The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 55

Stacey POV

I stared, incredulous, as he stuck his hand down her pants, listening to that b***h moan for all she was worth. They didn't detect me, a testement to Celia's skill in the spell she had provided, that not only masked my scent to him and the rogues nearby, but also glamoured me to look like someone else, on the off chance that I was discovered.

Why wasn't the perfume working? It was meant to remind him of me, to confuse and bewilder him, until he realized on his own that he couldn't get me out of his mind and made him want me again. Was she not wearing it? I leaned closer and took a sniff, recoiling back as the most pungent smell of honeysuckle and roses hit my nostrils. Gagging, I leant right back and put my hand to my mouth, trying not to puke up my stomach contents. What on earth was wrong with me? Was something I ate, not agreeing with me? Then something interesting happened. Straight after he had pulled that hussy's dress over her head, he stiffened and asked what the smell on her was.I knew It was the perfume I had left her. So she had worn it after all, I thought to myself pleased. The reaction to it was meant to be subtle and yet still entice a strong reaction from him. Clearly, it worked, because he ordered the little b***h to put her dress back on and then hightailed it out of there, like a pack of wolves was after him. She was not pleased, I saw, glaring daggers at his back and pleasing me immensely.

I watched her debating with myself. I could stumble out from my little hidey hole and attack her, but there was every chance she could beat me in human form. If I attacked her as a wolf, there was no guarantee that I wouldn't be injured as well and I'd be damned if I ruined this pretty little face of mine. No, when it came to this girl, I would have to be more clever, come up with a plan that got rid of her and opened the pathway to getting my precious Rowan back.

I silently slid past the group of rogues, who, because they couldn't smell my scent, didn't even pick up the fact that I was walking right past them as I carefully ensured not to step on anything that would make noise. I had no clue why the rogues were gathering so close to Rowan's territory. I mean, it wasn't typical rogue like behaviour that was for sure. They never worked well in teams, and generally the alpha of the group killed off anyone it deemed a threat, which was pretty much everyone except for women and children. So this was right out of the norm, and I wondered if Celia would know the reason for this happening. I would have to ask her and I made myself a mental note to do just that.

I walked slowly, taking in the sight of the beautiful full moon, stripping off my clothes and closing my eyes as I concentrated. I felt my bones crack and break, shifting and adjusting until I stood there, in my wolf form, looking out at the forest that surrounded me. What a rush. I never got tired of having my wolf with me, and it was exhilerating to run in such a form, to be as quick as I was and to be able to see what was going on for miles. I ran, my fur standing on end due to the cool breeze, my paws thudding loudly as they hit the ground, leaves crackling and branches breaking beneath my paws. I was powerful, strong and nothing could stop me. Or at least that's how I always felt when my wolf and I were in sync together. Nothing could get in my way. I was invincible. A force to be reckoned with.

It was a long trip, but so worth it. I've been coming out every second night or so to spy on my darling Rowan and see what he's been up to. I had heard the gossip and knew that he hadn't gone through with the wedding after all. I highly suspected the perfume Celia had spelled was to blame for that. But I had also been told he had hit the father of the bride in an argument! It was so like Rowan to get mad, but generally it was over things that were important to him. Which meant, I thought sourly, that this girl of his was important. It hadn't taken me long to realize him and her were mates. When I'd mentioned that to Celia though, she insisted the perfume would still work, despite the mate bond. I'd had my doubts but I had just seen the proof right in front of me. The two of them, Rowan and that b***h, were getting too close for comfort though.

Celia met me at the door to our little hideaway, a frown on her face as she glanced up at the sky. I shifted back to my human form and waited for her to speak.

"You're later than usual" she commented, moving so that I could follow her through the front door and upstairs.

I frowned. I hadn't realized she had been paying attention to my movements. Sneaky little witch. What else was she up to besides keeping an eye on me?

"He was having a picnic with the little slut in the woods" I snarled "and doing certain" I hesitated "things with her." Why couldn't I just say he was trying to have s*x with the w***e? It's not like Celia was an innocent who didn't know what s*x was.

Celia sighed. She grabbed hold of a bunch of herbs from the cabinets in her room and motioned me back downstairs. "I told you the mate bond would still draw him to her, even with the spell I put on the perfume. You didn't interrupt them or do something stupid, did you?" she asked suspiciously. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me.

I looked at her incredulous. Did she honestly think that I was that stupid? Scratch that, I don't want to know what she thinks of me. I shook my head instead, at her. "No, but I wanted to" I admitted, sitting down at the dining table and facing her. She began to mix some herbs into a mortar and pestle, crushing them hard. I wonder what she's making with the herbs, but am too fearful to ask. For a teenage witch, Celia could sure be moody when she chose to be. Part of it was being a teenager, part of it was being a witch on the

run.

"That spell won't last forever" Celia groused, scowling down at her concoction "even if it is a pretty strong one. You're going to have to come up with a plan, if you're desperate for that man to be your prince charming" she mused.

"Of course I do and I know he loves me. He just needs time to figure that out." I was adamant that's what he needed.

