Rejection is my Salvation

Chapter 3 - The Birth

"Hello, Byron," I said as I looked at him dead in the eye, the emotions draining out of me.

My brother's smile fell and his face turned into confusion. He probably expected me to run into his arms crying, telling him how much I missed him. Yeah, like that was going to happen.

"So," the elderly man said as he stood behind Byron, his wrinkly fingers patting Byron on the shoulder. "This is her?”

His question made me feel uncomfortable. I didn't like it when people talked about me. Especially when it is in front of me and especially when I don't know what they mean.

Alpha Max cleared his throat. "Aaron, let us get this meeting out of the way first.”

"Sorry, Max," the middle man said. "but, unfortunately we will only be able to discuss this within two days. In two days from now, my son will return from his scouting and will most probably be able to give more information regarding the rogues.”

"Rogues?" I said, looking at our Alpha. I felt excitement build up in me.

Both the Alpha and my Dad said "f**k" and my mother gave a silent "shit.”

"What?" I asked, curiously. "Is something wrong?”

"Nothing at all," my Dad sighed. "Why don't you listen to music while the grown-ups talk?”

I smiled at my Dad. "Dad, I'll say this simply and only once: I'm not a child and I don't need babying." I placed my hands on my hips and dipped my body slightly and turned halfway to look at my Dad. This posture he knew well. It was my own personal pose indicating me asking who the boss was. "And anyways, I'm only interested in rogues to the level of using them as target practice seeing as Mom doesn't want you to teach me to fight. I'll simply use the rogue as a punching bag.”

My father crossed his arms and stood straight, his way to indicate that he was the boss. "We definitely had this talk, didn't we, Delilah? If I remember correctly, the answer was no. Or has my memory left me?”

"Yes, sir," I said, standing up straight, in a posture close to my father. "The answer was no. And I fully agree with your answer back then. I was nothing more than a child and I couldn't comprehend the danger what might come from a big scary wolf. After that talk though, James and I have been talking. We have been planning. We have been learning. I have matured. Now I am ready to talk care of some rogue ass and polish up my fighting skills.”

"You have nerves, young lady," my father said and then rubbed my head, messing with my hair style. "And the answer is still no. Your mother believes that you mustn't, so, you must not fight. You are also missing one crucial part to this whole Beating-up-the-Rogues story.”

My smile fell as I realized I had lost the little game. Instead, I glared at the man.

"Do you know what is missing?" my Dad pushed, his voice saying he was mentally dancing with victory.

I kept quiet, instead I went to sit on the couch by the window.

My Dad continued. "You need to know how to fight to catch a rogue. You guys probably planned that James will take him out and then you've won.”

That is exactly what we had planned.

Still my father continued. "But what if James got hurt? Hmm? Or were you too selfish to think of James' wellbeing?”

"You are a d**k, you know," I said, my chest aching from his words.

"I have never pretended to be anything else," my Dad said.

Then my mother sighed. "The way you to behave in front of guests.”

"Guests?" I asked, then my eyes fell on the Blood Moon pack. I had forgotten about them. Even when I had walked past them, I didn't even take notice of them. Then I looked at my Dad and saw that he had also forgotten about them.

"It's always such a blast to be in your company," Alpha Max said, smiling like he had just watched his favourite comedy.

I saw my brother lean into the old man, whispering what sounded like I told you he was going to abuse her.

Clearly, I wasn't the only one who had heard him, because my mother was glaring at him.

I gulped, glad I wasn't on the receiving end. My mother's glares usually made me feel paralyzed with fear.

Just then, Byron decided to loop his arms around my shoulder.

I was surprised how I felt with that little contact. For some reason his skin was sticky and rough and the smell that rolled off him made me want to gag. Wasn't it just this morning that I remembered how soft his skin was. What did he use to smell like? Was it something similar? I couldn't remember, but this smell was so terrible.

I looked up at him. I flinched as I took him in. He looked totally different compared to my memory. He used to be tall and lean, his face clean shaved. He was still tall, but more bulked up and his had stubbled jaw. None of these qualities though, was the reason why I felt like a total stranger was standing next to me with his arms around me.

