Rejection Denied

Nix

“What kind of fucking plan was that, Tanner!” I shouted, pacing back and forth in front of Aviry’s door.

We had just brought her upstairs again after dosing her with a serum. Not as much as tanner did, just enough for a couple of hours. I drugged this poor human girl. But, I can’t risk her escaping, not after what she just witnessed.

“Are you fucking serious, man!?” Tanner shouted back. “You’re the one that couldn’t control you’re shifting. You exposed her to our world, Nix! Not me—”

“But you were going to!? You were going to tell her everything, regardless.”

“I was going to explain it to her overtime! Not freak her the fuck out!” Tanner whispered, shouted.

“Oh yeah. Over time right Tanner? Here you go Aviry. Here's brochure to teach you the basics of our world.” I mocked his stupidity. “We don’t have werewolf educational videos Tanner! There are no wolf 101 classes for her to attend! She should’ve never been brought here!”

“You should’ve calmed the fuck down and let me explain the rest of my plan.”

“What Tanner?!” I facepalmed my face. “What is this brilliant plan you’ve come up with. You keep bringing the shit up like it’ll fix all the problems in the world. What the fuck is it, hmm.”

Tanner slumped against the wall and slowly shook his head.

“I was going to mention us being different. I don’t know the exact details, but I would’ve shown her my wolf by the end of the month. Then before the competition started…” Tanner huffed. “I was going to ask you to turn her.”

“You want me to what!? You want me to turn her? Like that’s a medal she deserves for accepting us?” I shook my head in disbelief. “Dude fuck you and your mind. Did you consider how she might feel about this? How this could affect her life, her family and friends—”

“She’s alone, Nix. The moment I found her, I had Nate look her up.” Tanner rubbed his face. “I told her I’d give her the world, anything she wanted. She deserves that much for being our champion. She’s strong Nix, I wouldn’t waste my time or yours if I didn’t think she could win.”

“A new wolf takes time to train. Her human fighting skills may be enough to win those fights. But when it comes down to the wolf battles, she would lose—” I rubbed my hand through my hair.

“Well, you expedited the plan. We can still change her. And train her in the basics.”

“You’re still suggesting that? After the way, she ran from us. You heard her heart racing. We had to put her sleep to stop her from having a heart attack.”

“She ran from your bloodthirsty wolf, Nix. Bailey and Joel heard you howl, but once they sensed no real danger, they wanted to scare her a bit for fun. But not you, Nix, you saw how she relaxed when you held her.” I recalled the memory and the feeling of holding the little minx. She smelled amazing, and it felt good to have her in my arms. I was reluctant to let her go.

“Fuuuuck, this shit is a mess.” I sighed heavily. “I have a meeting with the other alphas, Tanner. Talk to her when she wakes up, but don’t mention turning her. Explain the competition part to her, all of it, but don’t mention the battle of the wolves.

“Should I mention what happens if she wins—”

“Hell no, save that headache for another day. And by another day, I mean after she agrees to everything else. And then participates and wins the event.” I turned to walk away. “If she wins, I’ll be the one to tell her myself.”

“Yes, Alpha Nix,” Tanner said.

I walked down the hall down the flight of stairs to the third floor. My office is the last door, on the left next to the conference room. I opened my door to see my Blood Guard, Cay, spinning slowly in my chair.

“You didn’t behave yourself, alpha,” Cay said, still spinning in my chair. “I heard you shifted and almost killed a human girl.”

I know Cay was disappointed in me. He’s the only man who could make me feel bad for what I did. He’s an older brother to me, a mentor, my personal peacekeeper.

“I’m sorry—”

“Should I remind you of our deal with the hunters? Kill a human, and the deal is over. A major advantage we have to ward off another war would be gone…” He stood from the chair and slowly walked to stand in front of me. “All because you couldn’t control your anger. Is that what you want?”

Those grey eyes, searching my light blue ones for an answer. Patiently waiting for my reply in the form of words. He already knew I would never want my people to be at war again, my parents, siblings, the pack leadership, and members. All killed because of a stupid mistake I made as a child.

“No, Cay…that’s not what I want. I want peace, no more fighting, no more of my people.”

“Good, control yourself, walk away.” Cay patted my shoulder. “Now, tell me how amazing this human girl is since she pissed you off enough to make you shift. It’s been six months since you’ve shifted out of anger.”

I groaned and walked to my desk. “I don’t know what came over me. She wasn’t afraid of me. Every time I pushed her, she pushed back. She insulted me, raised her voice at me challenged—”

“She sounds like a great Luna to be. One that will keep your ass in check while I go on vacation.” Cay laughed, taking a chair in front of me.

