3 Days Until the Rejection CeremonySelene’s POVI haven’t seen or spoken to Bastien since the night of Gabriel’s birthday party, despite my efforts to get in touch with him.I barely slept that night, though I never sleep well without Bastien. I tossed and turned, wondering where he’d gone, what had happened. It’s clear to me that he was drugged, but I cannot even begin to understand everything that happened between us in those few short hours. All I know is I’m done.The last few weeks have been a blur, more confusing and eventful than any since we married. I can barely think straight with everything that is going on, but I think I’ve finally understood that Elysium – and the life I’ve lived here – is in the past.I was never meant to stay here forever. I do not belong, and this chapter of my story is ending fast. Our rejection ceremony is in three days; after that I will start fresh somewhere new.My selfish heart wants nothing more than to spend every last second of my remaining t
Selene’s POVDrake sits across from me, appearing surprised but sympathetic as he processes my revelation. “Bastien doesn’t know?” He asks.“No.” I confirm simply, “And he’s not going to find out.” I rub the back of my neck, “Our situation has always been complicated, but Bastien is a good man. If he found out the truth he would never go through with the rejection, and I won’t have him stay with me out of pity or obligation.”“For what it’s worth,” Drake offers kindly, “I think he’s a fool for wanting to reject you at all.”“Then you’re one of the few.” I reply honestly.He frowns, “Is the baby the reason you’re leaving?”“It’s the reason I realized I had to go,” I confess, “But in all honesty I don’t think I could have stayed either way. I don’t want to watch Bastien marry someone else.” Hot tears burn my eyes, “And I’m sick of being the pack side show. I need a fresh start, someplace where nobody knows me. Where my baby and I can be safe.”Drake squeezes my hand. “I understand.” I s
Day of the CeremonySelene’s POVMy fingers anxiously trace the flowers embroidered into the bodice of my wedding gown. It’s a delicate white confection, so weightless and ethereal I look more like a wood nymph than a bride.I remember the day we chose it, Bastien and I. It was the first dress we found that did not completely overpower my waifish frame three years ago. We tried countless others first, but the moment I stepped into the gossamer fabric I knew, and Bastien’s face said it all.This is the way of rejection ceremonies: Marriages end as they begin.We will wear the same clothes, meet at the same moonlit altar with friends and family looking on; we’ll even play the same music. Yet instead of vows to love and keep each other we will vow to part. Instead of exchanging rings we’ll remove them, and instead of shifting to run together beneath the stars, we’ll divide, forging new paths in directions of our own choosing.Of course, Bastien and I never ran together in the first place
Selene’s POV“Selene, are you ready?” Odette is knocking on the dressing room door, her kind voice unusually somber.“Yes.” I call, smoothing my skirts. “You can come in.”The door pushes open, and my mother-in-law’s lovely face peeks inside. She sidles through the narrow opening, approaching me with a wistful expression. “Oh my darling.” Odette murmurs bleakly, her eyes shining as she studies my reflection. “I really thought you two would make it.”“I thought we might too” I admit, keeping my gaze high to ward off tears. “For a while.”Her hand closes around mine, squeezing gently. “What happened, Selene?” She asks gently.All at once it hits me that I’m not merely losing my husband, but the only parental figures I’ve known since my mother died. I swipe at an escaped tear, “It’s what Bastien wants.”Odette frowns, the edges of her warm brown eyes crinkling beneath the weight of her drawn brows. She opens her mouth to speak but before any words can escape, all the blood drains from he
Bastien’s POVThe day after my father’s murder the sun rises just like it has every morning for eons. Its rays filter through the gauzy curtains adorning our bedroom windows, announcing dawn’s arrival as if this day is no different than the millions which came before.This cannot be. Surely the sun cannot shine on a world where my father does not exist. Surely the earth cannot keep spinning when his life has winked out forever.Yet they do. The world forges on as though nothing has changed – oblivious to the loss of one of its most remarkable creations.I wish I could snuff out the dawn as brutally as someone did my father’s soul.All I have left of him now are memories. Every plan we made, every expectation or imagined future is gone. We will never speak again, never go on another hunt or share another laugh. Our relationship is an artifact of the past, an unfinished book whose final chapters will never be written.I cannot bear it.What’s worse is I know this is only the beginning.
Selene’s POV“What is this?” I choke, my heart racing as I stare down at the reward flier.“Nothing.” Bastien reaches for the paper, but I lean back over the armrest until I’m on the verge of falling. I may not be able to extend my arms past his reach, but I trust he’ll choose catching me over reclaiming the page.Luckily he does exactly that, clamping his hands on my hips to keep me anchored while I twist my body away from him. “It’s clearly something.”“Selene, stop that.” He admonishes, pulling me back into the chair, “You’re going to hurt yourself.”With a huff I obey, waving the flier in front of his nose. “How long have you known about this? Where did you find it, how long has this been going on?”Bastien sighs, “Sweetheart this is why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you to worry for nothing. I’m handling it.”“If it were nothing you wouldn’t need to handle it.” I reason sharply, squirming to escape his lap and failing. “And what exactly does that mean? How in the Goddess’s nam
Bastien’s POV“What the hell are you talking about?” I hiss.“Hey, I was surprised myself,” Rafe answers snidely. “I thought you were finally ready to bury the hatchet, but from the looks of it you Novas are every bit as inbred and backward as I always thought. Can’t even throw a funeral without things devolving to bedlam.”I brush off his insults, “No one invited you, Everhart.” I announce, mentally tracking my enforcers as they covertly move in, surrounding our assailants on all sides.“I beg to differ.” Rafe quips, pulling an embossed parchment from his jacket and extending toward me.Keeping one eye on the goading Alpha, I accept the paper, unrolling it swiftly and scanning the contents within. Sure enough, it contains an exact copy of the official invitations sent around to various packs and allies over the last few days, complete with my signature.I pass the parchment to Donavon. “Unfortunately I must tell you that this invitation is not genuine.” I force the words out between
Selene’s POVI glance around the council chambers anxiously, wondering if anyone will step forward to challenge Bastien for control of the pack. The council can’t force him to step down as Alpha, but if he loses a fight to a stronger wolf he won’t have a choice.I doubt there is anyone in Elysium strong enough to take on my husband, but this isn’t only about winning. Perception is everything. Whether or not someone can actually succeed, pack members challenging Bastien means they’ve lost confidence in his leadership, that they believe he is weak enough to unseat.Seconds drag on like hours, mutters swarming like angry bees as Bastien turns on the spot, staring down the complainers until the chamber finally falls silent. I breathe a sigh of relief. Whatever they might say behind closed doors, when push comes to shove no one is brave enough to actually take on the Alpha.Once he’s certain no one is going to speak up, Bastien turns back to the council. “There you have it gentlemen. You m