Rejection on the Full Moon

Chapter 29 - Allies Turned Enemies

I groan as I snuggle into the warm bed, my body exhausted from everything that has happened over the past few days. I wanted to keep sleeping, my body ready to doze back asleep again, when I notice that Dominic is missing. I jolt upright, but I soon realize that that was a bad idea as my head spins and my stomach churns. I reach for the trash can beside the nightstand and throw up whatever food remains in my body from last night’s dinner.

With my stomach now empty, I sit in bed, brows knitted together. This is the first time after a battle where I’ve been extremely sore, exhausted, and feeling sick in the morning. And then it hits me—morning sickness. I start counting how many days it’s been since my heat ended, realizing I should have had my period by now. A smile spreads on my face as my hands caress my stomach. I have a one hundred percent feeling that inside me is mine and Dominic’s pup. Turning to look at Dominic's side of the bed, I find a note and pick it up, reading his messy handwriting.

Gone to get things in order for our trip home. I packed our bags and left out an outfit for you on a chair, I will be up around 12:30 if you haven't woken up by then.

Love Ice.

I kiss the note and fold it gently, getting up and putting it in my purse so that I can put it in a memory box I kept at my house. I guess now it would be mine and Dom's house when we get back. I grab the clothes that Dominic had set aside for me, smiling at the shirt I had gotten from him the first time I trained our wolves, and quickly dress. My stomach protests the need for food, and I make my way down to the dining hall. Scarlet meets me in line for the buffet.

“How are you feeling?” She asks with a smile.

“Tired, you?” I answer while filing my plate with everything that appeals to me. Scarlet whistles, seeing the mountain of food that I carry to a table close by.

“Hungry?” The she-wolf chuckles, motioning to the plate I am now devouring like I will never see food again. I blush and nod, taking a sip from the large glass of orange juice. I bring up the idea of sending her some files I have of old training programs I created for Blood Moon. I want to give this new Head Tracker of Forest Paw a fighting chance in keeping her position and making this pack stronger once I leave. The excitement in her face is all the answer I need as we finish our meal and head upstairs.

She promises to meet me in my room, where I promptly take a seat on the bed, laptop booted up and ready to go. The sounds of construction vehicles can be heard even on the top floor, causing a headache to form. Last night, after the battle, a crew began to clean up the bloody snow, using these trucks to also scoop up and haul away the snow that piled high in front of the pack house doors.

“Okay, I’m ready to learn.” Scarlet’s enthusiastic voice brings my attention to the short-haired energetic wolf, who rushes into the room and plops onto my bed, firing up her own laptop. I’m glad to have already logged into my email, finding the old files from last year with the training I started Blood Moon on and quickly emailing them. The two of us go through each training regiment as Scarlet scribbles down notes in a journal while asking questions. Part of me wishes I could bring her with us to Blood Moon, wanting to have her gain more experience before being thrown into the job, but I am already taking Zack, Axel and their families with me. Forest Paw would suffer if I took Scarlet as well.

Scarlet is a diligent student; I found it easy to teach her as she has an attitude that if you’re willing to teach, she is willing to learn. My respect grows for her with each second that ticks by.

"You’re leaving today, aren’t you?” It’s more of a statement than a question and I turn to look at the sad expression on Scarlet’s face, giving her a nod.

“Yeah. Our job here is done, and I miss my home. You have my email and phone number, so if you need help or have any questions you can always reach out to me.” I see the young she-wolf nod with tears in her eyes, as she scoots over and gives me a hug. It must have been hard on her the first time I left, but now we can stay in contact and I can always reach out an invitation for her to come to Blood Moon if need be.

“I’m going to miss you.” Scarlet admits, making me smile as I hug her back.

