Rejected by the Alpha

Tomorrow. Tomorrow would be my birthday and I would potentially find my mate. Werewolves are assigned a mate at birth by the moon Goddess, a person who is made to be perfect for them, their other half. It's impossible to know who your mate is until both wolves are over 18. You may feel drawn to them before then and find them attractive but it will only become clear when both are of age. At that point, you should be able to tell who your mate is my scent alone as they smell completely irresistible to you and the mate bond becomes impossible to ignore. Tomorrow was also the day I would meet my wolf. My wolf will have a personality all on its own and I'll finally be able to shift. "Let's play a game," my friend Rayn said. We were sitting in the packs schoolhouse cafeteria eating lunch. We sat at a table alone. Rayn was outgoing and had other friends but it didn't come as easy for me. "What game?" I asked her. "We try and figure out who your mate is going to be," She replied with a grin, twirling her curly auburn hair around her fingers. Rayn was more excited about my birthday than I was. She still had 4 months until her own birthday. There was only one person that I hoped my mate would be. My eyes found him as he sat with his friends at a nearby table. He had white blonde hair and striking blue eyes. Rayn followed my line of sight and knew exactly who I was looking at. "Sebastian," she said with a smile. "I think it could be him," I said, "he's the only male that's ever been nice to me." "Well that's not true," Rayn replied, "Remember last week when Archer picked you up off the floor?" Archer was the alpha's son and future Alpha of the pack. He was devastatingly good looking with a strong chin, forest green eyes and chestnut brown hair. He was strong too; he had to be in order to prepare to be leader someday. He was rarely out of the training hall. As we spoke about him my eyes moved to him as he sat chatting with his friends, a group of girls surrounding him as was standard. He paid most of them little attention. I returned my attention back to Rayn, "You should have seen the look in his eyes Rayn, he might have been picking me off the floor but he looked repelled by me.... Like I disappointed him. Besides, there's no way I'm his mate. Can you imagine me, a future luna? He would reject me outright." Rayn read more into the situation last week than I did. I'm considered fairly weak within this pack as I've rarely trained. Because of that, the pack bullies me and Archer... He doesn't participate in any bullying but there's nothing he hates more than weakness. Not that I wanted to be weak. I had begged my dad so many times to let me train but he refused. He didn't want me to be seen as a useful warrior because then I might be sent into battle or asked to patrol. He wanted me to be seen only as a woman because women are protected within the pack regardless of how strong you are because you can produce children. He basically wanted me to be a safe housewife tasked with looking after the pups. It wasn't what I wanted but I did it for him. Because I knew the thought of losing me haunted him after my mother's death. My mother was one of the best warriors in this pack and she taught me what she could before she died. I was 10 years old when my mother was put on patrol and didn't come back. "Well maybe you can use your good looks," Rayn said and I snorted. Rayn consistently said I was good-looking but I couldn't see it and no boys had ever confirmed it either. I had dirty blonde hair that was almost ashy in colour and blue eyes that looked icy and almost grey. The only good thing I would say I had was my warm honey toned skin that stopped me from looking completely washed out in colour. "I hardly think Archer will be appealed by my looks. Sebastian on the other hand...." I returned my thoughts to the male I was truly interested in. "I hope he likes my looks," I said. I gathered up my items on my tray and prepared to walk to the bin. "Do you want me to do that?" Rayn asked with a sympathetic frown. "No I got this," I told her picking up her tray as well. I knew what would happen when I passed the tables, Edward, my main bully and the rest of his friends would try and trip me up. But I was prepared this time. Sure enough, as I passed his table, Edward shot his foot out. I jumped over it, keeping my balance. So he tried to hook both his feet onto my leg. Again, I kept my balance to his fury. But I had to stop. I looked down at his feet wrapped around mine. "Care to let me go?" I asked him. I was aware that the cafeteria had gone silent. All eyes and ears were on us, whispers about how Edward might respond. Edward was stout in frame with brown eyes and brown hair. He had a lot more weight than me and with the training I'd missed, I had no doubt he would win in a fight with me. Despite that, I swallowed down my fear and stared into his eyes. "Who do you think you're talking to b***h?" he snarled. "I just don't understand why you need to have your feet wrapped around my leg," I replied and was proud when my voice stayed steady. With no warning, Edward lunged forward, sweeping my legs out from underneath me until I landed on the floor with a thud. I hissed as my back hit the ground. Someone came to my side, "Are you okay?" he