Unwanted Rejection

Episode 2

Twin Sister

Gabriella's POV

The morning dew of the garden made my slippers damp as I hunched on our weatherbeaten bench absently spinning the rose in my fingers. As I pricked my thumb on a thorn, a perfect droplet of blood formed: red on pale skin.

“That’s an interesting metaphor you’re creating there,” Tracy’s voice interrupted my pondering. “Blood, roses, dramatic staring into the distance… all you need is tragic violin music.”

My twin settled next to me, shoulder to shoulder, and I could not stop smiling. “I was thinking more cello, actually. Violins are so predictable."

“That’s three hours,” Tracy said, poking me with her elbow. “You’ve been out here for three hours. The gardener said, Should I water you with the petunias?

“Maybe he should,” I said with a sigh, wiping blood on my gardening pants, which were already marred with stains. “I could become something useful.”

Tracy’s playfulness morphed into steely resolve. "Don't. You better not go doing that again.”

"Start what?" I feigned innocence.

"The 'I'm worthless' speech. It’s tired, and honestly, a disservice to me.” She twisted to face me fully. “We’re identical twins, Gabby. Same face, same blood, same genetics. If you are worthless, what does that make me?”

"A miracle," I said quietly. "The warrior daughter. The one who can really move.

Tracy’s fingers searched for mine, squeezing me almost painfully. "And whose fault is that? Not yours. Never yours."

The sounds of sparring came from far away on the training grounds — a world I watched but never actually entered. The ceaseless drumming of violence that has been our accompaniment since birth.

“You know,” I said, frantically searching for a subject-change, “Jane was just explaining some more pack politics to me yesterday. Turns out, the Blood Moon Pack has been on the move up north.”

Tracy rolled her eyes. Jane had not been able to locate the northern border in a labeled map. Anyway, you’re already aware of all this — three major packs, one coven of witches to the south and us, the ever underrated Silver Moon Pack.

“Don’t forget that I’m still the one bringing bad luck to everyone,” I said with a sneering laugh. “What did Elder Ross just call me last week? The 'curse in human form'?"

“Elder Ross is one wrinkle short of a prune. His opinion carries as much weight as..."

"As mine does to Father?" I finished for her.

Tracy's face softened. "He doesn't hate you, Gabby. He's just... broken. Has been since Mom died."

The familiar narrative hovered between us: our birth, then our mother was murdered, allegedly by Blood Moon assassins. Father’s grief turning to obsession, his mission to solidify the pack eating up everything — and everyone — in its way, most acutely his relationship with his “defective” daughter.

“You are the only one left defending him,” I remarked.

"Someone has to." Tracy shrugged and started braiding my hair with expert care — the way she expressed her affection since we were kids. "Besides, you're my twin. My literal other half. “Anyone who hurts you answers to me, even if that anyone happens to be our father.”

I teased, leaning into her touch, “Future Alpha Tracy to the rescue.” “Protector of garden-dwelling misfits everywhere.”

"Don't you forget it." She playfully pulled at my braid. “And when you finally do move—because you will—I’m throwing a party so epic the Blood Moon Pack is going to have to hear the music.

“And what makes you so sure I’ll ever get moving?” I asked, the question that haunted me every day finally out loud.

“Because,” Tracy said with unwavering conviction, “wolves mate for life, and out there is yours.” That connection will be the catalyst when you meet him — or her; I’m not judging. You all will shift, and I get to say ‘I told you so’ with extreme prejudice.”

The ache of my heart stuttered as images from the guest house forced their way into my mind—soothing hands, whispered words with vague promises, a bond that had felt both overwhelmingly terrifying and at the same time, utterly unavoidable.

“Tracy, what if — ” I started to confess, nearly everything.

“Alpha Tracy,” a deep voice cut in, causing us both to jump. BETA JAMES BLOCKED THE SUN, ACE’S HUGE FRAME CUTTING THROUGH EVERYTHING. Despite his formal tone, there was no question that his gaze rested on my sister with a warmth etched in his eyes. “Your father needs you right now.”

Tracy gave my hand one last squeeze and stood. "Duty calls. don’t think yourself into a state of oblivion while I’m gone.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” I said, cautious.

