Rejection is my Salvation

Chapter 2 – The Meeting

The next morning, everything felt awkward. My mother's usual humming was gone and she was restlessly rummaging through the kitchen cupboards. She would take out something, then get annoyed and place it back in the cupboard, drift to the next cupboard and repeat what she did by the previous cupboard and just drift back to the first one. Dad was also restless as he kept rearranging the spice rack.

Neither looked they had gotten enough sleep and my mother's eyes were red from crying.

I reached for the cereal box, but my stopped me by grabbing in for a hug.

"The Alpha is giving us breakfast," my mother said. "Did you sleep well?”

"I slept fine," I said, my father's head laid on my shoulder. "What is wrong with Dad?”

"Nothing is wrong," he mumbled. "I just need attention.”

I allowed my father to hold me, thinking back to what he said last night. The way he looked older and far tired then his usual attire. I looked at my mother and saw that she also looked aged.

Just then, I realized that they really have aged. I wonder since when did my mother face look so sunken in. She gave me a tired smile and kissed my forehead as she passed me.

"I should start getting ready," she said, but her voice sounded miles away.

A lot has changed. I've said this only the night before, but why did it take me so long to realize this.

My mind went back to the days just before my brother left…

My brother had me on his lap as he and his friends playing video game. This was something that happened a lot. To me, my brother was my best friend and him calling humans his friends always spiked jealousy within me.

One rule though: Never shift in front of them. That included my eyes.

"Hey, Gary," my brother said, extending the controller to the boy with the blond hair. "Take over from me. I need the bathroom.”

"Sure," the boy, Gary said as he took the controller.

My brother tapped me on the shoulder to indicate I need to stand up and I obeyed him and as soon as he stood, I took a hold of his pants.

"Is she going with you?" another boy with a red and black stripped shirt said as he looked at me.

I hide behind my brother's legs.

"I guess," my brother shrugged. "She does that a lot.”

"Isn't that disgusting?" A boy with black hair said. "Does she stare at you while you aim your d**k and fire?”

"Language, Dylan," my brother said, his fist balling. I reached out towards it and he relaxed his hand and I grabbed one of his fingers. "And no, she doesn't. She usually washes her hands while I'm busy.”

"It's still odd," Gary and the stripped shirt guy said at the same time.

My bother sighed then squatted down and looked me in the eye. "Wait here for me.”

When I shook my head, my brother ruffled up my hair. "Please? Show everyone what a big girl you are.”

I looked into his pleading eye and then nodded.

Just like that, my brother walked out of the room and left me with his friends.

"So," the one in the stripped shirt said and turned to me. "How old are you?”

I refused to talk to him and instead climbed on my brother's bed and hugged his pillow.

"Oh, come on," Gary said. "At least give us your name.”

I kept quiet.

The dark headed boy, Dylan, walked closer to me and then sat at the edge of the bed. "You know, you are a pretty little thing. How about it? When you are older let us get married?”

His friends laughed and I felt anger boil inside of me.

"Never," I said, glaring. "I can never marry someone as ugly as you!”

His friends laughed even louder and his face turned beet red. Dylan then glared at me and grabbed my arm. "Listen here, you little slut…”

"Wait," the stripped shirt guy said. "Don't get unreasonable.”

Dylan ignored him and continued his speech. "Just because you have a goddamn brother complex, doesn’t mean you can behave like a spoiled b***h…”

"Dylan," Gary warned. "She is only a little girl. She doesn't know wrong from right.”

"I don't care," Dylan said, his voice menacing. "I'll teach this little cunt what is wrong and what is right." Then he turned his glare back at me. "You need to learn to respect those older then you or you will end up in a ditch, dead.”

His words meant nothing to me, but I knew I had to say something to show that his words weren't intimidating me.

"You don't deserve respect. No one will respect a boy who thinks swear words are acceptable and no one will respect a boy ugly enough to scare ghosts away…”

The words were barely out my mouth as I heard someone enter the room and felt a sting over my cheek. To describe the feeling over my left cheek was hard. Though the pain was there, it felt the same as a simple sunburn. Hot, sensitive and it stung.

I looked up to see my brother in the door way, an expression of shock on his face.

Then he took long strolls to Dylan and grabbed him by the collar. "What the f**k are you doing?”

Dylan glared at my brother. "I was only teaching her some manners.”

"No," Gary said. "Your ego was bruised, because she called you ugly.”

"No," Dylan snared. "She has no respect.”

"Respect?" my brother repeated and he seemed dumb struck. "She is four. She doesn't even know better.”

