Rejection is my Salvation

Chapter 1- My Brother

What I was feeling right now, was pure bliss. Nothing could compare to this feeling as my boyfriend of four years held me as we looked at the stars. It was a perfect date. Though, swirling through my bliss, sadness filled me.

In two days from now James will turn eighteen and soon his change will take effect and he will need to choose a mate. Up until this point, he reassured me that I will be his mate. He claimed that he felt it was true in his heart. Every time he says it, it bonds my heart further.

Yet, even as he whispers his words so sweetly, a slither of doubt filled me. I haven't felt that zing that everyone talked about.

James was the only man worthy in my eyes. The only man I see myself with in a million years. But that zing feeling? I wasn't sure if I felt it yet. Maybe I have and I just didn't know.

Everyone around us has assumed that we would be mates. Even my parents have, Dad wearing the biggest “I'm so proud of you for being strong enough to mate with the Alpha's son.”

My mother already started making wedding arrangements. Arrangements were close enough, compared to "planning for the wedding."She would often search for venues and strike deals, making it sound like we were going to do this and that. As soon as she would find a venue that is cheaper, she would go cry to the manager of all the previous venues that she found a venue that is cheaper, though not as glorious as this one. Right away the managers would strike a deal and thus far she has successfully knocked off sixty five percent of the most expensive venue in town.

I felt like everyone was being a bit of an overkill.

People would probably not have reacted this way if it weren't for the fact that James was my childhood friend.

The first time we had met was when I was five. I had tried to take a photo at the riverbank of a frog and after taking the picture, I had knocked over my bag into the river. It had been a bag my brother had given me and it held a lot of worth to me. So, I did what any person would have done. I chased after it.

I ran through the water and tried to grab it, but then foot had slipped, causing me to fall into the river. Fearful, I had tried to stand or swim away, but nothing seemed to help as the current pulled me in.

From a top of the bridge, a boy jumped into the river. Soon he reached me and he tried to drag us to the riverbank, only to struggle to himself. He grabbed the pillar of the next bridge and held on and I held on to him.

It wasn't long before adult came to our rescue and successfully dragged us out. We had barely caught our breathes, before the yelling started.

"Are you kids crazy?" the slimmer one of the two adults said. "You kids could have died!"

Neither I nor the boy said anything.

The thicker one sighed. "Girl, who is your father?”

I kept quiet, instead walked towards my camera. It looked undamaged, though I could really inspect it as my hands were wet.

A woman came skiing down the slope hill, blankets in her hands. "Are they alright?”

I turned away from the camera and took in the adults and the boy. The slimmer adult was examining the boy’s body, the boy repeating "I'm fine" over and over again, each time sounding more irritable and harsh.

"They look fine," the thick adult said. "but the girl isn't talking and I think I saw her limping.”

The female turned to me and squatted down to my length. She wrapped the towel over my head and was about to rub the moist out my hair, when I allowed my eyes to turn shocking blue and let out a terrifying warning growl.

Everyone froze to look at me.

"What was that?" asked the boy confused.

Before anyone could answer, a voice boomed. "Delilah! Quit with that growling.”

The female seemed to recover fast. "Samael, I didn't know you were back from your trip.”

Dad looked at me as he answered. "Unfortunately, my trip was cut short when I got a call from my mate, claiming that my daughter was possessed by a demon.”

He walked closer, he continued talking, this time addressing me. "I should have drowned you the time I had the chance.”

Everyone, except me and the boy, grew uncomfortable.

As Dad reached me and squatted down, the woman stood and backed away.

My Dad inspected my face and then pinched my left cheek. Taking the opportunity, I bit into his hand, hard enough to draw blood.

My Dad chuckled as a sigh of relieve left him. "Yeah, you are fine. Nothing can break your spirit.”

He stood up right, holding me in his arms, his hand that I had bitten in my hands.

"I was unaware you had a daughter," the thick man said. The slim on and the woman was basically hiding the boy, but the boy's head still poked out between their legs.

"You would have known I had a daughter if you had gotten to know me, instead of ignoring me." My Dad had a sharp edge to his voice. Then he turned to me, his voice softer. "Now Del, you need to tell them thank you for saving your life.”

I turned my eyes blue again and snared.

"Come on," he said, his voice pleading and softer. "Show Daddy who is the big girl.”

The hand that I was holding shifted and then reached for my face, rubbing it tenderly. I loved it when my Dad did that, it made me feel like a baby rabbit being showered in love.

I nodded my head into his palm and with that he sat me on the ground.

I turned towards the people. "Thank you for saving my life. I owe a debt to you which I will one day repay. Until such time, I wish to apologize for all the inconvenience that I may have caused.”

These were the words I my father had taught me. He had told me it was quite important, seeing as we were outsider rogues in a marked territory.

The adult seemed surprised.

"It was no problem," the slim one said to me and turned to my father. "She is well mannered.”

My Dad burst out laughing as he looked at the slim one.

"Delilah doesn't have manners," he said as he took the blanket from my head and handed it to the woman. "She is a f*****g monster. It will be wise to keep your kids away from her.”

