The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 64

Amber POV

I can't believe he marked me without my consent. The bastard. I don't care how much he wants to blame his wolf, he did the wrong thing and the least he could do was admit to it.

"I can't believe you're a white wolf" breathed Tessa, her eyes wide as saucers "I've never heard of one before. Let alone heard of any legends to do with them."

"Maybe it's just the same as having a normal-colored wolf" I suggested lightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable. I wasn't quite sure that my wolf was anything special, even if Lilac argued to the contrary, adamant that we were. Wouldn't there be more stories about white wolves if that were the case?

"Did you hear about the rogues?" asked Tessa, leaning over her kitchen counter, her eyes full of worry.

Both of us were sitting in her kitchen, having a cuppa and just chatting away, feeling lazy and just glad for the company of the other.

"No," I said quickly, putting my cup of tea down "spill, what's going on with the rogues?" I demanded. I wondered what on earth they had done now.

She took a deep breath. "There are all sorts of rumors about them. I've heard they've stolen a few children from a different race and are prepared to kill them if they don't get what they want." That sounded horrible. "What are they asking for?" I asked.

"That's the thing, no one knows. I mean, it's just gossip at the moment, but they have moved from their previous location and now there are no signs of them. It's like they've vanished into thin air."

I didn't like the sound of that. I would much rather know where the rogues were and be able to avoid them than have them magically disappear and risk running into them in the forest. Not that I could go in the forest, I thought to myself scowling, since Alpha Rowan had used his alpha tone of voice on me. Bastard. God, I was still pissed about that and wasn't going to get over it anytime soon.

"What kind of children have they taken? I mean what race?" I clarified, my eyes interested, a pang of sympathy in my heart. If it was true, their parents were probably going through hell. They must be worried sick about their children. What kind of cold-hearted maniac takes children, hostage?

"Vampires," said Tessa in a hushed whisper, her eyes narrowing "and vampires do not take things like this lightly. I can't imagine what they are thinking?"

I shuddered. Vampires were dangerous creatures and highly possessive. This would incite a war, if the rogue didn't give the children back.

I wondered why they had taken vampire children and how they had managed it. IT had to just be rumors, there was no way they were that organized they'd managed to steal from under a vampire's nose. "Anyway," Tessa said with a shrug "that's what I heard."

Lilac spoke to me, adding her thoughts to the conversation. Vampire blood is extremely potent and has incredible healing powers. If they have taken vampire children, I guarantee it has something to do with that. Perhaps they are trying to heal someone? But then they are shifters, so why would it be needed? Unless it's a disease that can't be cured?

I frowned. There was very little that vampires could not heal. Same for shifters. I thought for a moment about poor Teddy who was still stuck in the hospital, undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia. His spirits had been high, but his shifter blood was unable to heal him. Perhaps one of the rogues was really sick and really desperate? Either way, they had some guts taking vampires. Vampires were bloodthirsty and vengeful creatures. They wouldn't hesitate to track down the rogues and kill them. Part of me hoped they did, it would be the very least the bastards deserved.

"Hey," I said suddenly "do you know if there's a library nearby?"

Maybe they would have books on white wolves. Tessa sighed and shot me a wry glance. "There is but it's in town," she said slowly. "I don't know whether it would count as you trying to leave or escape though" she mused "especially if you have every intention of coming back."

She looked at me a little wistfully "do you think that maybe if I got marked, then I would get my wolf?" she asked me.

I hesitated. I wasn't sure. I mean, if it could happen for me, then maybe it could happen for other undesirables. There was no way to tell for sure. I didn't want to get her hopes up but I didn't want to crush them either.

Your friend is an undesirable, I think that you should mark her.

Ew, gross Lilac, she's a friend, I don't think of her that way!

You are an i***t, marking her will not make her your mate or lover. It will however, mix your blood with hers and will allow for her to be able to bring her wolf to the surface. It is one of the powers we possess. But it's up to you if you even want to use it. Are you saying that I can give Tessa her wolf?

Duh. That's exactly what I'm saying, Amber! Weren't you listening to me?

I stared at Tessa wide-eyed. She looked at me, biting her lip and looking sheepish. "Sorry, I don't mean to upset you," she said quickly "forget I asked."

I shook my head. "That's not it. Lilac just spoke to me, she told me I should mark you" I said slowly, my eyes narrowing on her pale face. "Mark me? Whatever for?"

"She says it will bring your wolf to the surface," I said quietly "one of the powers I possess apparently. But you don't have to do this Tessa" I added hastily "she could be wrong." Or it could be dangerous, we didn't know what would happen once she was marked. But Tessa's eyes were shining with hope and excitement as she glanced at me shyly. "I want to try" she bursts out "I mean, you know what it's like, being despised for being an undesirable. Always feeling like you're being snubbed and bullied. If I can get my wolf..." she trails off and I understood exactly what she was trying to convey to me.