Then he exhaled. "I want you guys to leave. Now.”

"So, you can fondle your sister with your sister complex?”

The words barely left Dylan's mouth when my brother's fist slammed into Dylan's face. Dylan recovered quickly and slammed his own fist into my brother. The other boys tried to break the fight, but the room was small.

I climbed off the bed and tucked into a corner, afraid on of the kicks will hit me.

They were shouting and yelling. Gary and the boy in the stripped shirt were yelling that my brother and Dylan needs to calm down and my brother and Dylan were screaming curses at each other.

"What the hell is going on here?" a voice boomed and everyone turned to the door. There stood my father, his face red with fury. I stood up and ran to my Dad.

He picked me up swiftly and held me to his chest and I hid my face into his neck.

Other than me, no one else moved. It was quiet enough to drop a needle and here every sound vibration, including the roll of the needle.

"I said," said my father slowly. "What is going on here?”

Still everyone kept quiet. "You boys better get out of my goddamn house, now.”

There were shuffling and then soon a door closed.

My Dad started walking and as I looked over my Dad's shoulder, I could see my brother following.

There was a bloodstain by my brothers nose and his hair was a mess. I reached over my Dad's shoulder to my brother. My brother always made me feel the safest. Maybe it was the fact that when I have a nightmare, he would climb into bed with me and sing me back to sleep.

"No, Delilah," my Dad said scornfully. "Behave.”

"Just give her to me, Dad," my brother said and reached out to me.

"No, you will not touch her. Do you think I will not notice that she has a swollen red cheek? Do you think I'm blind?”

"Are you suggesting that I slapped her?" my brother said, his voice strong.

Just then, entered the kitchen. My mother was standing patiently, waiting to hear what had caused the uproar.

My Dad sat me on one of the kitchen chairs, then turned to his son. "You might as well have. It was your friend that slapped her.”

"I didn't know this would happen," my brother growled. "And why the hell do you suddenly care? It's not like you ever tried to raise her?”

"She is my daughter," my Dad growled back. "Of course, I care!”

"Oh, this is the first time I heard about this. No, front what I've seen you are s**t for a father. All you ever care about was yourself. That had always been the case.”

I climbed of the chair and hid behind it. I was always fine with physical fighting, but verbal fighting scared me. Especially when they were yelling.

"How was I a shitty father? I've raised you guys to have respect…”

"Respect to whom?" my brother yelled. "I've no one to show respect to, because you either chase them away or ban me from talking to them. I can't talk to other because of the choices you made in your old pack. You disgraced Grandpa and you pretend you know everything?”

"Who are you to tell me that I am doing things wrong?" my Dad yelled back. "I've always done what I thought was best for you guys. And what the f**k does your grandfather have to do with this?”

"For the best?" my brother said in wild bewilderment. "For the best? Are you being serious right now? Don't tell me you are, because a father would not allow his children to play with fire. A father will not allow his only son to drown in the sea.”

"You think that I will not feel sad and remorse if my son ended up drowning? You think I'm that cold of a person? I didn't do anything, because then you won't learn. If I were to yell at you, you would think it's because I am an asshole. Instead, I allow you to do your thing and learn from it.”

"So what, if your son dies in the process, tough luck," my brother growled, fear spiking through me. "You can always try for another one?”

"Will you to stop this?" my mother said and stood between the two men. "You guys are behaving barbarically.”

My father ignored my mother and continued yelling at my brother.

"You think so little of me?" my Dad growled. "You think that I find you irreplaceable? Well, the way you are going on right now, yes!”

Just as my brothers fist swung towards my Dad, I shifted to a whole and ran out to the forest.

I ran and I ran, howling in short breaks and then ran again. I wanted to get away. I could still feel the pounding noise, even though I was kilometres away.

I only stopped running when I tumbled into a river. In the river, I sat in my human form and cried. I cried and cried. It was the first time I had ever seem that pained look in all my family's eyes.

As I wiped the last few tears away from my eyes after a few minutes, I shivered as a cool wind breezed through.

As another breeze, I started to shiver uncontrollably. I looked around, trying to determine from which direction I came from. Everything around me looked the same and I felt the tears starting to return.

The bushes behind me rustled and I leaped into defence mode, my eyes turning blue and my hands changed half way to claws.

Out from between the bushes, two heavy paws fell to the ground, along with it, the slender wolf of my brother came out. His fur was a mixture of white and grey, similar to the western wolves.

I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck. Under me, I felt his fur slowly retract and changed to a soft skin. His arms went around me as he hugged me closer to him.