“She’s a human, not a Luna. The other packs will call us weak.” I opened my laptop.

“Does it matter what they think? We’ve proven our strength multiple times. How does she make you feel, isn’t that the important thing?” Cay crossed his legs, therapist style, folding his arms.

“It doesn’t matter. I have a plan B. I will have a Luna that is fit to be beside me, even if Aviry wins. She’ll never be the one.” I typed up an email, one I knew would change my whole Luna situation, despite the Alpha’s Luna Competition.

“So, you’ll allow this girl to compete for nothing? To risk her life for no reason beyond what? You’re need to prove that you found the best champion, the need to always win?”

“She’ll get whatever she wants in return for her participation.” I scoffed. “As if she’ll ever want to be with a werewolf. And me a human girl we would become a joke.” I picked my phone up, tired of this conversation.

“I have a meeting with the alphas. Please see if Tanner needs any help with our new guest and be careful. I don’t think even you, The Great and Peaceful Cay, can calm her down.”

Cay stood from his chair and walked out of my office. If he’s pissed at me for using Aviry for my own needs, he doesn’t show it. The man is a walking, nirvana always looking out for others, showing them the peaceful way of life.

After dialing in the first Alpha, Jared, I hung the phone up and switched on the speakerphone, waiting for the call to go through. I focused my attention back on the email I was composing.

To whom it may concern,

My name is Alpha Nixon Lancaster, current alpha to pack Blood and Moon. A few months back, I was contacted by messenger to send an email to this address if I was ever in need of a Luna.

Being as I have not come across my mate, nor have I claimed a chosen one from my pack or another, I need someone worthy. I don’t know who this is going to, and I don’t like being left in the dark about potential allies or enemies.

Therefore, please consider replying to this email promptly. Or the next messenger you send to me will come back with his head in a box, with my deepest condolences.

Sincerely,

Nixon Lancaster.

“Hello, Alpha Nixon.” Jared’s voice sounded through the speaker.

“Alpha Jared, since you are my closest ally and the only phone number I have, would you add the other alphas to the call.” I pressed send on the email and shut my laptop.

“Ha, yes, you poor lonely soul, one sec.” I laughed and pulled out some paper and a pen to write down notes from the call.

I picked up a frame from my desk, a family picture. The last one we had before the attack, the one that I caused. My beautiful, loving mother, and strong father, and my twin brother and sister. They were barely seventeen years old I was thirteen.

My brother being the oldest, technically was supposed to be alpha. He was so invested; he trained every day, learning as much as possible from my father. All of it just to die just before his eighteenth birthday.

My goofball sister trained to be Beta or Luna if she found an Alpha as a mate. She was a jokester and always made things fun. But when it came down to being serious, she always had a leadership quality about her.

Neither of my siblings deserved to die. I should’ve been the one to leave the earth to join the goddess.

“Alpha Nix, all Alphas have joined the chat,” Jared spoke, bringing me back to the present.

“Good evening gentlemen, let’s begin the first meeting for the Luna event. I, Alpha Nixon Lancaster, will host the event in my territory. Please be sure to email me a list of who will be joining you so we can make proper accommodations for you all.” I was met with grunts of agreement. “Ok, Jared, please continue with your task.”

Jared dramatically cleared his throat, “I, Alpha Jared White, will now ensure all qualification for the Alpha’s Luna Competition, has been met. Failure to meet these qualifications will result in immediate disqualification."

"The disqualified Alpha will relinquish their hold to their champion, therefore making her fair game to be taken, and used however wished by any qualifying Alpha that wins a random lottery.” Jared paused, and papers were being shuffled through the phone.

“Due to our privacy agreement, we will not announce our champions names or current pack location. Therefore, can all confirm their champions meet these qualifications. I will not be reading this list, so please, open up the email I just sent.” Jared concluded.

I opened my laptop again and typed in my password. I was surprised to see a reply from my future Luna. I was tempted to open it, but I opened Jared’s first.

ALPHA’S LUNA COMPETITON: QUALIFICATIONS

1. All competitors must be a willing participant. They must also be aware of the rules and sign a contract to abide by the competition’s alphas’ rules.

2. All participants must be an active werewolf (born or turned). Meaning they must be of age to mate and be marked by the winning alpha.

3. Champions must be unmated and unmarked.

Great, we meet one of three qualifications. This is a disaster, but I’m not backing out. I want to win too badly.

