Rejection on the Full Moon (Rejection Series) Chapter 38

"What Amberle does, doesn't concern you." Power radiates off of Dominic, who pulls me closer to his chest, his arms wrapping protectively around me as he growls menacingly at Mia. I see the fear in her eyes while I allow my own glare to dig into her. I had no reason to fear this pack whore, even if she is "supposed" to be my sister. Before Mia could retaliate, three young pups brush past her, causing Mia to fall into the lap of some drunk wolf, who promptly carries her away.

"Why do you look like Nana? Daddy has a picture of her, and Papa and you look like Nana, but you have fire hair." My eyes focus on a little girl who looks about five years old. Her big doe-brown eyes stare up at me while the two younger wolves that look to be about two wait on either side of her. With how similar they all look, it takes me only a moment to figure out that the two little ones are twins, and that the five-year-old is their older sister. I smile at the three pups, and Dominic scoots over to allow the three to join us on our lounge chair while I offer them a roasted marshmallow each. After looking at the little girl for a few more minutes, I realize why these pups seem familiar to me, they are Zack and Abby's children.

"Are you Aunty Amber?" The little girl asks, her lips holding remnants of the sticky marshmallow.

"Daddy says that Aunty Amber left because Aunty Mia made him treat her bad. He said one day we might meet her." I smile at the little girl who has Zack's eyes and nose as she stares back at me, her doe eyes holding curiosity and hope. I remembered the last time I saw her. It was three days before my eighteenth birthday, and I was leaving for school. Zack had refused to let me watch her grow up or be in her life, and for three years I never had the chance of being an aunt to her. But I knew this little girl's name.

"Yes, Lilly-Ann, I am Aunty Amber," I answer, smiling happily at the three pups. I know pups have a hard time telling a lie, and if Lilly-Ann's words were any indication, Zack regretted the way he treated me. I smile with how accepting the three pups are of me, the twins sharing their names as Maxwell and Mathew before asking excitedly about my wolf form and if it's true that I look like living fire. When I mention the fact that Dominic's wolf is like living ice, the excitement of all three pups grows. They start begging for us to shift so that they could play with our fur.

"Hey, punks. Your mother is looking for you, since it's bedtime now." Zack's voice rings clear as his figure soon appears before all of us.

"But dad, we want to stay with Aunty Amber!" Maxwell protests, his words slightly muffled by the big yawn he tries to fight. I smile at the toddler, pulling him close for a hug before giving Lilly-Ann and Mathew a hug as well.

"Your Aunt will be here for a few weeks, so you can play with her during her stay." The fatherly love is evident in Zack's voice as his eyes soften at the sleepy children who comply with their father's words. They toddle over towards their mother who, with the help of Blue, carries the twins and Lilly-Ann away from the bonfire.

Being left in the chair with Zack in front of me, unease grows inside me, causing my stomach to ache slightly. Sensing my discomfort, Dominic pulls me closer, letting out a low warning growl to Zack, who steps back and raises his hands in surrender.

"I won't harm Amberle, I just want to apologize." He states, his eyes going from Dominic who holds me protectively, to me as his gaze holds a pleading look. I see the exhaustion in his eyes as a flicker of hope flashes behind his doe-brown eyes. I could sense all fight and disgust for me gone, leaving a lonely shell before me.

"What makes you think I will accept it?" I ask, my words sharp as a knife, making my so-called brother flinches. I spent seven years in hell because he listened to Mia and abandoned me. He promised to take care of what was left of our family, but instead threw me to the curb like I was trash.

"I was an idiot, and I don't expect you to accept me ever again. I let Mia and the others hurt you and was the worst big brother ever." Zack answers, running his hand through his messy hair as he plops down in a chair next to Dominic and me. I wait for Zack to continue, watching his eyes stare off into the bonfire before us. He heaves a long sigh and his shoulders fall.

"Abby and I want our kids to grow up with an Aunt who actually cares for our pups. We're tired of Mia and don't want the pups to grow up around that bitch."

"Excuse me? Who are you calling a bitch?" Zack bolts from his seat, standing between Mia and Dominic and I, his gaze turning into a glare of hatred. Speak of the devil, and she shall come.

"You, of course. You and Leo are the reason this pack went downhill, all because you would rather have the Trackers chase you so you can be fucked like a bitch in heat. If it weren't for Blue keeping track of how much is spent, this pack would be broke with how Leo likes to flaunt the pack's cash. Do you understand how in debt this place is?" The once-close siblings who made my life hell for seven years now square off. The tension hangs so thick in the air that silence soon settles in the clearing. Forest Paw and Blood Moon wolves all stop to stare at the two who continue to argue. If looks could kill, my siblings would have killed each other by now.