The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 88

Amber POV

I stared around me while the council meeting went on, occasionally biting my lip and my tongue so that I didn't embarrass or anger my mate in any way. But when they brought in his ex-girlfriend Elaine, it was all too much and I almost crumpled then and there. It was exactly like what had happened with Rowan and his ex-girlfriend and it was making me have second thoughts about this whole mate bond with a vampire king who everyone wanted to produce an heir and marry almost immediately. The only council member that was friendly towards me was Gerald who looked at me and offered his own opinion. "I happen to think that having an interracial couple, of different species, for our king and queen would open the way for others to do the same. Perhaps that is what we should be aiming for?" he suggested quietly, to the council's disgust.

"She's nothing but a mangy mutt" denied Elaine and just like that, my temper burst to my amazement. I had been trying so hard not to lose control but she was pushing all my buttons and deliberately provoking me.

"Mangy mutt" I murmured, shooting up from the table and staring at Elaine, hard "is that the best you could come up with? A bit pathetic" I told the woman, my hands clenching into fists as Elaine looked at me incredulously "I've heard much worse from my own kind and I'm still standing here."

Gerald looked at her approvingly, while the rest of the elder men seemed taken aback by my response. Did they think that I would just continue to keep quiet while being insulted? Stefan's hand shot out and took hold of mine rubbing it gently. "You insulted my mate," he told Elaine to my relief "and I expect an apology."

She opened her mouth to protest and then changed her mind, when I made a movement, as though about to go to her. "I apologize, King Stefan, for insulting your mate," she said with a grimace.

I shot her a look filled with daggers. That was the most pathetic apology I had ever heard, but at least it was an apology. I couldn't expect anything more.

"Nonetheless, it is still time you took a wife, so what is going to be your decision?" demanded Mathias "because all hell will break loose if you choose your mate. You will insult our way of life and the way we have always lived."

The others readily agreed with him, Elaine nodding adamantly, her hair bouncing over her shoulder.

"Our people will learn to live with it" Stefan growled back, continuing to defend me "and perhaps they might surprise you and be more willing to accept another race than you imagine they might be like. There are lots of vampires that don't hold grudges against the shifters, unlike you lot. It's time we looked to the future, rather than the past."

"I approve of Amber as the future queen," Gerald told us both unexpectedly "I admire her spirit and I believe we should work towards building a bridge with the other races. I wish you all the luck in the world."

"Thank you," Stefan said lowly "but I must ask my mate something. For it's too presumptuous for me to believe that she'll say yes. Amber will you be my queen? The child that you are carrying would be my heir" he added as the council sucked in a breath.

I merely looked at him with my big green eyes, biting my lip. I glanced at the council uneasily and I knew Stefan waited on tenterhooks for me to open my mouth and give him the answer he was desperately hoping I would. Elaine was muttering under her breath and I shot her a look that told her to shut up. I hated being put on the spot like this, even if it had been done with the best intentions.

"Be your queen" I stammered, as Stefan held onto my hand tightly, his eyes staring deeply into mine. "I know nothing about being queen and how to act, let alone whether or not I could perform the job correctly."

"Exactly" snarled Mathias, in a right temper, "you would be foolish to make her one. Elaine is much better suited, and knows what her role would entail."

"Silence" thundered Stefan, the council growing quiet in the face of his anger "let her speak."

I glanced over at Elaine again, taking in her smirking face. She was so beautiful with that raven black hair and green eyes that seemed to shine. She was petite, and dainty but looked every bit the queen. How Could I possibly compare to her? I felt mousy in comparison. Not to mention it was so soon.

"We barely know each other," I said quietly to Stefan "besides the fact we are mates, we haven't had time to get to know about the other."

"Then we'll learn about each other" Stefan countered back "I'm not asking you to become queen straight away" he added firmly "just that you think about becoming queen in the future. I want you, Amber as my mate, and I'm willing to fight for it. Are you?" He was willing to fight for me I marveled, unable to believe it. It was a far cry from Darius who had let me go without a fight and Rowan who had been unable to make a decision. Here was this man, declaring he wanted me, in front of a council no less, and being absolutely sincere in his words.

"I don't know" I whispered, "what if it incites a war between our people?"

Gerald spoke up. "I don't believe that will be the case. The majority of our race, are more like Stefan in their viewpoints, it is only a rare few" he coughed and looked pointedly at the council members "who believe it should be otherwise. I stand by what I said, I believe that this will do more good than harm."

