The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 96

Amber

POV

He was so sweet. I smiled to myself as I accepted the large bouquet of purple roses, my favorite flowers in the whole world, sniffing them appreciatively as I placed them into an empty vase on the dresser. I still slept in a guest room and Stefan hadn't been pressuring me at all to sleep in the same room as him, being a perfect gentleman. Perhaps, I thought a bit forlornly to myself, he was being way too kind and too gentlemanly. I kind of wished he would make some sort of move, to cement our relationship a bit further, but I wasn't quite sure what it was that I expected of him. "Aren't they beautiful" beamed Teresa from her spot on the bed. We had been having a grand time chatting away and I was being naughty by keeping her from her duties. But what was the point of being Stefan's mate, if it wasn't to occasionally flaunt my status? I doubt Teresa would have been loaned to me otherwise. I didn't like drawing attention to the fact I was Stefan's mate, sometimes it felt awkward doing so, but the more I spent time with the man, the more I was falling deeply, madly, in love with him. "You're so lucky," Teresa said with a sigh and a wistful expression on her face "I wish I had someone to buy me flowers and send me little love notes."

I smiled at her. "One day you'll replace your mate, just like I have and I bet he's going to be worth the wait" I added.

"Still though," Teresa said enviously "I mean, your mate is the Vampire King for heaven's sake. He's the dreamiest man alive" she almost squealed as I rolled my eyes.

I mean she wasn't wrong about the dreamy part. All I had to think about was Stefan's heavily muscled body and his brown hair, the way he smiled, or the darkness of his piercing eyes, and my mouth would go dry. Just touching him was enough to send tingles down my spine and the sparks that flew between us were like fireworks. I couldn't imagine how I'd respond to him if I slept in the same bed as him. Just the mere thought of him, sleeping in the nude, with nothing but a blanket covering him, was enough to make me drool. I blinked my eyes and looked over at Teresa who was giggling at me.

"Earth to Amber" she was saying with a laugh "you were thinking about Stefan again weren't you" she teased as I threw a pillow at her.

"Maybe," I said with a grin "but it's his fault for sending flowers. Teresa, why can't I stop thinking about Stefan so much? My heart races every time he comes near me" I sighed.

"Because you love him," Teresa said calmly "and you're too afraid to say it."

I was afraid to say the words. Past experience had taught me that love was fickle and could be gone within an instant. Darius had taught me that it didn't matter how badly you loved someone, sometimes it wasn't enough. He certainly hadn't fought very hard to keep me as his girlfriend and it had hurt, so bad when I had seen him marry my sister. The pain of my past still lingered. Not to mention then there was Rowan who fought the mate bond instead of giving in to it. He hadn't wanted to make a decision and had left me basically waiting, for him to make a choice between me and his ex-girlfriend Stacey. I had understood he had been in a difficult position, it couldn't be easy when your ex claimed to be pregnant with your child, but it also hadn't been easy for me to be stuck in what I liked to refer to as being in limbo.

"Yes, I love him" I admitted sheepishly "but what if he changes his mind and doesn't want me, Teresa? What if the council manages to change his mind?"

Teresa shook her head at me, her auburn hair bouncing from its ponytail "the man is crazy about you. There's no way that the elders will manage to convince him otherwise. He chose you Amber, and he's been keeping his promises, hasn't he? Didn't he come past and steal you for a walk in the woods the other day?"

"Yes" I answered with a gentle smile, remembering the way we had walked and talked for what seemed like hours "but then he got interrupted with more business to take care of," I said with a grimace.

Stefan sure was busy a lot, but I supposed that came with being the King. Not to mention he was still persuading the elders that I would make a perfect queen, something I wasn't so sure about. What did I know about being queen? Especially to a different race than my own? My hand crept to my stomach which was churning with nerves. I wondered what Stefan was up to at the moment and whether he would come and see me shortly.

"He is the king," Teresa said wisely, "he will always have a lot to do, but he does make you a priority Amber, which should tell you how he feels. It can't be easy in his position, to steal time away to spend with you."

She leaned forward and searched my eyes a wry smile on her face "what was it like to kiss him?" she asked with curiosity. "Were you just blown away by it? Did he sweep you off your feet?"

"You read too many romance novels," I said laughing out loud. Then I stopped and thought about it. I remembered the softness of his lips as they touched mine, the way his hand had twined in my hair bringing my face closer to him, the way his tongue had lightly caressed my own, and the possessive way his hands gripped my arms, holding me in place. I blushed just thinking about it.

"With a love life like mine, can you blame me" laughed Teresa "romance novels are about as much action as I'm going to get?"

