Unwanted Rejection

Episode 3

Blood Moon Pack

Gabriella's POV

It was a setting sun that cast long shadows over my bedroom as I curled up in my window seat. Below, pack members dashed around like ants in an ordered colony — everyone but me with purpose. I ran my finger along a c***k in the windowsill and wondered if it felt as shattered as I did.

The door slammed open and I jumped out of my skin three feet in the air.

"For Moon's sake, Tracy! A knock wouldn’t kill you,” I clutched my chest dramatically.

“Neither would remembering family dinner, but here we are.” My twin stood framed in the doorway, one eyebrow arched in that irritating way that said I’m the superior twin and we both know it. “You have exactly two minutes before Father sends a search party — or, even worse, shows up himself.”

"s**t!" I scrambled off the window seat, almost face-planting on the floor. "Is he in one of his moods?"

The look on Tracy’s face said it all. "When isn't he? But he's extra spicy tonight. It’s something about border patrols and rival packs.”

"Perfect." I ran a brush through my knotted hair. “Another opportunity for him to contrast his daughters — one potential Alpha warrior queen and one. …” I waved vaguely at myself, “Oh, whatever I am.

“You’re Gabriella the Great,” Tracy said, taking my hand. “My sister who’s going to stroll right down there with her head high because she’s twice as smart as any shifter in this pack.

“Smartest wolf that can never be a wolf.” What an achievement."

“Five seconds of self-pity, then we go,” she checked an imaginary watch. "Four, three..."

"Alright, alright!" I straightened my dress. "How do I look?"

“Like someone on the way to the firing squad,” Tracy linked her arm in mine. “Let’s get this nightmare ended.”

The temperature in the dining room plummeted ten degrees when Father’s eyes fixed on me.

“How nice of you to join us,” he drawled, each word oozing with acid. “I was starting to wonder if you’d found your wolf after all and run off.

Tracy gripped my arm in caution. *Don't take the bait. *

“Good evening, Father,” we all said in chorus, but only Tracy was rewarded with the customary kiss on the cheek. I received a hellfire freezing look.

I eased myself into my chair, arranging my napkin across my lap with care. *Shut up and be quiet, unless spoken to. Do not go for anything first. Don't breathe too loudly. *

The maids delivered dinner with the taut efficiency of people walking through a minefield. Father and Tracy talked pack, and all the while, I moved food around my plate, my stomach too knotted to eat.

Finally, mustering what little courage I had, I asked, “Father, how was —

"Silence!" He slammed his fist on the table and sent silverware flying. “Has no one taught you table manners?” "You interrupt your betters while you chew like some common mutt!

I wasn’t even chewing, I thought, but buried the words.

“I’m sorry, Father,” I said, staring at my lap.

“Save your useless apologies.” He turned aside, ladling a generous hunk of bloody meat onto Tracy’s plate. "Here, my precious warrior. An Alpha needs her strength."

“Thank you, Father,” Tracy said quietly, but her hand slipped under the table and squeezed mine like a vise.

"Anything for you." His voice softened to a tone I hadn’t heard pointed at me since before my first failed shift attempt. “I don’t want my pride looking weak when the Blood Moon delegation comes next week.”

Tracy nearly choked. "The Blood Moon Pack? Here?"

Father’s chest had swelled with uncommon pride. “I’ve been negotiating under the radar. Alpha Nicklaus himself is coming to visit.”

The name landed on my chest like a physical blow. My fork clanked against the plate.

“Everything ok, Gabriella?” Father had a voice sharper than any diamond. “Are you getting nervous that there is an actual Alpha?” Or you’re scared he’ll feel your… inadequacy?”

A violent coughing fit prevented me from responding. Father’s face turned red as he choked on the meat stuck in his throat.

I leaped up and grabbed the water pitcher, like it was a reflex. "Father, please—"

His arm snapped out to send the pitcher sailing. Water and glass spewed across the white tablecloth. “Don’t you e —” he wheezed, “—me!”

"Father, drink this." As she held her own glass up to offer the Mike on the phone, Tracy's voice sliced through the chaos. Gratefully he accepted it, his rage momentarily forgotten in his desperation.

When he had collected himself, he rose- towering over me. “Until you can prove yourself worthy — until you can manifest your wolf — you are no longer welcome at this table. His words hit me like blows. “No daughter of mine is without a wolf. Get out of my sight."

Tracy cast me a tortured glance as I ran, her breathy promise to “fix this” receding in my wake.

That night, the moon silhouetted me in the woods as I clawed at my own skin, begging, pleading, screaming for my wolf to come out. By the time I staggered back to my room, I was covered in self-inflicted scratches, my throat raw from stifled howls.

“Get a grip,” I whispered to my reflection, looking at something so normal but with pain so great it was almost like a whole other person in my eyes. "Where are you?"

No answer came. Not that night or any other night for the next month.

The muted thud of a rapping on my door shook me from the pages of my book. Not Tracy’s usual barge-in — someone different.

"Come in?" I called, brushing away signs of tears.”

A panting young maid rushed in, practically quaking with glee. "Miss Gabriella! Alpha Tracy demands your attendance in the great hall! They’re to be announcing, and she demanded, demanded that you show up!”

“Thank you,” I said, already dreading whatever I was going to hear. "I'll be right there."

I changed rapidly, picking a simple dress that would not attract notice. There was a hum of excitement in the great hall when I arrived, but my assigned seat next to Tracy was empty—one of the few things that reminded me that, technically, I was still part of the Alpha’s family.

Tracy nearly leaped from her chair, brimming with joy I’d never witnessed before.

“Goddess, who slipped the sunshine into your tea this morning?” I whispered as I settled into my seat.

