Rejection Denied

Aviry

Tick…Tock…Tick…Tock

That annoying ass clock.

I reached up and covered my ears with my hands. Wait…I opened my eyes and flexed my fingers in front of my face. I wiggled my toes and bent my knees. Thank fuck, I can move again.

I don't know how long I've been out. But it doesn't matter, I'm able to move again, and my next move is taking Orion out. The intent to murder this asshole has me fired up.

“HELL YEAH!” I shot up from lying down and looked around the room. “What the hell.”

The room I was in was painted black, as black as the night sky. Above me, stars arranged in multiple patterns gave off a soft glow. Constellations, that’s what Cay called them. The Scutum system is missing from the arrangement. Just like how my shield is missing, Cay isn’t here, and I need to get him. But first, I need to deal with Orion.

“Mia?” I called out to my friend. “Mia, are you there?”

“What?” Mia yawned. “That was the best sleep ever. Why are you— Wait, Aviry. Where are we? And where is that Orion bitch?”

I pulled the cover from my body and moved to swing my legs over the bed. “We’ll find him. We just need to—” CLING I looked down at my left leg and tried to move it again. CLING The metal clasp around my ankle is preventing me from leaving the bed.

“Is there anything worse than death, Mia?” I continued pulling my leg, attempting to break the metal cuff. “Because Orion deserves much worse.” I reached down and tried to move the metal apart. “This shit isn’t even bending.” I huffed.

“Don’t waste your energy.” I looked over to my left, surprised to hear Denver’s quiet voice. She was sitting in another bed on my left. My clone looked so defeated, with her arms wrapped around her knees.

“Why are you just sitting there?” I asked. “And why didn’t you wake me up?”

Denver looked at me with sad eyes. “There was no reason to wake you, Aviry.” She sighed and buried her head again. “Orion has us trapped here. We have to wait to be rescued if there even is a rescue.”

“Listen, Denver.” I pulled on my restraints again. “This isn’t some fairytale princess rescue shit.” CLING “We have to save ourselves.” CLING “Now, woman the hell up.” CLING “And let’s get out of this.”

I looked over at Denver again. She was still sitting in the same pathetic position. “What is wrong with you? Where’s that badass hunter dire wolf, huh?” I continued messing with my ankle, chuckling. “Ha, there is no way in hell that you and I are related.”

“How could you say that after the story Orion told?” She mumbled.

“Orion is a fucking liar.”

“I listened to his heart rate the entire time Aviry. He was telling the truth. He assisted in killing off the dire wolves, he was mated to our mother, and she had us. Twin dire wolves.”

“We are not related.” I spat.

I huffed and took a break from messing with the restraint.

“My sister, my twin, wouldn’t just give up. She would be my equal, in more ways than one. You let a sad story, put out the fire in you. I, on the other, will continue with life.”

“Sarina was our mother. And we are related Aviry. Stop denying the truth.”

“If Orion was telling the truth, our “mother” ran away from here. So, I’m leaving too, and I’ll kill Orion on the way out the door.” I pulled on my restraints again. CLING

“Gail told me from the beginning that we were different,” Denver whispered. “He told me that although we aren’t blood-related, he was still my family. But that didn’t stop my curiosity. I wanted to know what happened to my relatives.”

Denver sat up as tears ran down her face. “And now I discover my father is a fucking lunatic, my mother was killed, and I have a sister who doesn’t have a heart.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “I can understand how you have no compassion for our father. But our mother—”

“Didn’t want us here.” I interrupted. “I never met my mother the same as you. And I didn’t always have people by my side. But now I do, and I need to get back to him.” I huffed and laid back on the bed.”

“Look, we can sit here, crying and grieving in a place she ran away from. Or we can avenge her by killing that bastard she mated with and leave this place in flames on our way out.”

Denver huffed. “We are chained to a bed, Aviry. And I’m guessing these are titanium cuffs since it’s a struggle to break free. How are we supposed to get out of here?”

And for once. “I don’t know. But I won’t give up. How strong are your teeth?”

Knock Knock

“Hello, Aviry and Denver.” A soft female voice said as the door to our room opened. A woman with shaggy brown hair and loose clothes came in carrying two garment bags. Her eyes were ice blue, and her skin had a slight tan.

“If you’re not here to let us go, then fuck off and find Orion for me.” I snapped.

