The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 50

Sophie

POV

It was getting late. I glanced at the forest and the shadows the trees created with trepidation. Darius on the other hand, looked far too relaxed, one hand on the steering wheel of our SUV, his shoulders loose and relaxed, slumped against the seat. Clearly, the darkening sky was not bothering him in the slightest. While I remained fearful of possible rogues attacking, Darius looked like he was still in holiday mode.

"Darius" my voice quivered, despite my trying not to let it show, "it's getting dark, maybe we should turn back and find a hotel or something for now?"

Part of it was selfishness. I knew once we had returned to the pack, that everything would be back to normal and the little bubble of holiday bliss that Darius and I had created between the two of us would pop in an instant. Darius glanced at me, looking highly amused. "It's not that dark" he pointed out reasonably "and I'm here to protect you babes if anything does try to attack us" he boasted.

Damnit. He could see right through me. He was right though, a few more minutes and we would be at the pack house and my new place of living. Part of me was excited, part of me was terrified. His mother, the Luna and his father, the Alpha, had no idea their new daughter in law was unable to conceive. How would they react when they finally got told the truth? I also dreaded them finding out that Amber was pregnant with Darius's child for they would try and take custody of it, I just knew it and there was no way I would let that happen to poor Amber. She had already suffered enough at mine and Darius's hands. She need not suffer more.

The pack house comes into view and I sigh with great relief, Darius's hand reaching out to take mine and squeeze it reassuringly.

"I told you we would make it here safely" he chuckled, with a shake of his head "you big fraidy cat."

I scowled at him in response and withdrew my hand as he continued to laugh at me. I opened the car door and slid out, standing upright and staring at the pack house. This was my new home, but it looked so cold, so forbidding. Not like the pack houses we had seen in Australia, which had been homely and the pack members more than welcoming.

"It's not Australia" Darius murmured in my ear, coming up beside me and putting a hand around my waist "but we can make this pack more homely and stronger. We just need time."

It was like he could read my mind. I gave a tight nod and together, we headed up to the pack house, Darius scrambling in his pockets for the key to the front door.

He didn't need it. Before he could find it, the door swung open and we saw Luna Marian's beaming face as she took in her son and me, her arms wide open for a hug. Darius hugged her first, gingerly lifting her off her feet as she giggled at him. Then as he put her down, she walked to me and embraced me tight, not letting go.

"We missed you both so much" she said lightly, reluctantly pulling back and looking at the both of us "you both look very healthy and relaxed. Come" she ordered, turning around and walking away.

We followed, heading towards the lounge room area, where to my shock and delight, my mother was sitting on the sofa, along with Alpha John. My mother's eyes widened in suprise and then the next instant, she was embracing me tightly, sniffing my perfume and sighing contentedly. I could see tears in the corners of her eyes.

"Sophie" she sniffled "I missed you so much. How was your trip?" she asked, cupping my face with her hands.

I grinned, Darius doing the same. While we had travelled to varius packs, we hadn't exactly spent the honeymoon doing more than lying in or leaving the bedroom. He had been insatiable throughout the honeymoon and I hadn't exactly protested, wanting him just as badly.

"It was nice, really relaxing" I told her "it was really interesting visiting the packs in Australia."

"They are very different to us" Darius said eagerly "but their homes were so warm and they were very friendly people. We could learn a lot from them."

His father reached over and shook his son's hand. "Welcome home son" he said, his eyes twinkling "but don't get too far ahead of yourself. You're not Alpha yet, you know" he chuckled.

We all laughed as Darius and I sat down, crossing my ankles and leaning back against the comfortable sofa.

"Where's father" I muttered to mother.

She frowned. "He's at home, he's not exactly in the mood for company right now" she explained a little hastily.

I knew what that meant. He had probably had way too much to drink. He liked his alcohol a little more than the average man did. But it would have been nice if he'd been here, along with mother. Then we could have really celebrated my return. Instead it felt like I was deflated on hearing about father.

"What about Amber?" I asked excitedly "I would love to tell her about Australia. Show her some pictures" I added, looking around.

Mother's face dropped and instinctively I knew what she was about to say, before she opened her mouth. "She has been taken to another pack by Alpha Rowan. He wants to marry her" she whispered.

My eyes widened in disbelief. Surely she wasn't talking about the monstrous, beastly, Alpha Rowan? But it looks like she was.

"You would marry her to such a man" I said hoarsely, feeling sympathetic towards my poor sister "how could you mother?"

"I didn't have a choice" she protested "your father made the decision."

"Is it too late to get her back?" asked Darius frowning at his parents who looked at him incredulous.

