The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 97

Amber POV

It was a nice and warm sunny day, the sun was shining, the sky was a beautiful clear blue and birds were chirping happily from their perches on the trees. The castle was quiet for once, the usual hustle and bustle seemingly gone. It didn't make me feel any less nervous though. Instead, I felt grim, detached almost from anything that was happening around me. I was on tenterhooks, waiting for Stefan to appear, and wondering if this was something best done on a different day. But it had to be done. We both needed to know. But what was there to gain from it? Other than finally knowing what it was?

I placed a hand protectively against my stomach and smiled down at the small swell of my belly. I was starting to show now, and my clothes had gotten tighter. Stefan made fun of me, but in a gentle loving way, organizing more clothes for me as I got bigger. I knew I needed to contact my mother and sister at some stage, but I had no desire for Darius to know where I was. I was having second thoughts about him getting custody of the child at all. Why should he get to carry on as though he hadn't hurt me? Why should I make it easy for him, considering he'd dropped me like a hot potato for my sister? Not to mention he was having a baby of his own. I felt like I'd been too much of a doormat lately and that needed to be changed. I needed to consider my own desires. "You look nervous" chirped Teresa as I turned to her, raising my eyebrows.

"Of course I'm nervous. The council is still angry that Stefan has chosen me to be queen. There's no telling what they will do once they find out that he's marked me as well."

"Isn't it cool though? Although I don't understand why you've got two marks instead of just one" murmured Teresa thoughtfully.

I didn't understand either. I had assumed, Stefan as well, that when he'd marked me that Rowan's mark would disappear, considering I had rejected him. But had he accepted the rejection? That part I didn't know, I had just assumed he would have. Why put yourself through the pain of having your mate with someone else if you didn't need to? Not to mention he was with Stacey now. I hoped they were both getting what they deserved, which was living with each other.

"The council aren't going to do anything" Teresa admonished me, from where she was sitting cross-legged on the bed. "I'd be more concerned about that b***h Elaine" she countered "she's going to freak out when she sees your mark. It stands out, being a crown that's for sure."

I frowned. Teresa had a point the crown, or tiara as I liked to think of it, was standing out in contrast to my pale skin. Maybe I should cover it? But Stefan had been so proud to see his mark on me, that I couldn't picture myself doing it.

"She won't do anything" I answered but I wasn't so sure. She was still hanging around the castle, making a nuisance of herself after all.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. She's always had a crush on Stefan and she was devastated when he broke it off" Teresa said glumly "she was practically telling us she'd be queen when the council invited her back."

"Well unfortunately for her, that's not going to happen," I said quietly, eyeing myself in the mirror and wondering if I should get changed. I was wearing a short blue dress that gathered beneath the bust and then flowed outwards to my hips. It made the bump stand out prominently, but I didn't mind. I liked seeing it, it reminded me of what was growing inside of me.

"Certainly not," said a voice from the doorway. I smiled at seeing Stefan standing there, looking so at ease, a smile on his own face. He glanced at Teresa who awkwardly got up to curtsy.

"I think we can forgo the curtsy," he said hurriedly "Teresa, isn't it?" he asked and she beamed at him. "Yes, your highness."

I placed a hand against Stefan's arm, admiring the muscles, and looked up into his dark piercing eyes, swallowing nervously as I felt tingles down my spine. Teresa wisely stayed silent, watching in awe as Stefan bent down and pressed his lips against mine, gently kissing me as I felt myself becoming aroused. Just the touch of his hand and the kissing of his lips was enough to turn me on these days. I moaned into his mouth, feeling his hands grip me around the waist and draw me in closer. My breathing became shallow, and his tongue dived inside my mouth as I willingly gave him access, both our tongues darting and winding around each other. I could have happily stayed like that all day, my mate's arms, but eventually, he pulled back to my disappointment.

"As much as I would love to kiss your gorgeous lips all day," he said, his eyes twinkling with good humor as I licked my lips, "I believe there is somewhere we need to be."

I felt so nervous as I turned to wave goodbye to Teresa who gave me a hug and then shook Stefan's hand to his amusement.

"Congratulations and good luck" she called as we began to walk towards the hospital wing, both of us holding hands, Stefan giving mine a gentle squeeze on the odd occasion as a way to comfort me. My heart was beating fast and my hands felt clammy. I felt my mouth becoming dry.

The hospital wing loomed up ahead and Stefan opened the door, ushering me inside. I walked in and blinked in amazement. It looked exactly like a hospital, from the white walls and ceilings to the nurses bustling about, taking care of patients sitting in the waiting room. Stefan held tightly to my hand as a nurse, with blonde hair and blue eyes, came walking towards us, a friendly smile on her face. "King Stefan," she said inclining her head and staring at me curiously, "what can I help you with today?" "My mate Amber is here for an ultrasound," he said evenly, a small smile on his face.

