The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 44

Clarissa POV

Mathew sat back down and leaned back in his chair, giving a low whistle as Alpha Rowan stormed from the room, looking extremely pleased with himself. "How do you like that then" he murmured beneath his breath, "I got us a billion dollars for Amber. Probably could have gotten more if I had asked" he said with a shake of his head. "The man seems to be taken with her. I don't know why, but it's worked out well for us, hasn't it?"

was.

I try not to look sickened even though my stomach is churning. I can't believe just how disgusting this man is, how horrible. He would give Amber to the highest bidder and there was nothing I could do to stop him. Not unless I wanted to get beaten once again, that "You really want to do this to her" I tried anyway, despite myself, "give her up as though she means nothing to us?"

He laughs, the sound filling the otherwise silent room. "Of course I do. I can't stand that we are affiliated with having an undesirable child as a daughter and you should feel the same. I have no clue where she got that hideous red hair from, but I don't like it and I hate that she doesn't resemble me or you in any way. She's better off anyway, unless you want her on the street?" he threatened.

Of course, I didn't want her on the street, but he had also left out an important piece of information, I realized, staring at him.

"You didn't tell him that she's pregnant" I said lightly. He might not want her if he finds out."

He curls his lips back in a sneer. "He's not going to find out, not until it's too late and the stupid bastard has married her", he says with a scoff and a hard look in his eyes, "and you better not even think about telling him". He says, his eyes staring into mine.

I tried not to give him the satisfaction of seeing me shudder at that warning. I know full well what he's capable of and how much he hurt me every time I spoke up or disobeyed him. My only consolation was that he had never lifted a finger or a hand to the girls when they were younger. Now, though, he didn't hesitate to take his anger out on poor Amber who didn't deserve it.

If only I had a friend or family member to run to, but Mathew had made sure they would never speak to me again and they were just as toxic as him. He'd cut me off from friendships slowly until I was only friends with the Luna and Alpha. It was almost like he had planned the whole thing so that I could never leave him. With no where to run to, I was forced to endure the constant beatings and the emotional abuse he dumped on me, trying to keep the girls unaware of what was going on.

"You have to tell her Mathew, you can't blindside her. Especially since he wants the wedding to take place tomorrow" I said evenly, my chest heaving up and down in indignation.

He looks a little surprised at my annoyance at him. "Of course I'm going to tell her, she needs to know not to warn him about her pregnancy", he adds, and I deflate a little, my shoulders slumping in resignation. He'd thought of everything. His eyes glazed over and I sensed that he must be mind-linking Thomas to bring Amber to the study. His eyes become clear again and he looks at me thoughtfully. "For heaven's sake will you sit down" he says irritably, "it's annoying having you hovering over my shoulder like that. Geez" he exhales.

I silently did as he asked, sitting in an armchair, leaning back and crossing my ankles. I knew the reception was still going on and part of me longed to go back and to visit Sophie again, before she and Darius left for their honeymoon. From the looks of things, they no longer despised each other and I had high hopes the honeymoon would go well and that there might be forthcoming news of another pregnancy and more grandchildren to love and adore. I was overjoyed with Amber's pregnancy, although I had to work hard not to show it. I couldn't wait to see what her baby would look like, whether it would resemble Darius, who still didn't know and fingers crossed, never would, or if the child would resemble Amber with her fiery red hair and bright vivid green emerald eyes. Either way, the child was sure to be adorable and I desperately wanted to be able to hold them in my arms. Mathew didn't know it, but I'd put myself on birth control after seeing how he reacted to Amber and the steadily rising hatred he had for her. If he could treat his daughter like that, there was no way of knowing how he would have reacted if I'd given birth to another redhead. He most likely would have had me killed or banished from the pack. As it was, I spent each day worrying, hoping he wouldn't find the pills and demand an explanation.

"What the hell is taking so long" growled Mathew, looking irritated.

"It's a little bit of a distance from the reception and she was wearing heels" I pointed out, "which means she's walking slowly Mathew, so just give her a minute to get here."

Not to mention, Amber was probably pissed at being dragged away from the reception and her sister. She and Sophie seemed to finally be forming a relationship and a bond with each other. I was pleased to see. I had always wanted them to be close but Mathew's interference had ensured they had grown up despising each other's existence instead. A shame. But now, they were actually hugging each other and talking civilly and I couldn't be more proud of them.

Finally, after several awkward minutes of silence and Mathew steadily getting more and more annoyed, a dangerous thing since he was also slightly drunk and therefore more aggressive, Amber came walking in with Thomas gripping her gently around the arm as he escorted her. I gave her a small smile. I would have liked to hug her but Mathew would have gotten angry at the show of affection and instead I was forced to remain sitting as a result. Amber looked confused as well as apprehensive as she glanced at her father, probably noticing that he was drunk. She wrinkled her nose and the smell of alcohol wafted off of him and into the room.

