The Rejection

I glared at my parents across the breakfast table as they sang happy birthday to me in an overly joyous tune, which I didn’t care for. The last thing a twenty-year-old college student who still lived at home with her parents wanted to hear was them still singing happy birthday to her like they had every year since she was a child.

It was bad enough that I still lived under their roof but the fact they still treated me like a child made it much worse. I was itching to be independent for some time now but I just didn’t have the resources for it. Going to college didn’t leave much time for working, so with my part-time waitress job on the side, I was barely paying the bills I had now. Adding new ones just wasn't an option.

Mom and dad had been more than understanding about my situation and agreed to keep me up, as long as I needed, until I was able to move out. Neither of them was rushing me though, so I was thankful for that.

At the song's end they both stood and clapped before mom pushed the chocolate iced cake in front of my face. I stared it down grudgingly, unsure whether or not to taste it. Why did chocolate have to be my weakness?

I had been on a diet for a solid month now but had barely lost any weight. If I was able to go out for a run more frequently I’m sure I wouldn't even have to even be on this diet. Being a werewolf alone was enough to keep one in shape. You could burn a day's calories in just one run.

I’ll just be glad once all of these college courses are over and I can have more free time. My wolf really needed a good run.

Now that summer was here I’d at least have a good two months before classes started back up again at the local campus. Maybe Charlie will let me pick up a few extra shifts so I can start apartment hunting. I’m sure that by the end of summer I’ll have enough saved for first and last month’s rent.

“Oh, come on honey. It’s your birthday. One slice of cake won’t kill you,” Mom urged.

It will when I have to work it off later. Maybe after work tonight I can go for a decent run. It’s much needed.

“I suppose,” I mumbled just to make her happy. “Pass me a plate.”

Mom clapped her hands happily as dad passed out the plates. I don’t know who was more anxious to eat it, me or them.

“Don’t forget to make a wish,” she said, watching the lit candles in the middle burn.

Eh, why not? May as well humor them, right?

I closed my eyes and leaned in close while thinking what I wanted to wish for. Within a few seconds I automatically knew.

My Mate.

I opened my eyes and blew out the two and zero candle just before dad started cutting the cake. Well…someone was hungry. I thought sarcastically to myself.

I dug my fork into the chocolaty goodness that now sat in front of me. It’s not often I get chocolate for breakfast. Or at all for that matter. I May as well make the most of it.

Ah, heaven. I smiled. The creamy milk chocolate melted away in my mouth. It was perfect. Truly and utterly perfect-

“Oh honey, before I forget, there is a pack meeting taking place tonight. Alpha Daniel has requested that everyone be there. Apparently he has some news to announce.”

Well almost perfect.

What could be so darn important that they needed everyone tonight? Now I’m gonna have to switch my shift with Celeste and she is not going to be happy with that. She hates covering the weekend shift. The nights were always the worst. That’s when the diner was filled with the less desirable people.

You know the ones that were a little too touchy and the worst tippers? Well after nine pm at least. Those last three hours until the diner closed were the most dreadful though.

“Honey, you’re spacing out again. Have you been losing sleep? You remember what Dr. Peterson said-”

“I know mom,” I replied, cutting her off before she could lecture me further. “I was just thinking about the diner.”

I don’t know exactly what I said that made her smile but she had the biggest grin of all on her face at the mention of it. In fact, it slightly worried me.

“You know, that reminds me dear. Now that it’s your twentieth birthday you might meet your mate tonight.”

I raised an eyebrow to her in confusion. “What does that have to do with the diner?”

“Well when you find your mate you won’t have to work so much. You know he’ll take care of you. You might actually start to enjoy life again.”

Oh, so that’s where she was going with this.

“Mom you know good and well I don’t want a mate for that reason. I want my mate because he’ll love me unconditionally. I don’t plan on changing my life style because of him,” I stated.

“I know honey but you may find yourself doing a lot of things you thought you wouldn't normally do,” she smiled. “Mates change everything.”

I rolled my eyes at her but didn't reply. There was no sense arguing with her over it. She’ll just pull the experience card at me. After all, she had a mate and I did not.

Maybe mom’s right. Maybe that will all change tonight. Maybe he’s waiting to meet me as well.

Let’s see, who all has turned twenty since our last meeting?

Well, there was Tim, the Beta’s brother, and Zack, my cousin, who couldn't be my mate.

Hmm who else? I know there was one more.

Oh… our Alpha, Daniel.

But that was only the of age males. That didn't include the unmated ones who were of all ages.

Even though Alpha Daniel had turned twenty exactly a week before I had, I know there was not chance in hell I was his mate. I’m not Luna material. Besides I’m pretty sure he was going to announce his mating to his long time girlfriend Jasmine tonight. That seems like the only logical reason why we would be holding a mandatory meeting if it was not an emergency.

