Rejection Denied
Monday

Aviry

This weekend was very amusing.

For me, at least.

But definitely not for Nix and Tanner. No, Mark made it his personal mission to kick their asses every time he saw them. And to slow their healing, he injected Bane into them, just before the assault. Some may see it as unnecessary aggression, but I see it as entertainment.

After Mark found out that I was a champion in the competition, he fired Tanner. Can he do that? I would say yes because Nix didn’t intervene. Tanner didn’t protest either. Instead, he locked himself in his office, claiming to have a shit ton of paperwork to complete.

I haven’t seen the man since.

As far as Nixon, I saw him run to the dining hall and back a few times. But he remained locked in his office.

So now, I have a former alpha training me for the upcoming event. Mark and I have been training nonstop. He has been showing me new techniques to help me overcome a wolf, even as a human. I had to admit I had fun taking down Joel. He wasn’t spared from Mark’s rage.

But life moves on, and now it’s Monday. I can rest a little since it was an “important day,” according to Nix. The pack members have been running around, preparing for the income guest—a potential Luna accompanied by a former gamma.

“Aviry, are you up?” Jamie said from the hall. She’s been talking to me way too much.

“She’s your attendant. That’s her job.” Mia said.

“Yeah,” I replied to Jamie. “Now, leave me alone.” I turned the TV volume up. I watched Teen Wolf, trying to self-educate myself while eating powdered donuts and drinking orange juice for breakfast. I didn’t want to leave my room until Mark came to get me.

KNOCK. KNOCK

“Alpha Nix wants you and the others to meet him outside. The guest will be arriving soon.” She said louder through the door.

“And why does this involve me?!” I shouted back, waiting for a reply. I heard footsteps retreating and focused on the show.

Exactly.

I watched three more episodes while eating an array of snacks. I stood from the couch to make some ramen when I heard footsteps outside my door.

KNOCK.KNOCK. KNOCK

“Aviry, let’s go. You have five minutes to get downstairs.” Mark said. “If you make it three minutes, I’ll get you a steak.”

Steak, my greatest weakness. I rarely get to eat a real one. And by real, I mean not from the dollar store freezer section. I was already dressed for the day. So, I ran to the door, swinging it open.

Mark was standing there, with his arms crossed. He was smirking and shaking his head.

“That was less than a minute. I want a steak and a brownie sundae.” I stepped to the side of him, and we walked together down the hall.

“What are we learning today, sensei,” I asked.

“Well, I want to review what we learned this weekend. I want you to take down a wolf that isn’t submissive.” I nodded and turned to walk down the stairs. Mark stopped me by grabbing my shoulder. “But first, we are going to join the pack to welcome the guest.”

“Fuck no, Mark.” I turned around to go back to my room.

He turned me back around, “Listen, we’ll stand in the back. Just stand there for five minutes. Right after, we’ll go train.” He sighed, “Just do this one thing for me, Aviry. One fucking thing, I want to be there to support me, son—”

“UGH, Mark, fine! Three minutes and then we go.” I shrugged him off and preceded down the stairs. “Three minutes that are starting now, so you better hurry.”

We walked out the front doors down the broad staircase. People were gathered in the driveway, chatting loudly, a few children were chasing each other around the green yard. I sat on the stair behind everyone—my elbow resting on my knee. Mark went down to join Cay. I was serious about my time limit, so I kept count in my head.

“BLOOD AND MOON PACK!” Nixon’s voice boomed across the front yard. “Our guests have just entered the border. Please remember that while they are here, we treat them like house members.” He looked directly at me as he spoke. “That means we treat them like our people the second they enter our home.”

I rolled my eyes and looked forward as a black car drove down the road. One-minute left.

“Ok, here they come.” Nix faced the approaching car that slowed down a few feet away. He walked to the driver’s side and leaned in, talking to someone. Mark ran up the stairs as Nix opened the back door of the driver’s side.

“Aviry, I think we should go now,” Mark said urgently

“No, I said three minutes. We have thirty seconds left.” I watched as a petite woman stepped out of the car. She was timid and kept her head down as soft blonde curls covered her face. He walked her to the side of the vehicle, and pack members slowly approached, greeting her.

Twenty seconds left.

The passenger door opened and closed. Mark stiffened and pulled on my arm. “Ok, let’s go. We’ve done our part.” I yanked my arm back, trying to get a glimpse of the second passenger, who would’ve been the gamma. But the crowd grew larger around the car.

