Rejection and Second Chances

“Adelina, you have the best life I swear!” “Just because I told you my parents are taking me to Disney World this summer?” “No silly! You have the coolest parents, the coolest sister; you just have the best life ever!” Thunk! “Wake up!” I felt my body hit the ground, groaning at the dull pain in my hip. Opening my eyes, I saw Zackary Heyes standing above me with his arms crossed, a hateful expression on his face. “About time, wait until my father hears about how late you slept in.” I looked at the plain analog clock on my nightstand. 5:34 am. Crap. 4 minutes late. That earned me a beating for sure. I scrambled up, Zackary laughing at me as he walked out of my pantry sized room. I had a twin sized bed and a small closet to hang up the little amount of clothes I had. I immediately put on a pair of jeans a t-shirt, tying my old sneakers and jetting to the bathroom. I tore my brush through my hair, putting my hair in a ponytail and heading to the kitchen. “You’re late.” Were the first words I heard as I stepped through the doorway. “My sincerest apologies, Mrs. L.” I bowed to the head chef and turned towards the fridge to begin making breakfast. Whap! The stinging sensation that went through my hand registered shortly after I touched the refrigerator door. “You will do well to remember not to be late like you have in the past.” Mrs. L took her wooden spoon and began mixing her ingredients. I nodded, swallowing down the know in my throat. As soon as breakfast was finished, I grabbed my singular pancake and headed out the door to college. Outside was a crisp morning, the sun coming up above the tree line. Dawn was one of my favorite times of day, one of the only times of day I would be left alone to myself. I walked and ate my pancake, shifting my backpack and keeping my guard up. I looked up at my college entrance, making my way through the bodies of people heading to their classes. This was one of two colleges in our area, and only wolves went here. Didn’t matter the pack you came from, if you went to college, this is where you went. Humans were simply not allowed. I sat down in my first class, pulling out my pen and notebook, and began taking notes. “Hey Adelina.” I rolled my eyes as I ignored the person talking to me. “Don’t you know my dad doesn’t like when you ignore me?” “I deal with you and your dad torturing me at home, Zackary.” I said without looking up. “I don’t have to deal with it at college.” “But you do.” He said, staring me down. His green eyes sharpened. “Because if you don’t, home is worse for you.” “At this point, your home couldn’t be any worse for me.” He chuckled, but it wasn’t because he found what I said funny. “Whatever you want to believe, Adelina.” He sang as he walked away. I rolled my eyes again, but today wouldn’t be ruined for me. And neither would tomorrow. It was finally my 18th birthday. I would find my mate and get the hell out of the place I’d been stuck in for the last 10 years. I squeezed my eyes shut, not letting the images of the day my life was ruined slip through my mind. I wouldn’t think about that during this week, at least not these two days. My first three classes finished, and I was walking out the doors to go get lunch when I heard a shrill giggle behind me. My feet started moving faster, trying to carry me away from that voice before they noticed me. “Oh Adelina!” Too late. I cursed myself as I felt a hand grab my arm and wheel me to face Zackary and Megan. The “beautiful” couple of West Wind Pack. “Hi Adelina! Grab this for us since you’re going to get lunch!” Her perfectly manicured hand shoved a piece of paper towards me, but I didn’t grab it. “No thanks, I have to get my own lunch.” I said, stepping back and letting the paper fall to the ground as I started to walk away. “It wasn’t a request.” Megan grabbed my ponytail and yanked me back, causing me to fall before I could catch my balance. She grabbed the piece of paper, crumbled it into a ball, and shoved it into my mouth. The paper dried out my tongue, leaving little bits of rocks and leaves in my mouth. The worst part was, nobody cared. Everyone walked around me as Megan and Zackary walked away laughing. I sat up, taking the ball of paper and throwing it into the college grass. Screw this. I made my way to the only place I felt safe; the martial arts studio in the middle of town. “Adelina, it’s so wonderful to see you today!” A soft smile spread across my face, and I ran into my instructors arms, squeezing him so hard I thought I would crush him. “Woah there little lady, you forget how strong you’re getting! Is everything okay?” He said, patting my back. “No, and it won’t be until I can find my mate and leave.” I said quietly. He tsked at me as he patted my back. “Now Adelina.” He chided softly. “You know that’s not what makes it better. You make it better by existing and being true to yourself.” I nodded at his words. Rex was the only person I could talk to. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a wolf. But he was like a father to me so not being a wolf didn’t matter. I met Rex shortly after the worst day of my life. He saw me sitting outside his studio in the rain and took me in until Zackary’s dad found me. Zackary’s dad paid a hush price and Rex had never said a word to anyone, but I still visit him because he brings peace into my terrible life. I hung out at the studio and talked to Rex about the day until school was over, then made my way back to the pack house. As soon as I entered the door, I made my way to the kitchen. Mrs. L stared at me as I began preparing for dinner. When dinner was over, I ate my little bit of a meal and made my way to my room. “Where’d you disappear to today?” Megan said as soon as I opened my door. “I went to eat lunch and finish my classes.” I said as I dropped my backpack by my door. “Why are you sitting on my bed?” “It may be your bed but when I’m Luna, it’s going to be my packhouse.” She smiled cruelly. “I don’t care, Megan. And I never did.” She stood, crossing my small room, and smacked me so hard I saw black for a moment. “You should and you will soon.” She said as she left. I did my homework and went and took a shower after everyone else already had. As I laid down for bed that night, I prayed to Moon Goddess to finally let me know peace again after tomorrow, and thanked her for letting me escape Zackary’s hateful father today.