The Reject: Chapter One

Why do you do this to me?

Why do you do this so easily?

You make it hard to smile because

You make it hard to breathe

Why do you do this to me? ~ Why - Secondhand Serenade

I woke up hearing a fight outside. I walked to my window with my bones making that cracking sound. Our soon-to-be Alpha Noah and our soon-to-be Beta Jaden were fighting in wolf form. They were just kidding around, nothing serious. I looked out in the sky and dreaded today.

Today was our last day of school. Yes, I hate the last day of school because that would mean more work for me. I'm gonna have to clean bathrooms, cook food, do homework and many other things for the pack.

Our pack is a huge one. We have 320 wolves and three pack houses. The Teenagers live in this pack house. The adults in the other one with their younger ones and the other one, well I don't know why that one is there. It's the biggest one, too. It can hold 600 wolves, no kidding.

The teenagers bully me because I haven't shifted yet. Yes, what a nice reason to bully someone. When they already have the stress of not shifting, add more stress by making them do your dirty work. My pack is amazing. No one knows this but I'm planning on becoming a rogue.

The adults can't help me much even if they take me to live with them. The bullying will continue or worsen in school. My bags, or bag is already packed. Today's our Alpha's eighteenth birthday and he finds his mate today.

I'm gonna go before 8 PM, when the Mate Finding ceremony is gonna take place. I'm not gonna go there and since everyone is gonna be there, it's easier for me to get out of here. No one will even think that I was ever gonna leave them. I'm gonna miss Mama Ebony though.

She's the only one who kept me sane. She's around sixty but has the heart of a toddler. I love her to death but I couldn't tell her that I'm being bullied. It'll break her if she finds out what I have to go through and I can't do that to her. So, she doesn't know that I'm running away. I've written a note especially for her with many paintings and sketches attached to it. I love to draw and she knows it. She's always asking me to make some for her to decorate her house so I did.

I felt something on the back of my hand and saw that it was wet. I sniffed. I'm crying again.

"Get a hold of yourself! You're gonna be free today. Don't cry in the morning! Please?" My wolf begged me.

I wiped my tears and went to freshen up after a last glance out my window.

In School

I walked to my locker while many shoved me. Finally reaching it I opened it and removed my assignment for English along with three other copies of it for the players in the basketball team. Someone shoved me and yelled in my ear "Where's my homework, freak?" I winced and gave it to Sid. He grinned at me before pushing me so I fell on my butt.

"That's a nice way to say thanks." I said under my breath.

"What's that?" He said while looking at the papers.

I pretended to be confused. "What's what?" I whispered. I'm not allowed to talk loudly. It's crazy, I know.

He looked at me before muttering "Nothing."

I got up and dusted my pants before grabbing my bag and walking to English. Thank God that it's the soon to be Alpha's birthday, no one is paying much attention to me. I walked into class and went to the front seat. Everyone usually sits at the back because well, they can probably talk back there. Our teacher's a human so she can't hear them if they talk low enough.

I smiled at Mrs. Gilberg. She smiled back at me. She's one of the nicest teachers and my favorite. The other teacher I absolutely love (not like that) is Mr. Stevenson. He's Mama Ebony's son. He's not married and I go to him during lunch so that I won't get teased. He's twenty six. He's always making jokes and making me laugh.

I guess you can say he's my only friend. He's a werewolf too. His mate rejected him and I have no idea why or how 'cause he was sweet and all the girls called him "Hot". He knows everything about me. I call him by his first name, Evan. He even knows about the bullying. He always tells me that he'll do something but I stop him. I don't know why though.

Maybe it's because I think that one day this will stop and they will like me. The girls will take me shopping with them, I'll go to sleepovers and parties and I'll find a brotherly boy who will love me like a sister, protect me and will be my shoulder to cry on if a boy breaks my heart. Because I'm sure my mate will reject me. I have Evan for a brother but if anyone finds out they'll think that I'm "with" the teacher. But that's crazy, right?

