THE REJECTION

Jade sprayed the conditioner through the thick mass of untamed curls, trimming the edges nicely as she brushed into it. The hair slicked down beautifully, curling nicely. Pamala watched in awe as Jade performed magic with her hair. Strategically placing pins to hold the hair from her face. For the first time in a long time she liked her hair. 

"Jade. It's so beautiful." She praised.

"I know, I know. Let me do your makeup, you have such a beautiful face. I'm jealous. You don't need too much make, just a little touch here and there and you're good to go." She began to blend the concealer underneath her eyes, she did the winged eyeliner, doing Pamala brows nice, applying mascara and and a nice lipstick. Finishing with the highlighter. 

"Goddess, Pamala. You're so beautiful." She praised. 

Pamala was beginning to believe it, the reflection that stared back at her from the mirror was that of a beautiful girl, insecure but beautiful. The make-up and hair came out so nicely, she thought she would cry. 

"No no no. Don't you dare shed a single tear and ruin my hard work." Jade threatened and she sniffed back the tears.

"I've never felt so beautiful in my life. You don't know how much you mean to me jade." She got her in a tight embrace. She'd never had any friend until her final year in highschool. Jade had stood up for her in one case of bullying. Since then they stuck together. Jade herself wasn't exempted when it came to bullies. As long they were above another person they didn't mind picking on that person, but she was a whole powerhouse. She would come for bullies and attack back they stopped bullying her and picked on Pamala instead.

"Try the dress." Jade told her going to pick the dress by the bed. She had tried on the dress earlier, it fit even though it was a bit tight around the chest area.

She slipped on the dress, jade zipped it up for her. Pamala had intentionally skipped lunch and dinner to fit in well. She hated being fat, it was her slow metabolism, starving herself didn't help her lose weight. She didn't think she could ever lift weights, she'd come to accept that it wasn't who she was.

"I'm so fat." She complained.

"Can you stop it, not tonight! You're healthy, your weight suits you, girl I'll do anything for hips like those. Too bad you don't appreciate what you have, do you know some girls get surgery for those."

" I know you're trying to make me feel good about myself jade, I appreciate that. I know I'm not all that special."

"Listen to me, no negativity tonight, am I clear?!" She reprimanded.

"Yes ma'am." She smiled. Jade helped her into her three inch black strap heel. The look was complete, she looked so pretty.

She waited for jade to do her own makeup and put on her red dress, that hugged her slender figure nicely, as they finished they made their way to the living room.

"Well?" Pamala asked twirling around, feeling like a princess.

"You both look amazing." Kala reached to kiss them at their cheek one after the other.

"You as well Ma, you look beautiful," Jade said fondly,looking at the simple yet blue dress kala wore.

"My amazing girls." Her father Luke said quite proudly. They shared smiles. "Ready?" He asked. 

They agreed uniformly, so they all left the house. Seeing that they couldn't ride in Pamala's father truck, kala hailed a cab and they all squeezed in.

As they approached to the place, Pamala began to feel a wave of anxiety, she hadn't been in a crowded area for a long time, she didn't do well with people. 

"This is how far I can go." The cab driver said.

"No problem." Kala removed money from her purse and handed it to him. They got out and walked towards the gates, she saw enforcers stationed there, they were the pack's army.

"Your invites please."one of them requested, they handed it to him and he let them in. Immediately she stepped foot in the compound, she felt intimidated, the cars driving in spoke of class , the people she saw around in dresses she could only dream about. Rich and elegant, everything she was not. Her head automatically bowed in submission, something she always did involuntary.

"Pamala." Her mother cooled. She offered a her a weak smile in return. 

They all felt overwhelmed being in a place like this. She saw as people looked down on them, sneering as they walked in. 

Chandeliers were the first thing that came into view, she was awed, the hall beautifully decorated, the lights shun brightly. Women dressed in beautiful ballroom dresses, servers holding trays of champagne. Rich perfumes wafting into her nostrils, at a corner was a table of pantries. The air felt repressive, she wasn't sure she could spend another hour in here.

"Wow!" Jade exclaimed turning around to take in the view.

"Beautiful right?" Kala asked smiling. She linked arms with her husband, she didn't dare breathe too loudly.

"It's amazing." Pamala agreed.

A wave of nausea hitting her, was it possible to feel claustrophobic even in an open place like this, that was exactly how she felt. A restless feeling engulfing her. Her wolf clawing deep in her mind, it was restless, so was she. 

Her mind was beating so loudly she feared everyone would hear, was it real? She wondered. Was she finally going to see her mate, at the thought of a mate her wolf purred in her head.

"Are you alright dear?" Her father asked.

She nodded weakly scanning around if maybe she would see him, he was close, that'll explain why she was feeling the exact way she did.

"Maybe a little alcohol to loosen you up." Jade said picking a glass from a passing server and handing it to her. She took it, muttering a small thanks and gulping the content. She needed the extra booze tonight.

"Jade. I think he's here." She whispered.

"Who?" Jade asked.

"My mate. I think he's here, I can feel it." She said and jade eyes widened in shock.

"Are you sure of what you are saying?"

"One hundred percent" Pamala replied. Her wolf was clawing in her mind, she was frantic. 

"Come let's find him." Jade began to pull her away. " Auntie, we'll be back soon." She said to kala.

"Be safe." Kala said back to the girls. 

