Rejection on the Full Moon

Chapter 6 - Three More Days Part 1

The ride was short-lived as I reached the forest's outskirts and saw the school building between the leaves. I reluctantly lock my bike up on a tree, the metal frame hidden by bushes away from the school as I walk the rest of the way. Around my neck are heavy-duty Bluetooth headphones blaring music.

“Hey, bitch, where do you think you’re going? I told you to do my paper." I sigh and turn to glare at Leo and his jock posse that hung out by his fancy new Jeep. Arrogance radiates from the wolves in waves causing the lesser wolves to flinch. But I had strong blood and stood my ground against them.

"I had my own paper to do, the same one you had to do since we are in the same class." I retort back with, using the tone I use for children. This answer seems to piss him off as he stalks towards me, fists swinging at my face. I smirk and duck, watching as his momentum brings him crashing into the flagpole behind me, leaving a dent in the metal and an expression of pain on Leo’s face. It is clear that he broke a bone or two as his eyes simmer with rage.

"I have class, and so do you. Blue said he would take away your toys and ground you if you failed another class. Guess what—you're failing." I say with a chuckle as I turn to head into the building, making my way to English class. I made it a habit to be early for English. My teacher has this thing about being late without a note, and if you were late, not only would you have detention, but she would make you reorganize the classroom until she was satisfied.

With a nod from her, I hand in the paper and take a seat at my usual desk in the front row. I know everyone complained that the front row is where the nerds sit, but I prefer the front row. It meant that Mrs. Marrywind rarely called on you to answer her questions. The back two rows are where the jocks sit, and they were almost always called on and rarely got an answer right.

Minutes later, the other wolves filed in, the stragglers making it just before the first bell rang. The school was called Wolf High, an elite school for werewolves. It was located in the town just outside three bordering packs on neutral territory, so all the young wolves from those packs went here. It made for a great opportunity to create allies and maintain a balance in the area since we wolves could see the strength each pack possesses. I had a few friends I could rely on at school, but none were in my pack. The lesson for today started, and Mrs. Marrywind is going over the book we just finished writing a paper on when the door opens and Leo walks in. His injured hand is wrapped up and with a bowed head, he hands a note to the teacher before taking his seat at the back. He just barely got away from detention, but I could tell Mrs. Marrywind was not happy with him.

“Someone pissed off the teach.” Kent whispers to me, causing me to stifle a laugh as Mrs. Marrywind waddles over to Leo with her hands on her plump hips and demands his paper that is due today. Kent is one of my friends from the neighbouring pack, Harvest Willow. His twin Kevin sits just behind me as we sat back to watch the spectacle unfold. Leo should have just stayed in the nurse’s office instead of coming to class and be able to avoid this humiliation.

We watched him make excuses after excuses before he ultimately ends up with detention during lunch today and for the next week afterwards. With a smirk, we return to our lesson all the while I can feel Leo staring daggers into me.

After English class, the school day goes smoothly. I was lucky to have passed all my classes in school the previous years and have my last period as a spare. Meeting my friends by the school entrance, We decide to go into town and towards the pizza shop, grabbing something to eat. Kent and Kevin retell everyone of how Leo ended in detention and wonder why his hand was bandaged when I chime in about our interactions this morning. This seems to make my friends burst into laughing. With plans to catchup later, I leave the pizza shop, return to my bike and head back to Forest Paw in order to get ready for tonight.

After a quick shower and a change of clothes. I look at myself in the mirror, satisfied having changed into a blue sundress with white heels.

“Blue is already at the shop.” Marie states as I walk into the kitchen to grab a water bottle.

“Thanks. I had a feeling he would be there already.” I answer, giving the she-wolf a hug before I leave the pack house. I hop into my father’s cherished Mustang and take the quick drive to town once again, enjoying the top down and wind rushing by me as I come to the coffee shop and parked in my usual parking spot. Blue’s Truck and – surprisingly – Leo’s Jeep are already here, so I make my way inside the shop and greet the waitress, Opal.

"Do I want to know what happened?" Blue asks as he stares down at the bandaged hand that Leo is sporting. It did not take a genius to figure out that he has a broken bone if it has taken this long to heal.

"Leo got into a fight with the flagpole at school. The flagpole won." I state in a singsong voice while taking a seat at the table, catching the death glare thrown my way by a very irritated Leo.

"Speaking of school, your English teacher called. Good work as always, Amberle. Mrs. Marrywind suggested that you take advanced classes in university if you decide to go." At that moment, Opal came and took our orders while Blue finishes praising me. I knew that the teachers always gave an update to the Alphas in the area on how their pups are doing since many are next in line to take over. Once Opal left to place our orders with the kitchen, I roll my eyes at Leo checking out her ass. Poor girl will not stand a winning chance if he decides to pursue her. There is a long pause as Blue sighs and turns to look at Leo. The look of a displeased parent who is disappointed in their child crosses his face, and I knew instantly that Leo is going to get it.

"You, on the other hand, have to get your work done and grades up. Until you do, Leo, your gaming systems, TV, and laptop are mine, as well as your car. You can have them back when you improve." Blue is in father mode, and I just sit there waiting for my deluxe hot chocolate and New York-style cheesecake with white chocolate drizzle. If only I had it now, so I would be able to enjoy it while Leo gets ripped into for being a moron.