Even if Aviry wins, I don’t have to accept her as my Luna. I have one on backup. The other alphas can have her if they want. If she chooses to accept them. Which is probably not going to happen.

“Do all confirm all qualifications have been met.” I lie and agree with the others. “Great, I will now pass the phone torch to Alpha Derick.”

Ugh, Alpha Derick, the walking ‘How to be a good Alpha’ son of a bitch. He always thinks he’s better than someone. No matter how many times we all had to come to save his ass from some rogues that want to overthrow him.

“I, Alpha Derick King, will be naming off all the beginning rounds of the competition. Please remember that a champion will not be eliminated during these rounds. They are merely ranked on their skills, depending on the challenge. To begin, they will first—”

“Can’t you just email us the fucking list, Derick? We all have other shit to do rather than to sit here and listen to you name off every fucking detail of your little planner.” Sam, with his thick country accent, cut in.

“Alpha Sam, always a pleasure of dealing with a hillbilly werewolf. A true beast inside and out.” Derick remarked

“Careful how you insult this Hillbilly Alpha or the next time you need help keeping your title, I’ll be the one pulling it out of your uptight ass, sweetcakes.”

“Is that a threat, you mongrel—”

“Alphas, control your words. Derick send us an email. The sooner we get off the phone, the better.” I interrupted the assholes. “That goes for the rest of you as well, email each of us a copy of the roles you oversee by the end of the day.” Everyone grunted, and one by one, they exited the chat.

“Well, that went better than expected. At least I got my part out of the way. Now I can enjoy the rest of my day training my champion to win.” Jared said.

“Well, I guess you should get to it if she has any chance of beating mine,” I responded. Jared chuckled and hung up.

I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my face. I have a lot of things to do before next month. And I guess I’ll have to begin with Aviry, my biggest challenge. I opened my email and opened the reply from my future Luna.

Dear Alpha Nixon Lancaster,

Thank you for responding to our request to have one of my daughters become your Luna. My name is Orion Jones, Alpha of the Yellow Wood pack. We are a small local pack, with little to offer.

In exchange for one of my daughters, we ask for a hefty sum and training sessions with the few warriors we have. Of course, I know you’ll want to meet her before you send me anything. So, I have arranged for her to travel to your pack with my former gamma. She will be there on Monday and shall remain there if you agree to have her as yours. You can send my payment afterward, and we can discuss the training sessions later.

As a gift for you, keep the gamma. Do with him as you please. He can be a little temperamental. Recently he lost his title due to him being…unfit. Feel free to send his head back in a box if he causes you any trouble.

Well Wishes,

Orion Jones

Well fucking great, another fucking thing I have to deal with.

Yellow Wood pack, it doesn’t ring any bells.

I mind linked Nate, our go-to guy for information. The man’s a genius, and I’m glad to have him in my pack. He works fast and diligently. He’s also a good fighter and person you can confide in when you just need to talk without being judged.

“Nate, I need you to research the Yellow Stone pack, Alpha Orion Jones. It’s a small local pack. Get me the details before Monday.”

“Yes, Alpha Nixon,” Nate responded.

Now that’s out of the way, I can—

“Alpha Nix, come to the fourth floor immediately!” My gamma Joel shouted down the mind, link to me.

There could only be one problem on the fourth floor, and that was Aviry.

“Joel, what’s going on—”

“Aviry is squeezing the life out of Cay, man! She won’t release him, and he can’t shift! She injected him with his own dose of—”

I shot out of my chair and ran out of my office. This girl, this human, is going to be the death of her and me. I ran down the hall, up the stairs, to the fourth floor. Unmated pack members crowded the hall blocking access to the scene.

“MOVE ASSHOLES AND GET BACK TO WORK!” I roared. Some of them scattered like mice, the others still fixated on what’s going on. Cameras from their cell phones were flashing.

I pushed the remaining members out of my way and abruptly stopped. Shocked, confused, maybe slightly amused at all of what I was seeing right before my eyes.

My Blood Guard Cay, red in the face, knocked out cold. Small handprints on his throat.

My Beta Tanner, slumped against the wall, covered in drywall, from the large dent in the wall above him. Blood on his forehead.

My Gamma Joel, currently rocking in the fetal position, crying like a child. Tears, running down his bruised face that was healing.” He looked to me and dared to run and jump on me, pointing down the hall. Still fucking crying.

“She…she. She ran Nix. Aviry beat our fucking asses and ran, man.” He sobbed even louder. “She was going to break my legs and shove them up my ass…” He cried even louder.

Aviry fucking Mills…My Champion.