"We can't interfere with the Alpha of another pack, without inciting a fight or war" Luna Marian said testily "you of all people should know that Darius."

He scowled at both of them, then sighed heavily, admitting defeat. They were right, but it didn't make me feel any better. Instead it was making me feel sick to my stomach. Poor Amber. While I had been out having fun and constantly making love with Darius, she had been taken to another pack and was being forced to marry. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right and there was nothing I could do about it. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes and I felt like crying, when a minute ago I was so happy. My father, really was a bastard, I thought to myself bitterly.

"I think we just need a few minutes to freshen up" Darius said quietly, taking hold of my arm "and then we'll come back down and rejoin you."

"Of course" Luna Marian agreed quickly, gesturing towards the stairs "I have fresh sheets on the bed for you and have cleaned your room up Darius."

"Thanks mother" he told her sincerely and she glowed from his thanks.

He gently tugged me towards the stairs, upwards, until we reached the relative safety of his bedroom. He reached out and opened the door, leading me inside.

"I just have to use the bathroom" he said quickly, ducking through the adjoining door.

I glanced around the room. It was nice but definitely masculine. It needed a woman's touch. I saw something underneath his bed, the corner of a box poking out and grabbed hold of it, putting it on his bed. I expected to find naughty magazines, or videos. It was a teenage boys room after all, but I was shocked and angry to find that it was a box of momentos. There were photos of Amber along with photos of the both of them. Ribbons and hair ties from her hair supposedly, a bracelet, cards they had written to each other and a dozen other things as well. I sucked in a breath, feeling the tears beginning to trail down my cheeks. I knew he wasn't over Amber and this proved it. Why else would he have kept the box? I felt stupid now. The honeymoon turned sour in my mind. For all I knew he'd been pretending I was Amber the entire time. It would explain his distress for Amber being at another pack now as well. I felt numb, cold, my hands shaking as I stared into the open box.

Darius finally came back out and he glanced at my pale face, before his eyes widened, taking in the open box and my trembling body.

"It's not what you think" he began but I cut him off, my voice shrill.

"Not what I think? It's a box full of stuff about Amber and you want me to believe that it's all innocent? You knew you were getting married and you held onto it Darius. What am I suppposed to think?"

Darius sighs. "Look, it's merely a box of memories. Amber and I were dating for a long time and I was in love with her. Maybe I shouldn't have held onto the box, but I couldn't just let it go. It just has so many memories and good times to remind me of."

I grit my teeth. "Are you telling me that you didn't enjoy our honeymoon Darius?"

He looks startled. "Of course I enjoyed the honeymoon Sopbie. Did I ever indicate to you that I didn't?"

"Were you" my voice shakes "pretending I was Amber?"

I needed to know. But my god, the answer was going to hurt if he said yes.

He shakes his head adamantly, his eyes becoming darker. "Of course not, what do you take me for .I wanted you Sophie, not Amber. I promised you that we would make this work. I wasn't going back on my promise."

I should have felt relieved. He was being honest, but an indescribable anger was rising inside of me. I gestured towards the box. "Get rid of it then" my voice was cold, my arms were folded.

"Sophie, the box doesn't mean anything" he protested, "it's just a memory box. I can't get rid of it."

"Is that right" I scoff before glaring at him "then I guess this means that I'm sleeping in a separate room until you do it."

"Sophie" he said a little annoyed "you're being unreasonable. The box is nothing but memories and we have our own memories of our time together."

But I was through listening to him. I couldn't see past my rage, even though I knew it was being too demanding. "See you Darius" I said softly, turning on my heel and walking out.

"Sophie, wait" he called out, but I shook my head and walked down the long corridor, finding a guest room and opening it. I no longer cared that my mother was waiting for me to return, along with the Luna and Alpha. All I cared about was that Darius and I had just had our first argument within minutes of returning home from our honeymoon. This had nothing to do with Amber. I wasn't that mean spirited. It was to do with Darius holding onto the past instead of looking to the future. I didn't want to be reminded I had stolen Darius from Amber or that he had a past with her. It was selfish and conceited, but I wanted him to relish our time together, the memories we would make.

I felt like I was second best to Amber again and it wasn't a nice feeling. I locked the door and ignored Darius who pouned on it with his fists, knowing the door would hold.

"Sophie come out and talk to me" he pleaded loudly "please, we only just got back. Let's not fight."

"Are you getting rid of the box?" I asked hoarsely.

There was silence. "I can't" he whispered and I closed my eyes in defeat and resignation.

"Then leave me alone" I whispered back and began to cry as he did just that.