The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 83

Amber POV

I woke up, my eyelids fluttering, staring up at the dark ceiling of the cave. The man, who was tied down next to me, smiled with relief to see me awake. "Thank god" he breathed, "are you alright?"

I frowned at him, sitting as upright as I possibly could considering that I was restrained. "I've been better" I admitted as he shook his head, looking at his restraints with a grim expression on his face and testing them. They made a loud clattering sound as he let out a low growl of frustration.

"My name's Amber" I whispered shyly, "what's your name?"

He stopped moving and bowed his head. "It's King Stefan" he growled, "Stefan to you."

I nodded shyly. What does one say to a mate they've only just met and this time not under conniving circumstances? I opened my mouth to begin when I heard the vampire king hiss, the sound of footsteps approaching. "Great" Stefan murmured, "they're back."

It was the blonde-haired-dread-locked Jordan who approached, grinning widely. He glanced over at the vampire king who was now struggling widely with his chains. The children in the corner were fast asleep, tear stains on their cheeks. Evidently, they had cried themselves to sleep. I was disgusted that they would treat children this way and resolved to get the children free when I could.

"Stress less," Jordan said wickedly to Stefan. "The Alpha doesn't want you, he wants her," he said firmly, pointing towards me.

I sucked in a breath, knowing full well why I might be wanted by the Alpha and I would be damned if I did what he wanted. Jordan leaned down over me and began to undo my restraints with a key. The fool was alone, to my astonishment. Perhaps he considered me to be weak due to being a female or he thought he was safe simply because of the sheer number of shifters out there. Or maybe he thought I wouldn't have the nerve to do what I did next.

My leg shot out, kicking Jordan right in the nuts. He opened his mouth to let out a howl and I headbutted him, sending him careening backward. A roundhouse kick to the chest sent him to the wall of the cave where he hit his head and slid down to the ground unconscious. The key was on the floor, gleaming in the darkness and I bent down to pick it up, glancing over at a very impressed mate of mine.

"Well done" he growled as I hastily let him free, before going over to the children and waking them up quietly.

"Come on guys, wake up. We need to go", I cajoled them, as they both sat up and rubbed their eyes, blinking as they looked around the cave wide-eyed.

"We'll be caught" the little boy, Cory hissed at us, looking concerned and more than a little worried. His sister put her thumb in her mouth and gazed at me and Stefan in awe.

"If we stay here, they could continue to hurt us," I told them quietly. "You need to come with us.

"What about the other men?"

Stefan spoke up, his voice grim "that's for Amber and me to take care of. I want both of you to stay in the cave until we come back for you. Do you hear me?"

I hesitated, not wanting to leave the children behind and yet knowing it was the best plan of action. The children looked fearfully at the unconscious Jordan. I smiled at them reassuringly.

"He's no threat to you anymore, see," I told them, dragging Jordan over to the restraints and tying him up. I sadly had no clothes in which to tear off, something that Stefan seemed to realize as he dragged off his shirt and tossed it to me. I ripped a long shred of fabric off and tied a gag around Jordan's mouth so that he couldn't cry out for help, should he wake up. Then I put the shirt on, relieved to see that it went down to almost my knees. Stefan was that much taller than me.

"You'll really come back?" whispered the little girl, Carrie and I nodded, bending down to give them a small hug, feeling a pang in my heart. If this didn't go to plan, then I could only hope they had the common sense to make a run for it.

"Alright, let's go", Stefan said harshly "they're expecting Jordan to come back with you. So let's hurry up."

I blinked, coming back to my senses. I had been staring at Stefan's bare chest and the six-pack he had, like a horny schoolgirl who was ogling her mate. With a sigh, I began to follow him, tiptoeing to the edge of the cave and peering out into the sunlight. "There are at least a dozen shifters in the vicinity" Stefan hissed, pointing them out to me.

"That's not the concern, the concern is..." I began to say, when the Alpha Rogue, Gordon, filled the doorway with several men.

"I see that you managed to overpower Jordan," he said snootily, "not that it would have taken much to take him down" he added crossly. He gestured towards his men, who grabbed hold of me as I kicked and punched. Stefan dragged away at the same time. Neither of us was going to go without a fight and I managed to take two men out, Stefan taking all of them out, before Alpha Gordon grabbed hold of me, dragging me out into the open as Stefan hissed at him.

I mouthed the words 'run Stefan' at my mate but he refused to listen, his eyes piercing as he stared at a gloating Alpha Gordon.

"Let her go" he cried, and the Alpha laughed, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine.

"I can only think of one reason a vampire would stop to help a shifter" he declared as my heart sank, "and that's because they are mates."

I kicked out, but his hand twisted in my hair, dragging me upright, my legs kicking uselessly as my hands scrabbled at the man's hands pulling at my hair to no avail. Several shifters approached Stefan, who was watching wildly, unable to make a move without hurting him in the process.

"Stefan, watch out" I screamed as two shifters attacked him. Alpha Gordon turned me so that I was staring directly into his eyes.

"If you want to save your mate," he said as I glanced back over my shoulder, six shifters now fighting Stefan who was in the middle of it all, "then you will give me my wolf" he snarled.

Stefan was fighting valiantly but there was no way he could hold his own against twelve shifters, vampire or no vampire. But I couldn't bring myself to give this Alpha Rogue a wolf, not when he was so evil. His wolf would have the same temperament as him and the same cold, calculating nature. It would be a disaster in the making. I shook my head, refusing, and he grabbed hold of my arm and pulled it, dislocating my shoulder as I screamed. Stefan glanced over at me, his face paling, a look of determination on his face. He managed to take two more shifters down as he fought to get to me.

