Rejection Denied

Nixon

Pandemonium

The crowd is going wild; a mix of Screams and cheers erupted from the stands. This is insane; Nova is lying in the fettle position, with blood gushing from her head. And Aviry is relentless in her assault. Kane and Sam are still sitting here, engulfed in the chaos. And I can’t interfere, although my champion clearly won. But she’s going to kill her if we don’t end this round.

I turned to my right, “Alpha Sam ! Call the—” he turned to the side, heaving, and coughing.

Fuck it, the last thing we need is another dead person. “STOP!” I shouted, springing out of my chair. Aviry didn’t halt her deadly actions. She’s not going to stop, I thought to myself. If she’s anything like Tanner said, Aviry is going for the kill.

I jumped off the platform and sprinted toward the arena. Please stop, please stop, I chanted as I approached the fight.

“AVIRY STOP!” I wrapped my arms around my champion. Luckily, the cuffs around her hands held them in place. But her thrashing and screaming at the top of her lungs is still a problem.

“AVIRY!” Cay shouted as he ran toward the ring. Alongside him are three nurses. Two of them are holding a red stretcher. The third one is swinging a medical case behind him as he rushes to Nova’s side.

“FUCK!” I winced as Aviry’s head bashes into my jaw.

“What’s wrong with her!?” Cay cried out. He placed both of his hands on her face, “Aviry, please come back. Focus on my voice, come back to me.” Aviry’s eye’s closed, and her thrashing stopped. Her body was so stiff, and her ticking hands were frozen in an odd state.

“Nixon, take her inside quickly and keep her away from everyone.” An unfamiliar female voice said from behind Cay. I looked up and cocked my head to the side. The resemblance between the woman in my arms and the stranger in front of me was unbelievable. “I know what to do. I’ll be there shortly.”

“And who the fuck are you!?” I asked, confused, and alert. After the rogue attack last night, I am wary of any unknown individuals. “And how the hell did you—”

“KILL!” Aviry’s eyes shot open, but instead of the beautiful, odd coloring, they were black as coals. Her hands broke free of the cuffs, and she tried to claw at my face. Cay lunged forward and pinned her arms down. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

“We can worry about me later! Now hurry and get her inside!” The woman ran ahead of Cay and me into the house. We rushed in behind her, sprinting up the stairs and towards the medical wing. I kicked open the door to a random room and placed Aviry on the bed.

“HERE!” Cay and I were both handed two ropes each. “Help me tie her arms and legs down, as tight as you can.” We followed orders, and I looked down at the familiar scene from the exorcist. Aviry flailed like a fish out of water, screaming and pulling against the binds.

We took a step back. Cay bit on his fingernails as tears fell from his eyes. “Great, now if I tell you to, shove this by my nose to bring me back.” The stranger shoved a t-shirt into my chest and went to sit beside Aviry.

I took a whiff of the shirt and narrowed my brows, “Who the hell are you, and why do you need Tanner’s shirt?” I asked, confused. “And what do you mean bring you—”

“NIXON!” The woman shouted, “Just do what you’re told!” She placed a hand on Aviry's sweaty head and closed her eyes. The screaming stopped, and the room went dead silent. I looked at Cay, and he kept his eyes on our mate.

BOOM!

“Alpha!” I turned to see my gamma bursting through the doors, breathless. “Alpha, it’s Tanner. He’s been captured, or maybe he’s dead I….I don’t know he told me to run and to…to…find you—”

I seized Joel by his shoulders. “What the hell is going on, Joel? What do you mean? Where is Tanner, and who the hell is this.” I turned and pointed at the stranger.

“This is the hunter…the hunter from the alliance.” Joel stammered.

I squeezed tighter, “This is a woman. Where is the hunter over her? Where is—”

“Denver?” Joel questioned, “That is Denver, the leader of the hunters we are allied with. Her people were also fighting with Tanner when we ran. We need to help them. It took us three days to run here; both of our wolves are tired from—”

I raised a brow, “Wolves? What do you mean?” I looked over at Cay, as he looked to Joel equally confused. “Are you saying Denver’s a wolf?”

Joel shook his head, “Not just any wolf.” He pointed, “She’s a dire wolf.”

My breath caught, “Are you sure?” Joel nodded, and I looked behind me.

How is this possible? I mean, sure, Aviry is a dire wolf, but now you’re telling me there’s another. Is there some secret society of dire wolves? And Denver, she looks so similar to Aviry. Is it possible that there from the same clan, or maybe even related?

“Joel, gather the alphas. I want to send as many warriors as we can to search for Tanner and the hunters.” I turned to Cay, “Go find Bailey I want—”

“NO!” Cay shouted. “I am staying with my mate!” He snarled, backing away from me.

“Mate?” Joel asked.

I held my hand up to Joel and stared at Cay, “Aviry will be fine. I’ll stay with—”

Cay scoffed and pointed at me. “How do you know that, huh? When the hell did you start caring about my mate. I’m staying by her side; when she wakes up, she’ll see me, not you.”

I growled and stepped up to Cay, “She’s my mate too.” I snarled.

“She is!?” Joel asked, shocked.

Cay shook his head, “No, she’s your damn champion. Your fucking dog in a meaningless fight for a stupid ass title. One she doesn’t even want or need. I want her, I care for her, I love her. She is my mate, and I will not allow her to suffer any more for this damn competition.”

“AVIRY WANTED THIS!” I growled. “And I may not show it, but I do care for her. But I choose not to chase behind her like a lovesick puppy.” I spat. “I still remember my duties, unlike you, Cay. I’m alpha, so you will do as I say!”

