The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 52

Amber POV

I was a bit stymied, being left alone in the room like I was. I gazed out the window, staring out at the beautiful forest and the way the trees danced a bit in the wind. I could hear the chirping of birds, from their nests in the trees and could smell the beautiful pine as it drifted towards me through the open window. This place was heavenly and I opened the door to the adjoining bathroom in awe. There was a massive bathtub, sitting there, calling my name, I thought to myself with a grin, eyeing it happily. I was quick to disrobe and ensure I had a towel on hand, before filling the bathtub and sitting it it, relaxing in the water and leaning back against it, closing my eyes and letting time pass me by. I wondered, absently, where Alpha Rowan was, but was too damn relaxed to care too much. I gently scrubbed the dirt from my body away and rinsed my face, getting rid of any makeup and smiled, splashing away quite happily. In fact, I was so engrossed in my bath, that I failed to notice the sound of the bedroom door opening, or hear the footsteps as Alpha Rowan walked across the bedroom floor. I did hear, the sound of the bathroom door opening and gasped, covering my breasts in indignation as I whirled around to face a blushing Alpha Rowan.

"I wanted to check up on you, see how you were" he said awkwardly, staring at a point above my head as I flushed, not knowing what to say or do.

"Um, I'm fine" I told him quietly "is there any chance you could wait in the bedroom?" I asked, trying to look anywhere but at him. He quickly nodded and was about to duck back behind the door, when I saw his eyes widen in disbelief. I tried not to cringe or cower away from him as he stomped inside the bathroom and almost slammed the door shut behind him. What was he doing? Why wasn't he leaving? I felt helpless and vulnerable in such a naked state. I flinched as he reached out and lightly touched my back, almost caressing it lovingly.

"Who did this?" he demanded to know and I shivered at the malice in his tone. He looked so angry, standing there, his eyes narrowed as he stared at me and for a moment I was confused, wondering what on earth it was that he was talking about. Then my own eyes widened and I stared at him in disbelief. I had forgotten all about her scars on my back from the whipping but now the memory came back, unbidden to me and I shivered.

"Who was it" Alpha Rowan hissed as I moved as far back as I could in the bath, my hands covering my breasts.

"It's nothing" I squeaked, very aware of my nudity now and how close his face was to mine. For some strange reason, I was fighting the urge to kiss the man! In this situation it was almost comical. I saw his eyes flash black as his wolf came dangerously closer to the surface.

"It's not nothing" growled Rowan, suddenly grasping my arm and yanking me upwards.

I was forced to follow his hand and stood upright, gasping, as he turned me so that he could see my bare back more clearly. His hand reached out to touch my scars, gentle, tracing them.

"It was a punishment" I said reluctantly, as he swallowed hard.

"This was more than just a punishment" he hissed "those marks or scars, were made with silver. That's only ever used on prisoners or rogues in my pack. What could you have possibly done, to warrant such a punishment?"

I swallowed hard. Now that I was out of the water, I was freezing cold and my body was trembling. I saw his eyes narrow on me and then he reached out, grabbing hold of the towel and quickly wrapped it around me, lifting me out of the bathtub. I felt my feet hit the floor and sighed, glad to be on solid ground again, even though a small part of me thoroughly enjoyed the way he had lifted me up, as though I weighed nothing to him. He reached past me and opened the bathroom door and ushered me through, gently tugging me by the hand, until we both stood in the bedroom staring at each other.

"Um" I said hesitantly "do you think maybe you could turn your back around while I get changed?"

He seemed to hesitate, his eyes flashing black for a moment, before he conceded with a gracious nod, turning his back as I began to dry myself with the towel, grabbing hold of a pair of comfortable trackpants and sweatshirt.

"You can turn around now" I said quietly, and he turned, putting his hands in his pockets and waiting for me to speak.

"The punishment" he said calmly, although there was still a slight undercurrent of anger in his voice "what was it for?"

I stared at the ground miserable, wishing the floor would swallow me up. No such luck though. In the end I settled for the truth. "My sister fell down the stairs and my father blamed me, thinking that I threw her down or pushed her" I explained thickly, blinking back tears from my eyes.

He looked astonished and angrier than I had ever seen him. I could see his jaw clench tight, his eyes flash and his hands came out of his pockets to clench into fists. "How could he ever believe you were capable of such a thing? I feel like I've known you my entire life" he confessed "and there's no way you would ever hurt someone like that. Didn't he believe you?"

I shook my head. "You've met my father" I told him bitterly "does he strike you as the kind to believe an undesirable's words?"

"I wish I had hit him harder" he exploded, making me jump "I should have beaten that bastard to a lying pulp. Coward, f*****g bastard" he roared.

I agreed with his words, but not that he had hitten father harder. After all, the man could have incited a war with his actions. He was lucky my father was too much of a coward to take him on. Or maybe father was smart enough to realize that Alpha Rowan was just that much stronger than him.

"Look it's alright" I say hastily, trying to reassure him as his eyes remained watchful, pitch black as they stared directly into mine "I'm over it" I shrug "and they don't hurt anymore."

