The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 58

Darius

POV

I'm a little nervous as I approach Sophie, even though she gives me a large beaming smile. She looks so radiant, so poised, so elegant as always. She's perfect and she's fit in as our soon to be Luna, like she's always been there. Our marriage has gotten off to a rocky start but we've found our footing and we're going along nicely. In fact, I was here to surprise her. I wanted to take her out on a date, away from the pack and away from all our daily responsibilities and do something fun for once. That is, if she agreed to go out with me. I had my suspicions that she would. "Darius" she said sweetly as I inhaled her scent, which smelt like raspberries and cream, some sort of perfume concoction she wore "what's going on? Am I needed?" she asked in concern, about to get up from her seat, where she sat reading a book.

I shook my head and she instantly relaxed. "Oh, then what's up?" she asked me, placing the book to the side. I glanced at it. It was of course one of those mind numbingly boring romance novels she seemed to be so fond of. Internally I rolled my eyes. Those books, as far as I was concerned, were nothing but soft p**n.

"Actually nothing's up. I was actually wondering if you would like to go on a date with me?" I grinned and gave her a wink "I'm telling you now it will be loads of fun."

She seemed speechless for a second. "A date" she breathed and I watched her entire face light up "I would love to. Where are we going?" she asked eagerly, standing upright and looking ready to bolt out the front door in her eagerness.

I had to laugh. "That's a surprise" I teased and she sighed, looking disappointed but still eager. Then she glanced down at what she was wearing and frowned. "Should I change?" she asked.

I didn't see anything wrong with what she was wearing. She wore a pair of blue jeans and a dressy white blouse with it, that further enhanced her golden blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore practical shoes, a simple pair of sneakers and she couldn't have been dressed more perfect. She always looked beautiful to me.

"You look gorgeous and no, you don't need to get changed" I told her, bending down and kissing her on the lips for a moment, time feeling like it stood still. Then I had to step back and I grabbed her hand.

"We're going now?" she asked and I nodded, tugging her towards the front door.

"If we don't we'll be late" I said with a chuckle, dragging her to my car.

I opened the front passenger door for her and helped her inside, before shutting the door and going around to the driver's side. I climbed in, Sophie fiddling with the stereo as I turned the car on and begin to reverse out of the driveway. I knew where I was going, but I couldn't wait to see Sophie's face when we got there. I would lay bets she had never been to a circus before.

I was right, Sophie's face was fascinated as I pulled up in the parking lot, opposite the large circus tent. "A circus" she said incredulously, turning to me with an eager expression on her face "I've never been to one."

It didn't surprise me, not with the parents she had. A circus was not exactly the event a wealthy family, mine included, would go to for fun. But I wanted Sophie to be more down to earth so that we could connect better with our pack members, especially those who weren't wealthy and that included going to places we wouldn't normally go to. Besides, the animals would be cute.

I steered Sophie towards the tent, handing over the tickets I had purchased earlier to the ticketman in the booth, and then we took our seats inside. I grabbed some popcorn for her and we sat there munching away as the ring man came into the centre of the tent, the hushed whispers and chatting in the crowd instantly dissapitating.

"Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to Parvour Circus" he began as several clowns jumped into the ring beside him "we hope you have a great time and must ask that you remain in your seats for the entire show for your own safety."

The clowns began to jump around, eliciting giggles from the small children in the crowd. Sophie giggled along with them, clapping her hands and thoroughly enjoying herself. She loved the elephant that came in and did some tricks and oohed at the tigers as well. I spent the majority of the time staring at her, rather than at the show itself, fascinated with every change of expression and the childlike excitement she exhibited. Sometimes, I still marvelled at how lucky I was to have her, despite everything and how we had come to be together. I also still felt sad for Amber, who had been forced into a marriage she didn't want and who hadn't deserved anything that happened to her. Sometimes I felt sick to my stomach at how she had been treated.

"And now for our next trick, a volunteer from the audience is required" boomed the ringmaster and I tore my eyes away from Sophie to replace him pointing at me. "Young man if you please."

Sophie shoved me. "Go on" she urged "get down there."

I was reluctant to. But in the end, with everyone's eyes on me, including the children in the audience, I stood up and slowly made my way down the seats and into the arena. The ring master's eyes were twinkling with supressed humour. "Alright, now it's time for you to see the man who can throw daggers with amazing accuracy" he shouted.

Wait, what.

