Rejection Denied
The Cough

Well, shit, I knew I was dead.

Light exploded around me. I was being sucked into an even brighter light. Shooting up, and up, until the smell of chocolate filled my nose, “Cay.” I whispered. The vacuum feeling stopped, and now I was looking up at the ceiling, lying flat on my back. My arms and legs were tied down, restricting my movement.

“AVIRY!” Cays voice shouted from beside me. His lips pressed against mine for a moment. He pulled up and brushed the hair from my head. “You’re back. Thank the goddess you came back.”

“Tsk, more like thank me.” Denver stood up and reached for my hands, untying a rope. “If it wasn’t for me, she’d be joining the moon goddess. You’re welcome, by the way.”

Cay growled and looked up at Denver. “Who the hell are you. You show up out of nowhere without any explanation of who you—”

“Cay.” I shook my head, “She helped. It was her voice that instructed me in the dark.” I looked up to Denver. “But how did you do it?”

Denver finished my arms, and Cay stood up to undo my legs. “I mind linked with you. I entered your mind space. And pulled you back before you went too far. Your wolf—”

Cay undid my right leg, “Tsk, mind linking doesn’t work like that. You can’t enter someone’s—”

“Are you a dire wolf?” Denver inquired. “Are you a damn expert in dire wolf communication?” Cay growled, “Down puppy.” Denver held her hand up to Cay. “You wanted to know, now I’m telling you. I’ve been in the same situation Aviry. Luckily someone was there to guide me out of it just like I helped you.”

My mate finished untying my legs, and I sat up and rotated my ankles around. “Are you saying there are more…of us?”

Denver nodded. “Dire wolves are a rarity now. Most of them are them are in hiding. I have come across a few during some missions, and they’ve taught me a lot about our kind. But we can get into that later. Now, where the hell did Nixon go? I need to speak with the alpha leaders.”

“Ha, those alpha males won’t look your way.” I rubbed the imprints on my wrist. “But with me, you’ll not only get their attention, but you’ll also get whatever you want from them.” I stood in front of Denver. “I’m going to help you since you helped me. And then I want answers.”

Denver smiled. “Ok, two women are better than one. And yes, I’m not an expert but anything I know I’ll share with you. But first, tell me, Aviry. What kind of luna will you be.”

“Tsk, Luna?” I shook my head, “They can keep that shit. I’m an alpha.”

“Nixon, what do you want us to do?” Alpha Kane was speaking from the other side of the door. “We are in the middle of a competition. We would have to go home and plan for this.”

Both Denver and I made our way to the meeting room, where Nixon gathered all the alphas. It’s time for me to make my appearance.

A chair scraped across the floor, “I’m just asking for a few warriors from each of you. I’ll find a way to pay you back.” Nixon stated. “Money, resources, my help in a fight, whatever you want.”

“I want your dire bitch, to learn her place.” Ahhhh, I see old man Don has finally reappeared. “Can you provide that?”

A tap on my shoulder pulled my attention. “Uh, are we going in?” Denver whispered.

“Shh. Patience, it wouldn’t be a dramatic entrance if we just walked in without interrupting someone.” I continued eavesdropping on the meeting.

Nixon sighed, “Don, you know that I have no control over my champion.” You’re damn straight. “Is there anything else—”

“There is nothing else!” Cough “Auction her off, or even better give her to me! She's not worth anything the way she is. I’ll show you how to control a disrespectful, untrained dire wolf bitch—”

BOOM!

“Alpha boys!” The doors to the room burst open. I walked in to see all eight alphas gathered around the large table. Nixon smirked and shook his head. Kane rolled his eyes and drummed his fingers against the table. “Sorry, I’m late. Mental breakdowns are really inconvenient.”

Kane mumbled. “Aviry, the handle on the door will give you access to the room.”

I smiled, “Mmm, but pissing of Gandalf is much more fun!”

“Do you not hear her disrespect. Stand up for our titles! This is what happens when a woman has a taste of control.” Don snarled, Cough. I raised one brow and crossed my arms.

Don continues his rant. “Barging in on our meetings, disregarding her female duties in society. Following our command and breeding is enough for these bitches.” Cough

Denver came to stand beside me. “What era are you stuck in?”

The men in the room gasped. “Oh, hell, there’s another one.” Sam pulled his hat off and scratched his head.

Thump, thump thump.

My ears picked up on Don’s heartbeat. I cocked my head to the side and glared at the old bastard.

“And who might you be?” Alpha Kane asked.

Nixon came to stand next to Denver, “Alpha Kane, this is—”

“I can introduce myself.” Denver stepped forward. “My name is Denver Smith. I’m the leader to a hunter’s association that is allied with Nixon.” Kane shot out of his chair.

“So you’re a—”

“I’m. Not. Finished.” Denver strongly stated. “Yes, I’m a hunter. But I’m also a wolf.” She turned and gestured at me. “A dire wolf, just like Aviry.” She shrugged and turned back to Kane. “I’m not one to keep secrets; the truth is better.”

Thump, thump, thump, thump, Dons, heartbeat rose. I cracked my neck and scrunched my toes.

Alpha Orion stood with wide eyes. “Dire…Dire wolves.” He pointed at both Denver and me. “Your both—”

“Yes, I’m sure that was confirmed a few moments ago.” Don snapped. “You want my help Nixon, then step up and do the right thing. What are we going to do about this? One dire bitch was bad enough, but now there are two, and this one is a hunter. Our sworn enemy!” Cough.

