The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 110

Stacey POV

I couldn't believe how rotten my luck was. What on earth was he doing here? I had been sent to the hospital wing of the castle with fresh bed linens and been about to leave when none other than that blasted man, was brought into the hospital, with severe injuries. Out of curiosity and because I didn't want to be seen, I hovered in the back, listening to the nurses and the doctors commenting on his condition.

"He has severe gashes on his right side and along his lower abdomen."

"Get me fresh towels, stat"

"Do you think that his condition is going to stabilize anytime soon?"

"I can't say for sure, but I do know there is a high possibility that this man, may not make it, not without some sort of blood transfusion which we can't give him without permission, and right now he's unconscious."

He was unconscious. I didn't know whether to weep with relief or cry out in joy. He hadn't seen me as he'd been wheeled in, I was certain of it. The nurses and the doctors came filing out, all of them arguing with each other on the best way to treat their patient, King Stefan in the waiting room with none other than Amber and what I surmised must be her mother, even though they didn't look alike. Her mother (she was far too old to be her sister) had golden blonde hair and honey golden skin, whereas Amber's skin tone was pale and fair, her red hair a blazing beacon from where she sat, her green eyes dull with worry. Clearly, she was concerned about Rowan, despite the fact that King Stefan was also present, her mate.

I sidled cautiously towards the hospital room, the nurses and doctors barely giving me a glance. I needed to get a good look at him. Because as long as he lived, he posed a threat towards me and my unborn child. My hand reflexively placed itself on my stomach. I inched closer and disappeared behind the curtain, looking at the large man on the bed who was connected to all sorts of machines. His wounds had been stitched up, I saw with a wince, but he was extremely pale and I knew by the doctor's comments that he had lost quite a bit of blood. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow, his chest barely moving up and down. Perhaps the doctor had been right and he wouldn't live? Then I wouldn't have to worry about him telling Amber that I had been the one to murder her sister, even if it had been on Darius's orders. For I had deliberately left that little detail out when I had spoken to Amber and implored her for sanctuary.

I kept my ears strained for any noises coming past, as I moved slowly and steadily to Alpha Rowan's side, glancing down at him with a bit of regret, but not enough that it would prevent me from doing what I must to keep myself and my child safe. He looked harmless now, but if he recovered and knew I was here? Well, there was no telling what he would do. I couldn't risk it. Couldn't let him recover. I slowly opened up the small vial that was contained in my pocket at all times in case I needed it. Foolish perhaps, if I got caught I would have a hell of a lot of explaining to do, but the vial was barely bigger than my fingertip and easily stayed in the pockets of my apron. I was careful too, making sure it was there at all times as I went about my day and performed my chores. Some small part of me refused to relinquish it, believing that I would need this small vial of poison one day and I'd been right. Today was that day.

I tipped his head back and undid the stopper on the vial. For a moment I hesitated. I felt sorry for the man, sorry I was doing this but I was resolved and before I could stop myself, I put the stopper to his lips and forced him to swallow several small drops. Then I did the stopper back up and hastened to the curtain. I glanced out and saw that the doctors and nurses were still talking in a small group and quickly slid back out, just as I heard Rowan beginning to gasp and saw his mouth begin to froth. As the doctors and nurses heard the sounds of beeping coming from the machine, I disappeared round a corner and watched wide-eyed as there was a giant commotion.

"What do you think is wrong with him?" I heard a nurse yell. She sounded slightly panicked, all of them moving in tandem as a team to monitor Rowan's vitals as he lay there, completely helpless. Because I had only used a small portion of the vial, it would take some time for the poison to work but that was fine with me. I had no compunctions that the Alpha would die by my hand now and I slowly, leisurely, made my way out the back way of the hospital wing, feeling gleeful. I was finally free, I no longer had to fear my secrets getting out and that annoying son of a b***h was now gone from my life. I wouldn't have to look over my shoulder, wondering where he was or if he was out looking for me. As long as Amber remained ignorant of the fact that I had murdered her sister, then I was still safe, in my sanctuary, with employment and a place to call home. No one and nothing was going to mess with that. I didn't care who I had to get rid of, to keep myself safe from harm. If it came down to killing Amber, I would do so in a heartbeat, pregnancy, or no pregnancy. With a spring in my step, I began to move back towards the kitchen, where Melissa was no doubt waiting for my return.

Amber POV

We heard the sounds of beeping filling the air and watched as the nurses and doctors rushed into Rowan's hospital room. I put a hand to my throat, Stefan still standing there, looking grim-faced. He had been told that there was a chance that Rowan might not survive the attack and I was deeply upset at the news. As it was, I was beginning to feel pain across my chest, beginning slowly and then intensifying as time went on.

"Urgh" I groaned, collapsing onto a seat and holding my chest as Stefan hastened to my side.

"Amber what's wrong?" he asked anxiously, his eyes raking over me in worry.

"I don't know" I wheezed "but it hurts Stefan."