“Aviry lets go,” Mark stated. Pushing softly on my shoulder.

“What’s his problem?” Mia asked

I shrugged Mark aside and walked to the very top stair for a better vantage point. I looked over the crowd, spotting Cay, Joel, and Tanner, all shaking hands with someone. Nixon walked over with the shy woman and stuck his hand out.

“Aviry, please, let’s go train.” Mark pleaded. Oooohh, so now he’s ready to train. Well, too bad.

Ten seconds left.

I began to give up on seeing the gamma when the crowd parted the stairs. I walked to the opening, blocking the front door. I looked down the stairs, and I couldn’t believe my own fucking eyesight.

I wickedly grinned and crossed my arms.

“BEXLEY FUCKING JENSEN!” I shouted down the stairs. The entourage stopped and looked at me, confused.

But not for long…

“AVIRY FUCKING MILLS!!” Bex roared. Everyone was quiet and looking our way now.

“Aww, you remembered my name. I can’t believe my eyes; I didn’t think I’d see you again this soon.” I snickered. I looked over him, quickly noticing the eyepatch over his right eye. “But, I guess it’s better for me to see out of my two than your one, right?”

And I angered him as I intended too.

He charged for me racing up the staircase. But I had the advantage of being at the top.

I stormed down, gaining momentum from the downward slope. When we were a few feet away, I threw myself at Bex.

SLAM!!

His back hit the stairs, and we both tumbled down. Everyone hurried out of the way as we reached the bottom. Maybe not my best idea, falling down concrete stairs. But fuck it, here we are.

Bex rolled over, standing and snarling. “You ruined my life! And now I’m going to take yours!”

I pushed myself off the ground. “Your life was over the moment you came into mines,” I said with a deadly calm. My murderous mood was taking over. Mia was seething in my mind at his threat.

He rushed forward, knocking me back on the ground. He swung his fist, and it connected with my right jaw. He landed another hit into my left jaw. But before he could get another in, I shot my head up, linking it with his nose.

He rolled off of me, his eyes growing darker. His body was shaking, his nails elongating. He fell to his hands and knees, and his shoulder was popping out of place. I was confused for a moment, but then I recognized the beginning of the shift. Bex is a fucking werewolf.

I guess I live in a world full of fucking werewolves.

“AVIRY RUN!!” I heard Cay shout. Tanner, Cay, and Nixon were pushing past the crowd.

But Mark held his hand up and nodded toward me.

That’s when I understood now’s my chance to prove my strength in front of everyone. The entire crowd was watching. Some were worried, others were amused. But all of them were about to learn that I was not to be fucked with.

“He’s cheating.” Mia seethed. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“It’s not cheating. Bex is using every weapon he has. But he’s still at a disadvantage.” I said. “He doesn’t know what we are. So, we’ll use ALL of our weapons too.”

“Are you saying… in front of everyone, Aviry?” Mia questioned. We can’t shift, but Mia can still take over; our power will increase.

“Send him to hell, Mia.” I closed my eyes, giving Mia control.

I was pushed back into our Mindspace, watching all the action. Bex was fully transformed into a large brown wolf with a dark brown eye. The other eye, the injured one, was a pale brown. Bex began circling us. I watched as Mia focused on her prey; she didn’t move. She patiently waited for his attack.

With a snarling growl, Bex pounced forward, aiming for our neck. But Mia was quicker, by stepping to the side, dodging the sharp canines. He landed, crouching behind her, snapping his powerful jaws. While turning on her right heel, she stomped her left foot into the side of his mouth.

Crack!!

His jaw was hanging at an angle. Bex shook his head rapidly, his mouth stuck in place. Mia shot forward, grappling onto his side and leaping on his back. The wolf bucked and jumped, trying to get her off. But Mia was like a flea, and here comes the bite. She bit Bex’s ear, causing him to rear up and howl.

She clung to his back and shot her left hand into his side.

SNAP!!

Mia snapped one of his ribs and pulled her left hand back. Bex fell to the ground, whimpering, and Mia pulled his wolf’s head into a headlock with her right arm. The wolf bucked and jumped, trying to break free. But Mia was ready for the kill.

“Please stop.” A soft voice said. Gently touching our arm. Mia lashed out, knocking the girl back.

“AVIRY!!” Nix’s voice roared. We were yanked away from Bex. Nixon wrapped his arms around my body, pulling me into his chest. I could feel myself relaxing, But Mia was out of control.