It was the look in his eyes that has changed the most. I remember how his eyes use to be kind and always looked warm that I wanted to drown into it, but this was not those eyes. These eyes seemed colder and calculated.

Even the aura around him was different. And I didn't like the way he was looking at Dad.

I shook his arm from my shoulder, but stayed where I was. Byron gave me a look of shock and hurt, but I turned to look at the grown-ups.

"…expected answer," Alpha Max was saying as he sat with authority behind his desk. "but I guess there is no helping it now.”

"Max," Alpha Aaron said. "I only came earlier because there was other stuff I wish to discuss with you privately. Our Beta in training also mentioned he wanted a to visit his sister, so I decided to give him the chance, as he had been useful to us during the time he was with us.”

"Or you guys are trying to find a way to take her away from her family," my father said under his breath, but everyone could hear it.

My mother gave a sharp jab with her elbow, followed by "Samael!”

The Blood Moon pack ignored him, which made me wonder if my father was on the right track? Alpha Max just sighed.

"You guys are talking like I want to talk to my brother," I said, speaking up and then shrugged. "Honestly, I don't even want to be in the same room as him.”

Both my parents and Byron looked shocked.

"What?" I asked as confusion set into me. "I'm nearly eighteen, I've got a boyfriend and I have the greatest parents ever. Sure, I use to cling on this guy, but you forget something major here. In all sense, this guy is a stranger. I have not seen him for fourteen years and I didn't get to know him ten years ago. And the fact that he just walked out on his family just because he wasn't being patted every five seconds, doesn't help with the fact that I had grown to despise him over the years.”

Then I went to sit on the Alpha's table. "The picture taking you wanted me to do," I said, looking at Byron. His eyes were looking sad, but still hopeful, nearly making me stop from what I was about to say, but unfortunately all the years thoughts regarding him came out. I felt like I wanted to hurt him. "About me and about my friends? I vaguely remember you mentioning that the day you left. Yeah, I stopped taking those at the age twelve when I finally said to myself 'Jip, he is never coming back' and James and I had thought maybe we should use the album as a bonfire.

"Most of the picture in the beginning were of the two of us together. That is why I'm willing to destroy a whole eight years of photos, because I feel that my pictures with my friends are tainted.”

By the end of my speech, my brother looked green. Somehow, that gave me a satisfaction and a churn of excitement went up my spine.

"Now," I said going back to my seat. "Why don't you go back to the Grandpa that I already don't like because his moustache reminds me of Hitler.”

My brother walked like a robot to the elderly man. The elderly man looked slightly offended as he rubbed his moustache in a way I expected Hitler would rub his.

Okay, maybe that was a little cruel, but I was hurt that he was suddenly here after all the years he had left. For years I had been hopeful and for years I had given my parents hell, because "my brother will be back. Just you wait.”

"Delilah," my Dad said. "That was uncalled for.”

I felt my head tilt to the side as I looked at my Dad. My father was the King of Candour. He had taught me to always speak the truth even if it would hurt the other person, because then the people are more likely to respect you. The fact that he was suddenly calling truth uncalled for, was odd.

Then I saw the way he was looking at Byron, the spark of hope that was similar to mine years ago, the same one he lost around the time I had lost, was back.

It was painful seeing the way Dad was looking so sorrowful. The thought had slipped in, unannounced. What if they loved Byron more than me?

That thought fuelled my anger, especially when I saw my mother had a similar express.

I felt my eyes turn blue, a tingling sensation by my eyes.

There was an intake of breath from Alpha Aaron and the elderly man.

It was only years later when I found out why people reacted this way when they saw my eyes. To tell the truth, it wasn't just my eyes. It was my fur as well.

Unlike most, my fur was entirely white except for little black quarter moon. Statistically speaking, only two in every ten back in a single lifespan are ever born with the majority of their fur being white.

One of the Elders, Karen, was also a white furred wolf, but instead of a black crescent on her forehead, she has a black heart shape on her right butt.

Most of the wolf species usually had brown, grey, black or red-ish brown.

White fur is basically seen as a rare quality of a wolf.

Then you have the blue-eyed wolves. There is was no statistic for how many wolves are born with blue eyes. Blue eyed wolves were legends. No one knew the truth behind what are truths or what has been hoaxes.

