Selene’s POV
However I thought this day would go, I never could have predicted this.
I’m so overwhelmed and confused I don’t even know where to begin, but the strange reality remains: I’m safe. Lila and my secret are safe from my mate, and though I cannot even begin to understand how it happened, I am eternally grateful.
This doesn’t make sense. Luna whimpers.
No, I agree, It doesn’t. But thank the Goddess it happened.
Weren’t you listening to what he said? Luna presses. He wants you, whatever else happened before, he wants you now. He wants Lila.
Well he can’t have either of us. I argue. I’ve had my fill of men pretending to be innocent, refusing to be accountable for their actions.
I can’t deny how deeply his words touched me, how deeply I wanted to believe them. I’ve dreamed about Bastien saying precisely these sorts of things to me a thousand times, but I refuse to let him hurt me again. I refuse to be the vulnerable, foolish girl who he destroyed without a backward glance.
Lila is still sleeping soundly in my arms, and though Drake continues to stand sentry at my side, Bastien is long gone. Aiden and Donovan tore out of the room after him, leaving only a few Nova guards and Odette behind.
I’ve been watching my mother in law very carefully. I’ve missed her so much: her love, her warmth, her understanding. Yet she is not looking at me with any of those things now.
Odette continues to stroke my pup’s hair and whisper soothing nonsense in her ear, and though she does not seem angry with me, neither is she calm. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve earned a lecture from Odette, but it’s clear I have one coming now.
She waits until Drake steps away from us, not wanting to be overheard. “I don’t know everything that happened between you,” Odette finally broaches when we have a semblance of privacy, “And I don’t know what’s happened since. But I do know this. My son loved you with his entire heart, and thinking you died destroyed him. You have no idea what it was like afterward.”
I clamp my eyes shut, not wanting to picture the events she describes. “You were there, Odette. You saw the way it was that last night. He chose Arabella.”
“Nothing is ever as simple as it seems, Selene.” Odette counters. “I admit, at first I thought he was crazy for accusing you of being involved with the kidnapping, but that was never what he intended. It was to appease the police, nothing else.”
I know my supposed death can’t have been easy, and I’ve always felt guilty for letting everyone believe such a horrible lie, but I also can’t apologize for doing the best thing for my pup. “You’re a mother, Odette.” I murmur, “You know what it’s like. Arabella wanted me dead, Bastien seemed to take her side, and I barely survived any of it.” I sigh. “By the time Lila came along… even knowing what I do now… I had to do what’s best for her, and that wasn’t Elysium.”
“No.” Odette agrees, “But it could be now.”
“How?” I inquire hotly, “Arabella tried to kill me over and over again, and Bastien still chose her.”
“I have news for you, Selene.” Odette announces, “Arabella has fled Elysium to avoid Bastien’s retribution over her crimes against you.”
“What?” I ask in astonishment.
“He didn’t know,” Odette insists, “and no matter how he felt about it, he would never stand for anyone threatening his mate.”
“I know that–”
“Do you?” Odette ponders, “Do you know how deeply he cares for you, wants to be with you?”
“I know that my daughter will never be safe with Arabella out there.” I combat coolly, “and I know that until she is behind bars, that can’t happen.”
Odette frowns. “I just want you to be happy, my love.”
“Then you don’t have anything to worry about.” I promise. “As long as I’m here with Lila, I’m happy. “
_______________________
It takes a while for the room to clear. Bodies slowly filter out, starting with the contingent from Elysium and eventually spreading to include the members of the Eros pack.
I’ve been waiting for everyone to get out since the moment Bastien read the test results, and the solitude can’t come too soon. “What in the Goddess’s name just happened?” I demand when I’m finally alone with Drake. “Did you do that?”
Drake frowns, “What, doctor the test results? No.” He replied simply, “I thought maybe you were responsible.”
“I didn’t have any idea.” I breathe. “And It doesn’t make any sense.” I cry, “Bastien is Lila’s father – without question.”
“You never…” Drake trails off suggestively.
“I’ve never been with anyone else,” I inform him coolly. “There had to be something wrong with the sample.”