asked. I looked up to see cyan blue eyes staring down at me. Sebastian. I looked back to see Edward roll his eyes and turn back to his food with a huff muttering something about how I should learn my place. I noticed that Archer had stood up during the altercation as well. After meeting my eyes, he too sat back down. His almost girlfriend Natalia, snaked her way onto his lap. She was the only girl he paid any real attention to but they weren't yet official. I turned my attention back to the gorgeous male hovering above me thinking that I must be in shock to not have been giving him my full attention this whole time. He helped me to sit up. "I'm fine. Thank you Sebastian," I said as I gathered up my trays. I took a deep breath through my nose hoping that I might scent something from him, something that might be the start of a mate bond. Nothing stood out from his cologne but it was too soon. I turned to give him my biggest smile and he helped me to my feet. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes. I'm okay," I replied and was surprised when he took the trays from my hand and started walking with me. "I think it's pretty admirable you know," he told me. "What?" I asked taking the tray back from him to enter it. "How you don't let all the bullying get to you. You might not be the strongest in body but you're damn strong in mind," he said. I froze and blinked for a moment, my hand half way to the bin to empty my trays. "That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," I told him and felt a blush creep up my cheeks. "So it's your birthday tomorrow," he said. "Yeah," I replied. "I'm a bit nervous. I've never thrown a party before and I doubt most people will want to be there." It's tradition that every wolf has an 18th birthday party and that any wolf nearby who may be their potential mate attends. Usually the males are more than keen to go but I feel in my case, it'll be different. Either way, it'll be a big party with most of the pack schoolhouse there as the males who are over 18 don't have much choice in the matter and where the males go, the females follow. "Well I'll be happy to be there," Sebastian said with a grin. "What was it like? Your first time shifting?" I asked him. He frowned as he seemed to look back on his memories. "I won't lie Lena, it was painful the first time. Your body isn't used to shifting like that but it gets easier every time." "Okay. Thanks for talking to me about this. Actually thanks for everything today." "No worries Lena. I'll see you around right?" "Yeah, see you around," I said smiling. When I returned to Rayn she wanted the full run through of everything that was said and I gave her it. The bell then ran and we went to our next class. Later when the school day finished, I was shuffling my way out trying to find Rayn. We didn't have our last class together but would always meet to walk home. I was too busy balancing the books in my hands that I didn't notice Archer until I walked into his solid chest. My books fell the the floor "oh Goddess sorry," I said expecting him to accept my apology and continue on his way but he didn't. He made no move to help me but stood watching as I gathered my books. "I saw what happened at the cantine today," he said, "what were you expecting taking on Edward? Were you hoping someone would come to your aid?" "Excuse me?" I asked blowing my fringe out of my face and staring at him head on. His eyes narrowed, "You always play the damsel in distress," he said. "I find it sickening. If you would just go to training, you could defend yourself better." "You don't know anything about me," I replied, furious that he had decided to give his unsolicited opinion. I knew he didn't think highly of me. I didn't need him telling me. "One day I'll be the leader of this pack and when I am, I want my pack to be strong. I won't allow anyone to skip training and ride on the backs of everyone else." I felt my blood boil at the accusations he was throwing at me. "I didn't ask for your opinion. You're not the leader yet. If you want to kick me out once you are then you can do it." Despite my words, I hoped he wouldn't kick me out. It wasn't a kind world for rogues. His jaw clenched and his eyes flashed gold as his wolf pushed forward. I steeled myself and prepared for whatever was next. Archer had never hit out against me. In fact, this was the longest conversation we'd ever had but I didn't want to know what happens when he acts in anger. Archer took a deep breath and his wolf disappeared from his eyes. "I just will never understand someone like you, who hides from responsibility, who doesn't want to better themselves, make themselves stronger. You leave yourself open to get hurt, to be bullied and I don't understand it. Not unless it's for attention. I mean it certainly got Sebastian's attention today." His green eyes were mocking. My anger flared again and I just wanted this conversation to end, "Archer you're right. You don't understand me. That much is very clear and I don't see the need for us to carry on this conversation," I replied. It was a brave move, to tell a future Alpha that you've decided the conversation was over, but I couldn't help myself. I always spoke out my true feelings without having the muscle to back it up. As I waited for him to reply