No one will ever love me. Everyone says that I'm ugly and useless. I haven't even shifted and I'm a freak. I'm a nerd because I love reading. But I love reading books because they always have a happy ending. Who doesn't love happy endings? I do because I hope that one day, I will find my Knight in Blue Jeans who will take me away in a shining black Limousine. I can at least dream, right? Or is that against the Rulebook for The Bullied?

I shake my head out of my daydreams as the bell rings. I get my books from my locker and go to my next class thinking about I'm about to do today. How will I survive if I haven't even shifted yet? Will another pack take me in? Why would they? I'm an ugly and useless freak. I look at the board and take down notes. I can't have second thoughts now. It's too late.

After School

I run back to the pack house. I was excited but scared. I was gonna be leaving my motherly Mama Ebony and my brotherly Evan. I had hugged him today before leaving school. He asked me why and I told him I just felt like it. He would never let me go if I told him I was running away. After reaching the pack house I make it to my room without getting any orders. I sigh once inside. I have to do the final touches in the gift I made Mama Ebony. The very last painting needs a little bit more of color.

I finish adding the color and look at my masterpiece. I could feel my eyes tearing up and a slight trace of a smile was on my face. I sighed before keeping it in the box Mama Ebony gave me for my fifteenth birthday. I'm sixteen. The other paintings and sketches were also in it, along with the letter. I let out a sob before re-reading the other letter I made for Evan. I had made paintings for him too.

No second thoughts.

My wolf was being awfully quite today. Usually she's very jumpy and talkative. The way I want to be. I could feel she was sad.

"You okay?" I asked her. She hummed. It's kinda funny how our wolves can communicate with us.

I could hear the music downstairs. It's eight already? I'm gonna be late! I hurriedly kept everything in its place and ran downstairs. I need to eat before I go. The place was already crowded with werewolves. No humans allowed.

I walked towards the drinks as the food will be served a bit later. No one was paying attention to me because they were too busy dancing. Not many were at the drinks area because no alcohol was being served. The adults were here, too. Also another pack.

"Can I have a Mango Milkshake, please?" I asked with a smile to the person serving drinks.

She saw me and snorted "Why should I serve you? Serve yourself, freak!"

I frowned. That hurt.

I just sagged my shoulders as I asked her for a bottle of water instead and she tossed it to me. As I caught it, I didn't realize that it was open so..... I was drenched in water. I could hear people laughing behind me. I ran to the stairs.

Forget about food, I thought to myself, I can't take it anymore!

I could feel a sob coming up as I pushed through the people. As I pushed someone else I gasped as I felt a spark. My wolf immediately became happy and screamed MATE!

I turned around and saw none other than Noah, our Alpha. My mood immediately became angry and frustrated. I was angry with the Moon Goddess. Why did she have to do this? I was rejected by my pack and now my mate will reject me. I sobbed as I ran upstairs. Thank God that he didn't see me. The place was too crowded.

I took my bag and took a last glance at my room before running downstairs and out the back door where fortunately no one was there.

I took a deep breath and tightened my grip on the straps of the bag on my shoulder which contained a few clothes, food and water along with my phone. I turned around and looked at the house. My back was to the forest. I could see Mama Ebony talking to some people. She looked so happy. My face crumpled as I thought about what I was doing to her.

I could also see Evan with his friends. I sobbed once. Then twice. The music suddenly stopped and I could hear someone knocking on the mike. I was in the backyard and everyone was in the front so I could obviously not see the stage set up for today. Mama Ebony and Evan were in the side of the lawn so I could see them. I could hear the voice talking on the mike through the speakers.

Someone was breathing hard on the mike. I frowned in confusion.

"I... I found my mate! She's here!" I heard Noah speaking. Many gasped and clapped.

"But I don't know who she is! I felt her but she... she ran away!" This time, more people gasped.

"Does anyone have any idea who she is? She was running upstairs but no one was there!" I took a few small steps forward to be able to hear more.

"Jessica was running upstairs!" I heard someone say in the background. I jumped as the guy said my name.