They began to maneuver through the crowd of people. Pamala clasped jade's hand, she felt almost dizzy. It seemed as if everyone was staring, wearing the same mocking gaze. Maybe it was all in her head she couldn't tell.

"That's faith." She said suddenly terrified. The girl had been her biggest bully in school,from locking her in the toilet to pushing her into mud. She did everything possible to make her life a living hell.

"Don't cower or give her that satisfaction." Jade warned. She nodded meekly as they made to pass her and her minions.

"Pamala!" She called sternly, she felt her feet coming to an automatic halt, her body automatically shutting down in fear.

"What do you want?!" Jade questioned sharply.

She smirked walking with her two friends towards them. Pamala was used to that look, it was something she wore anytime she intended on hurting her, she suddenly wanted to retrieve into her shell.

"Please." She whispered quietly.

"Please." Faith laughed trying to imitate her. "Oh shut up, what are you doing here, suddenly dressed like a princess? You should be serving drinks, a nobody like you isn't fit to be among people like us." She said. Pamala flinched when faith raised her hand, she was afraid Faith would strike her.

"Look at you trembling." She took a string of Pamala's hair , twirling it before pulling hard as she winced.

"Let. Her. Go" Jade said angrily.

"Or else what?" She asked smiling.

"I'm warning you." Jade stepped forward.

"Please." Pamala said to jade, wanting her to control her anger, they already had onlookers, it made her more nervous. Faith was the beta's child, making her a Beta. They couldn't outrightly challenge her.

Faith reluctantly let go of the hair, sizing up Jade and glaring hatefully at her. She took the glass of alcohol her friend had been holding, with her eyes fixed at jade, her smirk returned she poured the contents on Pamala's head. The wine dripping down to her white dressed she gasped, her eyes wide and filled with tears. No one cared, they watched as if it was a normal daily occurrence.

"How Dare you?!" Jade pushed Faith forcefully, the girl staggered back, her friends catching her.

"Stop, please stop." Pamala yelled, suddenly all eyes were on her. She wanted to die.

"Pamala!" Her mother called out rushing to her. 

She did what she knew how to do best, run from situations, she took to her heels in fear. All the voices ringing in her head, calling her names, the tears came pouring. With blurry eyes she couldn't make out where she was going until she bumped into someone. 

His scent was the first thing that hit her, thick and alluring, it called unto her. Her body reacted to him being this close. She felt a wave of lust and attraction. It was like an itch she couldn't reach. Her cheeks warmed, her wolf howled in her head, she almost couldn't believe it. She took in his suit first, it was rich and expensive. Her breathing hitched, his aura was strong, whoever he was, one thing she knew was that he wasn't an omega. She raised her eyes to his face

Blonde hair, blue eyes, beautiful lush lips, a sharp jawline, the more she took in of his appearance, the more fear she felt. Her eyes glued to his face, he was beautiful. She almost couldn't believe it , everything and everyone else faded into background.

"Mate." She muttered, only then had loud murmuring erupted, people looked within themselves astonished and confused.

Pamala knew him, he was the Alpha's son, the reason why she was here at this nightmare of a party. This couldn't be true, she was mated to an Alpha. The thought terrified her. Yet as she stood staring at his face she knew it was true.

The way his jaw clenched said it all, he knew too, he felt the connection, the bond, but then his eyes didn't look too pleasant. It was dark and resentful, maybe she was reading it all wrong.

"You're my mate," she said again more loudly and firmly this time. Her wolf wanted to sprint out and be one with her beloved. He didn't say anything, he stared at her condescendingly. Hate radiating off him, she wanted to convince herself that it wasn't it.

"What's going on here?" Alpha Derrick said cutting through the tension. 

"You just called my son your mate, you must be highly dilusional." A woman said beside Damien. The place was quiet everyone was waiting for Damien to say something to refute it. But he was still very quiet.

"Pamala ." Jade called in a quiet whisper.

"Please say something." Pamala said desperately, more tears leaving her eyes mixing with the mascara and running down her cheeks.

"How can I be mated to an Omega, a fat ugly girl. You can't be my mate. The moon goddess can't curse me like this." He said, everything word cutting deeper than a knife, she winced. Her world felt like it was crumbling before her, her wolf retreating fearfully back into her head.

"Why are you saying this to me?" Her voice broke, she almost couldn't breathe, everything was spinning around her.

"I DAMIEN STONE OF THE BLUE LAKE PACK REJECT YOU AS MATE." He announced boldly in front of everybody, something snapped in her that moment. She fell to her knees on the ground gasping for air, her body shaking. Gasps followed after the announcement, the crowd had turned into chaos.

"How could you?! Why did you do this to her, why!" Kala yelled wanting to attack him, Luke held her back, she broke into loud cries.

"Pamala! Pamala!" Jade shook her, engulfing her in a tight hug.

Damien seemed to be in pain witnessing the whole situation, he stumbled out , his mother leading him out along with the Alpha.

"Everyone out, the party has come to an end!" The beta commanded the crowd.

"Pamala, please." Jade cried. Her parents surrounded her, trying to talk to her, she heard nothing, she felt nothing.

"Forever a Loser." The distant voice of Faith said. 

Pamala struggled out of their hold and dashed towards the entrance door, they chased after her, but she was too fast. She ran with all her might, ripping the dress as it restricted her. Her eyes changed black, hair sprouting out of her skin, her bones rearranging in her body, the dress tore from her skin, she shapeshifted into a fiery auburn furred wolf.