“I’ll miss you too.” I whisper back. My stomach decides to grumble, breaking the sad atmosphere and causing both of us to laugh. We decide that this is enough training for now and make our way downstairs to grab lunch. Scarlet brought along her laptop, wanting to find a quiet corner to review the files I sent her while she eats, and bids me goodbye as we reach the dining room. I sigh, watching the she-wolf join her friends, when I feel strong arms around me. Dominic’s scent fills my nose.

“I’m ready to go home.” I whisper, leaning into him and turning my face to nuzzle his neck.

"That’s good, so am I. It’s a good thing the roads were cleared last night so we can leave now that training is done and the Soulless threat is gone." He whispers back, kissing my forehead. My mate takes my hand, leading me towards the buffet, where I once again load up a plate and grab a large glass of orange juice. We then find an empty table in the corner, where Miles, Christian, Lease, and Concra join us soon after. Dominic and I make sure that they, along with everyone else in the pack, are ready to leave. Lease informs me that Zack and Axel are ready and packed, and just waiting for Blood Moon to say when.

We start discussing what we’ll do when we get home, Concra mentioning she’s already planning her vacation with Miles. Apparently, she had a hard time fighting the Soulless yesterday because Miles kept protecting her, almost losing his life when a wolf tried to sneak attack him. If it weren’t for the pregnant Concra using her gun and aiming a well-placed bullet to the Soulless’ head, Miles would be dead before meeting his unborn pup.

“What are you going to do when you get home, Amberle?" Concra asks. I smile, knowing the two things that will need to be done right away.

“Having Dominic move in with me and getting him to help me build a nursery for our pup.” I state, putting a hand over my flat stomach as I sip on my orange juice. The table falls silent, with each and every one of my friends gawking at me with this news bomb I just dropped. I turn to look at Dominic, who has surprise—and shock—on his face, causing me to giggle.

"Um... I... How, well, I know how... But..." Dominic stutters incoherently, his eyes going from my face to my stomach and back to my face. I giggle again, placing the now empty glass on the table and lean forward to kiss his cheek.

"I just know." I say, turning back to continue eating, only to notice my plate is empty. I frown, and Dominic volunteers to grab me more food and another glass of orange juice. I’m left with my friends who have yet to move or say a word.

“Shit, when I said create Alpha pups for the pack, I didn’t mean right away!” Lease shouts, breaking the silence at the table. Bill starts laughing and shakes his head at his mate just as Dominic returns with my food.

“In my defence, I was most likely in heat when this happened. I should have gotten my period a few days ago, and clearly, it’s a no-show.” I raise my hands in surrender before the temptation of food becomes my focus and I go back to eating. After my third plate, the twins stare at me and I glare at them, feeling annoyed.

"You’re definitely pregnant by the way you’re eating. That’s one extra than normal." Lease states, impressed by my scarfing down much more food than usual. Concra slaps the back of her head and gives me an apologetic look before her and Miles excuse themselves to load their car. I roll my eyes at Lease, telling her to get her things together.

[Zack, tell Axel to get ready, we’re leaving soon.] I link my brother as Dominic and I head up the stairs. I can feel the excitement emanating from my mate as we talk about names for our unborn pup. He wants to at least include his mother’s name in there somewhere, something I happily agreed to as long as my mother’s name is used as well. We are so close to leaving, excitement in being home and curled in my own bed tonight being the one thing on my mind.

“Fire, put that down. I don’t want you carrying any suitcases.” I roll my eyes at Dominic, already knowing his instincts are kicking in with the need to protect me in my pregnant state. Instead of arguing, I humour him and allow Dominic to call an Omega from Forest Paw to help carry the luggage to my Mustang and the two of them leave, with Dominic making me promise to relax and not lift anything heavy.

Deciding to double-check the room for any of our belongings, I go through all the drawers in the dressers and check the bathroom, satisfied in knowing that Dominic was thorough when packing this morning. I just left the bathroom after sending a text to Avery letting her know we were leaving soon, when strong arms grab me from either side, slamming me into the dresser where the edge digs into my stomach. A sharp pain follows immediately after impact, and fear fills me for the safety of my unborn child, having me fighting to free myself from the grip. The stench of moonshine is strong on these wolves. Footsteps from behind me alert me to a third attacker.

