The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 106

Rowan POV

Last night I felt the most excruciating pains in my lower abdomen and stomach, cramping pains that couldn't be explained. I had howled, to Clarissa's astonishment, forced to pull the car over, when we were so close to our destination. I couldn't explain what was going on but Clarissa had looked at me, almost with knowing eyes, as though she knew exactly what was wrong but wasn't going to tell me.

We had finally tracked Amber down to her location, having heard of a beautiful red-haired girl who was the Vampire King's guest. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous being in vampire territory, even though I had heard only good things about their king, not all vampires felt hospitable towards shifters and vice versa. It was mutual dislike our races had towards each other, but I had heard this infamous King Stefan wanted to change that. I wished him luck. My people were highly suspicious of vampires and believed them to be blood thirsty creatures with a penchant for violence. I would hate to know what they thought about shifters.

"We're almost there," I told Clarissa who was nervously drumming her fingers on the dashboard, her long blonde hair covering part of her face. She was white as a sheet and nervous, but whether it had to do with where we were or just the anticipation of seeing Amber, I didn't know.

"Do you think she's being treated alright?" she asked me nervously, biting her fingernail.

I gave her a wry glance. "If she's being mistreated I'm sure we would have heard about it. Besides, we've been told she's a guest of the vampire King himself, so I guarantee she's being treated well."

Clarissa was almost bouncing in her chair she was that excited to see her baby girl. After hearing about Sophie's death and the suspicious circumstances surrounding it, I couldn't blame her for being worried about Amber. I on the other hand didn't know how I felt. There was a yearning inside of me to see her again, to touch her one more time. I remembered the way she used to smile, on the odd occasion in my pack, and the way her green eyes sparkled. I remembered the sparks that flew between us and the tingles that would run down my spine. Stacey had ruined everything with that blasted spell of hers and now I wondered if the mate bond was still present between us. I hadn't accepted her rejection so who knew? I would feel it on my side, but would she feel it on hers at all? Even just a little?

I stopped the car, the castle just a small distance away, several vampires coming out of the woodwork. Clarissa let out a gasp, but I had been expecting this. They weren't just going to let complete strangers into the castle after all. A tall man, heavily built, with a beard and dark eyes, wrenched the car door open and bent down to peer at us. Clarissa flinched, the man glancing at her with curiosity in his eyes but no malice in his gaze.

"State your business" he thundered and I sighed, glancing around at the crowd of interested vampires.

"We're here to see a friend of ours. A Miss Amber Henderson" I told them formally "she's my friend and this woman's daughter" I announced gesturing towards a silent and shaking Clarissa who had gone even paler.

The vampires began to mutter amongst themselves, but none disputed the fact that Amber was there, which was fascinating. My ears strained to hear what they were saying to each other.

"Have to inform the King"

"Better tell them, Ted"

"Hurry up, I don't want to be out here all day"

"Get their names first, idiot."

"Our names are Alpha Rowan and Clarissa Henderson" I yelled out and the vampires shot me a scorching glance, for having the nerve to eavesdrop in on their conversation.

"Just remain where you are," the tall vampire said, coming back and folding his arms across his chest, regarding us steadily "while we inform the King of your presence. You are a shifter yes?" he asked with a crinkle of his nose. Could he smell my scent?

"Yes," I answered a bit tetchily it must be said. But damn it, Shifters were magnificent creatures and this vampire was looking at us both as if we were nothing but mangy mutts.

"Same as that girl then" he murmured to himself with a shrug.

I frowned. I guessed that he was referring to Amber but I couldn't say for sure.

A vampire came to the crowd and began to whisper urgently as the man left our side to go and speak to him. It seemed like it was a lifetime later, even though it was maybe five minutes at the most before they began to wave us through. I breathed a sigh of relief. I hadn't been looking forward to the prospect of having to fight my way through to get to Amber, I would have been beaten easily by this amount of vampires, but it wouldn't have stopped me from trying.

We drove, Clarissa gazing out the windows nervously, her eyebrows shooting up as we reached the castle and parked on the grounds. Outside there were numerous vampires, both men, women, and even children, walking around and we received quite a few interested and puzzled looks from the members. I got out of the car, but Clarissa needed to be persuaded, she was that nervous.

"I'm sure that Amber is waiting for us," I told Clarissa in an attempt to cajole her out.

She gave a huff at that and then slowly, gingerly, climbed out of the car and gently shut the door, gazing around her with nervous energy and a stricken look on her face.

"What if they attack us" she stammered.

I tried not to roll my eyes. "They aren't going to attack us. They would have done it already if that was their plan. Let's get going" I told her.

I took hold of her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She had been an alright companion on our search for her daughter, complacent and compliant to any directions I had given her. She had even directed me to a few packs where we had finally been given the piece of the puzzle we'd needed to replace Amber. I wondered how she was going to react to the news that Sophie was dead. I dreaded her mother having to give her the sad news.