I had spent my whole childhood being despised, for my red hair and green eyes, in comparison to Sophie with her blonde hair and blue eyes. When I didn't get my wolf, my family became even worse and the pack looked down on me, like I was a piece of garbage, sneering at me and treating me like I didn't belong. If it hadn't been for Darius, I suspected I would have had it much worse than I did. His presence had assured that for the most part, that I was merely glared at from a distance, but Tessa, she would have had it much worse, being an orphan in a pack that despised her. I shuddered, thinking about all the things she must have gone through.

"Alright," I said reluctantly, pulling myself out of my thoughts "how do I do this?" I murmured, eyeing Tessa's neck as she c****d her head and bared it to me in submission. I eyed the nape of it and saw how smooth and unblemished her skin was. "Just bite me," Tessa said helpfully as I rolled my eyes at her.

Just envision your canines coming out and then gently bite her, before licking the wound closed. That's it. It's quite simple really.

Lilac made it seem very easy. I approached Tessa slowly, watching as she began to tremble slightly before me.

"This might hurt" I whispered and she smiled, looking over my shoulder, her jaw clenched, determination etched on her face.

"I know" she whispered back "and I still want you to do it."

I pictured my canines, feeling them as they slowly came out of the top part of my mouth, and then gently leaned down, my canines just above her shoulder. I could do this, I thought to myself, willing myself to do it. Tessa stayed perfectly still, thank god, and before I could think too much about it, I swiftly bit down on her shoulder, clamping down as she gave a small cry, drawing blood. It tasted metallic and I grimaced as I slowly withdrew, licking the small wound on her shoulder closed. "Now what?" asked Tessa bewildered.

I shrugged. My own transformation had happened minutes after that bastard marked me. Would it be the same for Tessa?

I expected to see a small tattoo on her shoulder, but instead the wound had completely knit itself closed and there was no sign of where I had marked her. I had a sinking feeling that nothing was going to happen as Tessa touched her shoulder, looking puzzled. Then, a small light appeared at the mark, growing larger in size. I gave a small cry and leaped back, Tessa staring down at her shoulder in awe. Then she screamed, her leg breaking at an odd angle as she fell to the floor, sobbing and crying, the leg readjusting itself. I knelt beside her, feeling horrible for her. In the back of my mind was how painful my shift had been and poor Tessa looked like she was in agony as yet another bone broke with a sickening crack. "Ouch" screamed Tessa, her shoulder cracking and breaking.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" I mumbled, feeling helpless. There was nothing I could do, but stay beside her and watch, too frightened to touch her as she shifted.

It felt like it was going on forever, all the bones making sickening sounds as they broke and readjusted themselves. Tessa's mouth was open in a constant scream. To my shock, however, no one came to find out the source of the noise, further proving my suspicions that the pack didn't give an actual s**t about poor Tessa. She screamed, bucking and writhing on the ground, fur beginning to grow along her arms and legs. I hoped it wouldn't be too much longer, for Tessa looked like she was about to pass out any minute now, she had grown so pale.

She gave her loudest scream yet and I looked away, the sound piercing my ears, backing away slowly as a wolf appeared in her midst. My mouth fell open. She was beautiful. Utterly stunning. She was grey with white ears and a white patch on her stomach and white paws. She practically pranced in front of me, moving her paws around experimentally. Her ears pricked up and she stared at me hard.

Well done. Your friend Tessa is beautiful and now so is her wolf. Great work.

All I did was mark her.

But you have the ability to turn all undesirables. Not just shifters, but vampires, witches, you name it. You can bring it to the surface like you did your friend. That's what makes you unique. Just like shifters,s the other races have people who failed to change. This also makes us coveted and you need to keep this a secret. Your friend Tessa is an exception but we're going to have to rely on our mate to keep us from harm.

Like hell! We can take care of ourselves. I don't want to tell him anything.

He's going to find out. Tessa didn't have a wolf before and now she does. IT kind of is going to be hard to keep that a secret.

Damn it. You're right.

I eyed Tessa who was preening in front of me. "Tessa," I said softly "it's time to change back now."

She c****d her head and whined, her paws scrabbling at the ground. I remembered this was her first time and she might not know how to change back, but wouldn't her wolf tell her?

I opened my mouth to tell her to picture herself as human, when she began to shrink and her bones began to make those sickening cracking noises as they shifted and broke, readjusting themselves, until a very naked and n**e Tessa stood in front of me. She flung herself into my arms. "That was brilliant" she exclaimed "I can't believe it Amber, I just can't" she shook her head in awe. "I have a wolf and it's all because of you," she said giggling.

I patted her awkwardly on the back, my cheeks aflame. She noticed me blushing and stepped back, her cheeks suddenly flushed.

"I should probably get changed" she squealed and rushed towards her bedroom.

I sighed, suddenly exhausted, and crept over to her couch, feeling drained now, my whole body feeling cold. I felt like I was sick or something and I lay down, feeling darkness take over me.