"Gabby!" She grabbed both my hands. "Promise you won't be mad."

My stomach dropped. “That is a really bad way to start any conversation.

"It's not bad—it's wonderful! You'll see." She smiled blindingly, but something in her eyes seemed … off. Nervous? Guilty?

Before I could dive deeper, the Father’s Beta took the microphone.

“Honored members of the Silver Crest Pack,” he announced, voice ringing. “Today is a historic day for our pack’s history. “Peace between Silver Crest and Blood Moon will finally be restored, after generations of rivalry and bloodshed.”

Murmurs swept across the crowd.

“It takes me the greatest pleasure to announce the engagement of our beloved warrior princess, Alpha Tracy, to Alpha Nicklaus of the Blood Moon Pack!”

The hall erupted in cheers. Tracy smiled, displaying a huge diamond ring I hadn’t seen before. But all I heard was static.

*Nicklaus. Blood Moon Alpha. My mate. *

The room tilted dangerously.

"Isn't it amazing?" Tracy whispered, massaging my hands. “I’m bringing peace to our packs!”

“Awesome,” I echoed numbly, my world crumbling. "I'm... so happy for you."

The celebration itself swirled around in a blur of congratulations and champagne toasts. Somehow, I kept my smile, hugged my sister, and didn’t yell the truth for the world to hear: *He’s mine. The Alpha is MY mate. *

A hand gripped my shoulder. "Gabriella. A word."

Father dragged me outside to the gardens, his hands hurting. For one wild moment, I thought maybe he knew — maybe he’d glimpsed the recognition, the devastation in my eyes.

"Father, I—"

“Look at your sister,” he broke in, pointing outside the windows where Tracy stood, ringed by fans. “A warrior every pack wants, now mated to my greatest enemy, bringing peace where I could only bring violence. His attention shifted to me, cold as winter. "And then there's you. Useless. Worthless. Contributing nothing."

Each word cut deeper than the one before.

“I’m sorry, Father,” I muttered out of habit, head bowed.

“You are my biggest shame.” He straightened his jacket. “Don’t get involved in preparations, just stay in the sidelines. I am not going to have you embarrassing us when Alpha Nicklaus is back.”

He flounced off, leaving me with the truth burning like acid: Alpha Nicklaus was my mate and he was marrying my twin sister.

Sleep evaded me that night. Every time I squeezed my eyes shut, I saw him—the Alpha who came up to me six months ago, in a bar across territory lines. One enchanted evening when I pretended to be ordinary, when a beautiful stranger had stared at me as if I were special.

He hadn't known who I was. And in the dark of that hotel room, with my scent covered by perfume and alcohol, he could not sense that I was wolfless.

I had left before dawn never to see him again.

Now he was about to marry my sister — believing she was the woman from that same night.”

By morning, and in place of despair, came recklessness. I slipped on jeans and a top, pulled my hair into a ponytail, tugged a baseball cap down over my eyes and was out the door with my bag. For the first time in my life I was going to fight for something that was mine.

The taxi ride toward Blood Moon territory whirled by in a haze of anxiety and well-rehearsed speeches. When we arrived at its massive iron gates, I lost my nerve. I settled my bill with the driver and got out, and immediately ran into the woods beside the road, my heart about to explode.

“f**k, Gabriella,” I whispered angrily. "One time. This is the way one time in your miserable life you can be brave.”

What if I hurt Tracy with my actions? She had been my one ally, my protector. She thought the world of the man she was marrying, and was glowing with happiness.

But she didn’t know he was my mate. If I explained things, she’d surely understand?

*And say what exactly? * my inner voice mocked. *’Hello, I’m the girl you had a one-night stand with, and you confused my sister for me, so I came to make it all up to you’? *

“I can do this,” I whispered, turning myself inward, closer to the gates. Before I had a chance to think better of it, I buzzed in.

A young guard materialized almost immediately. "State your business."

“I’m here to see Alpha Nicklaus,” I said, my voice tremulous but my tone confident.

"Do you have an appointment?" he said skeptically, his eyes narrowing at my casual outfit.

*Just one lie. And one lie doesn’t make me a monster. * "Yes, I do."

"Wait here." He disappeared, presumably to check on my nonexistent appointment.

A few minutes later, a tall, intimidating man walked up. Even without the authoritative strut I would have known him for what he was — the Beta— he had Father’s second-in-command’s eyes: hard.

Beta Alexander is what I am,” he said curtly. “The Alpha is not receiving visitors today. Who are you and what do you want with him?’”

My heart pounded in my ribs. *Don't run. Don't faint. Don't mess this up. *

“You’re right,” I said, gulping my voice quiet. “But believe me, Alpha Nicklaus is going to want to see me. Just give him this message—"

"What message?" Beta Alexander folded his arms, impatience emanating from every pore.

I sighed and played my sole card. “Tell him the Golden Claw Bar woman is here. The one who walked out before dawn.” I swallowed hard. “Tell him his true mate has come to prevent him from committing the biggest mistake of his life.”

Beta’s annoyance turned to disbelief. Before he could answer, a low voice booming like thunder interrupted the air:

"I'll handle this, Alex."

I froze, a jolt of adrenaline racing down my spine at the familiar voice. Slowly, I turned.

There he was — Alpha Nicklaus in all his divine cowardice, golden eyes fixed on mine with recognition, confusion, and something darker I could not name.

“You,” he growled, the sound rumbling in my bones. "Inside. Now

."

As the enormous gates swung open, one thought crystallized with horrifying clarity: I’d just declared war on the two the most powerful Alphas in the region — my own father, and my mat.