I took my Dad's hand again and rubbed my face against it, loving the way it feels. Then I looked at the boy who had quietly observed everything.

As soon as we made eye contact he moved forward. The woman tried to stop him, but he dodged her hands.

"I like you," he said as he smiled. "Let us be friends.”

And just like that there was chaos. Half turned, I growl and clawed at the boy. My father grabbed me quickly, preventing me from harming the boy any further. The thick man had moved the boy behind me, growling as well.

I tried to escape from my father's grip, by clawing at my father and biting. My father was used to my attacks and just took everything. So, I screamed, then yelled my anger. "I want my brother. He is my only friend. I want my brother.”

"Well, tough, Delilah," my Dad said, growling as he spoke. "And you will behave now or I'm destroying the camera your brother gave to you.”

At his words, I stilled. I felt utterly beaten. I started crying and my Dad held me to him, his muscle relaxing under me.

"What did I tell you guys," he said, rubbing my back. "She is a f*****g monster. Anyway, it seems like it is time to depart otherwise these children might get a cold. Can you be so kind as to pass me the camera.”

"Don't think this won't be reported to the Alpha," the female said.

"Does this mean you won't be passing on the camera?" my Dad's voice was sharp and clipped. Then his head was next to mine, his stubble chin tickling my ear. "Del, where is the camera bag?”

I cried harder as I realized I had lost the bag in the end. Through my tears, I cried that it had gone down the river.

My Dad sighed and me tighter. Then he started walking away. I heard a shuffle and looked over my Dad's shoulders.

The boy had tried to follow, but the adults had stopped him. The words dangerous and reckless was audible and I had a feeling they weren't trying to hide their feelings.

My father said nothing as he walked us home.

"Del," a voice lulled into my ear. "Delilah, are you awake?”

"Yeah," I answered James, cuddling further into him. "Just thinking of the day we met.”

James laughed, his body vibrating behind me. "Yes, what an interesting day that was. I'm pretty sure if I look carefully you will still see the scar you gave me over my cheek.”

I sighed and snuggled deeper into him. "A lot has changes since then, didn't it?”

"How so?”

"For one, my father is a whole lot less serious than he was back then," I sighed as I remembered how he was usually on guard around people, then compared that to his goofball face he had been putting on lately.

"Are you sure?" James said and I felt him shiver. "That man still scares me. Especially when you mother gives me a second dish of that meatball surprise. He glares at me, Del.”

I laughed. "You have no backbone.”

Then he kissed me at the side of my head.

"A lot has changed," I sighed and rested my head back on his shoulders.

"We need to start heading back," James sighed. "Like I said, your Dad scares me.”

We stood up and stretched and soon we were planting goof ball kisses on each other. A surprise attack came from James when he turned kiss goof ball kiss into a lick on the nose.

"Ew," I said as I rubbed my nose, then laughed.

"I had to win, baby," He said as he pulled me to the car.

The way the moonlight shown on his face squeezed my heart. His beauty was truly stunning.

I looked down at my shoes, my heart aching.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his hand on my face. Much like my father's hands, his was soft and made me feel safe as I snuggled my face into it.

I sighed and looked at him. "Your final change is coming soon.”

"I'll be fine and I already know that you will be my mate," he said and then kissed me.

"It's not just the mate thing," I said, resting my head into his chest. "A big part of it is the mate thing, but also a certain part is the Alpha thing.”

James stilled and I took a step back.

"Look, the possibility of you being the next Alpha is high seeing as it usually runs in bloodlines, but the Moon chooses the Alpha's and not the blood. If She chooses you to be lower class, that will be her choice. It's the same as the mate thing. Her choice, not ours. What if we aren't mates, will you desert me to look for your mate. I don't know if I'm strong enough for this. And back to the Alpha thing mixed with the mate thing. What if I'm not your mate and the Moon doesn't make you the next Alpha, will I be enough to keep you strong enough, because the blow will probably be big to your wolf.”

James listened quietly as I rambled and when I was done he sighed.

"Truthfully?" he said, leaning against his car. "I have thought about the Alpha thing. I know there is a possibility, but lately when I do the shift, I've realized I was getting bigger and bigger each time. I'm not Alpha size yet, but I might be?

"And the mate thing, I can't imagine it being anyone other than you. And I don't want it to be anyone other you. I'll reject her, straight out. You mean more to me then my life. You had my heart since the day that you clawed me in the face.”

I laughed and kissed him. The kiss got hot and steamy real fast, our tongues entwining with each other and doing its little dance.

Then gently, James pushed me away.

"Really," he said, slightly out of breath. "I fear your father.”

I laughed, though it sounded strange as I was also out of breath.

The drive home was like always. The music pumped up loudly, me singing when my favourite parts came on and James tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

As we neared my house, he killed the lights and turned down the music and parked neatly in front of our house.

I kissed him on the lips and then exited the car.

As I reached the porch, the door swung open and my Dad stood there. Behind me, James car shriek as he drove away, clear sign that he was running away.

"You should stop scaring him," I said and then pecked him on the cheek.

"Why should I?" my Dad said, stepping aside, allowing me to enter the house. "If he doesn't have the balls to face me, how will he have the balls to be Alpha?”

