The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 116

Amber POV

I can't believe it. I just can't. What are the odds my mother would replace her second chance mate and that he would be a half-vampire for heaven's sake? It's' so exciting. Also, adorable and cute and so many other words to describe it. I'm about to go and replace Stefan, heading to his study when there is a commotion at the door. I glance towards it with interest and my eyes widen as I see none other than Darius standing there, wrestling with several vampire guards.

Was he insane? He was going to get himself bitten or worse, his head ripped off if he didn't stop, I thought to myself, rushing toward him. The guards looked grim, wrestling him to the ground and forcing his arms behind his back, about to put cuffs on him when I stopped them. "Stop, he's a friend" I cried and they glanced toward me, reluctantly letting go and stepping backward. Stefan appeared on the scene, Rowan right behind him.

"Darius, what on earth are you doing here?" I asked him as he awkwardly got to his feet and glowered at the guards. He stretched out his arms and legs, shaking them off and looking pleased with himself.

"I came to see you of course" he muttered but before he could say anything else, Stefan cut in.

"Take him to the dungeon," he said abruptly.

Rowan glowered at Darius, folding his arms across his chest and staring at the other man who blanched from the look in Rowan's eyes.

"Stefan" I protested, turning to him "you can't put him in the dungeon. He hasn't done anything wrong" I exclaimed.

Stefan looked displeased, arching an eyebrow at Darius. "He better have a good reason for coming here to see you" he spat out, Rowan nodding alongside him. Since when had those two become so friendly I thought to myself astounded. The last I had seen of them together they had despised each other. Now they were acting like the best of friends.

I placed a hand on my stomach, breathing deeply. Lately, I had been experiencing cramps and have been told by the hospital they were known as fake labor or Braxton hicks. It didn't stop them from being painful though and I winced from the pain, something that Stefan noticed immediately. "I think we should take this conversation to the study," he said grimly, motioning towards Rowan and Darius who smirked at him. We began to walk towards the study, Stefan holding my hand as we wandered, while Rowan rubbed soothing circles on my back behind me. I waited for Stefan to get mad at him, or to snarl at Rowan but to my surprise, he didn't even seem to notice the man had his hands touching me. Darius brought up the rear.

We filed into the study and Stefan sat me down in the armchair, while Rowan sat pointedly in the other one, leaving Stefan to sit behind his desk and for Darius to remain standing.

"It's come to my attention that you bypassed security protocols in order to get to the castle," Stefan said heatedly, skewering Darius with a glare "when you could have simply driven up to my guards and demanded entry."

Darius shifted on his feet. "I wasn't thinking," he said dryly "I just wanted to see Amber so badly" he added with a large exhale.

"About that" Rowan said wryly "why would that be? Would it be to tell her about her sister's death," he asked, leaning forward as Darius gave a nervous gulp.

"So you already know," he said softly, tears pricking the corners of his eyes "that I lost Sophie Amber, I'm so so sorry" he choked out, his voice sounding strangled.

"Mother told me," I said softly "we have the person responsible for her poisoning in the dungeon right now" along with Elaine, I thought idly to myself. Something that was probably not the best combination, unless Stefan had freed her since she'd been placed there. I hadn't seen the woman walking around the castle lately though.

"Do we though" growled Rowan, c*****g his head and looking straight at Darius "because my gut tells me that you had something to do with it as well" he scoffed.

Darius looked insulted. There, I thought to myself triumphantly, I knew he couldn't have done it. But then, why did he look so uncomfortable?

"Excuse me" he hissed "but I can assure you that I had nothing whatsoever to do with Sophie's death. I mourned her loss and I still do" he added with a low growl.

This was getting out of hand, I thought idly to myself, glancing at Stefan who was merely watching Rowan and Darius, his black eyes revealing nothing. I wondered what he was thinking. Was he angry that Darius had turned up? Did he blame me for this? Was he worried on my behalf?

"Prove it" snapped Rowan "I know you're the one who released Stacey from my prison" he snarled "and when I get my hands on you" he threatened lowly.

Darius puffed his chest out, not intimidated by Rowan in the slightest. "Are you going to keep insulting me" he demanded "because if that's the case, then I guess a fight is in order" he added.

Rowan laughed out loud, the sound echoing throughout the empty room "Like the last time" he challenged and Darius fell silent. I gaped at the two of them, feeling annoyed that they were fighting with one another.

"Would you two cut it out?" I said tiredly and both men fell silent.

I fidgeted in my chair, trying to get comfortable, feeling sweat bead on my brow. I was feeling nauseous, and tired. I hadn't slept peacefully in days, due to what was happening with Rowan and the fighting between him and Stefan, not to mention the surprise of the mate bond between us three.