I was pissed off. For the last two hours, Denver and I have been trying to break free. The most we’ve accomplished is bending the bed frame bars where the chain is attached, but not enough to snap it off.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Aviry. Your father sent me to get you and your sister ready.”

“Ready for what?” Denver asked. “To go, I hope.”

I rotated my red, chaffed ankles. “To go kill Orion, you mean. Because that so of a bitch will die.” I nodded toward the girl. “Why are you still here?”

“Aviry.” Denver looked at me with wide eyes. And then looked over at the girl. “I take it you’re here to give us those clothes. So, you must have the key to free our sore ankles.”

The girl shook her head. “It’s a dress, Ms. Denver. Alpha Orion—”

“No, it’s Alpha asshole. Dead asshole. Get your alphas name correct.” I scoffed.

The girl laid the dresses on the bed. “He wants me to slide it over your head, and then I will do your makeup. Alpha…um… he will release you after I’ve finished. He has a dinner planned, the finest we ever had. And he also has a special guest downstairs.”

I looked at the girl and turned my head to the side. “Well, that sounds lovely, but I need to pee first.” She looked over at me with wide eyes and knelt under the bed, pulling out a silver bedpan. “I’ll pee in the damn toilet, not in that.”

Denver laughed softly; I turned to her with narrowed eyes. She rolled hers, “Who are you.” She asked with a small smile on her lips. “And by that, I mean what’s your name, what do you do here, and are you important to Orion in any way?”

The female shook her head. “My name is six, and I’m not important here…anymore.” Six looked off to the side.

“Six?” I grimaced at her name. “Like the number?”

“What other six is there?” Denver starkly replied. “Why do you say that you are no longer important? That’s the important question.”

I shook my head. “No, I think knowing why her parents named her six is more important. Are you a sextuplet or something?”

Six shook her head. “When Alpha Orion brought me here, he named me Six.” She whispered.

“Oh. So, it doesn’t count then.” I shrugged. “You can pick another name.”

“What do you mean…Wait. Were you kidnapped by Orion? Are you one of those missing women?” Denver sat up in bed and pushed her hair behind her ear. “Why did he name you—”

“Can she answer a damn question, doctor?” I snapped. “But before you do that Six, release me, and you and her can have a good ole chit chat without me.”

“Ignore her,” Denver grumbled.

Six slowly sat on the edge of the bed. “I was taken.” She looked at Denver with sad eyes.

“But I was a child at the time, not a woman. And he named me Six because I was the sixth person brought here. There are more of us.” She looked off to the side. “But most of the older ones, like me, were sold off when they turned eighteen.”

“Alpha Orion has been searching for his daughters for twenty-one years. He takes a girl that matches the ideal description and brings them here. Each girl is shaved bald; that way, he can know what our natural hair color is.”

Six sighed, “If the girls don’t pass his test. Some may stay here to work, and others are sold off. But before he sells them off, he turns them into werewolves to make us more valuable to the buyers.”

Denver reached forward and grabbed Six’s hand. “How many more, and why are you so special to Orion.”

“I’m obedient.” Six rose from the bed. “So many of us have come and gone. There are forty-eight girls in total now. And their numbers, I mean names, range up to seventy-eight.”

She put on the fakest fucking smile and reached for the garment bag. “But now that you two are here, Orion promised never to take another, and he’ll set us free soon.”

I rolled my eyes. “Tsk. And you believe him.”

Six slowly unzipped the garment bag nodding her head.

“How long have you been living in this damn place? If he hasn’t set your ass free before now, why the hell would he do it soon. Soon could be hell, the day you turn sixty or too old to use the bathroom by yourself.”

I began wriggling on the bed. “Speaking of that, I still need to pee. And not soon, right damn now.”

Six pulled out a long sparkly black dress. The gown was strapless, and the bottom was bedazzled in clear sequins that looked like a million diamonds. She held it up high, “Isn’t it beautiful?” She asked. “This will look wonderful on you both. You’ll look just like the night sky.”

I clenched my jaw. “I’m not wearing that shit.”

Denver breathed. “Orion will not set you free, Six. Let us help you and the other girls.” She shifted in the bed. “A group and I were on our way to rescue you before I was taken. Let us go and take us to that group. We can—”

BOOM BOOM!!

“What the hell is taking so long, Six!?” A male voice shouted through the door. Six jumped and placed the dress on the bed.“Alpha Orion and our guest are waiting to come up.”

“I’m almost ready, Caleb.” The timid female quickly unzipped the garment bag on my bed and pulled out an identical gown to the first one. “Just give me another hour.”