"You wanted to see me" Amber said finally as Thomas let go of her arm and stood back in the doorway, with his arms folded.

"You can go Thomas, this is a private discussion"barked Mathew at the man, who merely nodded in acknowledgment and then left, silently as we all watched him go.

"Have a seat dear" I said timidly and Amber glanced at me, then shook her head, looking determined.

"Not until you tell me what this is about" she says heatedly, glaring down at her father.

God, please don't make him angry, I think to myself, because if she does he'll take it out on me.

Her father glares back at her. "Sit down" he growls and sulkily she does, crossing her ankles, looking stunning in that wonderful emerald woodland green dress of hers that Sophie purchased as a surprise.

"Now then, there's no easy way to say this but it looks like you'll be getting married tomorrow" Mathew says decisively, his eyes glinting with humour.

Amber's jaw drops open and she looks stunned, all the blood draining from her face. "Married" she whispers shakily, her whole body trembling "married to who?"

Mathew sneers at her. "Alpha Rowan aka the Beastly or Monstrous Alpha as he's known has asked for your hand in marriage and we have given it to him."

Amber looks slightly panicked now. "I've heard stories about the monstrous alpha" she protests weakly." He banished his own girlfriend from his pack and killed the man she slept with. You can't possibly have me marry him, please, father, not him." she pleads, slightly hysterical.

I watched her with a pang of sympathy. I wish I could tell her that the Alpha could not possibly be any worse than her father, that in fact he seemed to actually be a kind man, but I dared not speak those words in front of Mathew. All I can do is hope that she makes a go at her marriage and that my instincts about Alpha Rowan are right. I had a feeling he would treat her right. Perhaps even grow to love her. If she at least gave him a chance. It couldn't be any worse than staying here, with her rough and despicable father. Mathew chuckles drily. "I can do this. Do you want to end up on the streets, Amber? Because that is your option. Get married tomorrow to the beastly alpha, or go and live on the streets, pregnant and alone."

Amber's head whips up and she stares at her father, biting her lip. "Did you tell him about the pregnancy?" she asks, shaking violently.

Mathew shakes his head. "No" he barks, "and you are not to tell him either, Not until the wedding has taken place and he can't annul it. Which means," he adds with a guffaw, "you're going to have to sleep with him as well."

Do not be sick, do not be sick, I chanted the words in my mind as I stared at Amber's white face. She looked like she was about to vomit any second now. My own stomach was nauseated by his words as well.

"You want me to lie to him" breathes Amber, and then realization strikes her, her eyes accusing as she looks at me and not her father.

"What did he give you" she says bluntly and to the point, "for me. What did he offer you?"

I looked away, unable to answer her. Mathew, on the other hand, has no such compunctions. "A billion dollars" he says triumphantly, "he's giving us a billion dollars for your hand in marriage."

If possible, Amber goes even whiter. "Why would you need so much money" she says in a strangled voice, "you are wealthy enough as it is."

"You can never have too much money" Mathew assured her smugly, a broad grin on his face. " Trust me, it's not like your husband to be does not have plenty of it. He's richer than us, he can afford to give us a billion dollars. Consider how lucky you are to be married to such wealth," he adds.

Amber gave a dry laugh. "I never cared about money. All I want is a man who loves me and cares for me and you've taken that dream away from me. For the sake of money, father. Are you happy with yourself?"

I glanced at her with sympathy in my face. How like me she sounded when I was younger with the exact same dream and instead I was forced to live a nightmare each and every day.

"I can't wait to be rid of you" Mathew says in reply, his lips curled back in an ugly sneer "now be gone. You are getting married tomorrow and that is final" he says, his eyes narrowing.

Amber stands up, her body shaking. "I'll marry this beastly alpha if that's what it takes to get away from you, father. I feel sorry for you, because you are not a happy man and you're full of nothing but hatred and bitterness that will eat away at you. I want more for my child and I will have it, and I will love my baby more than you have ever shown love towards me. You will never get to see your grandchild" promised him, "and I can only be glad of that fact."

"Leave" thunders Mathew and she does, glancing once over her shoulder, before she slams the door to the study closed.

"You leave as well" Mathew said tiredly. "You should go and check on Sophie and then pay the minister to come back tomorrow for Amber's wedding in the evening. Give him whatever he asks for. I don't care how much he wants, for such short notice. I'll come and join you shortly" he added, rifling through his desk drawers and producing a small bottle of bourbon, a smile on his face. I couldn't get out there fast enough, knowing he would get even drunker and that tonight would mean avoiding him and his 'advances' as best I could.