“Don’t forget who gave you that title Nixon!” Cay snapped back. “Don’t forget that the blood of an alpha runs through my veins just like yours. I’m an alpha. I have just as much power as you. The only difference between you and me is that my father is still here to teach me wrong from right!”

My heart dropped. My anger was dampened by my brother’s words. Cay must have realized what he said because he embraced me in a tight hug. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m sorry…I’m just…Aviry is—”

“I know. It’s ok we just both need to keep cool heads.” I patted Cays back. “Stay with Aviry. I’m going to go gather the alphas.” Both of us pulled back. “We need to stick together; we’re brothers. There are no titles between you and me.”

Cay reached his hand out “Equals.”

“Equals.” We shook hands, and I cleared my throat. “Ok, let me know if anything changes with Aviry. I want this dire wolf shit kept quiet until we can talk to Denver.” I looked back behind me.

Joel shrugged, “Hey, don’t mind me. I’m still hung up on Aviry being the mate to both of you. I mean, good luck with that shit—”

“SHUT UP!” Cay and I both shouted. Joel held his hand up in surrender.

“Get with Nate. I want to figure out if there is a relation between Aviry and Denver. Find out as much as possible, quickly.”

Joel nodded and left the room. I turned back to Cay, “Here, I still don’t know why Denver needs Tanner’s shirt, and I don’t want to know why either.” I tossed the musky shirt to Cay. “I’ll see you both soon. Take care of her, Cay.”

Cay caught the shirt in on hand, “Always.”

Aviry

Falling

Falling

I’m submerged in darkness, and I’ve been falling for an eternity. Damned to a place that’s neither heaven nor hell. I knew whoever ran upstairs didn’t want me, but damn it, Satan, I thought I had reservations. Ha, now I’m alone even in death, and the silence that surrounds me is maddening.

This time I was the one that left. Mia, my first friend. No more than that, Mia was my family. And, Cay, a blossom of hope in my loveless life. I wanted to stay with them, but like everything else, that chance was taken away from me.

Maybe I’m cursed. Would that be a crazy thought? I think the fuck not. With all the crazy shit that’s happened in the last few months, nothing is impossible at this point.

“Aviry…” A soft echo vibrated the darkness around me.

I looked around the darkness. “Is that you grim?” I called out. “You're slacking man, I’ve been falling for decades.”

“Aviry…” the voice called again. “Focus…focus on stability. Find your anchor.”

My what?

“Aviry come on...focus on what keeps your grounded.” the voice echoed again. “Find your light.”

My light? That would be Mia. Mia, my beautiful white wolf. Even when I only recognized her as a voice in my head, she accepted me for who I am. She’s on my side, and I know she loves me. And I love her.

“That’s it.” the voice echoed. “I see you keep going. Fight your way through the dark, find the shield that protects you.”

My scutum, my Cay. Someone who wants to stay with me through the good and the bad. A person I welcomed into my life, even when I’m still unpacking the boxes. My soul mate, the one destined to love me.

Does Cay love me? How could he? We just accepted our mate bond; can it be that simple?

I want to know. I need to find out.

I have to fight through the dark.

Sadness, I know what path to take now. I’ll choose the one that makes me happy, an emotion that replaces sadness. And, I know if I chose right or wrong, I’ll have Mia and Cay by my side to lift me higher.

Desperation, I want to be with Cay, and he wants me back. It makes me happy to have someone in my life. I’m no longer desperate for love, I have enough from Mia, Cay, and myself.

Finally, the fear of change. This version of myself, the one that isn’t alone in this world, is for the best. I don’t fear the change anymore. I can still be myself; I just need to include those close to me. I have to be courageous and open my heart to new experiences. Even if I end up getting hurt, I’ll have Mia and Cay there to heal me.

I need my light, My Mia. “MIA!” I shouted. The darkness around me wavered. I need my shield, “CAY!” I cried out.

The night that has plagued my mind imploded and shattered around me. A bright light tackled me. I blinked away the blur and focused on the figure, no... figures above me.

“Mia...”

“Welcome back bitch!” Mia licked my face and wriggled her body. “Damn, I’m so proud of you Aviry, you cleared your mind.” I smiled at my wolf and looked behind her.

“Umm…Mia,” I cocked my head to the side. “Is that another wolf? Or is that just my crazy mind projecting your twin.”

Mia jumped back, and the wolf in question stepped forward. “No, she’s real. Aviry, this is Kia. She’s a dire wolf just like me.” My eyes widened at the resemblance, white fur, big glowing blue eyes, and both wolves having a centered birthmark: Mia and her crescent moon, and Kia with a star.

“That’s…uh…nice.” I stood up. “But uh…”

Kia chuckled, “But why am I here?” She asked.

“We are here because your dark side was overtaking your mind.” I turned around to find a female slowly approaching from behind.

My mouth dropped open, and I froze in place. This can’t be real. This bitch has my face, but it's a lot more…friendlier than mine. Her hair is as black as my own. The only difference between us is our eyes. They are the same odd color, but opposite of each other.

She stopped a few feet away from me and smiled. “Hello, Aviry. My name is Denver.” She reached her hand out for me to shake.

I squinted and pondered the gesture. Who the hell shakes hands with random people. But then again, maybe it’s something I’ll try. I slowly pushed my hand forward, gently grabbing onto hers.

“It’s time to go home, Aviry.”

Yes, all of your questions will be answered very soon in the next updates.

Who is Denver? Are they related? How are they connected? What about Tanner? Will we learn about Aviry's family? What about those poor missing women?

Everything that I have mentioned in this novel will come full circle.