A voice sounded from the doorway, startling us both. "That sounds a bit sad," said King Stefan, leaning against the doorway, a wicked grin on his face as he folded his arms and surveyed us both.

"King Stefan" gasped Teresa, getting up off the bed and giving an awkward curtsey, her cheeks a bright blushing red "forgive me" she stammered.

Stefan waved her apology away. "No apologies necessary. I believe I am the one who is interrupting your little ahem" he coughed looking amused "chat."

"Nonetheless, I should get back to the kitchen and my duties. It was really nice visiting you Amber. Your highness" she babbled, curtseying again.

"Oh Teresa" I started to say, protesting that she didn't need to go, but she disappeared out the door in a flurry of activity, pushing past Stefan who raised an eyebrow.

"She seems like a nice girl" he commented as he unfolded his arms and stood upright "a bit nervous though" he muttered.

I hid my grin. Stefan didn't seem to realize that the reason that Teresa was so nervous was because of his presence. Barely anything flustered her otherwise.

"She's my best friend," I told him honestly. "I don't care that she's an omega, you don't mind do you?" I asked a bit worriedly, biting my lip. I mean he didn't seem like a snob, but then who knew? He might think he was superior to omegas and not like me mingling with them. Not that that would stop me from seeing Teresa but I wasn't wanting to rock the boat either.

"Mind," he said puzzled "why would I mind? A lot of the omegas are lovely people" he mused "and I'm glad you've managed to replace a friend that you can confide in. "

I smiled at him thankfully. "Thank you for the flowers," I told him, indicating where they were on the dresser "they are beautiful by the way."

"You told me you loved purple roses when we were walking in the woods," he said with his eyes twinkling "and I remembered."

He reached out and took hold of my hand, pulling me gently to him. I willingly went to him, my face mere inches from his own.

"God I've missed you" he whispered lovingly, gently stroking my hair "you won't believe what kind of day I've had."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head resolutely. "No" he murmured, "I'd much rather do this."

He pulled me to him and bent his head, mashing his lips against mine as I moaned from the delicious taste of his lips and the intoxicating scent of him. He smelt so delicious, so divine, and his tongue delved inside my mouth, demanding access which I willingly gave him. He lightly touched my tongue and began to caress it, his hand going to the back of my neck and tugging lightly on my hair. I raised myself on tiptoes, locking both hands behind his neck and giving back as good as he gave, reveling in the small growls he gave me as we lost ourselves in the pleasure.

I was in a daze. All I could do was feel, wanting more, craving him as I'd never craved a man before. His hands gripped my arms tightly, while I continued to plunder his mouth back, my hands touching and stroking his hair. He was like an aphrodisiac, I couldn't get enough of him. I felt his hand moving up to cup my breast and gave a hiss of satisfaction, my n****e becoming hard as I became highly aroused.

"God" he panted "you taste so damn good."

He pulled back and I gave a small mewl of protest, not wanting to break the contact. He leaned his forehead against mine. "Sorry princess," he said quietly "but if we keep going, I can't be responsible for what happens next, and let me tell you, it involves that bed there" he pointed to the bed in the room "and our very naked bodies."

I felt a flash of excitement at that thought, my ardor cooling slightly. I kind of wished he had led me to the bed. Then I felt his fangs at my shoulder and I stiffened, waiting to see what he did next.

"I want to mark you so badly" he growled, "get rid of this mark that was left on you by that son of a b***h Alpha Rowan, and show everyone that you're mine and mine alone."

I shivered at his words.

"Do it" I told him hoarsely, surprising even myself "do it, Stefan."

He hesitated, his fangs still above the nape of my shoulder, his dark eyes piercing mine "are you sure?" he asked slowly "because once I've marked you, you're mine forever baby girl."

I met his eyes squarely. "Do it" I hissed and then gulped as he slowly lowered his fangs so that they were lightly touching my flesh. Gently tenderly he bit down into my neck as I arched my back and gave a small cry of pain. The feeling of his biting me was intense and painful, making my shoulder throb as he slowly retracted his fangs and licked the wound clean. Both of us gazed down at my shoulder. I don't know what it was that I was expecting. Maybe to see that Rowan's mark disappeared completely, especially after the rejection and everything else that happened between us. But his mark remained, as solid and as dark as ever. Instead, another tattoo appeared one of a tiara, on my shoulder. I gasped, looking over at Stefan who looked a bit put out.

"I had hoped that Rowan's mark would disappear, but apparently it's being stubborn," he said with a scowl.

"I'm sorry" I whispered, hanging my head.

He put a finger beneath my chin and tipped my head up to look at him. "don't be sorry" he told me with a low growl "you have nothing to be sorry for. You still possess my mark and now everyone, who comes into contact with you, knows that you are my mate and future queen."