Rejected by Blood

“You never do anything right!” my father, Donnavan Black, roared as I stepped through the pack house door. Before I could brace myself, his hand came down hard across my cheek, the force knocking me off balance. “Isla May, you did it this time,” he growled, fury crackling in his voice. “What did I do now?” I asked, already knowing the answer wouldn’t save me. “You were supposed to do your sister’s homework so she wouldn’t fail! Do you understand how this reflects on our family name?” “She’s not my responsibility!” I snapped back, exhaustion and anger bubbling over. “Maybe if Sierra studied instead of flirting with every guy in class, she wouldn’t be failing!” His eyes shifted suddenly—gold, fierce, and burning. Odin, his wolf, surfacing. Shit. I’d pissed off the wolf. Before I could react, he grabbed me by the throat, slamming me against the wall. The air rushed out of my lungs as fists and boots rained down on my ribs, stomach, and back. I curled into myself, pain exploding until he finally stormed off muttering about needing a drink. I dragged myself upstairs, barely able to breathe. The world darkened. Today was supposed to be different. Today was my seventeenth birthday. The day my twin sister Sierra and I would finally meet our wolves — the other halves of our souls, our protectors, our strength. But I was bruised, broken, and alone. I stared into the mirror, searching for something—anything—to hold onto. I’m not ugly—long black hair, golden brown eyes, a tan complexion. But next to Sierra, the golden girl with icy blue eyes and flawless skin, I was invisible. 4:00 AM. I showered, hoping the hot water would wash away the pain. I bandaged my sides and masked the bruises with makeup. Dressed in black jeans and a green sweater, I grabbed my backpack and slipped out before anyone woke. Since we were born exactly at 6:30 AM on October 30th, I knew my wolf would emerge soon. I needed to meet her far away from this house, my father’s anger, and Sierra’s cruel shadow. Ever since Uncle Jeremy died saving me during a rogue attack—a mistake I made—my parents treated me like a curse. My mother avoided me like I was a stain. My father wished it had been me who died. I pack to leave, heart heavy with memories. Flashback— I remember that day vividly. Jeremy’s last words were a promise: “I’ve got you, Isla.” But the rogue came faster, and I froze. Uncle Jeremy took the hit meant for me. Since then, I’m the family’s shame. The curse that broke their perfect world. End flashback. At my favorite coffee shop by the high school—bordering the Blue Moon, Redwood, Grey Stone, and Silver Lake pack territories—I sat alone, sipping coffee and hoping for silence. Then, a soft giggle echoed in my mind. “My name is Rain, and I’m your wolf. I’m sorry I couldn’t come out sooner to protect you, baby cakes.” I grimaced at the nickname but whispered, “Please don’t call me that. It’s not your fault.” I smelled strawberries and vanilla, and my eyes snapped up. There he was. Asher Reed. Alpha heir of the Redwood Pack. His piercing green eyes locked on mine, cold and unreadable. “We need to talk,” he said. I braced myself. “I, Asher Reed, Alpha of the Redwood Pack, reject you, Isla Black, as my mate and Luna.” The words cut deeper than any punch. But I held my head high. “I, Isla Black, daughter of Alpha Donnavan Black of the Blue Moon Pack, accept your rejection.” He hesitated. “You don’t even want to know why?” “Does it matter?” I said. “You’ve made your choice.” Amber, his girlfriend, appeared, looping her arm through his and smirking at me as they sat without another word. I dumped the rest of my coffee and walked out. School was pointless now. When I got home, my mother waited, cold and distant. “You’re moving into Jeremy’s old cabin,” she said. “You’re a painful reminder of his death. You’ve brought nothing but shame.” Before I could answer, my father appeared and punched me hard in the face. I fell to the floor, blood in my mouth. “Isla May Black, I denounce you as my daughter and Alpha heir. You are now an Omega. Get out.” I stared up, cheek throbbing, and said nothing. I packed, loaded my things into the car, and drove toward the western edge of the pack territory. The cabin was nestled deep in the forest, surrounded by towering pines, bathed in moonlight. It smelled of cedarwood, fire smoke, and the faint trace of Uncle Jeremy’s cologne. Inside, everything was frozen in time—his worn flannel, the pictures of us smiling like a real family, the half-full bottle of whiskey waiting untouched. I climbed the stairs to his room, touching the dresser where his hunting knife once rested, now just dust and memories. This was the only place I ever felt safe. Tears spilled as I curled on the bed, mourning him, mourning what could have been. Sleep took me. Rain woke me. “Do you want to shift?” she asked. I looked out the window—the full moon was high. “Will it hurt?” “Only for a few minutes, baby cakes.” I went outside, stripped, and crouched in the clearing. My bones broke and twisted. I screamed through the agony. “Give me control. It’ll go faster.” I let her in. The pain faded, replaced by a wild, free power. We gazed into the pond and saw a silver wolf glowing with a blue crescent moon on her chest. “Rain… why are we glowing?” “Because we’re special, Isla. Rare. We heal. We read minds. We’re more than they believed.” I let her run under the moonlight. Later, I returned to the cabin, shifted back, and collapsed into bed. For the first time, I wasn’t afraid of tomorrow. In the shadows, a figure watched. A tall man with tired eyes and a faint scar across his jaw. Uncle Jeremy. Alive. And planning.