"I would have agreed with that, but he isn't dating any else." Then I tilted my head and looked at my Dad. "Well, not that I know of, anyway. Plus, he enjoys the meatball surprise, so you glare at him, because then you get less.”

"Well, your mother's meatball surprise is good," he said and then he had an evil glint in his eyes. "But my meatball surprise is the best."

I pretended to gag. "Thanks for the info.”

"No, really,' he said, trapping me in a hug. "Just ask your mother…”

"No, stop," I said, struggling to break free. "I really don’t want to hear this…”

His next words though had me still as warm goo seemed to fill me. "…because my meatballs made an amazing being like you and I love you almost as much as I love your mother. I'm really proud of you, darling.”

Even though the context was disgusting, his words still felt amazing.

To cover up that his words affected me, I said the first backfire that came to mind. “You know, you always seem to the proudest when it's to do with James.”

Dad let me go and as I looked at him, I saw that his face was dark. "What do you mean?”

Well, s**t. This might be interesting. "It's just that, I realized the first time that you real told me you were proud of me, was when I started dating James. Before that, I can't even remember if you ever said you were proud of me.”

Dad was quiet, then he went to one of the couches and sat.

"Ugh," I said, regret mentioning something, because somehow, he looked hundred years older. "Just forget it.”

"No," my Dad sighed. 'Maybe I did start telling you that around that time, but it was never about James. James is a good kid and somehow he tamed you and made you more human." I sighed and then rubbed his military cut hair. "I've always been proud of you, even when you made me judge my sanity.”

Then he sat back, then let out a long sigh. "Truthfully, my reason for saying it is more selfish than that. And you might hate me for it.”

I sat on the opposite couch from him, interested in what he might say.

"It's about your brother," he said, his voice weak. I, myself, felt weak. My brother was a taboo word, especially around Mom. "Around that age, we had a fight. He felt like I didn't appreciate him enough and he left after calling me a shitty father.”

I struggled to find words and I felt tears struggling to come out. I forced them back, my throat feeling a terrible discomfort.

"I didn't want you to feel like I let you down, as well," He said, his voice breaking.

I jumped from my seat and sat on Dad’s lap as I embraced him. "You are not a shitty father. Truthfully, you are amazing. The shitty person is my brother. He is the one that walked out on us…”

Just then, Dad's phone started to ring and he looked at the caller ID.

"s**t," he said and threw his arms over his eyes. "Stupid Alpha.”

He accepted the call and let out a strangled "hey", then cleared his throat and tried again.

Apparently, the news wasn't to his taste as he started to curse. He ended the call with a "we will be there.”

"What is wrong," I asked, climbing off his lap.

"You are missing school tomorrow," he sighed. "Our family needs to go to the Alpha's mansion.”

"Why?" I said, confused. A whole family barely went to the Alpha's mansion. Maybe this is for James' birthday? Or his change? Suddenly fear filled me, wondering if James had gone through his change yet. "Tell me James is fine?”

My Dad nodded. "James is fine. Unfortunately, though, your brother is coming to town along with your Grandfather and their Alpha.”

Alarm bells went off and fear settled in me.

When I got to my room, I felt tired and confused. The first thing I did was fall onto my bed and hugged a pillow close to my chest.

I checked my phone. There was a message from James already.

Hey, baby. Sorry I took off so fast, but you got home late and your Dad was waiting by the door. Forgive me?

I laughed at his message and replied: My father is right. Where are your balls?

I had barely dropped my phone, when James' message came through. I thought you already gone to bed. It took you so long to reply.

Geez, he types fast. Nice going, changing the subject. Yeah, was late because I was having some father daughter time.

About me?

How was it possible? The message was barely send and he had already read it. I sighed and texted back. Among other things. I’m going to bed now though. Need to wake up early tomorrow.

For once the message wasn't fast and I had thought maybe he had fallen asleep. I'd just given up hope, when my phone chimed.

Aw, I hope you sleep well. Tell me tomorrow what you and your Dad talked about.

I might not see you tomorrow. Need to go to the Alpha’s mansion. Might see you there or I might not. Love you lots.

There was another pause and I stood up and started walking to my closet, when my phone chimed.

Why are you coming here?

I sighed. Honestly, I didn't have the strength to tell him. It's complicated. Talk whenever.

Seconds later, a single word reply: Okay.

I felt slightly disappointed as I realized he never said he loved me. I sighed and took out my pyjamas from the closet. As I walked past my bed, I dumped my phone on it.

I walked out my room and walked to the bathroom. I was only in the hallway long enough to hear my father talk about the Alpha's order and the why. My mother gasped and I heard soft sobs, but the rest was cut off as I entered the bathroom.

I took a long and much needed shower.

After I showered, I went back to my room and checked if I had any other messages. Three from James.

See you tomorrow.

Love you from the planet TrES-2b and back a million time over.

Sweet dream!

James is such a geek, was the only thought I had when I saw the planet part.

I hooked my phone on the charger and then turned my light off, climbed into bed and fell asleep.

Before total darkness caught me, my last thoughts were: tomorrow the s**t will hit the fan.