As they moved away, I saw the slight brush of their hands — too purposeful to be accidental, too reserved to be casual. So that's how it was. Interesting.

“You’re not as clever as you think, little sister,” I muttered to myself, oddly relieved by this new secret. Perfect Tracy had her taboo romance with Father’s Beta. Perhaps we had more in common than either of us understood.

Sleep was elusive back in my room. Imagined him, the Alpha, dark and mysterious, his touch firm, yet soft, every second my eyes were shut. The bond had been instantaneous, all-consuming.

“We found our mate,” Leah, my wolf whispered in the dark recesses of my mind. But her voice had strengthened since that night and she had decided that, after years of silence, it was now time to come forward.

“He’s the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack,” I countered silently. "Our family's sworn enemy. The man Father thinks ordered our mother’s death.”

“No, he’s more than that,” Leah maintained. "You felt it too."

Even if you’re right—which you’re not—he would never, never accept someone like me.” I put my face in my pillow. “I’m the black sheep of my own pack.

“That’s exactly why we should go to him,” Leah said. "We could belong somewhere. Be valued."

"As what? A trophy? A slave? The failed daughter of his enemy? No thanks."

Tremors of Leah’s growl touched me. "As his mate. His equal."

“You’re delusional,” I snapped, although the idea sent a treacherous thrill through me. “We need to forget that night ever existed.”

In a haze of routine humiliation day after day passed. Every morning, there were new whispers as I walked the pack grounds.

“There she goes—the burden of the Alpha..."

“Twenty-two and no wolf yet. Pathetic..."

“I heard she can’t even feel pack bonds..."

I held my head high, retreating to my garden where the roses were not judgmental and the dirt did not speak hurtful truths. But at night it was worse — dream after dream of red suits and blue dragon masks, of hands that set fire to my skin, of possibilities I didn’t dare let myself consider.

On one abominable night, after Father had openly chastised me for dropping a ceremonial goblet at dinner with representatives of neighboring packs, I escaped to the west wing of the manor, the portion of the house we rarely used. The silent hallways were a balm — until they weren’t.

The noises were unmistakable — gentle gasps and whispered names coming from behind the half-open library door. My curiosity supplanted propriety as I crept closer and looked through the crack.

My wonderful, dutiful sister, Tracy, was sitting on the old oak desk with her legs around Beta James’s waist and her fingers twisted in his hair as they rocked together with frantic desire.

“I can’t do this anymore,” James whispered against her neck. "Your father has plans—"

“I don’t care about his plans,” Tracy broke in angrily. "I choose you. I'll always choose you."

I stepped back quietly, my mind reeling. This wasn’t a casual fling — this was serious. Tracy was meant to marry the Alpha of the Black Moon Pack, a political union Father had long been nurturing. If he found out about her affair with the Beta...

A sound of footsteps made me snap out of my thoughts. A group of maids turned the corner, walking straight toward the library. In a moment, I was in full reaction mode.

I stepped into their path and summoned my most authoritative voice — a pale imitation of Tracy’s natural command, but it would have to do.

“Ladies,” I said, managing a smile that was more grimace than smile, “my sister needs her room deep-cleaned immediately. Something about… preparations for tomorrow’s council meeting.”

They stared suspiciously at each other.

“But Miss Gabriella, we were told—”

“Are you defying an order from the sister of the future Alpha?” I lifted an eyebrow, harnessing all of Tracy’s confidence.

"N-no, of course not." They left in a hurry, but not without glancing suspiciously over their shoulders.

When they disappeared around the corner, I slumped against the wall, my heart racing. I’d just bullied the staff, provoked Father’s ire, just to protect my sister’s illicit romance.

“What we do for love,” I muttered, sinking down to sit on the cold marble floor. “Or whatever in the hell that was.”

A dark realization crept through my mind: Tracy and I were not so different after all. Both of us gambling everything on connections we weren’t meant to have — her with the Beta, me with…

No. There was no "mine." One night doesn’t forge a bond. One dance, one mistake, did not change who I was or who he was.

But as I sat with my knees to my chest,

alone in the empty hallway, Leah’s whisper filled my body: “Then why can’t you forget him?”

And for that, I couldn’t answer.