"Darius, why don't you just tell the truth? You didn't just come out here to see me, what else is going on" I demanded.

He hesitated for a moment, glancing around the room and avoiding my eyes. Whatever it was, it was important for him to have come all this way.

"It's about custody of the baby," he said and I sucked in a gasp.

I should have realized he would have come about that, especially now that Sophie was gone, I thought dismayed.

"I um, know that I agreed to sharing custody, but I've changed my mind," I told Darius who looked flustered and disapprovingly at me.

"Well that's unfortunate," he said lightly "because I don't intend to give up custody of the baby. I want full custody Amber," he said and I stared at him incredulously, fighting the the urge to reach over and slap him. Was his grief making him act this way? IT had to be. The Darius I knew would never do anything to hurt me like this. I was stunned, speechless, unable to utter a sound. How could he do this to me?

Stefan slammed his hands down on the table "that's never going to happen" he snarled "because that baby is the heir to my kingdom and so help me god I will end you if you try to take the child away from me or Amber."

"Besides," Rowan said evenly, leaning back in his chair, an amused look on his face "that baby that Amber is carrying, happens to be mine."

Now I was dreaming, I thought to myself hazily. There was no way that Stefan and Rowan were working in cahoots with each other.

Darius gave a low growl of frustration "I happen to have it on good authority that the child is mine and I will make Amber have a paternity test to prove it if I have to."

Tears formed in the corner of my own eyes.

"Darius" I pleaded "please don't do this. Haven't you put me through enough?"

He sighed and glanced at me, looking apologetic but resolved "my parents want to hold their grandchild and that child would also be the heir to my pack" he said, looking pointedly at Stefan who was frowning "I'm afraid that I can't budge on this. It either gives me full custody, or I'll be forced to prove your an unfit mother."

I was shocked at the insult but not as much as Rowan and Stefan who both got to their feet, making their way toward Darius.

"Stop" my voice cracked and they did, Darius edging backward slightly "it's not worth it Stefan and Rowan. Darius I won't give you full custody, and" here my voice grew stronger "I'll be damned if you ever call me an unfit mother again" I snarled, getting to my feet and regarding my ex with hatred in my eyes.

He blanched. "I'll get my lawyers involved" he threatened.

"Do that?" I told him quietly "because Stefan also has lawyers and so does Rowan" I added, Rowan, looked pleased I had included him.

Darius noted the two men glaring at him and then glanced down at the nape of my neck, his eyes widening in disbelief. "You have two marks on your neck," he said in awe "but that means" he glanced between Stefan and Rowan, realization dawning in his eyes "you have multiple mates" he finished weakly.

I don't know what gave me the courage to say it or to embrace it, but I did. I stepped forward and grabbed hold of both Rowan and Stefan's hands "I do have two mates" I said sincerely "and that means you have no chance in hell Darius, so I would give it up. We can have dinner and discuss this civilly instead" I said, clutching their hands tightly, "but that's as much as I'm willing to do."

Darius nodded slowly. "Fine, let's discuss this at dinnertime," he said calmly "but Amber"

"I think you should leave now" I cut in "go to the kitchen or something, I want some time alone with my mates."

Darius gaped but had the sense not to say anything, instead turning on his heel and storming out. I shut the door behind him and locked it, breathing heavily. Rowan and Stefan stood side by side, identical grins on their faces.

"So we're both your mates then" Rowan drawled as I looked helplessly between them both "is that right Amber?"

I swallowed hard, feeling my heart beat loudly in my chest and my body beginning to tremble. I coughed, trying to clear my throat.

"Well, the thing is" I squeaked and Stefan stepped closer, his eyes glowing as he took a hold of my face in his hands, bending down and pressing his lips to mine in a possessive manner, making me moan into his mouth as he became more insistent and passionate, Rowan standing there patiently, looking on.

Before I could understand what was happening, Stefan suddenly broke the kiss off, and then Rowan was there, kissing me roughly, his hand gripping the back of my hair, his tongue diving inside in a rough and primal way that had my juices flowing. I moaned, feeling the sparks, wondering where Stefan was, and then just as suddenly Rowan broke the kiss off and then stepped back, looking pleased with himself.

"What's going on?" I gasped and they grinned at each other, facing me knowingly.

"We talked about it," Stefan said smugly

"And we're willing to share" cut in Rowan calmly.

My mouth fell open. Just like that, I thought dazedly, they were willing to share me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to feel indignant or flattered.

"The thing is," Stefan said quietly, c*****g his head at me "that both of us love you and don't want to live without you. The only solution that either of us could come up with, was to be willing to share you." "What if I'm not" I whispered and they looked at each other, concern in their eyes.

"Then I guess you reject us both," said Rowan casually and both waited, arms folded across their chest for me to answer.