of the day was being invited to a banquet, why was it so long and difficult?”

Bastien drops his head in exasperation, “See, this is why I get angry when you call yourself stupid.” He declares ruefully, nibbling my ear. “My little wolf doesn’t miss a thing.”

“What is it?” I press.

“I sat through about ten different council debriefings, and every one was about some crisis that Grigore buried so I wouldn’t rush back to deal with the problem. Right now I think I’m less popular than you are, because a lot of issues popped up and I wasn’t here doing my job.”

He takes a deep breath, glancing at me in a way that bodes nothing good. “And it particularly concerns me, because the more time that passes, the more likely it seems I’m going to have to leave again.”

“What do you mean?” I ask sharply, “Leave again where?”

Bastien looks like he’d rather do anything than answer my question. “To the Calypso pack.”