The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 45

Amber POV

I can't believe it. I'm in a state of shock. I knew that I would be getting married eventually, but for it to happen so soon! I drift back to the reception, feeling stunned. Sophie is the first to notice something is wrong. She pulls me to the side, speaking to me in a "What's wrong Amber? You're as pale as a sheet" she exclaimed.

hushed whisper.

"Mother and father just told me that Alpha Rowan, aka the beastly alpha, has asked for my hand in marriage" I said thickly, tears pricking my eyes "I'm going to be married tomorrow."

Sophie falls silent. "Maybe I can talk to father" she says a little desperately, "get him to see reason."

I shook my head at her "it's your wedding day. Father wants me to be married and I have no choice, unless I want to end up on the streets. I'll be okay Sophie, I'm tough, remember" I said lightly, but my words sounded hollow, even to me.

She looks undecided, but then Darius comes over and I give her a small smile. "Sophie, we need to leave for our honeymoon" he says quietly, glancing at me sheepishly.

"Congratulations to you both" I said, as Thomas came back, giving Sophie a hug first and then Darius. Darius holds me tightly, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm sorry about everything", Darius offers, but I laugh it off, shaking my head.

"You are both forgiven, now have fun. I hear Australia is beautiful". I tell them a little envious. "I'll see you when you get back."

Or at least I hope I would, it depended on the monstrous, beastly alpha if I was allowed visitors.

Darius leads Sophie away, Sophie glancing over her shoulder once, looking troubled. I maintain my composure, trying to signal strength and courage, but I know it doesn't fool her.

Thomas regards me silently. "I'm going to escort you to your room", he says quietly, "now that you've had a chance to say goodbye."

I thought about resisting, but what would be the point? Instead, I give a small nod and toss my hair over my shoulder.

"Fine" I said evenly, "lead the way, Thomas". I try not to sound bitter.

He raises an eyebrow but leads me out of the marquee which is slowly dispersing of guests, and back to the house, upstairs to my room and locks the door behind me.

I try not to cry but it all becomes too much and I sit on my bed, my head in my hands and let myself sob, feeling sorry for myself. Not only was I getting married, but it was tomorrow evening. Hardly any time at all to get used to the idea. My whole body trembled in fear. Would he be kind to me or was my life going to be miserable? I had hopes that maybe the beastly alpha was not as bad as the rumors or gossip suggested. But then, he also didn't know that I was pregnant, which meant that my father had deliberately misled him. Would the beastly alpha take out his rage on me? For not telling him before the wedding? I cursed my father for not telling the truth and putting me in this awful situation. No man should be tricked into caring for another's child. They should be given the choice. Why, oh why, had the beastly alpha picked me? I was nothing special. I was an undesirable for heaven's sake. I had no wolf, so I couldn't help defend the pack in wolf form. I wasn't that pretty. My red hair was so bright it was like a fire hydrant and my green eyes were plain. I had a curvaceous figure rather than the-thin one which was so popular with shifter males. I was short as well, not tall like a super model. Compared to most shifter females, I consider myself to be pretty plain except for my hair. There had certainly been plenty of pretty single shifter women at the reception. Why hadn't he picked on one of those?

A knock sounds on the door. I frowned at it, wiping the tears from my eyes, knowing I must look a mess.

"Come in" I said a bit frostily. It can only be one of my parents.

Sure enough, my mother comes sailing in, looking at me apprehensively. I glared at her, wiping the smile off her face.

"I know this seems unfair" she begins tentatively, as the door slams shut behind her and is relocked, no doubt by Thomas.

"Unfair" I said hoarsely, trying to ignore the urge to scream at her "unfair is a bit of an understatement, don't you think? You guys sold me mother. There's no polite way to put it", I sneered.

She wrings her hands together. "I know it seems that way, but can't you think of this as a positive thing? At the very least it gets you out of the house" she says quietly as I stare.

"That is the only positive thing, I snapped, "because at least then I don't have to be around father anymore. I hate him, mother, and I despise you. You could have stopped this" I added, "could have prevented all this and instead you did what he wanted."

Her face drops. Her shoulders slump. When she speaks next, it's in a whisper, as she looks nervously around the room. "I tried" she whispered, "but he wouldn't listen to me. He never listens to me."

I stared at her incredulously. Was she telling the truth?

"Why are you here mother?" I asked gently.

She looks so defeated now. "I don't know. I guess I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for all of this, Amber. I really am. But to be honest, you are far better off away from your father. I met the Alpha and he seemed a lovely man. Kind, sincere. I think you will both get along nicely."

