Rejection Denied

Tanner

I’m out of time.

This wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I was supposed to find my champion and become her mentor, a friend, if possible. I’m supposed to be trustworthy, supportive, and understanding. I needed a willing participant to accompany me to compete in the competition.

Well, I screwed that up big time.

Not only is Aviry not a willing champion, but I also tried to buy her from that brute she was with earlier. I followed her to a bar and offered her the world as a bargain for me to have her.

Ultimately, I drugged and kidnapped her.

That’s literally the opposite of what I was supposed to do. But, I’m desperate and lucky to find her tonight. The last full moon, before the competition.

I needed a champion; someone I knew could win. We have a lot riding on this brutal event, and I promised my Alpha I would find him the best. He told me to find someone who could match his personality and fighting style. He also told me to make sure she was Luna quality and a werewolf since those were the qualification rules. Aviry has the potential to be all of that and more.

The only problem is that she’s human. But that’s an easy fix; all I have to do is convince Alpha Nix to change her before the first event, and we’re in.

We’ll have to tell her we’re werewolves, and we just entered her into a competition that she’ll have to win. Oh, and there’s also a high chance of her losing her life during the events. But if we get through all of that, all she would have to do is survive the bite’s process and transformation. And accept her new life as a werewolf.

Simple.

But then there’s the matter of convincing her not to kill us when we get to the packhouse.

We’ve been driving for a few hours now. Aviry is safely buckled and cuffed in the back seat. The serum I injected her with should be enough to keep her asleep until tomorrow. It’s usually used to suppress our wolves when we can’t control ourselves. Forcing us to revert to a human to regain our control. It’s more like a heavy sedative for humans, so Aviry is having the best sleep of her life right now.

Buzz Buzz Buzz My phone vibrated on the seat. I answered it using my car Bluetooth.

“Hello.”

“Where are you Tanner, Nix is going crazy!” Gamma Joel was shouting through my speakers. “If you failed the mission, don’t come back. you’ll only be alive long enough to open the front door.”

“I didn’t fail. I have a champion, and she’s perfect. Tell Nix to calm down; I’ll be there soon.” I replied, rolling my eyes. Nix is a great Alpha and friend, but I doubt if he’ll think twice to injure his beta significantly. Especially if I failed to find her.

“Great, I thought you were dead for sure, man. I mean, I had your shit packed and everything. I was going to throw it out a window so you could run away. OK, tell me…is she hot, or like is she that quiet type… I mean that’s—”

“You’ll see her when I get there,” I growled. “No one is allowed to touch her or talk to her before Nix.” I rubbed my head. “Have a room ready for her that can be locked from the outside. No windows, and make sure it’s on the top floor away from the other pack members.”

“Wow, did you break her out of an asylum or something? Or are you just protective over the potential future Luna? Remember, she’s off-limits to everyone except the alphas.” He chuckled.

I hung up the phone and sighed heavily. I am aware she’s off-limits. I’m just not ready to explain to her the necessary details about the showdown. I don’t want her mind to be overwhelmed. I can already tell her bloodlust can take over without realizing it. Another aspect she and Nix share, at least he has a blood guard to help calm him down.

I turned off the highway and drove down the dimly lit street. I turned right onto the dirt road that leads to the packhouse. We are entirely submerged in the woods, away from humans. We get our occasional hikers, but we scare them off before they get too close to home.

We have an agreement with the hunters in this area. We don’t kill their kind or any other humans, and they won’t kill any of us. As long as we're well behaved that is. We work together to take out rouges, and we have agreed to assist in each other's fights.

I could see the lights on in the packhouse as we got closer. And when I say house, I mean mansion. This place is huge, four stories, a large spacious yard front and back. Beyond the tree line is a lake full of fish and a small waterfall flowing from a mountain. The house has an overflow of bedrooms and bathrooms. We have a cafeteria-style dining hall and a master chef’s kitchen. There are multiple entertainment rooms, a library, an indoor movie theatre, a gym, and a training room.

Alpha Nix, Gamma Joel, and I live here, and we each have an office. Other pack members also stay here, mainly unmated males and females. We often have allies come and stay here when their passing by our territory or visiting. The other pack members have their own cabin in the woods.

We are a strong, feared pack thanks to our merciless alpha and our warriors. He treats all of his pack members with respect, and everyone returns the gesture. There are no high ranked titles after the war general, so everyone does their assigned job. That’s one of the many things I love about Alpha Nix. He may come off as cold-hearted, which he is most of the time. But when it comes down to his pack, everyone is equal and has responsibilities shuffled amongst them.

I rounded the driveway and pulled in front of the large staircase that leads to the entrance. I left the car running and stepped out. I still needed to park in the garage after I took Aviry inside. Joel was sitting on the stairs on his phone. When he saw me, he ran over, grinning.

“There’s the man of the hour. Late as fuck, but hopefully, she was worth the wait.” He pulled me into a quick hug. “Glad to have you back, I didn’t do any of your paperwork, and I’m tired of having to do both of our jobs.”

