Once Rejected, Thrice Accepted
Chapter 38

"Jackson looked really upset, didn't he?" I asked as I clung onto Duncan's arm. We headed up to the packhouse for some grub and to see the twins. I was missing my gooberheads.

"It is hard to hear." Duncan admitted with pity in his eyes. "I dream of killing that whole pack and one day it will happen. Before the ones who raise you die, I plan to give them the same treatment you got for quite a while." He snickered like was thinking about it. "I agree. It was even harder living it but if I had to live through all of that again just to end up with you and your brothers I would do it ten times over. I appreciate this so much more because of it." I nipped his arm. "And now I am meeting my blood family. Everything is coming together for me, and it is falling apart of them which makes it even sweeter."

"True." He opened the door for me giving me a small swat on the b**t making me yip in surprise. "Love those plump cheeks."

"Stop it, knuckle head. Now feed me."

The cafeteria wasn't very busy, but most were in groups. One lone person stood out, my sister, who sat in the corner picking at her food looking sad. It was time to talk to her one on one. I just had to hope it was a better result than what had happened at dinner. Duncan promised to bring me a packed plate and my caffeine fix before joining some of his friends at a nearby table.

"Hey, Brittany. Can I sit here with you?" I put my hand on the chair in front of her.

"Sure. Not like anyone else wants to." She put her phone down and looked up at me. "Not a lot of kids my age care to talk to a visitor apparently."

"Yea, they have a thing about rogues and new people. At least you didn't have five girls jump you in the bathroom." I shrugged.

"What? Did that happen to you?" She looked shocked.

"Yea. I think it was more that my mates are their crush's, but they really do kill Rogues on sight which I am not in favor of." Duncan walked up with my food. "Isn't that right, sweetie?"

"Yeah, yeah. We will get it fixed. We learned our lesson." He kissed my cheek before looking over at my sister. "Your sister is the best thing to happen to me or my brothers and I know she has so much love to give. This is a hard situation for everyone but just give her a chance like she is giving you. Who knows you might have an older bestie who loves late night movies with tons of sweets?"

I slapped his shoulder. "Hey, don't be giving out my secrets! Now get. Your friends are waiting."

He chuckled and went back to get his food. He really loaded up my tray with some of the best things like anything and everything fried but made sure I had tons of veggies. All food was good at this point except peas and liver. Both were disgusting no matter how they were cooked.

"So... what's it like having three mates?" Her cheeks had a tint of pink, so I knew where her mind was.

"Amazing and stressful at the same time. Sometimes when they get going, they can act like toddlers fighting over the same toy but when they are in harmony it is like having three best friends who can give me everything I could ever want." I smile. "How old are you?"

"Thirteen and a half. You?" She sniffed her fork full of broccoli and gagged. "Who eats these things?"

I laughed. "They are better with nacho cheese. Here dip them in mine." I handed her the cheese watching closely as she dipped them in and carefully ate the smallest piece. "You can have anything on my plate. I am just now at the right weight and learning how to eat more often."

"I'm sorry you had such a shitty life after you were lost. The pack and Dad overcompensate for everything now, so I am never alone." She nodded toward the door. I just noticed two guards standing there watching her. "I am just thankful I can go to the bathroom by myself."

"I am sorry for that. I don't remember a lot but I didn't mean to get lost. I just wasn't as fast as I should have been."

Her hand laid down on mine squeezing it. "It wasn't your fault. None of this is and I am so sorry I was a brat before. I am not doing so well with all the changes. You being my sister and Matilda coming out of nowhere as a second chance mate for our father even though they had met before and he felt nothing."

"What?" That caught me off guard. "How is that possible? Does Jackson know?"

"I have no idea, but I don't like her. When is just her and I she likes to make small comments about me and how I could be so much better."

"Like she has room to talk. Her outfit yesterday reminded me of the old seventies shows where the mom tries too hard to be perfect to everyone but her family. Yuck." I shook my head and made gagging noises.

Brittany lost it laughing so hard she shook the table. Her laugh was contagious and had me laughing loud enough for everyone to stare.

"Luna, I see you are making waves again." Cherry voice joked from behind us. "Are you teaching this teenager bad things?"

"I keep forgetting my sister is a Luna." Brittany's face turned serious. "You really won't be coming back with us?"

"Sister?" Cherry looked shocked. "I will let you talk but later I want to know everything." She walked off before I could reply.

"No, I can't come live there. This is my pack now and my found family is here, but I can visit and so can you. I bet your brothers-in-law would love to give you and the rest of the family a cabin or two so you can visit as often as you like." "Really?" She perked up. "What if I wanted to live here and just visit our family?"

I was shocked. "Why would you want to? Is everything ok? Do I need to kick some girls a*s."

"It's just the Matilda thing and I get made fun of a lot by the popular kids at school." She leaned forward before whispering. "I got my wolf early but had to hide it. It makes it hard if something happens. I have to fight her back and it makes me look weaker when I lose my focus and end up losing the fight."

I smiled sympathetically. "I get that. I got Moonlight when I turned ten. She wanted to rip out the throats of everyone who bullied me. I had to hide her anger and her healing abilities for years. Who knows?"

"Just Dad and Grandpa." She let out a deep breath. "How did you handle it? Sundance has a temper, and it is getting harder and harder to keep her calm."

'Let me talk to her.' Moonlight interrupted.

"Hold on Moonlight has an idea." I handed her my plate of french fries she had been sneaking looks at. "Eat up. We both deserve this treat before the next shit storm."

'Ok, how?'

'Let us shift tonight together and let us have control. I understand where her anger is coming from. It's the least I can do to make up for raising our voices at her at the last meeting. I agreed but made sure to tell her it's not a competition so none of her sneaky tricks. She just laughed.

"So tonight, you and I will be giving control to our wolves. Moonlight wants to make up for being so hasty with her attitude towards you plus I bet she is excited to run with her sister. That ok?"

Brittany squealed and ran around the table to squeeze the daylights out of me. My arms wrapped around her like it was the most natural thing in the world. I may have shed a few tears.

She stepped back wiping away her own. "Now how about we get some dessert before we meet up with Dad and Erin? Dad is done with his walk." She nodded her head toward where Leo and Lucas were sitting with Charles, Erin, and Jackson. "Looks like they are a bit riled up so we better hurry. How fast can you eat a piece of cake?"

I laughed. "Let's just shove cookies in our pockets for later and make a plate to share. Knowing those guys, it could be minutes or an hour before they are ready to have a talk. I need sugar and caffeine to function."

"Me too." She yanked me up and pulled me away from the table laughing.