Rejected

Standing in my room and staring at my reflection, I find myself less interested by the minute in attending the pack dinner that begins in less than 30 minutes. Maybe it is the fact that Leah will be there, or maybe it is the exhaustion of the month finally catching up with me. I put no effort into my appearance for the event, wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, a black button down short sleeve shirt and black loafers. I finally exit my room and make my way to the dining hall that is already filled with my pack members, all broken into small groups and carrying on their own conversations. Several of the members greet me as I enter, but my eyes are quickly drawn to the only person who is not lost in deep conversation. The white haired she-wolf is standing in the corner of the room that is gated off for the smaller children, kneeling down as she plays with several of the pack’s pups. As much as I feel the need to be cautious around this outsider, I must admit that she intrigues me. She is in a room full of wolves that would happily carry on a conversation with her and I am sure many would like to get to know her, but she resigns herself to a corner, playing with wee pups. Before I realize what I am doing, I find myself standing just outside the gate with my eyes focusing on her interaction with the pups. She is creating buildings with blocks while several pups eagerly wait for her to finish. I smile at how their eyes light up when she tells them she is done, but am baffled when she scoots away from her creation and laughs as the children stomp and kick through it while growling and roaring.

“Me zilla!” a young girl, Adeline, shouts.

“I rex!” Charlie shouts.

“Oh no! Godzilla and t-rex?! Help! They are destroying the whole city!” Nadia shouts just before the children tackle her and the whole corner erupts with wild giggles. I had not noticed that there was a young boy sitting quietly in the corner, watching the destruction of the ‘city’ from a distance…but Nadia noticed. As Adeline and Charlie settle down, she slowly crawls across the floor until she is directly in front of him.

“Hey Danny. Want to come play with us?” Danny stares at her for a moment before shaking his head.

“I no break city.” Nadia reaches up and places her hand gently on his cheek.

“How about you help me build one then? Addy and Charlie can break it and you and I can rebuild it. You could be my little architect!” Danny’s eyes light up and his arms wrap tightly around her neck. She leads him over to the blocks and they get to work rebuilding the ‘city’. I am so caught up in their world of make believe that I hadn’t noticed anyone approaching.

“I told you she is a natural.” My eyes dart to my left to find Ida standing there with a playful smirk.

“She definitely has an affinity for pups.” She nods in agreement while we both watch in wonder.

“It is so hard to understand how anyone could reject a mate as wonderful as her. She is not only good with the pups, but she is very kind and smart. She also seems to be a talented artist, but don’t let her know I told you. I caught her sketching little Toby while he slept and it was quite spectacular. She stashed it away the moment she realized I had caught her though.” I am about to nod when something occurs to me.

“How did you know she was rejected?” Ida gives me a knowing look, but her usual happy expression falters.

“The only thing that causes the hurt I can see in her is rejection. It also explains why she left her pack. You did a great thing when you let her come here.” Our eyes shift back to Nadia, who is now covered in pups as they tickle her mercilessly. The dinner bell sounds, causing the overflow of conversations to cease as everyone quickly lines up at the buffet line to dish up.

“Nadia, I will watch the pups so you can go eat.” Ida offers with a warm smile.

“Oh, I appreciate that, but I am fine…really. I will eat with these little monsters.” The pups shout in excitement and quickly jump back on her.

“Well, if you insist. I will bring some food over for you guys.” Ida walks away to get Nadia and the children some food.

“I have never known you to be so interested in watching kids play, or is it the woman you are eyeing so intently?” Oh goddess, why must you torture me so?

“Good evening, Leah.” I keep my eyes focused on the pups and Nadia.

“So, is she your mate, or just the flavor of the week?” Her inappropriate comment pulls my attention and earns her a sharp glare.

“I don’t see how it is any of your business who she is, or who my mate or girlfriend is. YOU rejected ME, remember?” I am struggling to keep my voice lowered, not wanting to draw attention to our conversation, but also feeling enraged by her audacity to ask me such a thing.

“Look, I made a mistake. I was scared and I acted irrationally. I never should have rejected you.” Her expression doesn’t even remotely come close to reflecting anything resembling sincerity.

“A mistake? This conversation wouldn’t even be happening if my brother were still alive. Why don’t you go find someone as vain and shallow as you and make their life a living hell because this…”I gesture to the space between us. “Is not going to happen.” Ida returns just as Leah walks away in a huff.

“Let me guess, the little tramp was trying to weasel her way back in now that you are the big bad alpha?” Ida gives me a playful smirk.

“Something like that. Let me help you.” I take 2 of the plates that were balancing on Ida’s arm then follow her into the corner once she has the gate open. She places the plates on the small picnic table against the wall then takes the plates from my hand, setting one on the table and handing the other to Nadia.

“Thank you, but you really didn’t need to do this.” Nadia attempts to protest, but Ida is not having it.

“Oh hush. Once you are done eating, it is time for the pups to go to bed. Their parents will pick them up and then you can come visit with us. They should be opening the dance floor soon too.” Nadia chuckles and gracefully rises to her feet without spilling anything off her plate.

“I don’t dance. Making someone dance with me would be torture for the other person.” Ida scoffs and waves off her concerns dismissively.

“Nonsense.” Ida steps aside as several pack members step in to get their pups.

“Nadia, you are a gift from the goddess. How did you ever get Danny to agree to play with the other kids? He is always so closed off!” Rose asks while staring down at her pup who is having a sword fight with Adeline using celery sticks.

“I think he just needed a little nudge.” Rose throws her arms around Nadia, nearly knocking the plate out of her hand then backing away.

“Thank you so much. You don’t know how much it means to us to see him like this…so happy.”Ida helps get the children’s things together and hands the plates of food to their parents.

“They didn’t get a chance to eat, what with all their playing.” Everyone chuckles, but no one is even the slightest bit upset. Once everyone is cleared out of the gated area, I turn to Nadia and notice her staring off blankly.

“You ok?” Her eyes dart over to mine and she gives me a smile that doesn’t quite meet her eyes.

“Yeah, just lost in my head.” I pull open the gate and wait for her to exit then follow her out and let the gate close behind us.

“Why don’t you come sit with me so you can eat.” She nods, but her eyes seem to be focused on some intangible thing and when I follow her gaze, there is nothing there. I place my hand gently on the small of her back to guide her to my table. Once we are both sitting, my beta, Kyle, brings me a plate and I notice the confused expression on his face as he glances over at Nadia, who is using her fork to push her food around her plate.

“I got you a little of everything.” I feel the mind link open and his voice comes through quietly, almost as if he feels he must whisper through the link so she can’t hear us.

‘What’s up with this one? She Sandy’s niece?’

‘Yes, she is Sandy’s niece. She is going through a lot right now. She was rejected by her mate and the asshole did it in front of her entire pack.’

‘Damn! If anyone can help her find a way through that shit, it would be you. At least Leah had the decency to not make it a public affair.’

I nod in agreement as Kyle wanders off when the DJ starts playing. My beta has an appreciation for many things, but dancing is at the top of the list. I look over and notice that Nadia has set her fork down and is staring blankly at her plate, so when she suddenly speaks, it catches me off guard.