She was a good year older than him but I never heard her mention that they were mates. Perhaps they were keeping it secret until they knew for sure, and now that Daniel is twenty there is no need to wait any longer. He could confirm it.

I guess we’ll find out tonight.

My thoughts were cut off by my phone ringing giving me a bit of a fright. It always rang unnecessarily loud when it was on a hard surface and I hate that.

I groaned and picked it up from the table to see who was calling me. When the name flashed across my screen it only served to irritate me further.

What did he want? I wasn't due to work for another six hours. Something must have happened.

“Hey, Charlie,” I answered, hiding my annoyance.

“Claire, just the person I needed to talk to,” He chuckled nervously.

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

“Well, you got her.”

After a brief moment of silence he began to speak.

“I’m in need of a small favor,” he said.

“Someone bail on you again?” I asked keeping my friendly tone. After all, he was still my boss and I needed this job until after college to help keep me up.

I heard a heavy sigh on the other end of the line before he replied. “Celeste quit this morning.”

“Not another one,” I groaned.

Lately, waitresses had been quitting left and right, and now one of the senior employees had just quit as well. I suppose it didn't help that most of them were finding their mates.

I’m sure the male wolves didn't want their mates working in place like this. If they did there was sure to be a fight every night with one of the many inappropriate customers.

What was I supposed to do now? I was going to ask Celeste to cover my shift tonight. Andrea was working the lunch rush with me so that left no one for tonight.

At that thought I knew why he was calling me.

“You want me to pull a double shift today don’t you?” I asked hesitantly.

Seeing has how bad I needed the money I would have normally accepted his offer, but sadly I had to be at the pack meeting tonight. Too bad he wasn't a werewolf, so I couldn't explain the situation to him.

Was there no one else who could take my place?

“You know I hate to ask, but Rita is on vacation and Andrea is still new, so I have no one else.” He explained.

I sighed. I knew he was right but I didn't know how to help him.

“Please?” he begged.

I’d never heard him sound so desperate before.

“I’ll give you an extra two dollars on the hour for coming in on such short notice.” he quickly added.

Now he was singing my tune. How could I resist an offer like that? Do you know what an extra two dollars an hour could do to my bank account?

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll do it.”

“Oh thank you, Claire,” He said in relief. “You really saved me here. I owe you.”

“Yeah, about that. I kind of need a favor as well,” I said. “Well two actually.”

“Anything,” he said.

“First, I’d like to take on all the extra shifts this summer so I’d like to ask that you don’t hire anyone else.”

“Done,” he agreed.

“And….I need off work for a couple of hours tonight for something important,” I added.

I cringed slightly, waiting for his reply while the silence grew. I almost feared that would be a deal breaker, but I silently hoped it wasn't. I couldn't miss the pack meeting tonight. That would land me in hot water with the Alpha.

“Okay, but just two hours and I expect you back here immediately,” he said, trying to sound like a firm boss again

Oh thank goodness. I felt such relief at his cooperation.

“Thank you Charlie. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I smiled as I pulled the phone away from my ear and hung it up. Was it weird of me to be happy about this? I mean I’m getting extra hours, more money, and still able to attend the meeting tonight. That’s something to be happy about, right?

I just might get that apartment after all. And with only thirty dollars in my account right now I could definitely use the extra money.

I trudged through the bustling diner to the counter to pick up the two dinner orders for table twelve. They were growing increasingly impatient and had already asked me about their order three times. Didn't they notice we were incredibly busy tonight?

It had been going full swing since lunch today and it hadn't let up since. This was the hell you went through when working on a Saturday and with only one waitress. Well until ten minutes ago when Andrea finally showed up. I guess she was here to temporarily relieve me.

I looked up at the clock on the wall counting down the minutes until I had to leave. I could not be late.

After I sat the plates down at table that ordered them, I walked back to pick up my second order while letting out a yawn. It has only been five hours since I started the shift and I was already feeling mentally and physically exhausted.

I think I might need a five hour energy shot just to get through the rest of the day. They seem to work well for me but I hate to rely on them. The effects weren't as good once your body got used to them.

“Warren, break time,” Charlie yelled across the noisy diner and pointed to his watch. “Two hours starts now.”

I gave him a quick nod of my head and sat the plates down before I tore the apron off and tossed it aside, then made my way to the counter. After grabbing my belongings from behind it, I quickly rushed out the door in a hurry.

My car was the third one down the lot in the employee parking spaces, so it didn't me long to get inside. If I wasn't in such a hurry I might have taken the time to enjoy the summer air, but now was not the time for that. If I was even so much as five minutes late I was sure to get into heaps of trouble by the Alpha or the Elders.

