Rejected

“Ok…thanks.” I hurry to my room where I spend the next few hours unpacking. At 1:30, I put on a pair of light blue skinny jeans and a powder blue sweater that makes my dark blue eyes stand out then brush out my silky, white hair and put on my black ankle boots. Just as I am double checking my appearance in my full length mirror, I hear someone honking out front. I rush to the door to find my aunt pulled up to the curb waiting for me. The drive to the pack house is quiet as I take in the town and how much it has changed since my last visit. If the busy streets are anything to go by, this pack is thriving in every way. We pull up in front of the 3 story pack house which seems much larger than I remember.

“He is expecting you. Just go in, be your amazing self and he will take care of you.” I give her a nervous smile then climb out of the car. I walk up the steps to the large wooden door and take a deep breath before knocking. The door opens and on the other side is a tall, well-toned brunette with a scowl on her perfectly painted face.

“Can I help you?” Her bitter tone makes me second guess whether I really should be here.

“I have an appointment with the alpha at 2.” I hate how soft and weak my voice sounds, how it betrays my broken state.

“Well? Come in.” It is clear that she is unamused with me being here, but I get the distinct feeling that she is just a bitch all the time and me being here only gives her something to use as an excuse for her attitude. I step into the foyer and let my eyes dance around the room and take in the rustic interior. When my eyes find their way back to the brunette, she is still scowling at me as she stands by a door that is open and gestures for me to enter. I walk to the door and slowly enter to find a study filled with thousands of books, but no alpha. Before I have a chance to ask where he is, she closes the door and I can hear the sound of her footsteps as she walks away. I wander over to the bookshelf to my left and begin scanning over the books, excited by the vast collection of portals to other worlds. I make it all the way to the shelves behind the desk when I hear someone clear their throat behind me. I whip around in shock only to find a tall, muscular man with dark brown medium length hair and honey brown eyes staring at me with a somewhat stern expression.

“Nadia, I presume?” I nod and quickly shuffle out from behind his desk.

“Yes, and you must be Alpha Lynch.” My voice cracks slightly and is much softer than I would have liked. Well, so much for first impressions.

“You are correct. Please have a seat.” I slide into one of the wooden chairs in front of his desk while he takes a seat in the large black leather chair behind it.

“Thank you for agreeing to see me…and for letting me stay.” He studies me for a moment, almost as if he is scrutinizing everything about me.

“Why did you leave your pack?” His question catches me off guard and I find myself at a loss for words momentarily.

“Um…well, you see…I…I was going through something…I just couldn’t heal there. I need a fresh start. I need to find peace.” His brow raises and he sits back in his chair, hands clasped in front of him with his elbows resting on the arms of the chair.

“If I am to let you stay here, I will need more than that. I need to know who is in my pack and why they are here. I am not willing to let anyone in who may pose a threat to my pack.” I feel panic beginning to creep in at the thought of revealing my humiliation in front of a stranger. I had left to get away from having to face my rejection and yet here he is, trying to force me to open up to him about something that is none of his damn business. After a long period of silence, I can tell he is losing patience and my resolve shatters into a million pieces.

“I was rejected…by my mate.” My voice is low and broken, tears already falling as the wound is torn even wider. Goddess, do I need to just shout it from the rooftops so I can let everyone know all at once?

“Why? What did you do?” I feel a deep ache in my heart as his words sink in…words I have asked myself a hundred timed because my mind refuses to believe I was rejected simply because Antony is just an asshole. I feel the bitter venom of anger seeping into my veins as I realize that, regardless of why I was rejected, it is most certainly NOT this alpha asshole’s business and he has no right to be asking about it, or blaming me for it. My rage fuels my movement as I stand up abruptly and storm out of the office then out of the pack house. I know I was looking out the window the whole drive here, but I suddenly realize that I have no clue where I am going. I keep walking, hoping I will see something familiar, anything that will help me find my way home. I feel my chest tightening, my heart racing and my mind fogging over. No…not now. I cannot be having a panic attack! I stop walking and lean against the cold brick wall of a building for support as I attempt to focus on my breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Fuck, this isn’t working. I am seriously having a panic attack in the middle of a strange town and to top it all off, I am lost.