She swallows hard. "Your sister Sophie has left for her honeymoon and you're the only one left now. The wedding will take place tomorrow evening at around 5pm. I had to bribe the minister to come back."

I shudder at the thought of having to go through the ceremony.

"Mother, why is it that you are being so nice to me, when all you've done is show how much you dislike me? What's changed?"

She looks at me with remorse on her face. "I'm being nice, because I love you Amber. I know I haven't been the greatest at showing it. In fact, I've been a terrible mother, but there are reasons for that that you won't understand. I should never have been as horrible as I was to you. I'm sorry" she breathes. It was a little late, I thought critically, for an apology, but she seemed sincere, even a little sad.

"All my life, you've hated me, or at least that's what it seemed. You always loved Sophie more and I know it's because she resembles you" I said firmly, holding up a hand when she opened her mouth, apparently trying to protest "am I wrong?"

She looks down at the ground. "You're not wrong" she whispers, her mouth trembling as she puts a hand to it, "Sophie does look like me, whereas you" she pauses, trailing off, "look like my own mother" she finishes in a deadpan voice. Now I'm astounded. I hadn't known I resembled someone in the family and now mother was confessing I looked like her grandmother. "Why have you never told me this?"

My mother looks angry now. "Because I hate my mother for making me marry your father when we were teenagers. I got pregnant, like you Amber, and my parents were the same, old-fashioned, insisting I had to marry so that the family name would not be ruined.l begged them not to make me, but they would not be swayed and they did the same thing to me that your father is doing to you. They told me I could go live on the streets or marry. I chose marriage and I have to live with that, even if it's not exactly a marriage made in heaven", she says bitterly "I haven't spoken to my parents since then. In fact, last I heard they had disowned me for not doing every single thing they wanted."

Man, I was learning all sorts of things today. I thought a bit astounded.

"You haven't tried to reach out to them?" I asked quietly.

She shakes her head.

"Do you hate me for looking like her?"

My mother hesitates. "At first I did, but Amber, you are nothing like my mother" she tells me, determination on her face." You are brave, you are kind, loving and caring. You're also extremely sassy and brash. Not to mention a hell of a fighter, even if you don't have a wolf. I don't care that you are an undesirable, because it's not the only part of you."

My lips quivered. I can't believe how much the floodgates are opening as tears trail down my cheeks. For the first time ever, I stepped forward, my eyes on hers, giving her a hug. She felt so warm as her arms slowly came around me, the smell of her perfume, a lovely honey and vanilla scent, wafted up my nostrils. She feels so nice and so comforting as I cry on her shoulder. She pats me awkwardly on the back.

"I'm so sorry honey, for everything I've put you through, but your father..." she trails off.

I understand. I hug her tightly, holding onto her for what she's worth.

A knock sounds on the door, startling us both as we pull apart. My father's voice comes through the door. "Clarissa, are you in there" he barks.

My mother gave an exasperated sigh. Father is slurring his words and it's clear he's had even more to drink since I saw him in the study.

"Yes I'm in here" she calls out briskly, looking apologetically at me.

"Well, hurry up" he growled, "I want to know whether you have got the minister on board. What are you doing in here anyway?" he adds, sounding highly fed up.

"I just wanted to talk to Amber for a minute" my mother called out. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Good" he snarls and then stomps off while mother adjusts her clothing and grimaces.

"I have to go, she says reluctantly, "but Amber, you got this. I have faith that you'll make the best of this marriage and that your husband is a nice man. Wear the green dress again. It looks perfect on you. It makes your hair stand out and it's lovely. At least you'll get your freedom back" she added, as I nodded quietly. Read more free novels at FindNovel.net

She knocks on the door and a minute later the key sounds in the lock, the door opening. I see a flash of Thomas's face before mother turns around in the doorway. To my shock, she tells me "I love you."

Then she disappears out the door, the key sounding in the lock as the door is shut behind her and locked again.

I sat on the bed, feeling a little overwhelmed and not sure whether to laugh or cry. I can't believe that mother just spoke to me so honestly. Not only that, but she told me she loved me. Tears trailed down my cheeks but I made no move to wipe them away. Instead, I let them drip down onto my clothes and onto my bedcovers. I can still smell mother's perfume in the room and feel the warmth of her hands and arms as she hugged me tightly to her. I wish I could talk to Sophie but she's gone now. Instead, I turn towards the mirror and narrow my eyes at my reflection. Mother was right. I needed to embrace this wedding and the freedom that would come with it. As she had stated, I got this. The beastly alpha was in for one hell of a surprise.