Rejection on the Full Moon (Rejection Series) Chapter 44

Sun filters past the thin curtains, waking me early for once without the need of an annoying alarm clock or Dominic putting ice down my shirt. I smile at my Dominic, who sleeps soundly, his muscular body in full view for me. Both of us have been without a mate for a while, Dominic longer than me, and I would be lying if I didn't say I wasn't attracted to him. My hand reaches out to push his soft locks out of his face before I place a soft kiss on his temple and quietly leave his room to head to mine. After changing into some winter workout clothes, I perform my usual morning routine and head into the kitchen, deciding to make a large meal for everyone. With it being Dominic's birthday, the occasion calls for something special with all of us being away from home.

Lease and Concra are already sitting at the kitchen island, the coffee pot filled with the strong brew which Lease hands me a mug, already prepared to my liking. Thanking her, I take a large gulp of the go-go juice and recruit the two into making the large breakfast. Within an hour, the smell of bacon, hash browns, sausages, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and homemade chocolate chip muffins fill the air of the cabin. Some brave wolves already smelled the food a while ago and decided to test their luck to steal a bite. They soon realized how impossible their quest for food was when a knife would go flying in their direction, causing them to duck and run to a supposed "safe" distance away from me. You would think they'd know better by now.

While setting out the food buffet-style and getting the plates and cutlery ready, I sense movement coming down the stairs, a large smile on my face.

"Dominic is coming. Someone, turn out the lights. Everyone else, hide." I order, pushing wolves away from the kitchen entrance as Christian rushes to turn out the light. Silence settles over us in the dark room, no one daring to move just yet and ruin the fun. Footsteps down the stairs soon come nearer, the excitement in the air building while we wait for the right moment to spring up. After much anticipation, the light flickers on, and we all jump out from our hiding spots.

"Happy twenty-sixth birthday, Dominic!" We all shout, laughing as Dominic jumps back from the noise of fifty-three people before a huge grin spreads across his face. Making his way to me, Dominic wraps me in his embrace as he looks at each and every last pack member with a happy smile.

"Thanks, everyone. And, judging by the smell, Amberle cooked, didn't she?" He laughs, pulling me closer to him.

"Yes, and so did Lease and Concra. And if the smell wasn't an indication, the knives in the wall should be." Christian laughs, patting his friend on the back and pointing to the wall beside the kitchen entrance, where a total of fifteen knives are embedded into the drywall. My pack knew I tend to throw knives and other sharp objects at them when I decide to cook, not wanting people to sneak a bite before the product is finished for everyone to try. Of course, the only exception to this would be the pups. They were the innocence of the world and needed to be protected and spoiled, in my eyes. It's why the pups could get away with anything near me.

Dominic turns to face where Christian points, his lips twitching as he fights to hold in his laughter. Forest Paw will have to have someone come in and patch everything up, but what do they expect when Marie was the one who taught me how to cook? She also tended to throw knives at people, especially at Axel and Blue.

"Fire, throwing knives at people isn't nice." Dominic fake scolds me, turning to face me with an amused smile. I just shrug and laugh, considering the biggest throwing knife target I had was him. Dominic seems to have a seventh sense when it comes to me and my cooking, always being the first one back at home to try to steal food from the kitchen long before it's ready to eat. It got to the point where he installed a large corkboard in the general direction of where I throw the knives because repairs were becoming too expensive to keep up with.

Unwrapping his arms from around me, Dominic goes to fill up two plates while I prepare coffee for the both of us. Once we were settled at the table in the dining room just outside the kitchen, the rest of the pack descends onto the food like a pack of rogues who haven't seen food in months. I shake my head, laughing at their behaviour, digging into my own meal, and enjoying the morning with everyone. It's rare for me to be able to spend a lot of time with pack members between running my store and training everyone, so being here training Forest Paw, albeit reluctantly, was a good mini-vacation in a sense. It gave me a chance to see those I call family, as well as re-kindle that sibling bond with Zack.

