Rejecting The Alpha Twins (Regan)

Regan POV

blazing as she glared at me.

I heard the front door shut and knew that meant the Alpha twins were gone, breathing a sigh of relief as I continued to fold clothes and iron them in the laundry room. Moments later, my stepmother's face appeared, a more mature version of Isabelle's, her green eyes "What on earth was that?" she snarled, putting her hands on her hips and eyeing me fiercely.

I paused, putting the washing down, and looked at her questioningly.

"I'm sorry, what was what?" I asked dumbly.

I had made certain to remain out of the way while Isabelle visited with Xander and Xavier, keeping upstairs and out of their sight. As far as I knew, I hadn't done anything wrong.

"The way you've been acting" she hissed, looking down her nose at me, "Isabelle told me how you insulted her and then you almost ran into the twins because you weren't looking."

"I didn't insult" I began heatedly, but she held up a hand silencing me and my protests.

I bit the inside of my lip and fumed. It wouldn't matter what I said, she would always defend her daughter and find something to complain about in regards to me.

"Don't bother" she interrupted fiercely, "Go and get dinner ready. Your father will be home soon, and he'll be hungry."

I scurried past her, down to the kitchen, and began to cook, keeping my head lowered, aware that my stepmother was looking for any excuse to grow angry with me. There was no sign of Isabelle but that wasn't unusual, considering that she often went to eat with her friends. By the time I had finished, my stepmother and father were sitting at the table, waiting with frowns on their faces. I carefully put a plate in front of each of them and then sat down at the end of the table alone. Just like I did every night. I stared down at my food, moving my fork around listlessly.

"How was work sweetheart?" my stepmother cooed, smiling brilliantly at my father.

My father grunted. "There's been a few sightings of rogues. We've had to increase patrol and secure the perimeter extra tight. More men are patrolling the grounds, and we've started training some of the younger males so that they can learn to defend the pack" he sighed. "The work is never-ending" he shot me a glance of disapproval, "But the fewer that are killed during rogue attacks the better," he said icily as the blood drained from my face.

I knew that was a deliberate shot at me. A reminder of what I had done.

Heather shot an uncomfortable look at me and then reached over and touched my father's hand, drawing his attention back to her, and thankfully taking his focus off of me. I kept my head down, playing with my food, my appetite now gone. I could feel my chest tightening as I struggled to keep my breathing even.

"Honey, guess what" Heather said excitedly, as my father looked at her and raised a brow, his eyes softening as he gazed upon his mate.

"Hmm, I'm guessing it has something to do with Isabelle" he guessed, making Heather laugh out loud and throw her head back, her eyes dancing in amusement.

"Xander and Xavier came to speak to her today. Am I right in guessing that negotiations have been concluded?" she leaned forward, spearing my father with a fierce gaze, "Is my daughter to be the official Luna of the pack?" she asked, her voice rising in excitement.

My father grinned. There was a gleam in his eyes as he looked at his wife, his hand gently squeezing hers. Neither of them so much as spared me a glance or paid a whit of attention to me. I might as well have been invisible for all they cared. Isabelle was always at the forefront of their minds. It was a triumph for both of them, to have organized such a huge deal for the family and to be able to elevate their status with Isabelle's becoming Luna. My father was glowing with pride.

"Negotiations have been concluded," my father said, leaning back in his chair and sipping at his glass of wine, "Alpha Jackson has agreed to the twins taking Isabelle as their chosen mate. However, they must wait until Isabelle is officially eighteen and she must agree with rejecting her fated mate, should she ever find them."

My stepmother waved a dismissive hand "Isabelle will have no problems with those conditions. She's always wanted to be the Luna of the pack, ever since she can remember" she said beaming, "But what if the twins find their fated mate?" she frowned.

"The same conditions apply to them. They are to reject their fated mate. Since the boys turn eighteen first, they will have a short window in which they might find their mate before they take Isabelle and make her Luna but the odds of their mates being in this pack is practically nil" my father said shrugging; "They would have started to have feelings towards a pack member by now or their wolf would have started to sense their mate with how close their birthday is. Since the twins are acting normally, I would hazard that nobody here is fated to be with them."

"For all we know Isabelle could be their fated mate" my stepmother clapped her hands, looking excited. "Wouldn't that solve all of our problems" she giggled with happiness.

"It would certainly make things easier" my father grumbled and then looked at me, raising a brow.

"Now all we have to do is decide what to do with Regan," he said bluntly.

I looked at him, surprised that he was even bothering to acknowledge I was at the table.

"Well, I was thinking" my stepmother broke in, causing me to look at her sharply; "Since Regan and Isabelle have practically grown up together and are about the same age..." she trailed off, an expectant expression on her face.

"I don't quite follow you;" my father said with narrowed eyes "What does that have to do with anything?"

She sighed. "Well, if Isabelle is going to be Luna, then she's going to need an omega to tend to her every need" she explained as I sat there in shock. "Why shouldn't it be Regan? It would be beneficial for her sister to have somebody she could trust to take care of her, and we could still see Regan at the pack house. It's the perfect solution" she declared, while I felt my heart turn as hard as stone.

The perfect solution. A slave to my sister's every whim, like I already was. I could feel bitterness beginning to consume me. I looked towards my father, hoping he would make some sort of objection or protest, perhaps even deny Heather this one request, but he was nodding slowly, a thoughtful look on his face. I began to feel cold all over.

"You know, that could work," he said, giving me a sidelong glance, "Regan is going to be eighteen soon as is Isabelle. It's an honor to work for your Luna;" he told me frostily as I began to shake my head, "and god knows you don't possess the strength to take over my role as Beta when the time comes, as puny and weak as you are."

"I intend on leaving the pack when I turn eighteen" I blurted out, unable to hold back anymore, the words just slipping out.

My father cocked his head "No," he said bluntly.

"No? You can't stop me;" I said in shock.

"Ah, but I can. Normal rules are that pack members can leave once they turn eighteen but for those of Beta or Alpha blood...." he trailed off as I went pale.

"Permission from the Alpha himself must be obtained" I whispered feeling sick.

I had forgotten the stupid rule! For the first time since I could remember, I cursed having Beta blood. My father smirked "Alpha Jackson will never grant you permission and once I speak with Xander and Xavier, neither of them will either. You'll stay in this pack, and you'll do as I tell you" he said, his voice deepening slightly "and maybe I'll be able to prevent somebody else from being killed because of your recklessness" he spat. Silence. "If you don't want me here, then why not let me go?" I whispered between trembling lips.

"Because I haven't punished you enough for killing my mate. Get out of my sight before I lose what little self-control I have left" he snarled, slamming down his hand on the table. I couldn't get out of the room fast enough, but not before I saw the vicious smile on Heather's face.