“Calm down! You won!” Mia was kicking and thrashing. She couldn’t be calmed; I couldn’t reach out to her for control.

“Mia, please, let’s just run. We’ll run free in the woods. Let’s get away from here.” She reared her head back hard, knocking Nix in the face. He released us, and we ran into the tree line.

We ran fast and hard.

Mia was still in control. We zipped past tree after tree. Branches whipped across our face but no pain registered. We jumped over every fallen log, landing with accuracy. I don’t know where she was going, but I trusted her. I could feel how angry she was. This was just her way of venting. Tears began to form, and that’s when I spoke.

“Mia, quite that shit. My eyes are allergic to tears.” I said.

Mia kept running. The ground became softer, and the tree line was becoming thinner. We broke free of the forest, reaching the outskirts of the lake. We slowed to a jog and stopped at the water. And that’s when she broke down.

She cried, wailing and shouting at the lake, kicking at the dirt.

“Mia, stop. Why are you—”

“We almost had him, Aviry!” Mia shouted. “We were so close, and we failed!”

“We didn’t fail, Mia. Sure, we both wanted to kill him. But we accomplished our goal. We proved that we are strong enough to take on a wolf as a human.” I encouraged Mia. “I am so proud of you and me.”

Mia whimpered, and tears kept falling down.

“But this crying shit is for the birds. So stop, or I’ll never give you control again.” I stated.

“It’s ok to show emotion sometimes,” Mia said. “We’re the only ones—”

“Aviry?” A voice said from behind us. “Aviry, are you ok?” Cay came closer and pulled me into a hug. One that I didn’t ask for. But Mia certainly didn’t pull back.

“You are so strong, Aviry. Please stop crying. To be honest, it doesn’t look good on you.” Cay held on tighter. And Mia was allowing this shit.

“Mia, pull the fuck back.”

“No, I like this. It feels good to be held.” Mia replied.

“Mia, I swear I won’t ever give you control again. Now push him away and slap him. We can still pick up our image that you are crying away.”

“No, and I guess what I’m going to do next.” Mia goaded.

“Don’t you fuc—”

“Cay, thank you so much,” Mia said to the man assaulting us.

“You bitch. Give me control now. You’re banned from using and abusing this body for now on.” I seethed.

“Aviry, you don’t have to thank me.” Cay pulled away, Finally. “I just—”

He paused, and his eyes widened. He pulled my face closer to his staring into my eyes. And that’s where I draw the goddamn line. No kissing.

“You’re eyes… they’re…glowing.” He said slowly. Mia pulled away and turned to the lake.

“How…how are you—”

“It’s the sun. It’s making my eyes—”

“You’re lying. I can hear your heart racing.” He said, grabbing my face again. Yet another action Mia is allowing. “Tell me the truth. You can tell me anything, Ave.” And here we go with the nicknames.

“It’s actually Mia.” My wolf admitted, leaning my face into Cay’s touch.

“Mia? So it’s not Aviry? What does this have to do with your eyes?” Cay interrogated.

“No, it’s Aviry. But I’m Mia. Aviry’s…well I’m her—”

“DON’T YOU DARE MIA,” I shouted. “We keep this to ourselves, remember.”

Mia sighed heavily. Her mind was telling her to listen to me, and HER heart was wanting to tell Cay. That’s why I don’t want one of those.

“Cay, Aviry, and I have been hiding something.” Mia sighed and began telling Cay everything. From beginning to end. He listened intently, never interrupting. And when she finished, he embraced us, speaking into my hair.

“I am here for you. You’re not alone anymore, neither one of you.” Cay whispered. “I’m going to be there to help you shift. I won’t let you do this alone. Until then, I’ll help you any way you need me to.”

“Thank you, Cay. Now I have to give Aviry back control.” Fucking finally. “It was nice to meet you.” Mia is the complete opposite of me at this point.

She released control, and I was face to face with Cay. He reached for me, and I pushed my hand forward. “No more of that shit.” I stepped back and crossed my arms.

“Welp, the dogs out the bag now, Cay.” I shrugged. “Keep your mouth shut, or I’ll rip it off.”

“Aviry.” Mia sighed.

Cay nodded and smiled softly. “I won’t tell anyone Ave; you can trust me.”

Oddly enough, I did want to trust Cay. I’ll see how everything goes over the next few weeks when I finally get to shift.

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