“That or the Goddess was really looking out for you.” Drake contends.
I don’t know the truth of the matter. What I do know is that DNA won’t be the last of my problems. Bastien is no pushover, and unless I’m very mistaken, this won’t be enough. “Are you okay pretending she’s yours?” I wonder aloud.
Admittedly, Drake has always claimed Lila to a certain extent, but never like this. His reputation throughout the pack is as a fearless leader, and there are always dozens of she-wolves sniffing around him. Will those things change if he announces Lila is his daughter?
Will the she-wolves accept it and move on? Or will the more ambitious social-climbers take my daughter’s existence as a threat the same way Arabella did.
“Of course,” Drake agrees without hesitation. “I just worry how the pack will react.” He sighs, “And I worry it won’t be enough to get rid of Bastien.”
“I know,” I murmur, nuzzling Lila, “He’s attached to her already. He can feel their connection whether he understands it or not.”
“He’s not your only problem.” Drake shares ominously. “I’ve put off taking a mate so long… and our relationship…” He trails off indecisively, “There are she-wolves in Asphodel who will take this as a threat.”
“But there’s nothing actually between us!” I exclaim. “Surely they know that.”
There’s an odd look on Drake’s face: disappointment, frustration and anger entwined with his concern. I’ve worried about Drake’s feelings for me a few times throughout the years, but we’ve never been in a situation like this. His role in my life has never been questioned this way, and as much as I want to brush it aside, I can’t.
Bastien’s re-appearance is complicated for a thousand reasons, not the least of which is that he’s putting pressure on the delicate balance I’ve struck here. I don’t want anything to change, but the more time that passes, the more I fear things have already changed beyond all comprehension.
“People aren’t always that logical.” Drake broods, interrupting my thoughts. “But we have bigger problems.”
“Don’t worry about the bounty,” I try to instruct.
“No. I will worry about the bounty.” He insists, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about it and don’t you dare pretend you didn’t.”
Feeling suddenly very petulant after withstanding the disapproval of both these men, I argue, “I refuse to let fear rule my life. Our lives.” I correct, squeezing Lila gently. “I knew about the bounty,” I admit, “but it was always going to be there no matter when I went. I can’t run forever.”
“It’s not about running!” Drake corrects, “It’s about, talking to me, letting me in so I can protect you when you need it.”
“I’ve had enough of Alpha’s coddling me under the pretense of protecting me or doing ‘what’s best.”’ I argue, “I came here because I wanted to be free, not because I wanted a different wolf to boss me around.”
“I understand that.” Drake insists, “But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re facing very real dangers.” His eyes narrow. “Why does Denizen want you, anyway?”
“I can’t tell you.” I exhale, “And you don’t need to tell me about the dangers.” Honestly, do these wolves think I’m oblivious? Do they think I’m suicidal or that I don’t care about my pup. I want to avoid the Calypso Alpha more than anything, but I also know that hiding is only a temporary option. “One way or another, I have to be able to build a life for myself, Drake. I can’t do that if I’m always looking over my shoulder.”
“Maybe not,” He concedes, “But you need to, at least for a while longer.”
Drake’s green eyes are full of emotion. He’s looking at me in that intense way which never fails to make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. The Eros Alpha has never made a move or propositioned me, but the more time that passes, the more convinced I am that he has feelings for me. When he looks at me this way it seems impossible to pretend otherwise, and as uncomfortable as it makes me, it also strengthens my resolve.
Drake has been an incredible friend these past few years, and I trust his advice, but he’s far from unbiased. He’s another Alpha who wants the best for me.
But I want the best for me too.
I want the best for Lila in a way he never will.
“You have my word, I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep Lila and myself safe.” I vow, tilting my chin up, “Maybe that means I have to find a new pack, maybe it means going very far from here. But I won’t return to Elysium, and I won’t be forced to hide in my own home.” I insist.
“Alright,” Drake agrees, his features softening as he reaches one large paw to me, “I’m sorry. We’ll find a way through this,”
I settle my hand in his, smiling gently and feeling infinitely grateful for his support, “Together.”
