Chapter 3: Dinner with who?

Rebel POV

Two months. It’s been two months since I was rejected. The first week was the worst. My sister was getting ready to turn 18 years old that week and I had a lot of things thrown on my plate to complete. Hemming her birthday dress, preparing the menu for the dinner, making a cake, decorating the house, and more, all needed to get completed. I was barely able to make it home the day Alpha Cullen rejected me. He just left and didn’t spare me a second glance. Painfully, I had walked over two miles in my weaken state to get back to my room in the attic. I cried more when I got there and then slept later than normal. 

My father saw my state, and while he didn’t care what caused me to look so sickly, at least he didn’t push me to train that morning and instead said to sleep until it was time to do the housework. That morning, I got a needed three hours of extra sleep. Even though I still felt weak, I came downstairs to start my day in the kitchen. 

Since then, my only day off has been spent in the attic by myself. My sister turned 18, got her wolf, enjoyed everyone’s attention, and I stayed in the shadows. The only thing she didn’t find was her fated mate. I already know that when she finds her mate, that her mate won’t reject her. He will want her, cherish her, love her. The crazy part is she treats everyone like they are beneath her and yet everyone still wants to please her. At this point, I just tolerate her. I’m resigned about my future. Second chance mates are rare from what I remember reading, and because I don’t get to be seen in public, I doubt I’ll have a chance to meet someone, even if the moon goddess wanted to show me kindness. At least Alpha Cullen didn’t show up for Rachel’s birthday. It saved me additional pain of having to stand in the same room with him and the pain I was going through at the time.

The thought of the rejection and the very real possibility of not having a mate has been depressing me. Roxie is slowly coming back around though. As the pain of the rejection eased, she started coming through and talking again. Although, some of her sass has been lost. I don’t blame her. Some of my fire has been extinguished too. I don’t feel the same anymore. That day broke me. Every good or normal thing I’ve had in my life has always been taken from me. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that my mate didn’t want me either. With women like my sister or all the pretty she-wolves in the pack, well, I assume they are all prettier than me, who would want a frumpy and chubby she-wolf as a mate? 

I push the thoughts aside and make my way downstairs. As soon as I come down, my stepmother looks at me with a sense of urgency on her face and a big smile. Something must have happened. 

“Rebel! Good thing you’re here, I was about to start hunting you down.” she sneers at me and looks at me like she has something sour in her mouth. I sigh, “What do you need Jules?”

“We are having a very special guest for dinner. Alpha Cullen has decided to take a chosen mate. He wants to have dinners with women he finds worthy of being his Luna! He will be here tonight for Rachel, so I need an exceptional dinner prepared for tonight!” 

I suddenly feel lightheaded, and the room starts spinning around me. “Alpha Cullen, here, tonight?” A chosen mate? As if my heart couldn’t break any further, my fated mate, the one who rejected me, is coming here to have dinner with my father and stepmother, for Rachel. Not me. I didn’t think salt could be so deeply rubbed into my wounds right now, but apparently, it can. Does the moon goddess take pleasure in hurting me? 

Without realizing it, my stepmother is in my face, “REBEL! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?!” I was in a daze, and she snapped me back to reality. “Yes Jules, I’m sorry. I will have something special prepared.” I say to her holding back the tears that threaten to fall. 

“Yes, you will. Once everything is prepared and ready to serve, you will leave. I don’t need you staining our family with your presence. Go out the back door and don’t come back until midnight to give Alpha Cullen enough time to enjoy Rachel’s company and leave.” 

Just then Rachel, my half-sister, walks in. Having heard the last thing Jules said to me, she starts laughing. “If it were up to me, you would be gone indefinitely. Alpha Cullen will fall madly in love with me. When he makes me his Luna, I will be sure you are banished from the pack. I can’t have you staining my reputation. The fat bastard child of the pack’s beta.” 

Being called fat doesn’t hurt nearly as much as being called a bastard. Even though it stung, I kept my face neutral. My eyes may have lost some of its light in recent months, but I’ll be damned if I let her see my hurt. “At least I won’t be who the Alpha settles for a chosen mate, Rachel. He isn’t patient enough to wait for his fated mate, so instead he will settle for a chosen mate. Does that make you feel cherished?” I couldn’t help it. He did wait but didn’t cherish me, and now he is settling for someone else because of looks. Rachel face almost contorts with anger. Actually, it looks funny. I wasn’t aware her face could twist so unnaturally. 

“At least I will be mated and marked. Even if not by Alpha Cullen, then by someone of rank. How do you compare Rebel? You are a fat bastard child. Not even your own family wants to recognize you and only sees you as a stain on our reputation. You will always be what you are, a servant in your father’s home, and a servant to me no less!”

“ENOUGH!” My father enters the room. He seems upset about the scene unfolding. I think he is going to say something to Rachel about calling me a bastard or a servant, but of course, I was wrong. “REBEL! FOR ONCE CAN YOU STOP ESCALATING THINGS WITH YOUR SISTER!” he roars at me. I look at him dumbstruck. I’m defending myself from the insults being hurled at me and he is coming to her aid. “Alpha Cullen is coming here tonight to meet with us and get to know Rachel. This is a huge opportunity not just for Rachel but our family. Could you please get started with getting things cleaned and the dinner started.” 

“You mean your family. Clearly, I’ve never been wanted here. Not even by my own father.” I said calmly. I turn on my heel and walk to the kitchen before the tears I’ve been holding back come down and before they continue their verbal assault on me. 

****

I’m finishing up in the kitchen. Everything needs to be ready by the time Alpha Cullen gets here. He is supposed to get here by six o’clock in the evening. It’s now about five o'clock and the Tarducken I put in the oven is almost done. I am paring it with Maple Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Mushroom Risotto with White Truffle Oil. I made some homemade bread rolls as well. For dessert, I made a French Apple Tart with home vanilla bean ice cream and caramel syrup to top it off. Since I was not allowed to enjoy my creation for dinner, despite the hard work I put in, I gave instructions to the omegas that were in charge of plating and serving everyone for dinner. I also explained the way I wanted them to present the dessert. I’m not sure if Alpha Cullen will want coffee or tea, but I leave both ready to brew. 

I start preparing a meal I could take with me tonight. Since I won’t be at dinner, I need to make sure I eat something while I’m out. Otherwise, I will not have eaten for the day. I only woke up, got insulted and belittled, only to work the entire day on getting things ready for dinner. I make pork shoulder sandwiches, grabbed some chips, peanut butter crackers, fruit, chocolate chip cookies and some bottles of water, packed my backpack and grabbed a blanket, jacket, flashlight and book. 

Rachel walks into the kitchen as I am checking everything once over before leaving. “Why are you still here! You need to leave! What if Alpha Cullen comes early? Goddess Rebel, could you be any stupider!” she sneered at me. 

“Rachel, I am making sure everything is ready before I leave. You of all people should appreciate the effort I put in today for you.” I said calmly. “Now that I have, believe me, I am leaving. I don’t want to be here anyway.” With that, I turn my heel and face the omegas, “Are there any questions before I leave?” I ask them as I am grabbing my backpack. 

“No Ms. Rebel. We got it from here. Thank you so much for preparing this dinner. I don’t think any of us would be able to pull off this skill level of cooking.” 

“You’re very welcome, ladies. Best of luck tonight. Good night.” With that, I turn to leave. I don’t bother to say goodbye to Rachel, Jules or my so-called father. They don’t want me anyway.