"Don't just run out like that, Delilah!" he said and then pulled me back to inspect me. "You've got a few cuts and bruises, but nothing to major. Let us get home. We're both naked and it's cold. I'm not in the mood to get ill.”

I nodded and my brother picked me up. Slowly we made our way to the house again. When the house came into view, I could see my mother waiting on the back porch and as soon as she saw us, she smiled, turned and entered the house.

After that, no one talked to anyone the rest of the day, dinner was eaten in silence and no one came to tell me good night that day.

The next day, my brother had entered my room around midday with a bag in his hand. "Look what your big brother has gotten you," he said, his eyes basically gleaming. From the little red bag, he took out an expensive looking camera. "From now on, I want you to take lots and lots of pictures for me and one day, you must show them to me. You need to take some of you and your future friends as well. Do you promise?”

I nodded my head and the rest of the day, my brother taught me how to take picture. A lot of them included us.

That night, my brother also climbed in my bed and told me a story until I fell asleep.

The very next day, my brother was gone and we haven't seen him since.

I sighed at the memory, then tapped my father's arm. "Come on, Dad. You need to get ready as well. You can't cling to me like this forever. Plus, the Alpha would be furious if you are late.”

Reluctantly, my father let go and I took a few steps away, giving him space to stand up. My Dad's eyes looked empty and I knew this thing with my brother was hitting him hard.

"Everything will be alright, Dad," I said. "And maybe, you two can reconnect?”

"I don't know if that will happen," my Dad said, then forced a smile. "At least I've got you.”

I ruffled his hair. "Always, so smile like you mean it.”

Then my father gave me a genuine smile, stood up and then went to his room.

Compared to my memory just now, my father was less strict. He smiled more and was more predisposed to helping me and saving me.

I went to get a glass of water and drank it slowly.

Yeah, I sighed in my head. A lot has changed.

After drinking the glass of water, I went to my room to change to something suitable for making an appearance for the Alpha.

Soon, we were in the car, making our way to the Alpha's Mansion. The car was quiet, mainly because it irritated mom when she was confined in small spaces with a lot of noise.

The rhythmical sound as the car moved was soothing and I relaxed into the leather seat. Even by car, the Alpha's Mansion was ten minutes away.

I looked out the window and saw the houses zoom by. The houses turned to trees and then we arrived at the Mansion.

The Mansion was secluded from the rest of the town, mainly because whenever there are meetings, there is a less chance of being bothered.

The rules for the Mansion stood. Do not approach the mansion unless summoned or if it's truly important. The only people that may freely access the mansion is the Alpha and his family and the Beta. No one else. Except for the maid servants, of course.

We climbed out the car and my parents seemed to be even more nervous than before. I, myself, was sweating buckets.

I took a gulp and took the first step forward. I have been here once before and that was the day after I met James the first time.

We had been summoned and the Alpha had told my father he wanted us out. James ended up telling his Dad he would run away if his father chased us away, because I was his friend. We weren't, but he kept insisting that we were, and the scratch had been an accident.

We had gotten away with a tap on the wrist.

Since then, James had been persistent about being my friend. He would literally search for me a whole day until nightfall just to ask me if we were friends. After a month, we just started to hang out.

Remember his persistence made me feel like he might be my mate. I hope to The Moon, he is my mate, because at this point and time, I really couldn't imagine a life without him in it.

On the steps, the Beta stood waiting. He was a big man and his was tall. He stood with his arms folded, waiting patiently for us to draw closer.

I ran towards him and threw a punch towards him, instantly he dodged it with ease. His return punch was aimed to my stomach, hitting me with a force that had my knees weak. I fell the ground grabbing at my stomach.

After breathing through the pain, I turned toward the Beta. "Why, Blade?”

"What did you want me to do, Delilah?" the Beta said. "You came running at me. I just thought it will be… more?”

"So," I said, standing up. My stomach muscles tight from the impact. "What I do wrong?”

:For one, you were yelling and secondly you were running,: Blade said, then patted my father's back. "Why haven't you taught her to fight yet, Samael? She looked dumb just now.”

"Don't go insulting her, Blade," my Dad sighed. "And I haven't taught her fighting, because her mother is against it.”

Blade laughed loudly. "How the mighty have fallen. Maybe I should teach her, that way she can actually land a punch.”

"Do that and face the wrath of my mate, you have been warned.”

Blade and my father had gotten close during the time James had come to visit me. James had to be guarded a lot as a child in case something were to happen to him. The Alpha's children usually ended up kidnapped or killed in hopes that the blow off losing a child would be enough to catch the Alpha off guard.

