The Rejected

27- Oliver

Being the Luna of the pack was harder than Serene made it out to be. It seemed everyone wanted something that other people didn't want done. Some parents were upset about the large size of the designated area for pups to play in,  while others wanted to make it even larger. Some wanted a fence that separated the woods from the pups while others argued it would only make guarding the pack harder. I agreed with the parents who wanted to put a surrounding fence, but that may have been because of the attack that occurred a few weeks ago. 

Most of the pack was in disagreement about letting Grayson's mate, who I learned was named Emma, stay in the pack. It seemed everyone was angry about her being on pack grounds except for a handful of the pack.  I held no grudge against the girl,  which really put me in a different sight when it came to the pack. If it wasn't for her,  I'm not sure if Adeela would've ever came back. To me,  she helped me recover a part of myself that I had lost,  while to the rest of the pack she was someone who tried to attack us.

I decided to go see if the ladies in the kitchen could use some help. I knew Mason would be alright in the daycare center for now,  especially since Iris was hanging around today. Mason was slowly starting to not be so dependent on me being around him,  and I wasn't sure if I was excited cause he's opening up,  or sad because my baby didn't need me as much any more.

"Good morning,  Luna," one of the kitchen staff greeted me. Some of the crew smiled at me while a couple didn't look my way. 

"Please, just call me Oliver. There's no need to call me Luna," I told them.  The one who show nodded,  continuing to stir a pot of what looked like alfredo sauce.  "I just came to see if I can help you in any way." A girl cutting up some chicken scoffed making me look over at her.  She had brown hair that was tied up in a bun on the top of her head. She was wearing tight clothing that looked like if she sat down they would tear at the seams. What got me the most was the cold look in her dark eyes. She looked like she hated me, but I can't recall ever meeting her.

"We're fine here," the woman said rudely, earning an elbow jab from one of the other cooks. The woman glared at the one who elbowed her. "We don't need his help." The woman elbowed her again, earning a growl. I didn't want to be the cause of a fight so I made my way out of the kitchen, but I wasn't too far away when I heard them chattering. "I don't see the need to respect a slut who managed to get the alphas attentions. I mean come on! He supposedly their mate but isn't even wearing their marks, yet hes fine showing off a kid that isn't theirs." 

"That has nothing to do with us, and last I heard you aren't the cleanest dish on the shelf so what gives you the right to call our luna names," another voice said. I was a bit glad that someone defended me despite me not being there, but I was a bit upset about what the girl said. I couldn't help but wonder who else in the pack was upset about this and refused to tell me about it. 

I wanted to mate the twins. In fact, I was ready to do so with Zander in the woods, even though it was freezing cold, but for Adeela, what happened was still fresh in her mind. She didn't have the time to build a relationship with the twins like I had. She didn't have the three years to overcome what happened. I know she didn't mean to, but when Zander flipped us into the snow, Adeela sent images after images of what Desmond did to us to my mind. I couldn't do it afterwards, and her fear became my own. I'm sorry, Oliver, Adeela said. I shook my head at her as I started walking to the alpha's office in the pack house. "It's fine. I want us both to be ready for them. They're our mates, not just mine," I told her. I reached the office and saw the door wide open, Xavier sitting in the chair behind the desk with his head in his hands. as I walked over he looked up at me and gave me a smile. I walked behind him and started massaging his shoulders, earning a content sigh from Xavier. "Everything okay?"

He nodded at me. "Just trying to figure out the Emma situation," he told me. I nodded, continuing to massage him. His shoulders felt tight, but with every circle of my thumb he seemed to relax a bit more. " It seems everyone doesn't want her here, but she doesn't seem to pose a threat. She even offered to help us out and give us information about hunters." I nodded at him before stopping my massage, my hands now cramped. I wrapped my arm around him and his hand lightly held my arm before he placed a kiss on it.

"There are a handful of people that aren't completely opposed to her," I told him. He looked up at me. "A lot of the pack is angry at her because she did attack an area full of pups, but I'm sure if she starts getting around making amends to people that they'll grow to accept her. She is Grayson's mate, and everyone respects him which might make a few things a bit easier." He nodded at me before just relaxing a bit. I looked at some of the paperwork on his desk, noticing a stack of unsigned documents. "What are those?" 

He followed my gaze before picking them up. "Unsigned treaties," He responded, making me confused. When all the alphas were here for the alpha ceremony, they all updated their treaties with Xavier and Zander. Noticing my confusion, Xavier chuckled at me. "These are new treaties. Some of the packs we don't have treaties with either contacted us or we contacted them. Safe Haven is a pack towards the south is one of the packs we're establishing a treaty with. They're coming up in two weeks so we're trying to get everything ready." I nodded to him. I had never heard of the pack, but I'm sure if Xavier and Zander are confident enough to sigh a treaty with them that they are good people. "I notice Mason isn't with you. Is he at the daycare?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Ever since Nodum showed himself, Mason hasn't been too keen on sticking to me," I told him with a pout. He chuckled at me and I slightly glared at him, moving to sit on the couch in the office. "What? I'm allowed to be a sit sad that my son doesn't want to be around me that much."

"No no no. That's not it. I just find his wolf's name amusing," he told me, making me raise an eyebrow at him. "Every wolf's name has a meaning. Noctis, which is my wolf, means night. Proi, which is Zander's, means Day. Adeela means equal, which I feel works perfectly for you two, and Nodum means gift. It's like the goddess was telling you he was your gift." I couldn't help but smile at his words. In a weird type of way, it made me feel special. "Do you want to go get Ice cream with me?" I looked up at Xavier to see him smiling softly at me.  "We can get Mason and go get ice cream. I need a break and Zander will be back any moment from doing his patrol." 

"I would love to," I told him, smiling back at him. I got up and walked over to him , placing a quick kiss on his cheek. "Let me go get Mason and we can meet you up front." He nodded as I left the room heading back to the day care. I couldn't help but smile as I spotted Mason and Iris playing roughly with some of the action figures. I walked over and knelt beside Mason, whispering in his ear. "Do you want to go get some ice cream?" 

He looked at me before looking at Iris. "Iris comes too," He asked, gaining Iris' attention. I asked Iris the same question and she smiled nodding her head, causing both of them to cheer.

"Both of you get your stuff. I'll let Mia know where we're going," I told them. I've never seen two kids get up and run so fast towards their shoes. I shook my head at them before going over to Mia, who held Iris' little brother Zeke in her arms. "I'm taking Mason and Iris out for some ice cream."

Mia smiled up at me. "Those two have a great relationship. Reminds me of Vicky and Quincey," She commented making me laugh. "I mean it. They really have that big sister little brother vibe around them. It's so comforting to watch." 

I turned around to see Iris helping Mason put on his shoes. I couldn't help but smile at them. "I can see your point," I admitted, earning a smile from my friend. "I don't think they are even close to being like Quincey an Vicky though. Those two are nuts and sporadic, but Iris and Mason are very level-headed." 

"For now at least," Mia commented. I shook my head at her as the two came rushing over to me, ready to go on our tiny adventure. 

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Authors note: I apologize for the long wait! I know this chapter isn't the most interesting but more is coming, I promise! :)