“Amberle, Amberle, Amberle. Who said you can leave?” Leo’s voice echoes around the room, his hand playing with my red hair. I can tell something is different with him, the scent of moonshine even stronger. A bottle is placed in front of my face on the dresser before me, Leo leaning over to look at me, his breath reeking of the liquor. Moonshine, a liquor originally made by werewolves, is the only thing that can properly intoxicate us. It also acts as an enhancer like steroids, giving the drinker a boost in strength, leading to the predicament I’m in now.

“I think it’s time I properly mate you. My pack needs a strong Luna, and you’re my mate.” His hands roam from my hair down my back where they stop at my butt, groping the skin and sending shivers of disgust through me. My guard against these wolves rises as I kick out behind me, happy when my foot connects between Leo’s legs, and he staggers backwards.

[Help me!] I call out through the pack link, missing what Christian is about to say as a punch to the back of my head forcefully disconnects me from everyone. My mind becomes hazy as I see stars. “

Fucking bitch, you need to learn your place.” Leo growls, grabbing a fist full of my hair as he slowly presses against me, the bulge I feel on my thigh indicating what’s to come if help doesn’t reach me soon. My head hurts, and nausea threatens to bring up all the food I had eaten just an hour ago. I had to stall for time, so deciding to try and free myself, I kick out my legs again but missing the mark. I try another tactic, turning my head to try and bite at the two holding me down. Leo yanks on my hair, forcing my head back as his accomplices laugh at my pain, all three of them ignorant to the mate mark on my neck.

“Now, be good, Amberle. I promise you’ll be fine.” Leo growls, his free hand groping my butt once again. I keep my face neutral, tucking away the fear that wants to pour out of me in waves. His hands release their hold, only to move around and grope my breasts. Out of everything this coward has done to me growing up, this is the first time he’s laid his hands on me like this.

“Get your hands off my mate!” A feral growl comes after Dominic’s demand, then came the sounds of wolves running into the room. Leo is soon yanked off of me, as Bill and Miles tackle the goons that hold me down. Christian catches me just in time before I could hit my head off of the corner of the dresser, making sure that I am okay and protecting me from any other attacker.

The sound of fists hitting flesh alerts me to the beating the three wolves are receiving. Axel and Zack rush in, their focus not on the three Forest Paw wolves, but on me. Zack reaches out to touch my head, causing me to wince away as my vision blurs. Rage is seeping off of my brother, and his hand reaches for a device that I never noticed was beside him and he brings to his lips.

“Everyone over the age of sixteen, outside now!” His voice fills the pack house as Christian lifts me into his arms, and Axel and Zack help my pack bring the three wolves attempting to rape me down the stairs and out to the front of the pack house where a crowd begins to gather. Blue and the Elders are in front, sending a questioning look my way as Christian and I exit first, then Axel and Zack, who help Bill and Miles drag the two goons of Leo’s out, followed by Dominic, whose hand grasps Leo by the hair, the latter begging for mercy before being thrown to the cold, snow-covered ground. He tries to move, to run away and hide by his father, but Dominic lets out such a powerful and feral growl that Leo freezes in his spot, curling in on himself in fear. Satisfied that he wont run away, Dominic turns and begins to address the crowd.

“As you all know by now, Amberle was once fated to be the mate of Leo. But he rejected her over two and a half years ago.” Dominic begins, his eyes scanning the crowd and waiting for their whispers to settle down.

“A few days before the blizzard, that mate bond finally broke, and we realized that Amberle and I are fated to be each other’s second-chance mate.” He continues, growling when Leo tries to defend himself and shutting that sorry excuse of an Alpha up.

