After Your Rejection

Chapter 13 Half a Year Later

Alexis

I can't believe I agreed to attend the annual Alphas Ball. It is an event that takes place every year in a different pack. This year's ball is held at the Blue Moon Pack. Here, of all places! In a moment of weakness, I agreed to take part in it along with my family. Now I am driving in my car dreading the moment I step foot in Alpha Sebastian's pack. It's been six months since the events of my first shift that led me to reject him. Six months of me being away from my family, from my pack. I couldn't go back home, not when I lost the most precious gift of my life.

I'm nervous, I sweat like a pig and my foot is tapping. I cannot stop fidgeting in my seat, and I'm drumming my fingers on the steering wheel. Let's face it, I'm a nervous wreck. The only thing holding me together is that Axel will be there with me. He is still the only one who knows what happened before my quick departure. Okay, he doesn't know the full extent of what happened, but he knows almost everything. I was talking with him on the phone almost every other day to assure him I was okay. I didn't call Mum or Dad very often despite their numerous efforts to get in touch with me more. Axel and Damian came to visit me a few times, even Fin came with them once. Bri came with her mate, Matt. He is a nice guy, a human. They met at a coffee shop in a town near our pack. Matt runs a small and quite successful outdoor business in the town. They are living together now in his apartment above the shop. It was quite surprising that a Beta's daughter was mated to a human. Bri was nervous about revealing the truth about what she was, but he took it pretty great. He told her he felt the connection between them from the first time he laid his eyes on her. I think that's how humans feel the mate bond, like some kind of connection they can't explain, but it's simply there. Matt loves her unconditionally and makes sure she is happy and satisfied. Every week, they go hiking to a secluded area so Bri can shift. I'm so happy for them. Oh, and I forgot to mention that Freya is also coming to the Blue Moon Pack. She didn't want to come at first, but Finn made sure she changed her mind. She turned eighteen a couple of days ago. Axel is excited like never before.

'Welcome to the Blue Moon Pack, Alexis Hawthorn.' A warrior stationed at the border greets me while I'm driving through the gates. I'm not surprised he knows my name. I'm Alpha Kieran's daughter. I wave at him and continue in the direction of the pack house. This was a bad idea. Nervously, I run my fingers along the tattoo I have on my wrist. It's the only thing that can calm my anxiety. I've never got my bracelet back. The tattoo is a replacement for it, not that it's the same.

I spot Axel and Damian standing near the entrance to the pack house, waiting. When they see me approaching, they walk to my car.

'Hey sis, didn't expect you so soon.' Axel hugs me after I get out of the car.

'Mum told me to come for lunch.' I tell him while Damian is hugging me from behind.

'Are you two waiting for somebody?' I ask them. I know the answer already.

'For you, obviously.' Damian answers me.

'Is that so? Cos you both seemed surprised to see me.' I point out.

'Okay, busted. Axel is waiting for Freya's arrival. Finn texted that they were close. When history asks where I was when Axel got his first f*cking kiss after years of waiting, I'll answer with confidence that I was there. I want to see Axel finally sticking his tongue into a woman's mouth, so I'm tagging around.' Damian says.

'Hey, you are talking about my brother! Gross!' I fake gagging.

'Like you don't know how it is to have a man's tongue in your mouth. I saw you at the party in the dormitory when we were visiting. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the only thing in your mouth that night.' Damian smirks at me.

'Shut up, Damian! You are talking about my sister!' Axel intervenes.

'Yeah, you are both using the same phrase. Boring. Find something new for once!' Damian rolls his eyes at us. I smile to myself. I missed this, I missed my friends. Even Damian.

We hear a car approaching. Axel stands straighter and sniffs the air. In the next moment, the doors of the car are open, Finn gets out of the driver's seat and Freya gets out of the back seat. Two other warriors come out of the car.

'Mate!' Freya says at the same time as Axel, who is now practically running with a broad grin to a smiling Freya. When he reaches her, he picks her up and hugs her tightly, spinning her around. They are so cute. And so perfect!

'You are my mate? I can't believe it. I never imagined that you would be my mate. Am I dreaming or is this real?' Freya asks with watery eyes. It seems she is just as happy as Axel is.

'Did you guys know?' Freya asks us. I just nod while Fin smiles at his sister. I walk to Finn and hug him. When we look at each other, there's sadness in his eyes. I don't know how, but it feels like my own emotions. I hug him again, more tightly this time. I'm surprised he embraces me with the same strength. We slowly part and then look at each other again. We are happy for our siblings, but at the same time, there is something else that weighs us down. I know something is bothering him. And he knows something heavy settled on my heart. I can't explain how we can both tell, but there is this silent understanding passing between us.

'Can we see the kiss now, please? Axel was waiting his whole life for it.' Of course, it's Damian who must spoil the mood.

'Damian, I swear to our Goddess, I'm going to f*cking punch your face and kick your ass so hard...' Alex glares at Damian. Freya grabs his hand, making Axel turn to her. When he looks at her, his face softens.

'Language.' Says my Mum, coming to greet us from the pack house. Dad is with her too, and so is Alpha Sebastian. I take a risk and look at him for a brief moment, but then quickly avert my gaze. I'm not ready to face him. Mum hugs me tightly and so does Dad.

'Hey, it's only fair that I see your first kiss. You saw mine.' Damian says.

'And who was your first kiss? I can't remember.' Axel asks with curiosity. Oh no, this is not going to end up well. I can see it in Damian's expression.

'Your sister.' Damian says smugly. Axel looks at me furiously and then starts walking towards Damian.

'I don't remember kissing you. Have you got a death wish or what?' I ask Damian.

'Oh, come on. You were like six and I was seven.' Damian says, but I don't remember kissing him like that. Ever.

'You know what, that's sad. Do you count that as your first kiss? You were both in kindergarten. That was hardly a kiss!' Finn interjects, not wanting to miss a perfect opportunity to taunt Damian.

'Are you f*cking kidding me? That doesn't count!' I tell Damian defensively at the same time.

'Language.' Comes from my Mum again.

'I count it, which means it counts.' Damian fires back. 'So, who do you count as your first kiss if not me?'

'A guy named Aiden, if you want to know.' I tell him quickly before I spot the trap he set for me. F*ck!

‘With that name, I bet he was awful.' Damian tells me, taunting me to get more. He wasn't, he was an awesome lover. But I'm not going to elaborate, I see Dad's expression pretty clearly. It's the one saying 'I'll murder anybody who touches my daughter'.