or to hit out I worried my lip between my teeth. His eyes dropped to watch the movement and in the end, his only response was to growl and walk past me. I let out the breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding and continued on my search for Rayn. I found her shortly later and we walked home. She very quickly began chattering away to me about things that had happened in the classes I hadn't had with her. I didn't tell her about the conversation I'd had with Archer as I wasn't sure what to make of it yet. Rayn was sleeping over at my house today because of my birthday tomorrow. When we entered she ran straight up the stairs to my bedroom muttering a quick hello to my dad. He sat on the couch reading a newspaper, his glasses perched on the end of his nose. He looked up as we came through the door. "Welcome home sweetheart," he said with a smile, looking at me as though I was his whole world. My mum was his true mate and since her death, I think he saw me as his reason for living. "Hi Dad," I replied and walked towards him to offer a cuddle. He eagerly accepted and pulled back to grin at me. "How are you feeling about your birthday tomorrow pumpkin?" he asked. "I'm a little scared. What if my mate doesn't want me?" I asked him. "Nonsense. Whoever your true mate is he will be very lucky to have you. No one is going to reject my daughter," he said with confidence I wished I could match. Rejections were rare but they did happen. Sometimes we don't always agree with what the Goddess has planned for us and we're entitled to reject that if we so wish. I couldn't help but think about the conversation I'd had with Archer. I don't think he had been trying to hurt me but his words stung. They hurt more than anything Edward and his friends had ever said or done. Even now, I wondered if he was right, if it was unfair of me to expect others to protect me. Even when I was doing it for my dad. "Dad, once I'm 18, do you think I could train?" I asked and watched as his face shuttered. "No," he said, "I won't lose you like I lost your mother." "Surely it's a benefit to be able to defend yourself." His hands on me became tense, "It didn't help your mother," he gritted out. "Archer spoke to me today. He's going to be the future Alpha. He wants me to train," I said trying to reason with him with new tactics. "Then he can come to me," my dad replied. "Hopefully tomorrow you'll find your mate and you'll have someone else to fight this issue with me." "What if my mate wants me to train." "He won't if he has any sense. He'll want to protect you." I groaned in frustration and pulled away from him. "I'm going up to my room," I told him and left without another word. Once upstairs I decided to offload my worries onto Rayn. I told her about the conversation with Archer and with my dad. When I finished, she stared at me blankly. "Well?" I asked her. "That jerk," she replied. "I don't care if he's our future Alpha, how dare he say those things to you." I sighed, "Thank the Goddess you don't agree with him." "Of course not Lena. I know why you don't go to training. I don't think that makes you weak," she said. "Besides I know the only reason you don't go is because of your dad. I mean going to training is almost worth it to see those abs by the way." "What?" I asked, a started laugh escaping me. "Oh yeah, you should see the guys with their tops off, all sweaty. Hmm almost makes a girl extra keen to find her mate." I batted her with a pillow, "You're terrible," I told her and she just grinned at me. As she'd been speaking two images popped into my mind. One was expected, the other certainly was not. I thought of Sebastian topless but I also couldn't help the image of Archer that appeared and the responding butterflies in my stomach. It infuriated me that I would think of Archer in that way after the conversation we'd had. Liking him will only bring you pain, I scolded myself. The rest of the night passed pleasantly. We gossiped, watched movies and ate loads of sweets. At midnight, I was forced into a sleep. Now it was officially my birthday, it was time for the changes to begin. The next day I woke to a new voice in my head. "Good morning," it rumbled. I jumped up from my bed. Rayn was still sleeping. After a moment, I realised what was happening. "Are you my wolf?" I asked it. "I am," it replied. It was a female voice. "What's your name?" "I don't have one. You can name me if you would like to." "What do you look like?" I asked and suddenly the image of a beautiful white wolf with silver eyes appeared in my mind. "Wow you're beautiful," I said and my wolf chuckled. "Thank you," she replied. "I'm going to call you Moonlight," I told her. "I like it. I can't wait for you to shift and I can show you what we can do." "How does this work?" I asked her. "We share a life. We're in this together Lena." "Do you have access to my memories?" "Yes," Moonlight replied and there was a hint of sadness in her tone. "So you know I'm not this big strong person or anything. I'm pretty weak. We're not going to be high in the pack." Somehow I felt I had to warn her. As a wolf she's going to want to be as high in the pack as she can. "You're perfect Lena," she replied without hesitation . "And we're not weak. Just untrained. We'll prove that Alpha to be wrong