"But your skin is now marked" he said quietly, calming down "and will remain that way."

"Lucky I'm not vain then" I say teasingly trying to joke about it. Unfortunately the joke falls flat.

"What about your sister, didn't she tell him it wasn't you?"

"She did" I tried to explain "but she was in a coma for a few days and by then I'd already been punished. Honestly, Alpha um Rowan" I stammered "it's not really that big a deal."

He closes the distance between us and lifts my chin with a finger, gazing deeply into my eyes, his own looking thoughtful. There's a scowl on his face now. "But it is a big deal" he says thickly and when I open my mouth to protest again, he bends his head down and gently captures my lips with his own. Instantly sparks fly between us and I feel tingles down my spine. He's not forceful at all, in fact he's sweet, gentle, caring as he kisses me. It's unlike any kiss I've ever experienced. Better than any I had with Darius and that's saying something.

I feel his tongue demanding access and I open my mouth to him, his tongue delving inside and caressing mine as I give a low moan, my hands gripping the back of his shirt tightly, my eyes closed. I feel his hand on the back of my neck, holding me in place as he becomes a bit more rough and insistent. I fight the urge to push the man down on the floor and climb him, the man was too damn sexy for his own good! But it's hard. I can feel myself becoming aroused and my juices begin to flow. His nostrils widen and I gulp as I realize he can smell my arousal.

But I'm not the only one that's had that reaction, as I feel his hard length across my midsection. He's fully erect and growling lowly in his throat. One of his hands begins to slowly, steadily, make its way beneath my sweatshirt and I moan out loud as his hand moves upwards to gently cup my breast. I can feel the warmth of his flesh on mine and it's bliss. I've never felt this way before and I can feel myself becoming desperate to feel his length inside of me as he deepens the kiss. "Rowan" I moan and he stills, his body stiffening.

"Say it again" he orders and I look up at him helplessly, biting my lip.

"Rowan" I moaned again and he recaptured my lips, one hand grabbing me around the waist as I swooned. I wasn't sure just how much more of this I could take before I pushed the man onto the bed!

A knock sounds on the door, startling us both apart. "Sorry to interrupt" comes the Beta's voice from behind the door.

"You can open it" grouses Alpha Rowan, looking at me apologetically.

I take the time to come back to my senses, blushing profusely.

Beta Laurence pokes his head back through the door. "Ahem" he coughs, looking a bit awkward and highly embarrassed. I glance at Alpha Rowan whose hair is dishevelled and there's a wicked grin on his handsome face. My clothes are rumpled and I try to straighten them, while looking anywhere but at the Beta. It didn't take a genius for the man to be able to figure out what we had been up to.

"It's to do with pack business" Beta Laurence says firmly, still in the doorway. "There have been more sightings of rogues in the distance and there are more than before. Something is going on" he tells Alpha Rowan perplexed "rogues never work well in a team, but that's exactly what these ones are doing" he added bewildered.

Rogues didn't do well in a team because they too worked on a hierarchy system, with the Alpha wolf killing anyone who dared to challenge him. Considering rogues didn't like to be told what to do, most often the alpha would kill every single other wolf except for females who they didn't consider a threat to them. So for there to be a team of them? That was fascinating and interesting.

"Can I help in any way?" I ask eagerly.

Alpha Rowan looks over at me, his eyes softening and going back to normal. He shakes his head at me "thank you but you need to remain here. There;s got to be a reason for them gathering and I need to replace out what it is. Laurence, I want you to contact the pack elders, they might have previous experience with this happening. No one is to leave the pack right now, until we get this figured out. They must stay within the territory" he reiterated.

Laurence nodded and then sighed. "I'll go make the call.." He disappears out the door.

That leaves just me and Alpha Rowan alone. He runs a hand through his hair, making it even more dishevelled and I let out a small giggle which makes him smile. He comes back over to me and looks regretful.

"I'm sorry we didn't really get a chance to talk" he murmurs "but we'll talk properly when we get a chance to."

"What am I supposed to do in the meantime? Just remain in this room?"

"Yes, for now. I won't have you in danger, not when I can't bear the thought of you being hurt." He sounded completely sincere.

"You barely know me though" I whispered, wrapping my arms around myself. Part of me, couldn't stand the idea of him being hurt as well. But I couldn't tell him that. He was an Alpha for heavens sake and one of the strongest ones in the country.

He reached out and wiped the lone tear away that trailed down my cheek. "I told you, it's like I've known you forever" he breathed, kissing me sweetly on the forehead.

"Be careful" I mumbled and he smiled.

"We're just surveilling. I won't be in danger."

Without another word he left and I was standing there alone. Why did I care so much for this man? Why was I so drawn to him and why did it feel like I had known him all my life? I was determined to get the answers I sought and resolved to get them the very next time that I saw Alpha Rowan again. I put a hand to my mouth which still tingled and smiled to myself. He was one hell of a kisser, I had to admit and blushed, thinking about when I might be able to kiss him again.