Chapter 8

I felt every pair of eyes in the room staring down at me. I gaped like a fish out of water, unable to answer the very simple but grave question.

I could see in my father's eyes that he already knew the truth. He just wanted to hear me say it out loud.

“Uhm…” I said, unable to form a coherent sentence.

“Well, speak up already, girl. I have neither the patience nor the time.” My dad bellowed, his hands shaking at his sides as he tried to restrain himself.

“Yes, Father. I was rejected by Jax.”

My mother let out an audible gasp. I watched her face go pale before she collapsed.

My brother Luke rushed forward and caught her just before she hit the ground.

“How did that even happen? Wait, don't tell me. I'm sure he heard stories of you sleeping around with every boy on campus, and he couldn't even stand the sight of you anymore.”

My dad's voice was filled with disgust.

“That's not what happened…”

“Then tell me what fucking happened, Vivian! Why would an Alpha heir reject you if he didn't know you were a fucking piece of trash?”

I tried to defend myself, but I couldn't produce any more words. I just sat there, staring at my father as he went through his berating monologue.

“After everything I've done for you? How could you disgrace the family name like this?”

At some point, I zoned out and just stared into space, thinking about who I hated the most right now.

Jax.

My father.

Or myself.

After what felt like forever, he finally stopped talking. He looked at me with even more disgust and something else I couldn't recognize before walking away.

Between his shouting and my zoning out, my mom regained consciousness. She was back by my side, looking shaken.

She took my hands in hers.

“I'm sorry you had to hear that, baby girl. You know how your father gets whenever he's angry. Now tell me, what happened?”

With a lot of effort, I recounted the entire event to her. Every detail. Nothing hidden.

By the end, I found myself crying too.

She looked at me with pity and disappointment.

“How could you be so callous? After everything I taught you?”

“It's not like that, Mom. I thought he'd be different.”

“Now you know he isn't. And what if he wasn't your mate? How would you explain to your mate and the clan how you lost your virginity?”

“He said he'd protect me!” I screamed, desperately trying to win her over.

“And where is he now? You're not even in front of the council. Heck, from your story, it hasn't even been a month yet, and he has already thrown you under a bus.”

“But…”

“But nothing, Vee. We have pack rules to protect us. To avoid things like this. You're in college, for crying out loud. You should have known better.”

We sat in silence for what seemed like forever, neither of us saying anything.

My brothers stood in the corner, watching the entire exchange with barely any expression on their faces.

I missed the old times when I used to play with them.

They were so happy and full of life, but after one trip to the mountains they took with my dad during a harsh winter that I barely remembered, they were never the same.

All they did now was watch and speak only when spoken to.

I tried talking to them when they came back. I even tried initiating the old games we all enjoyed, but they never engaged.

The few times they talked to me, they went on and on about duty and loyalty to the pack.

It was unsettling.

I eventually stopped trying and settled into the new normal and quietness that came with whatever had happened to them, finding solace in books, movies, and music instead.

Eventually, my mom broke the silence.

“I'll talk to your father. Try to calm him down.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Don't thank me. I'm really disappointed in you. The driver will be here to pick you up tomorrow.”

I bowed my head in shame, more tears falling now.

I heard them walk out, my mom and brothers.

A few minutes later, I felt a set of arms wrap around me.

And I cried even harder.

I cried for being rejected.

I cried for my family.

And then I cried for myself.

“It's gonna be alright, Dawg. We're gonna get through this,” Bri said while drawing circles on my back.

I nodded to signify that I agreed.

But I didn't.

I couldn't see past this.

And somehow, the world felt even more bleak.

Bri handed me a tissue. I blew my nose into it and threw it away before curling up in bed, my back to Bri.

She sat on the lone cushion in the room, reading a brochure on asthma.

Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, I heard a voice I didn't think I'd be hearing anytime soon.

One that filled me with inexplicable rage and bitterness.

“Hi. Can I come in?”

It was Jax.

He didn't wait for a response. He was already inside the room.

I could feel the tension in the room rise until it became suffocating.

Before I could say anything, Bri was already on him.

Her hands came down in slaps and blows indiscriminately.

And despite myself, I smiled a little.