One story said that the blood of the blue eyed can cured all diseases. Another story said that the blue-eyed wolf could cause change among the wolves.

None of them sounded like me.

I sighed and calmed myself, instead looked out the window.

"No, Dad," I said as I focus on a leaf falling from a tree branch. "It wasn't uncalled for. I was stating facts. And I…”

Tears pooled in my eyes and I tilted my head back, blinking them away.

"I will not run to embrace a stranger. He is your son, I understand that. You have an emotional connection with him. I don't. So why don't you take this time to get to know each other?”

"Look Delilah…" my Dad started, but was interrupted by a ringing sound.

Recognizing it as mine, I answered. "Delilah speaking.”

"Hey dear," Mrs. Whistler said. "I've called to inform you that it has begun.”

Immediately, I know what she was referring to and ended the call with "Thank you.”

"Alpha, I need to go," I said, already making my way to the door. "Sarah-Beth is in labour.”

"Understood," Alpha said, "will you be needing any help?”

"Yes," I said entering the hall.

"What is going on?" I heard Alpha Aaron ask.

"If they want to come with," said over my shoulder, "They might as well, but if the fill it with any form of negativity, they are out.”

James came running down the stairs. "I got the message. Sarah-Beth, huh? I thought she wasn't due for a week?" He asked me questionably and then gave our guests a quick look, but said nothing.

"So, did I," I said harshly. "but I do not control Nature.”

We quickly made our way to the cat and drove to the Maternal Building, the wolves from the other pack, followed confusedly.

The rest of the sprint was quiet, except for the hushed conversation between the two Alphas.

It was only in this silent that I realized that Mom and Dad hadn't followed us, as well as the other pack's Beta. James was tapping on the steering wheel restlessly. My brother was staring at me in the rear-view mirror.

I took a deep breath and then spoke to my brother.

"Look, Byron," I said, the conversation between Alpha's growing silent and James' tapping came to a halt. "What I might have said in there, might have sound cruel, but they were facts. I can't pretend to love someone whom I barely know.”

"I understand," Byron said, making me realize these were the first words directed at me. "You don't need to explain yourself.”

"To late for that," I mumbled as I realized I did do so for the second time. Then addressed my brother again. "Look, for Mum and Dad's sake, I will try to get to know you.”

"Don't bother then, if it is for their sake," my Brother said, seeming either annoyed or bored. My money was on the former.

"Works for me," I said, just as the car stopped in front of the Maternal Building.

I shoved the door of the car open before James has fully parked. "Unfortunately, we are currently under staffed, Byron, so I am going to drag your ass to help. Make any mistakes, which includes not helping, you will have me as an enemy on a whole new level.”

"Yeah, and what is it that I am supposed to do?”

I sighed as I slammed the car door closed. “You'll see…”

I entered the building and immediately I was swarmed with charts and nurses.

"Status report," I asked as I took the chart. I looked over the details, some more than others.

"Sarah-Beth came in two hours ago, complaining of a stomach ache," one of the three nurses said. "We did an ultra sound and found there was no fault with the baby.”

"She said she had been eating chocolate cake," another nurse said. "That might have been the cause, so I hadn't given her anything yet. I was about to give her something, but she was in the bathroom. The next we knew was that she was yelling that her water has broken.”

"Her contraction is built up pretty has," the last nurse butted in.

"That is to be expected," I sighed.

"Wait," Byron said, "You are a doctor?”

"What," I said. Shocked at the idea. "No, I am not. I'm a Healer. Gosh. I am only seventeen, Byron.”

"Then what is this?" He said, waving his arms around.

"I'm a Fertility Healer," I said, then walked to the room Sarah-Beth was in. "I have been since I was thirteen.”

"And she has done a great job so far," Alpha Max said and clapped his hands. "She is much more advanced than most of our Healers.”

"What do you mean, Max?" Alpha Aaron asked.

"Just as he said, Gramps," James said. "Now hush and listen.”

I rolled my eyes and entered the room.

On the bed, laid a Sarah-Beth, her skin white and sweaty. Her dark hair was clinging to her face. You could see her pain in her pale eyes. When she saw me enter, she forced herself to smile.