“Hurry the hell up bitch!” Caleb growled. A muscle in my jaw ticked at his tone. “Don’t forget that you’re worth more in cash than here in person!” The angry bastard stomped away.

The sadness on Sixes’ face was real. But once again, she put on a big fake smile. “Well, we can’t keep him waiting. I’m really sorry about this, but the only way you can help me right now is by complying with Orion’s demands.”

Six reached into her pocket and produced a silver needle. She pricked my ankle and then did the same to Denver.

“What the hell did you—” My head was swaying, and my body was becoming numb. I’m am so damn tired of being drugged. And I do mean tired…like a little nap doesn’t sound so…bad…

A gentle pull on my hair roused me from my sleep. I slowly opened my eyes and blinked to clear the dream haze. My eyelids still felt heavy. I blinked again and pulled my arm up to wipe my eyes.

“Don’t.” A small hand-pulled my wrist back down. “I just finished your eye makeup. Don’t mess it up.” I looked over at Six and narrowed my eyes.

“What the fuck did you do to me.” I yanked away from her and looked down at the black dress Six presented to us before. It was fitted to my body perfectly. I reached up and touched my bare shoulders. A small amount of glitter contaminated my hands, and my nails were desecrated with paint.

There was a handheld mirror on my side, I picked it up. And lost my breath when I saw my face—dark maroon matted lips and smokey eyes, with a dramatic black liner. My lashes were extended, and my eyebrows were more defined. I looked sexy as hell, but this is not the face I wanted Orion to see when he dies at my hand.

“You will pay for this.” I snarled at the bitch beside me, a few strands of my hair fell into my face.

Six shrugged. “I don’t mind, I think I did a great job. Try not to mess it up.”

Denver sighed. “Relax, Aviry. You look fine.” I looked over at her. She looked identical to me, with the same dress and Makeup.

The sounds of pounding feet outside the door got my attention. “Time’s up bitch.” The door opened, and in came the ass from earlier—Caleb, with his blue hair and dark pierced eyebrows. I can tell he’s aiming for the emo punk look, with the tight black jeans and matching leather jacket.

He looked over at Denver and then me. “They look good enough, now go and get Orion. I’ll watch them.” He barked out the order, and Six swiftly left our side. After passing Caleb, she looked over her shoulder and smiled softly before closing the door behind her.

Caleb whistled. “I wish we had some time to play, ladies.”

“But let me guess. Your shift at Hot Topic starts soon.” I pouted my lips.

“He’s clearly a test dummy at some hair school.” Denver scoffed.

Caleb chuckled. “Go ahead and joke now. I still have my doubts about you too being related to my alpha.” He crossed his arms. “And when it comes out that you aren’t, you both will belong to me. Then we’ll see how much you joke then.”

Before I could reply, the door to the room opened. Orion strolled in along with Six. Instinctively I lunged forward out of bed but was pulled back by the chain on my ankle.

“Orion, I’ve been waiting for you. Hurry the hell up and release us; we have some shit to handle.” I yanked my ankle again. “And by that, I mean mincing your throat into sloppy joe meat.”

Caleb growled and stepped forward, but Orion’s hand shot out to stop him. “Six, you did a great job,” Orion smirked.

“But you’ve forgotten their special accessories.” He turned on one heel and faced the cowering female. “Where are the bracelets?”

With shaky hands and wide eyes, Six dug into her pocket and produced two metal bracelets. “Aww, I see you forgot to put them on.” Orion slowly shook his head. “Well, this won’t do; you’ve always been so precise with the tasks I give you.”

“Shame on you. You’ve caused a mess, my dear.” Six flinched as Orion twisted a small strand of hair in his hands. “If these bracelets were on Aviry, she wouldn’t be so angry at her father. And now Caleb here is upset at my daughter, and I…well, I just might break his neck if he breathes towards her too heavily.”

“Leave her alone, bastard. The only one angering me is you. Let me go so I can release this negative energy on you.” Orion let her hair go and looked back at me. “Yeah, that’s right, now take this shit off my ankle.”

“Let’s make a deal.” Orion crossed his arms behind his back. “I’ll release your ankles, and I’ll leave Six alone if you allow her to finish the outfit with the bracelet.” Six looked down at the ground. “Both of you.” He looked at Denver.

Denver shifted in bed. “What the hell is so special about the bracelet.”