“Great…so now I have another headache.” I sighed and leaned against the car. “Where’s Nix?” I asked.

“Well, after I told him the great news, he went to his office to inform the other alphas of our participation.” He clapped his hands. “OK, so where is our beauty? Did she fall asleep? I can barely smell her scent.” He tried to peer behind me into the window.

“Yeah…about that. Listen, Aviry is kinda—”

“Aviry, that’s a pretty name. Can I see her? I’ve been waiting for three months.” He pushed me aside and pulled open the car door. Only to jump back and fall on the ground, a shocked expression plastered on his face.

“Joel, wait, I can explain—” I tried pleading, lifting my hands.

“Dude, you’re a dead man.” He shook his head and stood again. “That’s…she’s a fucking human Tanner.” He pointed at Aviry, “Nix is literally going to kill you. And why is she cuffed and knocked out.”

“I had to use my dose of bane on her Joel. She—”

“YOU WHAT!! Oh god, your dead man, your soul is a dead man. Fuck I’m a dead man for even talking to a dead man.” He crossed his arms and began to pace. “I was serious about having a bag packed for you. Take her back home and run—”

“Joel, calm down; I have a plan. It’s complicated, but it will work.”

“Ooooh, you have a plan. DEAD.MEN.DON’T.PLAN.TANNER!!” He shouted.

“Will you please not shout!” I whispered loudly. “I don’t want Nix—”

“You don’t want Nix to what?” My alphas deep voice asked, slowly walking down the stairs. At that moment, I felt like my soul wanted to abandon my spineless body. “Is our champion awake? I want to meet her. I’ve already confirmed our spot, and all alphas have agreed to hold the competition here.” Nix stopped in front of Joel and me.

“Well…Nix…you see..” Joel started. “Tanner has some good news and bad news.”

Nix raised his left eyebrow and crossed his arms. I could already feel his dark wolf, wanting answers. He’s a very impatient beast that kills before the questions are even thought to be asked. He’s a bloodthirsty monster who’s only allowed to kill during specific situations. He takes full control over Nix and can only be stopped by his blood guard or a mate. The mate theory can’t be tested since he never found his mate.

“Beta Tanner, what is it?” he growled at me, staring deeply into my eyes.

“We..well, you see Alpha Nix.” I cleared my throat. “I found us a champion, and she’s everything you asked for.” Joel scoffed and turned away. “But… you see she’s umm… well she’s kinda—”

“STOP RAMBLING AND SPEAK!” he shouted, using his alpha control.

“She’s human, sir, but—”

“SHE’S WHAT!!” Nix’s voice roared, loud enough to shake the tree leaves. Joel shifted into his wolf and ran off into the woods, with his tail between his legs.

“I...I said—”

“I HEARD what you said! What I don’t understand is why you chose to betray me! Tell me why I shouldn’t hang your wolfs pelt above my fireplace while I burn you alive!” My wolf whimpered at the threat and receded into the back of my mind. Nix grabbed my throat and lifted me in the air. “Tell me why you’re still breathing even as we speak!” He snarled.

I couldn’t breathe. Nix was wringing my neck like a wet rag.

“Alpha…please,” I gasped, trying to pull his fingers off. “I..have..a..plan.”

He dropped me to the ground. I was panting and coughing. “I have a plan, Nix.” I coughed. “Just let me—”

“NO! Leave, and never come back. I never expected someone I claim as a brother to betray me like this.” Nix snarled, spitting in my face as he talked.

“Please just listen. Let’s talk about this in the morning. You know I’d never do anything to hurt you. We’ve been through too much over the years. Nix, I am no traitor. I would never hurt you or this pack. You know this, please take a day to calm down.” I was pleading and coughing and praying he would listen to me.

Nix was panting hard; his face was red and sweaty. A hand came down on his shoulder, and he calmed down with a long heavy breath. Cay, Nix’s blood guard, stood behind him, his eye’s glowing red trying to control Nix’s wolf.

“Tanner…take the girl to her room. Sleep outside tonight. We’ll talk about this in the morning.”

“If I may alpha, I suggest I stay with her—”

“No, you may not! You have caused me enough stress and problems tonight. The last thing I want in my home is your scent.”

“Listen, Nix, when she wakes up, she will kill us. Trust me, she’s exactly like you, kill first, fuck all questions. If she sees a familiar face, that gives is a –”

“FINE!!” Nix roared, “Stay on the same floor as her tonight, outside her door. When she wakes up, you are to inform me. Keep her locked inside her room until I get there. Am I understood? One more mistake, and I will kill you.” Nix walked away, Cay following close behind.

“Yes, Alpha,” I whispered, laying my head against the car.

“Well…that went better than I thought.” Joel reappeared, wearing shorts. “So let’s get our sleeping beauty inside. Tomorrow’s a big day.”