An hour later, with the food gone, everyone is ordered to change into training gear and meet at the Forest Paw training field. A few of us already prepared leave behind those who need to change and make our way outside, ready to continue preparing the wolves of Forest Paw for a Soulless attack.

"Amby Bamby!" Axel calls out to me the moment we set foot in the clearing, concern on his face. Dominic turns away, trying his best to hide his chuckles with a cough at the nickname I've had since childhood, and I send him a glare.

"What's wrong?" I ask, seeing the urgency in his eyes.

"Soulless attacked last night. We were able to hold them off, but some of my Hunters were hurt. I have a list of those not able to participate in training today, but Blue is calling for a meeting. He wants you, Alpha Dominic, and your Beta to join us." Dominic looks alarmed before agreeing, motioning for Miles and Christian to step forward.

"Something came up. Christian, come with us, Miles, you and Lease will lead the Forest Paw wolves in some hand-to-hand combat. We will be back in about two hours and will continue with the running when we get back." Dominic informs them as I follow Axel to their pack house. The crunch of snow behind me indicates Dominic and Christian following us. I hear Miles calling out to all the wolves, his voice fading away while he explains the change of training for today.

Upon entering the pack house, I head upstairs and into the conference room, saying hello to Marie who is filling the table with easy-to-eat snacks. Blue is writing on a whiteboard while Leo stands in front of a bay window, running his fingers through his hair with a frustrated sigh.

"How organized was the attack?" Dominic asks, not bothering with the pleasantries.

"Very organized. They went in with a purpose, attacking our greenhouse before rushing off to attack houses on the outskirts of the property. We were able to defend and even kill about five of them, but they retreated as soon as they saw our wolves. I think they were testing our strength." Leo answers, punching the wall beside him. My eyes scan the room, looking for Mia who, as the Head Tracker of Forest Paw, should be here.

"Where's Mia?" I question, taking a seat at the table and reaching for a blueberry muffin.

"She quit. She's too scared to be my Head Tracker after you put her into the pack hospital." He growls at me, causing Dominic to growl back possessively, as he puts his hand on my shoulder to keep himself from doing anything stupid… like attacking Leo.

"If she's too scared to be a Head Tracker, then you chose the wrong wolf. She's better off being your little whore." I point out, as Christian, Zack, Abby, and Axel try, and fail, to hold in their laughter. It'll only be a few more months, and I'll be rid of him. Leo goes to say something, anger radiating off of his body and directed at me, but Blue clears his throat, bringing our attention to the front of the room, where a list is written on the whiteboard.

"Yes, Mia was the wrong choice as Head Tracker, but right now, we have more pressing matters to deal with," Blue says calmly, giving his son a pointed glare. Leo may be Alpha, but Blue is still his father.

"I have a theory, and that is someone is building an army." Blue continues, motioning to the board.

"Packs in the area are experiencing similar attacks like ours, including Moon Glade, Hidden Claws and Mountain Mist. Each attack seems to be the Soulless testing the waters to say, attacking either really useful buildings like storage sheds or empty houses, before running away in retreat when Trackers and Hunters attack back." Axel adds, pointing out the packs around Canada facing these issues. Soulless were unorganized, always having a hard time following a leader, and would rather attack each other. Even a group of four will end up with a lone survivor with how deteriorated their minds are. In layman's term, a Soulless army meant we are fucked.

"We need to up the training then and get your wolves ready to fight." Christian states, his eyes scanning the map. A new training plan is put into place then and there, as I suggest doing hand-to-hand combat first thing, followed by a run, then combat in wolf form. It is agreed that Abby will train the pups in self-defence with Blue's and Serena's help, as the situation calls for this to happen.

"I have two of my wolves already training yours in hand-to-hand. When we get back, we will have them run as usual." I state, looking to Leo with a glare.

"And by the end of the day, you will have a new Head Tracker that I decide. Enough bullshitting around, Leo, and grow the fuck up. Be at the field in half an hour." I add, nodding to everyone else before I leave the conference room. I once again pass Marie on my way out, giving the she-wolf a hug before leaving the pack house. I needed a good run, and Forest Paw needed to up their stamina fast if Blue's theory is correct.