“Today, while my pack - the pack Leo requested help from - was getting ready to leave, Leo and these pathetic Hunters enter the room Amberle and I share. the Hunters held my mate down while your so-called Alpha tried to rape her, even though she’s pregnant with my pup and vulnerable!” Gasps follow after Dominic finishes, and soon the pack doctor and Blue rush to my side fussing over me. I answer their questions as best as I can while the doctor shines a light into my eyes, quickly confirming that I have a concussion and will have to be monitored over the next few days. He then sniffs my blood that has seeped out of the wound on my head, confirming that the scent of pregnancy is mixed into it with his delicate sense of smell and reassuring me that the baby will be fine as long as I rest for the res of the first trimester.

“Due to the law, Leo, Alpha of Forest Paw, and his two accomplices will be punished as seen fit.” Dominic finished, his rage rolling over the crowd, causing everyone to step back. The law for sexually harassing and raping another wolf’s mate was a beating by said wolf's mate, with an arm of the criminal being cut off. If it’s an Alpha's mate you touched, the crime is punishable by death. If the wolf who is the victim of said assault or rape is pregnant, then the criminal will get neutered if they aren't killed.

Dominic is handed a silver whip, his eyes glowing with hatred as he unwinds the silver rope. Wolves from Forest Paw already dissatisfied with Leo help to tie him and the others to the front porch of the pack house, stepping back and allowing Dominic to administer punishment. He flicks his wrist just right to inflict damage on all three wolves. Cries of pain sound out as the whip connects with flesh, the drunken wolves soon cowering in fear, giving up on begging for forgiveness. Just when I think Dominic is going to kill them, he stops, leaving the three barely breathing while Miles takes the whip and walks away.

"I will let them live with this shame, but our alliance ends here. From now on, the Forest Paw pack is our enemy. Those of you who wish to stay will become my pack's enemy as well. If you wish to leave, we welcome new, loyal members with open arms. We leave in two hours.” My mate walks towards me, kissing my forehead and ordering Lease and Concra to guard me before heading inside. Blood is splattered along his arm from the whip he held just moments ago. Christian helps me inside as the wolves from Forest Paw still Loyal to Leo do their best to scrape the three nearly dead wolves from the cold ground after untying them from the porch. This is the last I see of Leo as my pack blocks my view of him.

My phone is handed to me, the screen cracked from earlier, and I sigh. I will have to get a new one when I return home. My friends try their best to keep me company, with Abby coming to sit with us while her pups play quietly in the living room.

“So, I’m going to be an aunt.” Abby states, sending me a playful wink as I nod, wincing when the pain from my head causes my vision to blur.

“Careful now, how about you take these?” Serena walks in just in time to hand me some Advil and a glass of water. The headache eases slightly within a few minutes, but I’m not in the mood for talking, deciding that resting on the couch is the best thing I can do as the hustle and bustle of wolves preparing to either leave, or challenge Leo for the right to become the newest Alpha fill the building. Blue surprises me when he comes to inform me that Axel and a few Omegas have helped him pack up his house, deciding to give up on Forest Paw and his son and join Blood Moon. I can see the tiredness in his eyes, the man ready to retire with Maria and live out his days peacefully.

“There’s a cottage you can move into. It’s close to Amberle’s house.” Dominic states, appearing behind Blue and smiling at my adoptive father. Blue thanks him, letting us know that he’s ready to go when we are before he and Maria leave the pack house. Dominic scoops me into his arms, a smile on his face as he plants a kiss on my sore head.

“I think it’s time to head home. I’m driving, so all you have to do is rest, okay?”

“Okay, Ice. Can we stop for food on the way home?” I ask, getting a chuckle from my mate.

“Yes, we can.” With that, everyone is given a ten-minute heads-up. Dominic has a Forest Paw member join a car with a Blood Moon member so that we all can communicate. With everyone ready to leave, we say goodbye to Forest Paw for good and make the journey home.