“Nixon won’t do shit. We all know that.” I slowly made my way to his side of the table. “But what will you do about us, Don?” I asked. “How far would you go to get rid of us?”

Thump, thump, thump

Don turned his chair and gripped on the handles. “As far as I need to go. These men don’t have what it takes to be true alphas. Hell, Kane doesn’t deserve to be lead alpha.” Cough

“But, because of my age, these fools elected him instead of a true leader. And damn it, I let it happen. If I could, I would replace all of these boys with men.” The room rumbled with the growls of the other alphas.

“Don!” Kane shouted.

“Enough, Kane!” Don growled as he slammed his hand against the table. “As soon as this competition is over, I will take your place as lead alpha. And as for the dire bitches, I will do whatever it takes to get rid of them,” He snarled.

“Bitch try it.” Denver stepped forward, but I held my hand up to stop her. She narrowed her brows, and I winked at her.

“Mmm, so murder is an option?” I turned my head to the side.

Thump Thump Thump! I listened in as his heartbeat spiked. Don flexed his hands on the chair handles. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

He chuckled, “If I have to exterminate you to rid you from my life, then so be it.”

“Ah man, I thought you liked me. Shame on you, Alpha Don, for leading me on.” I faked a frown. “But really, come on, I know you’re a sneaky little snake. There’s no way you would do it yourself. So, who could you get to carry it out?” I thumped my finger on my chin.

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP!

“You don’t want it to fall back on you. All of these alphas would see you as a traitor. So let’s pin it on someone else. Hey, Nixon is so hell-bent on restricting visitors. So maybe you could pay off a border guard. That way you can sneak in three rogues—”

SLAM!!

Don’s chair fell back on the ground. He rushed forward and clamped down on my neck. “It’s was my mistake to rely on those incompetent scoundrels.” He spat. “I guess I’ll have to finish the job.”

Nixon growled and charged forward, but not fast enough. I grinned and gripped onto Dons shirt, pulling him towards me as I kneed his prehistoric crotch. “AHH!” Don cried out and released my neck. I stepped to the side and moved to stand behind him.

“YOU BIT—“I pulled back on Don’s hairpiece and ripped it from his scalp. “AHHH!!” I tossed it to the side as he reached up with shaky hands patting his bleeding bald spot.

“Ha! Called it!” Sam shouted.

Don’s eye’s blackened, and he released a weak roar lunging for me. I quickly spun around and extended my left leg into his torso.

CRASH!!

Don flew back into a wall. With Mia’s help, claws extend from my fingertips, and I shot my hand forward, striking the pounding flesh underneath his chest.

“AVIRY DON’T—” Nixon shouted.

Too late, Nix bitch…I squeezed down, Don gasped and looked down at my hand. “You tried to kill me.” I squeezed tighter. Blood trickled from his mouth.

“If we meet in another life, be sure to try harder.” I snatched my hand back and held his bleeding heart in front of his face until he completely slid down the wall.

The room was silent. Not a single breath exhaled or inhaled. I slowly turned and looked around the room, snarling. Nixon was on the verge of fainting. Kane was catching flies with his wide mouth. The other alphas looked on in horror as I tossed the organ on the table.

“Who the fuck else wants to try me today!” I shouted. Please, do it. I love teaching you bastards lessons. But, no one volunteered.

“Leave him there.” I walked over to the bar and ripped off a paper towel to clean my hands. And then I took a seat on a barstool.

Denver cleared her throat, and each male jumped in their seats. “We umm…can we like send help now?”

“I can send thirty men.” Jared quickly replied. He stared down at the heart and gulped. “And for the record, I have no problems with you, Aviry, or you um…Denver.”

Kane stood from his chair, “I…I will send fifty men to aid in the rescue of both Nixon’s men and your men Denver. I just pray that there still alive and well to be rescued. Also, um due to..”Kane gestured at the crushed flesh. “We..we need to replace Don with another alpha for the next event.”

Orion stood, straightening his tie. “I would like to volunteer, Kane. Just inform me of the rules, and I’ll take it from there.”

Kane nodded. “Ok, I’ll see to that, but first—” he heaved and looked off to the side. “First, I need to..” he flung again. “I need some fresh air.” He rushed toward the door, leaving us in the meeting room.

“Denver, can I talk to you for a moment.” Nixon pulled her to the side and talked in hushed voices. Alpha Jared came around the counter and sat a glass down in front of me. He poured us both a shot and threw his back.

I took my drink and leaned back against the counter.

“Well, imma head out. That was some crazy ass shit. Aviry, if you ever wanna go on a hunt, let me know.” Sam poked the flesh with a pencil. “Nixon, get your guys to preserve this for me.”

Victor scoffed, “Why would you want that?”

“Did you want it?” Sam asked as he stepped over Don’s body. “ Watcha Gonna use it for? Some wacky ass skincare routine or something, Vick?”

“Of course not.” Victor stood up. And followed behind Sam. Xavier stood, stretched his arms, and left-right after Victor. Orion came up on my right. “Do you mind if we talk?”

I took my shot, “Yes, I mind a lot.”

“Even if I have info on dire wolves?” Orion dangled his question on a hook. And, of course, I bit it. This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to finding out about myself. I looked over at Orion, “Great, grab Denver and meet me in the library in an hour.”

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