"It’s not my fault. If Amberle did my homework like I-" Leo starts accusing me like it’s my fault he’s failing.

"You’re doing his homework?" Blue cuts in to stare at me with both shock and disappointment.

"No, I have my own to worry about. Besides, the teachers would know if he was cheating." I state proudly. At that moment, our orders arrive. I dig into the cheesecake, keeping silent as more death glares from Leo are sent my way. He is not happy that I refused to lie for him, and why should I lie? We are nothing to each other. I can tell that Leo wants to tear me apart for being, in his eyes, disrespectful to him just because he’s the future Alpha of this pack. Too bad Blue will have his hide if Leo tries to do anything.

"So, now your bank cards are mine, and you're grounded for three months." Blue is holding back his anger as he takes a sip of his coffee, knowing full well he cannot show his strength in this café, with too many humans around. I can’t help but roll my eyes as Leo tries to persuade his father that he needs his car to go to school—Blue would drive him. He needed his bank cards to buy clothes—Blue retorted that he would be stuck at home and would not have anywhere to go with said new clothes. He would not be able to go to his friends’ houses to study—which Blue said he has a perfectly good study at the pack house Leo could use and that wolves from our pack could come to the pack house to study.

This is why everyone thinks I will be the next Alpha because Leo found a way to disappoint Blue as heir to the pack at every turn. Once Leo finally stopped trying to appeal his punishment - and failed miserably at that - he sits there pouting and staring out the window like a child. Blue turns to me.

“So, what project do we have this weekend, Amber?” He asks as I finish my cheesecake.

“We have to read half a book and write a report on the first half due Monday and have the report for the next half of the book due next Friday.” I answer, taking a sip of my hot chocolate and rolling my eyes at yet another glare from Leo. I was starting to wonder if glaring silently was his favourite hobby.

"Good, both of you can read in my study tonight. Which book is it?" Blue asks, staring at Leo, who shrugs and turns away.

"Leo doesn’t know it because he spent the first half of class getting his hand wrapped up from losing to the flagpole. It’s Pet Cemetery by Stephen King. I told her I had that book and read it already. She just smiled at me." Blue laughs at my response as I steal a cookie from Leo’s plate. He isn’t eating it, so why should I let it go to waste.

"I would like both of you to be in my study tomorrow so that you can read the book, and I can make sure Leo is doing homework. I also want to know how Leo lost against a flagpole." Blue states, looking once again at the bandaged hand his son sports.

"But I have plans this weekend." Leo whines, glaring at his father. His plans is the football game tomorrow night that he would be participating in.

"No buts, Leo. I told your coach to bench you until your grades are up." Blue states, unleashing the bombshell as a look of shock crosses Leo’s face. I need more treats while I watch this drama unfold.

"You can't do that." He growls out with frustration, and I roll my eyes. It is just a stupid football game. It’s not like it was the end of the world. But knowing Leo, he would continue his melodrama at playing the victim and having to miss his football games. He would probably find a way to blame me even though it is his fault—stupid jocks.

You see, Leo is our star player. He scored most of the goals and brought our team to the championships three years in a row. With him benched, it meant the other football Neanderthals have a chance to outshine him now. I can just imagine the look of despair as Leo sits on the sidelines, unable to do anything while his so-called friends steal his limelight.

"As your Alpha and father, I can. Being your father is my job, and that means doing that which will prepare you as my heir." Blue retorts with, letting out a low growl that shushes Leo. He has been defeated and he knows it. Leo stays silent the rest of the day while Blue asks me about art club and garden society. The only benefit to Leo in all of this is that his father considers him as his Heir still. We leave shortly after, Leo taking a ride with his father because Blue had the pack's mechanic tow the Jeep away.

After arriving home, we spent the rest of the night and all weekend in Blue’s study. You can see the reluctance on Leo’s face as he is forced to read Pet Cemetery. My paper for the first half is already done by Sunday morning. Blue went over the tracking route with me while also helping Leo with his homework. I know that Blue had a soft spot for the idiot he calls a son, but I can’t help the envy that lingered in my heart. I wished I had my father with me helping me along.

“You ready for tomorrow, Amberle?” Blue asks as I continue to read over the routes. Tomorrow is Monday, and I will be turning eighteen.

“Not really.” I mumble, letting my hair down from the usual messy bun.

“Why not? Don’t you want your mate so he can take you away from my pack?” Leo retorts back tauntingly. Today he seems more agitated than usual, and it is starting to annoy me.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’ll find my mate. It may be my birthday, but I just want my own house.” I shrug, turning away from his glare as Blue sighs and directs his son to focus on his paper. I continue to look at the routes and report before stretching. Finally, I say good night to the two of them and head out for a run. I’m worried about tomorrow if I had to be honest with myself. The possibility of finding my mate had my heart beating with excitement, but if I told Leo that he would ridicule me.

With my limbs stretched out and mind clear, I head back to the pack house and into my room. I have been slowly packing everything inside it until only a few clothing items, and my bed remained. I’m planning on moving within the next few days into a nice house I found close to the pack border last night when Blue and I were discussing me moving out. With a smile, I set aside the outfit I wanted to wear tomorrow for my birthday and climb into bed. Tomorrow, I will be eighteen, and I have a feeling something big is going to happen.