"She can't be your mate!" Someone with a nasal voice yelled in the background.

"Where is she?" I heard Noah call out.

"She's not here!" Some guy said after a minute.

"She's probably in her room!" I took a deep breath as Mama Ebony said that. I wanted to cry again.

"Let's check her room!" Some girl said. I should go now. They will be able to see me from my bedroom window.

I ran back into the forest after a last glance. My heart was beating loudly. I hoped that no one heard me.

Third Person View

Mama Ebony's and Evan's faces showed worry as they made their way upstairs with others to Jessie's room. Where could she be? They both thought.

"Where is her room?" Someone said. They don't know her room? Mama Ebony thought.

"I'll show you!" she said as she pushed through the people and guided them to her room. She opened the door and called out Jessica's name. She stepped in as she realized that the room was empty. She scanned the room again. She noticed the box she gave Jessie for her fifteenth birthday and walked towards it. She noticed a note on it that read "To Mama Ebony"

"Is she here?" She heard her son Evan ask but she didn't pay any attention as she opened the box. Inside it, she found a paper with words written by Jessie. She picked it up and noticed the paintings under it. She smiled as she read the paper aloud with habit.

Dear Mama Ebony,

I love you with all of my heart. Thank you for caring for me and being my mother when my real parents were killed in an accident. You and Evan are the best things that ever happened in my life. Thank you for everything. The hugs, kisses, gifts and smiles. I couldn't ask for anything better. I'm really sorry. I'm sorry that I can't be with you any longer. I'm running away. Evan knows why. I couldn't tell you because you would be broken. Not everyone treats me like you do. I don't blame them though. I'm ugly and a freak. I haven't even shifted yet. So I'm leaving. No one other than you and Evan want me here anyway. I don't have any other friends. Please don't blame Evan for not telling you this. I made him promise me so he won't tell you. I've been planning this for some time. Please forgive me, Mama Ebony. I love you.

Your daughter, Jessie.

Mama Ebony saw a smudge of ink where she knew a tear of her lovely daughter Jessie had dried up. She started to sob. Her Jessie was not there anymore. She heard many people gasp. They had been hearing her read Jessie's letter. She took the paintings and looked through them. They were in the drawing book she had gotten Jessie for her fourteenth birthday. She continued sobbing as she felt an arm go around her shoulder.

She knew that it was Evan. She leaned a little on him and saw the paintings and sketches. The first one was a wolf. The most beautiful wolf she had ever seen. It was completely white and was standing with pride. She remembered the time she told Jessie the story of the White Wolf. It was very rare and was a late bloomer. It is one of the strongest and has Royal Blood. It is kind, thoughtful, smart and beautiful but it was also a warrior. A pack is lucky to have a White Wolf.

She turned to the next page to see a lake. Not any lake, it was the lake she took Jessie to for her sixteenth birthday. It was the most beautiful thing Jessie had ever seen. Mama Ebony told her that nothing was more beautiful than Jessie. She remembered the twinkle in her eye as her happiness showed through her face. A tear slipped down her face as she thought of it and a slight smile settled on her lips.

She turned it to see a sketch of Mama Ebony and Evan. Evan had his arm around his mother's shoulder and was grinning while Mama Ebony looked beautiful with her smile. She couldn't stop the sob as it made its way out her mouth. She felt Evan sob too as he hugged her tighter. She remembered this day. Jessie didn't let them move an inch but it thankfully lasted for around five minutes. Jessie had a real talent. And a photographic memory. Mama Ebony let out a light laugh which sounded more like a cough.

She turned the page. She would have fallen if it wasn't for Evan who was still holding her. It was a color painting of Jessie, Evan and herself. The three were laughing about something. She sobbed loudly, not being able to help herself and slid to the ground along with Evan who was hugging her.

The others, along with the Alpha and his mate were giving them looks of pity while the teenagers had guilt written on their faces. Some even had tears in their eyes, along with Noah.

"I hope you are happy now." Evan said, his voice breaking. There were tears streaming down his face. Mama Ebony continued to cry.