"Give me my wolf" growled Alpha Gordon in a menacing tone.

I didn't think. I shifted, and the Alpha was forced to let go of me, the dislocated arm going back into its socket during the transformation. Four shifters surrounded the Alpha, who looked nonplused for a moment before he took refuge behind them. "Attack her but don't kill her" he cried, and then turned and walked away as I stared at the small group who were snarling at me, their fur raised on end.

I jumped, dodging their attacks as they all tackled me head-on. One I sent flying into a nearby tree, its body crashing to the floor with a large thud. I kicked out at another one, sending it sprawling into its partner and making them both roll to the floor. The last one standing sized me up and I leaped on its back, clawing and scratching as it frantically tried to buck me off. I bit down on its neck and severed its spinal cord, killing it instantly, and dropped to the floor, eyeing the last three shifters warily as they began to circle me. Stefan finished taking down the last of the shifters surrounding him and raced over to join me, jumping over the confused shifters, until he stood at my side. One leaped towards us and Stefan took it head-on, while the other two jumped towards me simultaneously as I dodged to the side and kicked out. One went flying into the tree over, impaled on a branch, its legs weakly kicking as it stayed there, unable to dislodge itself. I hoped it died a slow and painful death.

The other one, I expected to make a move. What I was not expecting, was for the shifter to look around at its fallen comrades and turn tail and run. We both let it go, Stefan, standing over the last shifter that he'd killed, both of us looking around for Alpha Gordan. He came staggering out of the caves, clutching Carrie in his arms, along with a dagger.

"Let her go" demanded Stefan with a menacing growl.

Alpha Gordon ignored him. "I'll kill her" he shouted as Cory came racing outside towards us, his lip quivering and tears flowing from his eyes. I shifted and took him into my arms, holding him possessively as Stefan stared at Alpha Gordon with glowing red eyes that promised retribution.

"Let her go," I said quietly "You know that we'll kill you."

In answer, he pulled back the girl's head and placed the dagger at her throat, slicing it a little so that blood welled up. I gasped in horror. "Stop" I shouted as the girl began to wail and cry. She was panicking now, while Stefan was eyeing the blood and licking his lips. I was worried he might try to rush the girl.

"Give me what I need" The Alpha roared, sending birds flying from their perches and into flight. I ignored the skittering of my own heart and put Cory down, pushing him toward a confused Stefan. I had an idea in the inkling of my mind, but first, the Alpha had to believe that I was feeling defeated. I forced tears to my eyes.

"She's just a little girl" I yelled out, my voice sounding broken and weak. "she's done nothing to you."

"I don't care" he snarled, "not if it gets me what I want."

"If I do as you ask" I shouted, ignoring Stefan who looked at me in shock, and Cory, who was wiggling in Stefan's grasp, crying quietly. "will you let her go?"

"Of course" he answered triumphantly, believing he had me.

I approached slowly, my arms out wide, walking towards the Alpha with a mouth that felt like cotton balls. God, I really hoped this worked. He continued to hold the dagger up to Carrie's throat as I reached over and touched him with my hand.

Lilac, I just want to create a white ball of power, nothing more. I want him to believe that I'm doing as he asked. Do you understand me?

Do it just as if you're healing him then. Create a ball of white light in your palm and direct it onto his chest. He'll feel the warmth and think it's working.

Got it. Let's start praying Lilac, because I need this to work.

I concentrated hard, forming a white sphere of light in my hand as the Alpha smirked at me. I noticed that he had loosened his grip in anticipation of the little girl. Which is what I needed. I tentatively placed the hand with the ball onto his chest, sending the light into him as he gasped with joy. "I can feel it" he crowed, "the warmth, the magic. I can feel it."

He spread his arms out, and Carrie was dropped unceremoniously to the ground. I shoved the little girl behind me and she went running toward Cory. The second she was free, my other arm came up, grabbing his hand with the knife. We fought, as he realized too late, what I was up to and I ended up with my back against his chest, his hand with the knife going straight for me. Damn. I closed my eyes and tensed.

"b***h" he hissed in my ear and then I felt the knife go into my chest. I grabbed hold of the hilt and before he could stop me, I pushed the knife through my body until it went into his chest, as well, before grabbing the knife and ripping it out.

I stumbled away, in pain, Stefan rushing to my side as I fell to the ground coughing blood. Alpha Gordon's eyes were wide open and he was staggering sideways, blood pouring out from his wound. I prayed it was fatal as I brought up my own healing power. I directed it to myself, feeling the incredible warmth of the light as it began to knit my flesh back together. Alpha Gordon toppled to the ground.

"Amber," said Stefan worriedly, "Amber, you're going to be okay, baby, I swear. I promise you, everything is going to be fine" he added, stroking my hair.

"So tired" I whispered, feeling my eyes beginning to close with the strain of healing myself "I just need to rest for a little bit", I coughed.

"Amber, stay with me. Don't go to sleep, Amber, Amber, Amber" he babbled and I barely heard him, my eyes beginning to close of their own accord. The pain was fading fast but the tiredness and the complete exhaustion caught up with me. The last thing I heard before I fell asleep, was Stefan's voice one last time. "AMBER."