It had also become a game to see if I could ever lay a finger on Blake. I would have trained to fight, but my mother was a no go on that. So, I end up throwing lazy and useless punches at him.

"How is your mate doing?" my Dad asked Blade as we entered the mansion.

"She is marvellous," Blade said, a huge smile plastered on. "The Moon has blessed us. She is pregnant.”

I looked at my Dad and gave him a meaningful look and he handed me a hundred.

I smiled wickedly at him and then sighed and followed Blade.

Dad and Blade talked and laughed as Blade led as through the house. Then we entered a big room, a big table in the middle.

At the head of the table sat the Alpha reading the paper. When he saw us, he folded his paper and gestured for us to sit. We all sat at the bit of table that had the cutleries.

"I want to quickly inform you guys, before my son gets here," the Alpha said as soon as we were seated. "This is stuff that can't be said in front of him, because he still didn't go through his final change.”

Then he sighed and looked at each of us for one. "Alpha Aaron from the Blood Moon pack has contacted me last night. He told me vaguely that he has vital information that I would want to hear. Now, usually I wouldn't have included you guys for this meeting, but the Alpha, as well as his Beta and Beta in training, has made a request that you guys are to come to the meeting or he won't tell us shit.”

"What if it is bluff to get at me?" my father said, fear dancing behind his eyes. "I didn't leave a good impression on for each of those men.”

"Don't worry, Samael," the Alpha said as he stood up. "I have made it quite clear to Aaron that if any of his men or if he himself lays a finger on you or your family, there will be a war.”

My Dad's whole body fell in relieve, then he sat up straight. "What about my son?”

"Unfortunately," the Alpha said, regret causing him to look away. "there is nothing I can do. Your son first and foremost your son was never a part of my pack. You are, so the best that I can over is this: if there is a war, and your son gets caught, you can deal out the punishment.”

"And if he gets killed?" my mother asked, her small voice trembling.

"That is out of my hands," the Alpha said then looked at my Mom. "The only hope that I can give you is that Aaron had promised no one will come near you guys. They just want a chat with you guys.”

"A chat?" my father said with a sigh. "A chat.”

"Now, I need to ask you," the Alpha looked to all of us. "Are you guys really willing enough to attend this meeting? I will not force you.”

My mother smiled at him. "He is our son, of course we would want to see him." My Dad nodded along with her words.

The Alpha then turned to me and I shrugged. "Makes no mess for me. I'm just going to end up meeting a stranger.”

The Alpha nodded, and James then chose that moment to enter.

I jumped from my seat and jumped into his arms. James caught me swiftly and our mouths met halfway. His lips felt so good and my heartbeat was going crazy. You'd have thought that after four years, this feeling would have died off. No, this only lasts lifetimes if it was your mate.

I heard my Dad and James' Dad clear their throats simultaneously. From my mother and Beta Blade came giggles.

I jumped off his hips and then smiled at James. "I thought you were going to school today. You are going to be late.”

"I hit up a deal with my old man," he said, giving me an innocent smile. "I get to stay for morale support up until the big secret meeting. Blade over there, is supposed to keep me company during the meeting to make sure I don’t eavesdrop." Then he turned to his Dad. "Did I get it right, old man?”

"Where the hell is your respect, boy?" The Alpha said with a frown. "Since when is it fine for a grunt like you to talk to the Alpha that way?”

As we took our seat at the table, James gave his father a devil smile. "Since this little grunt here knows a little information regarding the Alpha.”

"Oh, and what will that information be?" the Alpha said, his frown relaxing.

"Do you really want to know?" James said, then leaned in close towards the Alpha, whispering loud enough to allow everyone to hear. "You have porn mags under your mattress. You should move it.”

It would probably not have been half as funny, if it weren't for the fact that the Alpha had turned deep red.

Even my mother was roaring with laughter.

Unaware, James had successfully defused the bomb of nervousness that was surrounding the adults.

Breakfast was served and everyone at happily at their meals. Even when we had entered the study, everyone was talking naturally to each other. James had gone up to his room, along with Blade.

It was only when the maid servants were escorting in the members of Blood Moon, that the tension build up.

In entered three males. One looked around the age of seventy, another looked at the age of fifty-five and the last one, I knew was aged thirty-two.

Man, he has aged.

My brother turned to me, giving me a brilliant smile. "Hi, Delilah.”

I felt all emotions drain from me as I looked him dead in the eyes. "Hello, Byron.”