It was nice in a way, to have at least one council member approve of me, I had to admit.

"That's what you think" Elaine hissed, her lips curled back in contempt as she stared at me "but there are many that will be upset if I am not chosen to be the queen."

I stared over at Stefan uneasily but he was busy glowering at Elaine. "Stop this nonsense" he thundered "you will never be queen and for the council to have even considered it was folly on their part. I would not have allowed myself to be bullied into taking a queen I was not in love with."

"Are you saying you love her?" asked Gerald with curiosity, gesturing towards me.

I blushed profusely and bit my lip. While my feelings were strong for Stefan I wasn't sure I would go quite so far as to say I was in love with him.

"What I'm saying is that I have strong feelings for Amber, whereas I feel nothing for you, Elaine, I never did," Stefan said heatedly.

Ouch. Part of me felt sorry for Elaine who was blushing bright red now and looking close to tears. I guess this council meeting hadn't quite gone to her plan. She looked extremely embarrassed.

"I don't have to listen to this anymore" Elaine blurted out "I'm leaving but I'm not leaving this castle." She threatened, Elder Mathias hurriedly helped her up and moved towards the doors with her. I watched feeling detached.

"She is unfortunately a guest so we can't make her leave" Gerald explained with a frown as the other elders began to get up from their seats, most of them with a defeated look on their faces.

"Surely though, there is no reason for her to stay?" I asked Stefan quietly.

He grimaced. "She was a good friend of my parents and we dated for quite a while, I can't just demand she leaves, because it would be considered the heights of rudeness, but she will stay out of your way."

Gerald reached over and shook my hand as he stood up. "It was a real pleasure to meet you, Amber. I do hope you'll agree to consider being queen. We could use someone to shake things up a little" he said with a sigh, shaking his head. "The council has become too set in their ways and their traditions. I fear, they are unable to contemplate what the future might hold, if they continue to be stubborn jackasses" he exhaled.

I liked this man. I smiled at him. "It was really nice to meet you," I told him, and he grinned and winked at Prince Stefan.

"Don't let this one go" he advised him as I listened trying not to giggle "she's a damn sight better than anyone else you've dated."

He left, shutting the throne room doors behind him with a decisive click.

Stefan sighed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "I'm sorry about that and I'm sorry about putting you on the spot" he grunted "it's just the council was being..." he trailed off looking thoughtful. "Stubborn, annoying, rude?" I supplied with a grin.

"All that and more" he agreed "I want you to take as much time as you need to consider it. I don't want you to feel pressured Amber, into doing something you don't want to do. We have time, to get to know each other."

I interrupted him, placing a protective hand over my stomach. "Did you mean it?" I blurted out, feeling myself flush.

He looked confused. "Mean what?"

"About the baby being an heir?"

"Of course," he said, his eyes piercing mine "I understand that you're pregnant and I harbor no ill feelings towards you or the child. It's not like you knew we were mates. The child is completely innocent and I wish to treat it as my own."

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. My smile was shaky as I flung myself into this man's arms, letting him hold me tightly to him. "I just can't believe that you are so accepting" I sniffed and felt his arms grip me and hold me tightly against his chest. He stroked my hair, letting me just breathe for the first time since I had come into this room.

"This child will be ours if you decide to stay with me," he told me softly.

I sniffled some more.

"Do you know what you are having?" he asked and I shook my head. "No" I admitted and he smiled.

"Do you want it to be a surprise?" he asked and I thought about it.

"No" I whispered, "I really want to know what I'm having."

"Then let's organise an ultrasound for you" he commented easily "there is of course a hospital wing in the castle for such things. I would be honored if I could accompany you" he sounded hopeful.

I pulled back and gazed into his eyes. "I would love for you to come with me," I told him with a laugh "and I would love it if you found out the gender with me."

His hand was stroking my arm and there was a look on his face, that I couldn't decipher or describe. Was it lust? Or something far more powerful? I didn't know, but he bent his head down, so that it was inches from my own, and then before I could utter a sound or word he placed his lips gently on top of mine and began to kiss me, his hands gripping my arms, to keep me in place. I moaned into his mouth. His lips were soft and smooth, gentle, kissing me gently rather than in a rough manner. His tongue lightly licked along my lips and I opened my mouth, letting his tongue inside and feeling it softly caress my own. He gave a low growl, deepening the kiss, his arms holding onto me like he never wanted to let me go. All I could do was stand there, kissing him back just as passionately and little by little, losing a piece of my heart to him.