The nurse gaped for a moment and then recovered her composure. "Of course" she stammered, "this way please" she directed us, sending us to an empty hospital room. "If you wait right here, then I'll grab Dr. Cindy," she said ducking back out.

I lay down awkwardly on the bed, Stefan never leaving my side, as he pulled a chair to sit beside me. We were quiet, both of us lost in contemplation. A woman, with long black hair and green eyes, that reminded me a lot of Stacey except for the spectacles she wore, came walking in, holding a clipboard in her hands.

"Amber Henderson?" she asked and I gave a nod, Stefan staying right where he was as the doctor gave us both a wide smile.

"I'm Dr. Cindy," she said introducing herself.

A nurse came in with an ultrasound machine, which she left in the room before leaving herself.

"I assume you are here to find out the gender?" asked Dr. Cindy, eyeing my small bump.

I flushed. "Yes please," I said in a low voice.

"Do you know how far along you are?"

I blushed profusely. "Um, I think about twenty weeks."

"That sounds about right for the approximate size of your bump, but let's take a closer look shall we," she said brusquely, going over to the ultrasound machine and plugging it in. She began to wheel it towards both Stefan and me. I watched her as she began to place gel on the probe. "The gel will be cold," she told me "can you lift your dress up please."

I felt exposed, wriggling so that my dress was above my bump, blushing as I realized that Stefan could see my lacy underwear, but he took no notice, too busy staring at the ultrasound machine with a frown on his face. I wondered what he was thinking about. I hissed as she placed the probe, gently it must be said, onto my swollen belly and began to move it around.

I stared in fascination and awe at the machine, watching the monitor closely with Stefan. The image of a baby came up on the screen and I gasped, tears coming to my eyes as I clutched Stefan's hand even tighter.

"Your baby is well developed," Dr. Cindy said, scribbling away on her clipboard "their heartbeat is strong and they appear to be very healthy" she commented, moving the probe around to look at the limbs.

"I would say that your baby is definitely about twenty to twenty-one weeks old" she murmured, as I gave a smile, blinking back the tears. I'd been right but then losing your virginity isn't something that isn't easily forgotten.

"The baby is beautiful" Stefan whispered, bending down to murmur it in my ear.

"Can we please know the gender?" I asked eagerly. I wasn't phased by whether it was a boy or girl, but I wanted to find out. I could picture a small boy much like Darius or a girl that was like me, with bright red hair and green eyes. Either way, I was going to love it, but Stefan was a whole other story. Was I asking too much of him to take this baby on as his own?

"Alright, let's find out the gender," said Dr. Cindy with a knowing smile.

She moved the probe around. I watched, sucking in a breath, feeling a sense of longing.

"Okay, the baby is being super cooperative" laughed Dr. Cindy, "are you ready for it."

Stefan grinned. "We're ready Dr. Cindy, let us know what we're having."

"A boy" declared Dr. Cindy, removing the probe and beginning to wipe it over. She handed me some paper towel to clean myself up and I clutched it, still staring at the now empty screen.

"A boy" I whispered, tears forming in the corner of my eyes.

Stefan grabbed the towel and began to wipe my stomach, tenderly, his eyes meeting mine as Dr. Cindy began to unplug the machine and wheel it away. "A boy" he whispered thickly, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

"Are you happy?" I asked nervously.

He paused for a moment, throwing the towel into the nearby wastepaper basket. Then sat down and leaned back against the chair.

"Am I happy?" he asked slowly and teasingly "I'm ecstatic. We're having a baby boy Amber. I hope he has red hair like yours" he said with an exhale "but even if he doesn't I'm still going to love him as my own."

Now the tears were trailing down my cheeks. I couldn't believe my luck in finding a mate so perfect for me as this one. Already he was starting to come up with baby names as I watched. It was endearing. But I also feared Darius's reaction when he found out that I had found another mate, one who wanted to raise his child. Something told me Stefan was not about to agree to shared custody of the child.

"Um Stefan, what about the father?" I asked tentatively "he wanted shared custody last time we spoke."

Stefan took a deep breath, his eyes flashing a deep bright red. "Is that what you want?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I agreed to it, but I really don't want to," I said in a small voice.

"Then we won't be sharing custody," Stefan said calmly "there's no one around who would deny me and quite frankly the father deserted you, so there's no reason he should get it. I have the world's best lawyers if it comes down to it, but it won't," he said confidently. "Only an i***t would take on the Vampire King."