He placed me on a large spinning wheel, restraining my arms and legs so that I too would turn with the wheel. My stomach was churning with apprehension. One wrong throw and I would end up with a dagger in my body. A large man, burly and strong with a large beard, stepped forward, several throwing knives in his hand. "And now if you please Stuart" the ring master shouted.

I spotted Sophie in the crowd, a hand to her mouth in shock, her eyes wide as the spinning wheel began to spin. Thwack, thwack, thwack. The knives came dangerously close to my arms and legs but missed me by a hair's breath. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Then he threw the last dagger and it landed next to my head, almost implanting itself in my neck.

"Well done Stuart" roared the ringmaster as the crowd cheered and a clown let me out. I walked on shaky legs back to Sophie who was giggling wildly.

"That was awesome."

"That was the conclusion of our show, ladies and gentleman. But you are welcome to roam the grounds and go on rides and see the free entertainment provided by the carnival."

I held out a hand to Sophie, still feeling shaken. "Shall we?"

She laughed and stood up, clutching my hand tightly "we shall" she squealed, almost skipping down the stairs. She was having a great time, I noted, pleased.

We began to roam the grounds, not sure where to begin. Sophie and I went on dodgem cars, patted a host of cute animals. I literally thought I was going to have to drag her away from them, we spent so long in the animal pen. We ate cotton candy, a lot of it and then Sophie's face turned pale as a sheet and we had to replace a bathroom, where I waited outside anxiously for her to come back out.

When she did, she was still pale and I was quite concerned. "Do you need a drink or something?"

She shook her head. "No" she rasped, "just need somewhere to sit and rest."

We ended up sitting outside a food truck on the plastic chairs provided. I grabbed a hotdog, but Sophie declined any food, her skin absolutely ashen.

"Sure you don't want a drink?" I asked delicately "even if it's just water."

She looked even paler. "I dont' think I could keep it down."

That was fair enough. I ate my hot dog, relishing every bite, but feeling like an a*****e when I saw her shudder as I took a bite. I should have held off the food if she was sick, but my stomach was absolutely growling with hunger. Cotton candy did not make you full sadly. In fact, I swear it makes you hungrier.

"Do you think you might be" I began and then paused, not sure how to phrase it.

But she instantly read my mind. "Pregnant? I can't get pregnant remember Darius" she said a tad bit bitterly.

I fell silent. I hadn't forgotten but then it hadn't hurt to ask the question. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset."

"Sorry" she apologized "I think it was just all the cotton candy, I'm starting to feel a lot better now" she added.

But she still looked nervous and apprehensive, wringing her hands together and staring off into the distance, as though something was weighing heavily on her mind.

"Sophie if you want to talk, then we can talk. I brought you out here to have fun but that doesn't mean you can't tell me anything. What's going on?"

"Oh I want to tell you" she whispers in a shaking voice "so bad but then I think about your reaction and what you're going to think of me and I just can't do it."

I reach out and take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze "whatever it is, it can't be that bad. Talk to me. I'm your husband now, remember. For better or worse, that was our vows. So talk to me, tell me what's on your mind." "You'll be furious"

"You don't know that for sure" I argued, wondering what on earth she wanted to tell me. Was it some sort of family secret? Something she had done in her past? What was it? What could be so bad, that she was afraid to tell me? "It's about Amber" she says slowly and I take a large inhale, my eyes darting to hers in shock. Why would she bring up Amber, especially on our date.

"We don't have to talk about Amber" I said hastily and she frowned, looking up at me, with a sheepish look on her face, along with something that looked extremely apologetic.

"We have to talk about Amber" she returned, "because I know something you don't and it's slowly killing me inside. I should have told you earlier, but then Amber doesn't want you to know" she vented "and it's all so hard keeping a secret when it's not right and you should have a say..." she paused.

I was more than a little intrigued by now. What on earth was going on that had Sophie in such a fluster? This was so unlike the cool, composed Sophie that I knew. She looked frazzled, her eyes haunted as they stared deeply into mine. She looked terrified. "Sophie, whatever it is, we'll get through it. What is it you're not telling me" I prompted, squeezing her hand.

She looked down at the table, unable to look at me. I waited on tenterhooks for her to speak and when she did, I was shocked into silence.

"Amber's pregnant" she mumbled and I sighed.

Well that wasn't exactly the end of the world, but I could see why Sophie was upset. After all Amber had only been sent off to that man not that long ago. Hopefully he hadn't taken advantage of her, the bastard, but I couldn't see why she was so afraid to tell me. Then she looked directly at me, hesitated and then spoke the words that would change my life forever, and make me extremely angry at her. "The baby is yours Darius."