As I pulled up in front of the large pack house I was silently thankful that I wasn't the last to arrive. From the looks of things it seemed parents were already here, as was most of the pack except for the few that were arriving just as I was.

I guess I drove a little faster than I thought I did. Oh well, whatever gets me here on time. I’m not complaining.

I walked through the mass of cars following behind a couple who was also heading towards the back of the house. In the evenings, weather providing, we always had outdoor meetings. However, on occasion, the alpha held them in his office.

And when I say office I mean a room the size of two or three of my bedrooms put together. I suppose it had to be rather large in size though to accommodate the size of the pack.

“Clairey!” a little girl screamed as soon as she had caught sight of me.

“Is that my little Jess Jess?” I chuckled, lifting her off the ground.

Jessica was a little girl I used to baby sit when I was in high school for extra cash. Her parents were always busy with pack duties, so they hired me to take care of her in the evenings until they were finished. That was two years ago. She was barely even walking then. Now I’m standing here looking at a very tall three year old who was still as cute as ever and whom I had missed with all my heart.

“Hello Claire,” Mrs. Thompson’s warm voice interrupted us.

I set Jess down on the ground and turned to greet her in return.

“Hey Mrs. Thompson. How are you?” I asked.

“I am well, thank you, but I believe the meeting is about to start. Would you like to sit with us?” she offered.

“I’d love to,” I replied before following her to the seats.

I sat next to Jess before she looped her arm through mine and looked towards the front. Seeing as Mr. Thompson was third in command, we had great front row seats so we weren't bothered with looking over top of people’s heads to get the view. I was grateful for that seeing as I wasn't exactly the tallest person in the pack.

“Hello. Thank you all for coming this evening. I realize this meeting was sort of last minute but I have an important announcement to make,” the sweet, melodic voice of our Alpha said.

He stood no more than ten feet in front of me looking out into the crowd of people with the most beautiful, proud, smile on his face I’d ever seen. Nothing could be more perfect. He was just so…so…wonderful. I just wanted to touch him.

Oh no. What’s wrong with me? Why am I thinking about Alpha Daniel that way? It’s not right. He had a girl friend and he was way out of my league.

“Today I’d like to announce my wedding and mating to the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met, Jasmine Marshall.”

Just then I felt my wolf about to jump out of my skin. Something had really gotten her riled up.

Mate. She whispered.

No. It can’t be. He can’t be my mate if he’s already proclaimed his love for Jasmine. I mean, he’s just announced getting married for goodness sakes.

So why was I feeling this way?

Maybe it’s just confusion. Yeah, that’s it. I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast and I’m really tired. That’s bound to mess with your head.

The sound of the crowd applauding brought me from my thoughts and my eyes drifted back up to them. They were smiling brightly and holding hands while gazing at all the pleased wolves.

It was like they were the President and First Lady.

Just as everyone got up to shake their hands I immediately began think of ways to get out of here. I didn't want to be around him if I couldn't even hold it together just by hearing his voice. What if he thinks I like him or something? I can’t. He’s Daniel, an alpha, and I’m me. We don’t even make sense.

“Did you hear? Jasmine is going to be our Luna,” Jess grinned with excitement.

I looked down at her with my best fake smile without a word then quickly turned away. If I was going to go now would be my chance.

As the pack crowded around them I took my chance and disappeared behind everyone slowly making my distance. Surely no one would notice me with all the excitement going on.

Once I was sure I wasn't in sight of anyone from the pack I started to pace a little quicker until I reached my car. I had never been so glad to see it in all my life.

As my hand stretched out the grab the handle, a voice caught me off guard, sending a wave of panic through me.

“Where are you going?” Jess’s soft voice called out. “Are you leaving?”

I quickly looked in her direction and saw the saddened look on her face staring back at me.

“Yeah. I need to get back to work,” I said, which wasn't a lie technically.

He features then became saddened. “But you didn't say goodbye.”

My heart clenched and I desperately wanted to reach out to her, but I knew I had to leave. I needed to put some distance between me and this place as soon as possible.

“Look Jess, I really have to go, but I promise I’ll come by and see you Thursday. Okay?”

That seemed to perk her up and she ran to me for a quick hug.

“You promise?” she asked with a toothy grin.

“I cross my heart,” I replied adding the X over my heart for extra effect.

“Okay,” she nodded before letting go of me.

“Now you better get back to your mom before she gets worried about you,” I said.

She then turned from me and started back in the direction I had just come from before calling back to me. “Bye Clairey.”

I smiled fondly after her until I made sure she did as I said, then immediately got into my car and left. With the windows down and the music turned up, I did my best to drown out my thoughts and forget everything that had just happened.

I’m sure tomorrow all of this would be out of my head and I could get on with living my life again. Maybe even let my wolf out as well. It’s obvious she’s having side effects from being cooped up so long. I think some fresh air will do her good.