Something dawned in his eyes and he glanced toward the hospital room. "It's the mate bond," he said quietly "you're in pain because Rowan is. But why has it started now?"

I was speechless. Was this pain really connected to Rowan somehow? But why hadn't I felt it when he was injured fighting Stefan? I looked at my mate in horror, my mouth gaping open as I connected the dots.

"He's dying Stefan" I almost screamed out, my mother jumping out of her chair to stand beside me "that's why I'm feeling this pain. God, it's excruciating."

Stefan didn't hesitate, going over to the doctors and telling them in no uncertain terms that we were entering the room. He came back over and grabbed hold of my arm, leading me into the hospital room where Rowan was lying. I gasped as I took the scene in. He was lying there, so pale his skin was almost translucent, foam frothing at his mouth, his body convulsing on and off. The doctor glanced at us looking helpless. "I don't know what's wrong, He shouldn't be having this kind of reaction unless he's been poisoned, but you said that you were both just in a fight," he said to Stefan puzzled.

I went over to Rowan's side and held his large hand, sucking in a breath as a lightning bolt of pain shot through me, almost making me buckle to my knees.

"So much pain" I moaned as Stefan struggled to hold me upright. My mother came into the room, stopping short as she too, took stock of Rowan and his condition.

"That's poison," she said grimly "the same poison that Sophie no doubt ingested. I'm sure of it. He's exhibiting the same foaming at the mouth that she did."

The doctor sighed and shook his head. "In which case, it won't matter much what we do, he only has a few minutes to live, if that," he said sadly "there is one other option but it would require King Stefan's approval."

I glanced at Stefan, seeing his eyes glowing red as he glowered down at Alpha Rowan lying there on the hospital bed. I clutched at my chest and at his arm, making him turn to look at me.

"Stefan, what is the doctor saying" I pleaded and Stefan heaved a sigh and glanced down at the bed, looking a bit dismayed.

"He means that I can save Alpha Rowan if I choose to," he said quietly, "but it would involve me changing him into a hybrid, just like you are. The only difference is that he may react differently to the change. You exhibit hardly any change besides maybe your speed and you don't crave blood. I cannot say that will be the same for Alpha Rowan."

But I latched onto Stefan like he was a lifeline. "But you can save him" I pleaded.

Stefan gave a small smile. "I can" he agreed "but he may not see it that way. A lot of shifters would prefer to die, rather than be a hybrid. Can you tell me that Alpha Rowan isn't one of them?" he asked.

I couldn't. But I could guarantee that Alpha Rowan would want to live, especially if he was my mate as well. I doubled over the bed, clutching my chest, tears pouring down my cheeks and Stefan swore.

"I need to make the decision now" he murmured to himself and then shook his head, swearing vehemently beneath his breath. I watched as his fangs began to grow out of his mouth, his hand letting go of mine.

"Keep in mind, I'm only doing this for you," he told me softly "not because I regret injuring him. Also, if he was poisoned it was under my watch, so I feel as though I owe him."

I didn't care. I knew Stefan was doing this under protest but it made no difference to me.

He bit down hard, on his wrist, drawing blood to the surface, and then held it over Rowan's mouth, dripping it in slowly. Rowan automatically swallowed, several small drops and then Stefan stopped, waited a minute, and then, bit down on Rowan's neck as well, before sealing the wound with his tongue as I gaped. "Just in case" he muttered looking sheepish "one way or the other it should work" he commented.

I sat down on a chair that my mother thoughtfully provided, Stefan behind me, rubbing soothing circles on my back as I gasped through the continuing pain, which slowly began to lessen. We waited anxiously for Rowan to get better. It seemed like a lifetime. His skin began to get some color into his cheeks, giving him a rosy hue, his breathing deepened and evened out as the doctor checked him and the convulsions stopped completely, but his eyes remained closed. My pain was gone now and I sat upright, staring anxiously at Rowan, willing him to open his eyes.

"How long does it take?" I asked Stefan.

He looked thoughtful. "It could take minutes, hours, or days. Everyone responds to the transition differently. Yours took no time at all but that could be because I was marking you My mother clasped her hands together. "Oh I hope he wakes soon" she breathed "it would be a real shame if he didn't."

I almost rolled my eyes at that. Just how close had mother and Rowan gotten while on their travels together?

because we were mates." He gave a nonchalant shrug.

Then we heard it. A strange wheezing sound, a strangled noise, and then, Alpha Rowan sat upright, his eyes opening at the same time, blinking in confusion as he looked around at all of us. "What happened?" he asked a bit bemused as we all just shook our heads at him "and what is this strange feeling I'm having?"

We all glanced at Stefan who looked a bit annoyed at having to tell Rowan what he'd done.

"The thing is that you were poisoned, so it's not like I really had a choice" he muttered crossly as Rowan folded his arms and glared at the vampire King "and Amber wanted you to live" he made it sound like a bad thing "so I gave you some of my vampire blood to heal you."

Awkward silence and then Rowan exploded as we all jumped back in fright. "YOU DID WHAT TO ME?"