Orion shrugged. “I bought it, and I want you both to wear it.”

“FINE!” I shouted. “This is taking way too damn long. I just want you dead, so if seeing me, all dressed up, will get me there, then so damn be it.”

Orion looked over at Six, and she rushed over. I held my wrist up, and just as she reached over to place it on Orion said—

“No.” he nodded toward my clone. “Her first.”

Six looked at Denver warily. “Hurry up.” Denver held her wrist out and rolled her eyes.

After fastening the bracelet on Denver, the timid female then turned back to me. I raised my hand and as she positioned it over my wrist. She looked at me and mouthed, “Stay calm.” Click

“What?” I asked as I snatched my hand away. “Why the hell—” SIZ “OUCH!” I yelped.

“What’s wrong?” Denver asked, concerned.

I looked at my wrist. “This shit burned—” SIZ “OUCH WHAT THE FUCK!” I latched onto the bracelet with my other hand and tried to pull it off.

SIZ “Motherfu—” I jammed my fingers into my mouth and kicked my legs. The burning sensation burned my fingers, my wrist, and down my left side.

Orion chuckled. I looked at him with the intent of murdering him with my stare. “Those bracelets are special, crafted by a witch I work with. Think of them as mood bracelets, but the one who wears them can't remove them. When you get too angry, the bracelet will burn you to correct your behavior.”

Denver examined her bracelet. “Correct our behavior? You expect us to stay calm and docile after what you did!?” SIZ Denver ground her teeth and took deep breaths.

Orion nodded. “Exactly. I—

“ORION YOU…AAH!” I shouted; my arm felt like it was on fire. I thrashed on the bed as the burn spread down my left side from top to bottom. “AHHHH!” I shouted.

“Aviry, calm down.” Mia pleaded. “Give me control. I can keep us calm.”

I closed my eyes, reaching out to Mia, but a transparent wall in my mind halted me. Mia and I scratched and clawed at the wall trying to breakthrough.

“Mia…Mia, I can’t get through.”

Mia growled and repeatedly threw herself at the blockage.

Orion clapped his hands. I opened my eyes to see him doubled over, laughing. “Oh wow, she did a great job. Tell me how your wolf feels. Maybe trapped, useless, weak?”

I growled and shot up but fell back against the bed, writhing in pain.

“I forgot to mention. That bracelet will prevent you from shifting, and I’ll remove your new accessories when I’m damn well ready.”

This son of a bitch. I’ve never wanted to kill and rip apart someone so damn bad. And the anger right now is only hurting me. Every thought or lunging action is causing this bracelet to react.

Suffering the consequences of being burned get worse each time. Out of all the enemies that I’ve encountered, I never thought a piece of jewelry would push me to a breaking point.

“Aviry, just breathe.” Denver coaxed. “Don’t tire yourself out; if we’re going to get out of here, we need to be ready and well. Just stay quiet and breathe. Think of your mate.”

With lazy eyes, I looked over at her and followed her instructions. She was right; if I wanted to defeat Orion, I need to be at my best. And since I’ve wasted so much energy fighting against this damn bracelet, I need to calm myself and rest. The right time will come for Orion’s death, and it will come sooner rather than later.

”OK,” Orion said. “Now that we’ve calmed ourselves.” He winked at me. “Time for my part of the bet. Six, although you messed up this task, I promise to leave you alone.”

“Thank you, Alpha Orion. I will never fail you again, my alpha.”

Orion ruffled her hair. “I know.” He snapped his fingers at Caleb. “Prepare her for purchase.”

Six looked over at me with wide eyes as Caleb took hold of her from behind. “Alpha Orion, please!” She screamed, “Just let me go! I'll stay quiet. You'll never see me again.”

“STOP!” I shouted SIZ. I ground my teeth. “No! What the hell—OUCH!” I shook off my wrist and closed my eyes, taking deep breaths. “You just said you’d leave her alone.”

“And I will. With her gone, I won’t be able to mess with her.” Caleb drug a thrashing Six out of the room. She screamed and pleaded for him to stop. Her voice was muffled as the door closed behind her.

Orion rubbed his palms together. “Now, I will release you both. But first, I want you to meet our special guest.”

He cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. “Now, I don’t control these men. Well, I do, but not for this task. I advise you both to keep quiet and listen. Submit to them, and they won’t hurt you. Do everything they ask, and this process will run smoothly.” He winked and opened the door.

“It’s time to restore the Dires girls. Are you ready?”