"Delilah, thank goodness you are here," she breathed. She took a few uneasy gulps. "I thought you'd never show." Then her eyes fell on the other people.

"Don't worry about them," I said, smiling. "This is my brother, Byron." I turned to Byron, motioning with my hands for him to stand closer. "He will be one of the two people holding your hands.”

"I didn't…” she started, then she seemed to coil in pain.

"Deep breath," I said to her in a soothing tone. "Just relax.”

She relaxed after a few breaths and gave me a smile. Then she tried talking again. "I didn't know you had a brother.”

"I pretended like I didn't," I said sticking out my tongue, being playful. Then I turned serious. "Are you ready.”

"N-no," she said, fear in her eyes. "I… no…”

"Shhh," I said. "Don't worry. Are there any requests?”

"Y-yes," she said. "I want Michael to know. I want him to make the choice. Will you tell him?”

"I can do that," I said then turned to James. "Will you track down Michael?”

James nodded and walked out the room, his target set.

"Anything else?" I said, turning to Sarah-Beth.

"Y-yes." She said, then coiled in pain again. She calmed down again and turned to me. "I want to call my baby Bailey. It's a both s*x name. I like Bailey.”

"Sharp," I said and smile. 'It about time now. Are you ready now?”

She shook her head.

"Don't worry," I said, smiling. "I'll take care of everything.”

Then I turned to Byron and Alpha Aaron: "Please hold her hands and do not let go.”

Then stood still. I rolled my eyes. "Now.”

They quickly reach for her hands and she grasped their tightly.

Tears were escaping from her eyes. "I am scared.”

"I know," I said and turned to Alpha Max. "Please call in the nurses.”

Alpha Max did as I told him and two nurses entered.

"Are we ready," one of them asked and I nodded.

"I'm not," Sarah-Beth screamed, panicking. "No, you're wrong. I'm not.”

"Sarah," I said, looking her dead in the eyes. "You are ready. This is the Moons will. She wants you in her arms. She wants your young to be born. You must believe. You must. I can already see it. Your child will love you and will be loved in return. She will find her mate and they will be happy and grow old together.”

Sarah-Beth then called and nodded. "She?”

"Oh," I said, realizing my slip. "I didn't mean to do that.”

"It makes me happy to know. I am ready.”

"It's time for you to push or she won't make it.”

That was when the room filled with shouts and pleas, tears and pain.

"This is Delilah's true gift," Alpha Max said, to both Alpha Aaron and Byron. "Unlike most Healers, she can determine whenever a woman is pregnant. She can also tell around what time the child was conceived. Gender is no problem.”

Then he took a trembling breath. "She can also judge whenever the child is human, werewolf or halfling. She can also judge when it comes to halfling children, whenever who will survive the pregnancy.”

"Wait," Byron said, then looked down at Sarah-Beth. "You mean, she is…”

"Dying." Alpha Aaron stated.

Finally, Sarah-Beth gave her last push, as well as her last breath. Seeing the way her hand slacking in my brothers was heart wrecking.

I shifted the baby to the blanket in Alpha Max's arms and wrapped the baby cozily. The nurse took the baby and went out the room.

I looked at Sarah-Beth and I felt myself sag. Every time I saw her push and saw how tiring it was starting to look. She didn't even have time to look at her child.

I sighed. Then stood and walked out the room. No one followed me, everyone that knew me knew I needed time alone. Alpha Max would probably stop the guests from following me.

I ran into the woods and went the very centre of it where a boulder seems to stand out of place. There, I went down on my knees and prayed. Hoping that the Moon will give Sarah-Beth a bigger and better after life.

This is Delilah's true gift is what Alpha Max had said, but he was so wrong. It was a curse. To see and know that someone will die, be it the mothers or children or both, was heart breaking. To help coax the mothers into death, so that their children may life, broke even my soul.

This was the fifteenth time I have helped a woman give birth, while their children lived on and they passed on. Ten of them are orphans.

I didn't even know what to do anymore.

Just then, I heard a rustling of leaves and for some reason, I expected my brother to pop out. Instead, there stood a hunter, his gun aiming at me.