Once Rejected, Thrice Accepted
Chapter 72

"You look just like your momma, Natalie." My dad's older sister, Jenna, said as she cupped my cheek. She didn't seem to read that me pulling my head back was a sign to let the hell go. "We missed all those years of growing up." "Jenna, please don't touch her. This is new for everyone, and you are too close for her comfort." Erin chided his oldest child. He was tense, which was making me even more tense and angry. "And her name is Gemma." "Oh dad. It's fine. Right, Gemma?" She winked at me.

"Actually, it's not. Please step back out of my bubble." I kept my face blank. She seemed nice enough and maybe one day we could be friends but right now she was a pushy old lady who needed to stay in her lane.

Her face dropped with some anger, but it was quickly replaced with sadness. She let my face go and stepped back into her mate, Dean, arms. He had kept his distance and only gave a nod when being introduced. It made me like him even more.

"We know it must be strange to be in a pack who cares for you and to replace your family again. We missed you over the years." My mom's best friend since she switched packs when she found Jackson. Emily was her name, and she swore they were like sisters, but I had a gut feeling about her.

"Family is who you make them from my experience. I hope one day we might be close enough for that but there is a lot to work through." I answered while digging my nails into the palms of my hands. I wanted to try to replace out why I had this feeling, but I needed to do it calmly in case I was right.

"And we will be here for every step. You dad especially." She looked around again with a hint of agitation in her eyes. "Your mates really should let your dad have a break from training to come spend time with you."

"No." Both Britt and I answered. She had made it here the same time the group had and made sure to squeeze onto the bed with me showing the family her support was with me. It made me feel so freaking good.

Erin had pulled a chair to the other side putting the back to the wall so he could face the family. Both of their support showed me what kind of life I would have had with them, and I hated that I missed it. Although the trauma I went through made me appreciate this much more and see the other family for who they are. Only a few were actually here for me and were speaking the truth about

missing me.

"No?" Her mouth dropped open in surprise as she placed her hand over her chest. "Why wouldn't your father be able to be here? He missed you so much."

"It's really none of your business, Emily. This was only supposed to be for family, so I don't even know how you got an invite." Britt rolled her eyes at Emily. "You only defend dad because you want in his pants which is disgusting since he screwed Melinda like she was in heat every day."

I gagged doing my best to hold back my puke, but my laughter wasn't helping. Erin did his best to scold Britt for being so mean, but my puking laughter was too loud. He groaned and told Emily he was sorry for Britt's bluntness but that she had a point. "I wanted to see my best friend's daughter after all these years." She shouted crossing her arms over her chest.

'Liar.' Moonlight moved a bit forward in my mind. It was enough to finally feel the warmth of her presence.

"My wolf says you're lying. How about you try that again?" I snarled at her.

"Like your wolf knows anything. She doesn't know me or my wolf, but she could." She turned her glare into a pitiful smile that put me on edge.

'Her wolf is barely hanging on. Its like she is locked away somewhere and has been for a while. Moonlight huffed using what was left of her strength to investigate further.

"Hey!" Emily shouted looking afraid for the first time. "Tell your wolf to get the hell away from mine. You have no right."

"You had no right!" I shouted, making sure I was louder than her, getting everyone's attention focused on me including the guards outside the door. "No right to lock your wolf away. No right to have a witch bind and subdue your wolf who only wanted you to be happy. Who was there for you every second of every day. You are a pathetic excuse for a wolf, and I will not stand by to watch her suffer anymore."

"You did what?" Erin stood up calmly but the violence in his voice showed he was anything but calm.

Everyone was dead silent around us. My aunt actually looked enraged, which helped me relax a bit with her still in the room. My uncle, Bradley, was being held back by his mate, Jeffrey. It seemed everyone just put up with her but now that she had actually done something like this, they saw her for what she actually was. A worthless waste of space.

"I had to. She wanted to mate with the wrong man, and he wouldn't accept our rejection." She stomped her foot. "I am meant to be with Jackson. Even his mate knew it and still got with him after everything we had been through together. She was whore and the apples don't fall far from the tree with these two."

Everything that happened after was a blur. I could feel myself throwing my sheets back to tear her apart even if everyone would end up seeing my naked ass in this damn hospital gown. But I shouldn't have worried. Britt was there first slamming her up against the wall by her throat snarling so loud I thought she would rip her throat out with her human teeth.

"Britt, Calm down honey. Charles is on his way." Erin laid his hand on Britts' back trying to calm her after he nearly ran into her. He didn't waste any time getting to her. "She will pay for her actions. No one does that to their wolf and gets away with it." 'One more minute and she will be free. She wants to leave her human. I can't talk her out of it. Moonlight cried out. I could feel how little strength she had left before she was going to pass out again.

'How does one do that?'

'Dying!'

'Fuck that. I bet one of the witches here can do something even if it means she joins you until we replace someone worthy of her. Would you mind?'

'No. She has been locked up so long she is almost like a pup again from her power loss. It will give me some practice.

I looked back over at Erin and Britt they battled over killing her or waiting. Guess I had to break the news and ask for some help.

"Hey. Don't kill her yet. We need her alive and a witch or two."

Everyone's eyes landed on me, so I waved and went on to explain everything. I hated having to deal with ignorant people, but it was all I did recently.