The castle was magnificent to behold, a dark grey stone that stood out in stark contrast to the clear blue sky. The grounds were full of flowerbeds and flowers, roses galore, and an assortment of shrubbery and trees. The forest was nearby and I pondered for a moment, wondering how they managed to keep the castle a secret from humans. They must use a spell of some description, I thought to myself with a frown, for the castle was easily seen in the distance.

The doors were open and we wandered in, taking in the opulent surroundings and the expensive artwork and decorative statues everywhere. Clarissa's mouth was agape. The castle was easily three to four times the size of the biggest pack house we'd seen. Guards were everywhere and we hesitated, wondering where to go next. We needn't have worried though because the next thing we knew Amber was flinging herself into Clarissa's arms.

"Mother" she shrieked, brimming over with happiness, her red hair billowing behind her as she darted forward "how I've missed you" she exclaimed as Clarissa promptly burst into tears, holding her daughter tightly to her.

I stood back and observed, feeling like I was being watched by someone. My eyes lifted to see a man coming down the stairs, with shaggy dark hair and stubble on his chin, well built and tall, maybe slightly taller than myself, with an imperious and cold look in his eyes as he glared down at me. I wondered what I had done to displease him so much, or maybe it was the fact that I was a shifter. He looked to be of royal status though and I wondered if this was the infamous King Stefan.

"Mother," Amber said, sniffling into her mother's shoulders "what are you doing here?" She cast a look over her shoulder at me, a bewildered look on her face "and what is Alpha Rowan doing with you?" she asked with curiosity but no venom in her voice. I sighed with relief. She wasn't angry to see me here then, merely confused. The man continued down the stairs and stopped at the foot of it, the guards all bowing in respect. Automatically I bowed my head but refused to bow down all the way, commanding my own level of respect.

"Amber," he said softly as Amber turned to look at him, her eyes brimming with tears "perhaps this should be discussed in private" he suggested.

"Amber," he said softly as Amber turned to look at him, her eyes brimming with tears "perhaps this should be discussed in private" he suggested.

She immediately nodded, letting go of Clarissa and taking hold of the man's hand. I sucked in a breath at the sight, not realizing how painful it would be to see her touch another man, let alone a vampire male.

"Of course," Amber said respectfully, smiling at the man "mother this is King Stefan, King Stefan this is my mother," she said gesturing to Clarissa who immediately curtsied and smiled at the man. Amber pointed to me and hesitated slightly "this is Alpha Rowan" she stammered and I inclined my head to King Stefan who frowned at me.

"I think the throne room is empty," said King Stefan, tugging lightly on Amber's hand as my wolf let out a low growl inside my head, "if you would all be so kind as to follow me." We followed him upstairs, King Stefan not letting go of Amber's hand and the rest of us going single file, me behind Clarissa who gazed around the castle with wonder and awe in her eyes. We wandered through several corridors before coming to the room, King Stefan ushering us all inside and informing the guards that no one else was to be allowed in, except for his friend Dylan if he came by. I wondered who Dylan was and then sighed. No doubt I would meet him if Amber permitted me to stay for a few days. "Sorry about that, but privacy is a difficult thing to come by," said King Stefan, motioning for us all to sit at the table nearby. Amber sat beside him, making me stiffen, while Clarissa sat on one side of her and I was forced, rather grudgingly, to sit on King Stefan's other side, feeling extremely awkward and uncomfortable.

This was going to be hell, I thought miserably, wanting to do nothing more than reach out and touch Amber. She was so close to me, and yet seemed so far away as well. Was she even aware of my existence, or the yearning I was feeling? If she was, she was doing a damn good job of ignoring it.

"Mother, I am so happy to see you. I know I haven't kept in touch but I was planning to" babbled Amber "it's just things happened so quickly and then..." she trailed off apologetically.

Clarissa gave her daughter a warm smile. "It's alright darling, I understand," she said quietly wringing her hands together. She was contemplating what to say next, I could tell but it was her story to tell, and not mine. I waited impatiently for her to continue speaking. "So how did you replace me?" asked Amber leaning forward and gazing at me, a shy smile on her face "and you were so kind to accompany my mother here so she wouldn't be alone," she said, each word like a dagger in my heart. Did she honestly believe that I had done this out of the goodness of my heart?

"We got lucky" I answered honestly "someone in another pack had heard rumors of a red-haired girl called Amber being the vampire King's guest and we automatically assumed it was you."

Clarissa was sobbing quietly now and Amber looked at her stricken. "Mother," she said puzzled, glancing at King Stefan who leaned forward to grasp her hand "what is going on? What's wrong?" she asked sweetly "this is a happy occasion, isn't it?" Clarissa choked. She sobbed harder. "It's a happy occasion," she said finally, her eyes red and puffy, as she reached over and took Amber's hand "but there is something I need to tell you. It's about your sister Sophie."