someday." Moonlight growled when she thought about what Archer had said to us. I smiled thinking about how my wolf had a little more attitude than I did especially when she was prepared to speak against a future alpha. I liked it. We were going to get along just fine. There was a groan as Rayn woke up, rubbing her eyes. It took a moment before she remembered what day it was and jumped away. "Morning," she said. "Do you feel any different?" "Yeah," I replied. "I've got a wolf talking to me in my head. I called her Moonlight." Rayn stared at me in awe, "Oh wow, I can't wait until I get my wolf." "She also agrees with me that Archer is an ass." "Good, even better," Rayn replied with a snigger. The smell of pancakes was wafting through my bedroom door and my stomach growled. "Let's go get food," I said, "Cause I'm starving." When I came downstairs, my dad enveloped me into a hug and asked me to tell him everything about Moonlight. "I can wait to see her tonight when you shift," he said. I smiled feeling genuinely excited about it. I finally felt like a wolf. My senses were heightened, particularly my smell. I felt stronger with Moonlight's strength running through me. I happily began to dig in to the pancakes my dad had made me. My mum used to make pancakes every year on my birthday and when she died, my dad learned how to make them so that it would be one thing that would stay the same. After I finished eating my dad nudged a small square parcel over to me. "What's this?" I asked "Your birthday present from your mum," he replied solemnly. "What?" "Your mum had your 18th birthday present planned almost from the moment she knew she was pregnant with you." I opened the box with wonder and found a necklace inside. It was a silver disc with a crescent moon. "It used to be hers," my dad told me. "The crescent moon is a symbol of her pack. This connects you to them." "Its perfect," I said feeling the tears forming in my eyes. My dad cleared his throat, "Right well, we don't have much time until this party. I let you sleep in but you need to get ready and I have things to prepare. So away you go," he said batting us away. Rayn and I spent the rest of the day doing our hair, nails and make up. We did it slowly, making use of the time to talk. "What if your mate isn't even here tonight?" Rayn said. "What if he's at the crescent moon pack?" "Hmm maybe," I said, "I guess we'll know tonight. I still hope it's Sebastian." I put on my dress, it was black and its straps sat off the shoulder. It had a small slit in the thigh. 'Wear your hair up,' Midnight suggested, 'Our mate will want to see our neck.' I shrugged but did as she suggested. "Damn girl," Rayn said as she emerged from the bathroom wearing her own skintight red dress that highlighted her firey hair and red bee-stung lips. "You look good yourself," I told her. "Are you ready for this party?" She asked. "As ready as I'll ever be," I said adding the final touch; my mums necklace. I touched my fingers to it, 'Give me strength tonight mum' I thought while still holding it like a prayer. The party was to be held at the community centre where all the 18ths were held. The exception was Archer's. His was held in the large packhouse where he and his father lives. I had never had to go to any of the 18ths before mine as I wasn't of age yet. It wasn't forbidden for me to attend but I also could never be sure I would be wanted and it never felt worth any potential trouble. I noticed a few underaged females at my own party however. I hadn't long walked in the door when I smelt it. Moonlight stirred in my head, 'our mate, our mate has been here' she said. From the moment I smelled it, Moonlight was pacing continuously in my head. "Are you okay?" Rayn asked. "My mate's here," I told her. "Ohh. Let's look for him." I didn't spare Rayn another glance as I tried to follow the scent. I felt compelled to follow it, to find him. I noticed that Rayn was following me. As I attempted to follow the scent, the most alluring scent that reminded me of the forest, water and sun, I smashed into someone. "Damn it," I said, temporarily forgetting my manners. I froze when I looked up and saw who it was. Sebastian. "Hi Lena," he said. "Happy Birthday." "Hi Sebastian. Thanks." I felt deflated. It wasn't him. "I guess you're not my mate," I said. "I guess not. Is it wrong to say I might be a little disappointed?" he asked and I almost thought I'd misheard him over the music. "What?" "I guess I maybe like you a little bit," he said. "Oh I like you too Sebastian," I replied feeling my heart swell and sink all at once. The scent of my mate was still present, driving Moonlight crazy. She wanted me to get back to finding our mate. "It's a shame we're not mates," he said. "It is," I replied. The scent of my mate suddenly got stronger and I heard a most grating noise. It was Edward. "Alright," he said in that horrible nasal voice. "Let's get this over with." He walked up to me and made a show of taking a big sniff of me and then recoiling. "Yes!" he exclaimed. "It's not me." He did a small victory dance. A growl shot across the room and we all turned to the noise. I turned to meet Archer's eyes which was flecked with the gold of his wolf. I felt something snap into place between us. 'Mate,' Moonlight said. 'No', I thought. 'No, not him.'