Rejected

“Alpha? Alpha Lynch?” The quiet voice seeps into my dream like a breeze in the spring, but unlike my dream, it feels tangible…real. My eyes jerk open when I feel something shaking my body, letting out a disapproving snarl. When I see Nadia quickly recoil from me, my body goes rigid.

“Nadia?” Her eyes are wide and I can smell the faint scent of fear, causing me to scold myself for my wolfs grumpy morning state.

“I…I didn’t mean to startle you.” I sit up, stretch my limbs and give her a half smile.

“You don’t need to apologize. I should be the one apologizing as it seems I startled you. My wolf is not fond of mornings.” She smiles nervously, gripping her blanket tightly to her.

“What are we doing out here?” Her eyes dance around, taking everything in with more pleasure and comfort than I can wrap my head around. Being a wolf, I have a deep love of nature, but what I see in her eyes is so much more.

“I think that is a question for your mother. Speaking of, she will be here soon. We should get you cleaned up.” I stand up, feeling stiff after sleeping on the hard ground, and offer her my hand. She takes it without hesitation and adjusts her blanket so that it is wrapped over her shoulders and covers her hospital gown.

“If my mother is coming, things must have been pretty bad.” Her eyes search mine for answers, answers that I will gladly give her.

“It was. You technically died, but they were able to revive you. Do you remember anything after I left your room?” She hesitates for a moment as she runs through her memories of last night.

“I remember being in pain…and then…and then nothing.” From the way her tone shifts, I know there is something she is not telling me.

“Nadia, you can tell me anything. I promise I won’t judge you.” She gives me a questioning gaze then quickly looks down at her feet as she digs them into the soft soil.

“It’s nothing. I just…I had a really strange dream, but that’s it. I promise.” Everything in me screams that there is more to it, but I don’t want to push her, not after how close we all came to losing her only hours ago. I lead her back to the hospital and get her situated in my car. The drive to her aunts is quiet with the swirling possibilities of what her mother will tell us filling the void. We arrive and I notice the unfamiliar vehicle in the driveway and on the porch swing sit Sandy and a woman who closely resembles Nadia. I climb out of the car and rush to the passenger side to help Nadia, even though she gives me a look that tells me she feels it is unnecessary. We only make it a few steps before the woman is in front of us and throwing her arms around Nadia in that way that only a mother can.

“My sweet girl, you are ok! I was so worried!” Both women have rivers of tears pouring down their face and their embrace grows impossibly tighter.

“Mom, I need you to tell me what is going on.” Nadia’s words shatter the comforting moment between them and a mask of regret and sorrow falls over her mother’s face.

“We should all head inside. This…this is not something for prying ears.” She glances around at the neighbors, all of which are watching, some from their yard, some from their windows, but all are watching. We head into the house and, once seated, her mother draws a deep breath and dives right in.

“Nadia, do you remember the story I told you as a child of why you are…different?” Nadia nods, eyes focused on her mother as if she holds the answers to the universe.” They are not far from the truth. When you were born, you came much too early. You were so small and frail. Your little body and spirit fought so hard, but it was quickly becoming a losing battle. Your father and I could not bear the thought of losing you, it would have destroyed us. We…we truly did pray to the moon goddess for help, but our prayers went unanswered. As a last resort, when things got dire and you were on the brink of death, we sought out the aid of an enchantress. We did take you to the sacred grove where our mating ceremony had taken place, just as I told you. The thing I did not tell you is that we did not draw power from the land. The power used to save you…it was from the enchantress. She used the energy of the land, the winter solstice and the energy it sent surging through the sacred land to heal you. It was not until a few years later that we discovered the…side effects…of her spell. The moon goddess did not forsake you, even though you were considered tainted by the witch’s magic. She, instead, blessed you with a different ability. Your wolf was tied to the earth because of that witch and when you turned 16, the moon goddess blessed you, tethering it to the moon as well. Before that, you could only heal with the energy of the earth, but, because of her divine mercy, the moon could heal you as well. This is why when your aunt told me what happened, I told her to take you to a place where both would be present. It was the only way to ensure you would heal before it was too late. You are so much stronger than anyone realizes, even you, but with that strength, comes great weakness. This is why we were so happy when you told us that you found your mate. A wolf mate will erase that weakness. We never liked Antony, but we wanted what his bond would give you. I am so sorry that I never told you before. You always were so sensitive about your differences as a child, but once you began to accept your differences, I couldn’t bear the thought of taking that away from you. I didn’t want to give you a reason to hate what you are because what you are is so beautifully unique.”

There is a long moment of silence before Nadia speaks and her words, they surprise even me.