"You might not have time, if she's there with him. The spell can only do so much, it's what his reaction to it that counts." Celia pointed out wisely. Damn her. Sometimes it was like she was a mature adult rather than a teenager, and other times she was like a petulant small child. It was unnerving.

"I don't know what else to do. If I am discovered on the grounds in my real form..." I trailed off helplessly.

"Then he'll kill you" Celia supplied with a grimace "I know, I know."

The smell of the herbs was extremely strong and suffocating. The smell in the air was making me nauseas and my eyes were watering from it. Celia looked at me concerned. God knows what these herbs were, but they smelt disgusting.

"My herbs have never bothered you before" she began, but she didn't get any further, for my stomach began to heave and I rushed upstairs, hand to my mouth, making it to the bathroom just in time to vomit up my stomach contents, into the toilet bowl. Celia came up from behind me. "Strange" she said "you shouldn't have even been able to smell it that much, not unless..." she paused looking thoughtful.

T

"Not unless what?" I croaked out, wincing at the taste of vomit in my mouth. My stomach continued to churn and I felt miserable. Damn Celia and her herbs sometimes. She could have at least warned me about the smell.

"Well" she said lightly "not unless you're pregnant."

"Huh" I snorted "pull the other one." My voice was flat and dismissive.

"No I'm serious" she protested "when was the last time that you had your periods Stacey? I don't think you've had them since we've gotten together."

That stopped me in my tracks. It had been two months, two miserable months since Rowan had banished me and in that time...my body stiffened and my eyes widened in disbelief. Surely not. But it made sense. Why else would I have been puking from the sheer smell of something? Not to mention my breasts had been sore and tender lately. I also was extremely moody, but I'd chalked that one up to Rowan messing around with that little slut of his. But I'd also been teary for no reason at all lately. She could be right. "I can't be" I mumbled but Celia gave me a tight smile.

"I think you are" she pointed out, "stay here" she added, turning on her heel and vanishing.

Where the hell was she going?

She came back, holding something firmly in her hand and waving it about, triumphantly. I looked closely at it and sucked in a breath.

"Why do you even have that?"

She shrugged her delicate shoulders "in case. To be honest my period was late so I grabbed one. Good thing I did too, isn't it" she said cheerfully.

I yanked the pregnancy test out of her hand and slid it open with shaking fingers, the test coming into my hand. I began to read the instructions.

"Pee on stick and wait three minutes" I murmured to myself "that sounds easy enough."

"Well go on then" urged Celia, staring at me.

I flushed. "Some privacy please Celia" I muttered "if you don't mind."

"Fine" she huffs "but hurry up."

She turns and stomps away from the room. I shut the door behind her and sit on the toilet. I'm still naked from my run and am not wearing any clothes, so I don't have to worry about any getting in the way. I hold the stick underneath me and concentrate, breathing hard as I urinate on it, before gently placing the test on the vanity and staring around the room blankly for several minutes.

A knock on the door startles me and I rush to my feet and open the door, Celia stomping her foot and waving her arms at me.

"Well" she demands "are you?"

"I don't know" I tell her numbly "I haven't looked."

"Do you want me to look?" she asks kindly but I shake my head and go back into the bathroom, grabbing the stick and holding it, my eyes closing for a moment.

Did I want this? A child to be born from my womb? A baby that would be dependent on me, as a parent, to care for it and love it unconditionally? My heart was thumping wildly in my chest and I could feel my excitement growing as I decided, that yes, I did want a child. I had no idea whose baby it was, but it wouldn't matter.

"Look at it" Celia encouraged me, her own voice a little shaky.

My eyes opened and I glanced at it, sucking in a breath. Two lines, very clear, on the test. Two lines meant that I was indeed pregnant. I felt like laughing and crying at the same time.

"You're pregnant" breathed Celia in awe.

I frowned at her. "But I don't know whether it's Rowan's child or that other moron's one" I pointed out, folding my arms across my chest.

"I can probably come up with a spell for that. All I need is something from the father, like a bit of his hair or saliva and something from you as well."

How the hell was I going to get a piece of Rowan's hair when I couldnt' go near him without being killed by patrol? Celia senses my distress.

"You know this changes everything, don't you?" she asks.

I scowl at her. Of course it changed everything. Rowan was highly unlikely to want anything to do with me, unless it was his baby. Hope sizzled in my b****t. Maybe the child was his, I couldn't say for certain until Celia performed her spell.

"I mean" Celia says impatiently as I glower at her "that if you turn up and tell them that you're pregnant with Rowan's baby, they're not going to kill you are they? Because it would mean ..." she trailed off.

"Killing the Alpha's baby, which they aren't able to do" I finish triumphantly "you're a genius Celia."

She sniffed at me. "I try" she says with a sigh. "I think you're going to need a few things before you ahem" she coughs "go looking for that Alpha Rowan of yours. Shall we sit down and discuss it?" she asks and begins to tug me out of the bathroom. "Also, you might want to put some clothes on, you must be freezing and that's not good for the baby."