Rejected but Unbroken

"Get your ass up right now or I'm biting it."

I groaned, putting a hand over my head. Not that would actually help. The annoying lecture was coming from inside there. "Shut up, Jade. Let's sleep some more. I was up late training."

"And you think I don't know that? Seriously, Chloe. There's more to life than training. You need to get your ass up now, or I promise, I'm biting it."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. I'm getting a little more rest."

"Okay, Chloe, you asked for this." My vision turned golden and my wolf tore control from me, reaching around in a twist that many warriors would envy and the bitch bit my ass.

The door to my room swung open and my family paraded in, singing happy birthday at the top of their lungs.

While I still had a mouthful of ass in my mouth.

"Chloe Gabriella!" My mother lost track of the words first. "What are you doing?"

The shock threw Jade off, and I used the moment to grab control again. Stupid wolf. "Mom, you guys couldn't wait until I came downstairs?" I snapped. The rest of my family continued to sing as if my wolf hadn't just embarrassed me.

"Chloe, it's your birthday, and it's almost time for school. You can't be late. We wanted to spend some time with you before you ran off." My mother sighed at me before slipping back into the final words of the birthday song.

Just what I wanted for my nineteenth birthday. "Okay, you've sung your song. I'll be down in a minute. Let me get dressed."

"Come on, Princess," scolded my dad. He pulled up a bright pastel pink dress and held it up to himself. "Look what I got you!"

I stared at the outfit that looked like a Barbie doll puked it up. "Nice try, dad. Love you, but I'm not gonna be caught dead wearing something like that. Besides, how would I fight in it?" I rolled my eyes and pointed to the door again. "Out, please."

My family pouted, but they pushed each other through the door and they finally gave me a moment of peace. Though dad had left that hideous thing on a chair.

"Come on, Chloe. They're your family. You should be more appreciative." My wolf chuckled in my head, smirking at me.

"You want me to appreciate that thing? Fine, your furry ass can wear it, Jade. I'm sure we can tailor it for you. I'm sure you'll look good in that pink."

Jade went quiet and huffed at me. It was my turn to smirk.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get dressed." I grabbed a couple of my usual items. A nice big shirt I could move in and a pair of baggy pants that allowed me to have a full range of movement. I wouldn't be winning any modeling competitions, but who cared about that crap? I just wanted to keep my pack safe, no matter what.

"Isn't Alpha Andy and Beta Jahmal returning today?" Jade questioned.

"They are, but what does it matter? I don't care who leads the pack as long as they're competent and Alpha Dustins wouldn't put anyone in charge who couldn't cut it. Those two have been in training for two years. Do you really think they're not capable after all that? What's your aim this time, Jade?" My wolf always had some scheme she was trying to run, and I didn't think our birthday would be any different.

"I was just making conversation. Calm your tits. No wonder we haven't found our mate. Who would want a crazy woman like you?"

"I don't need one. I'm going to be the best warrior this pack has ever seen and if I find someone or not, who cares? Let's get going. We're going to be late, and I'm not getting detention on my birthday."

I raced down the stairs, jumping over the banister for the last five.

"Chloe!" Mom's screech was to be expected.

"Chloe!" My little sister parroted and ran at me, hugging my leg. "I got you a present for your birthday!" She pulled out a wilted bouquet out of her pocket. A petal fell off the poor, crushed things and fluttered to the ground.

I took them from her and sniffed with a big smile. "Thank you so much, Sapphy. I love them!" I stuck them in my shirt pocket so the little crushed heads peeped out. "See? Place of honor." I hugged the child tightly.

"Hey stop hogging her," my brother complained. He was only a couple years older than Sapphy but he acted like he was my age. "Here, Chloe. I got you something, too." He handed over a small box. "I made it in class."

I pulled the tiny cover off and smiled at the small bone-handled knife inside. "Thanks, Rudy." I hugged his shoulders. He might act grown, but he was still only half my size. "I'll be sure to keep it safe."

"Princess, where's the dress I got you?" My dad stared at me, his bottom lip quivering.

Ha! Faker. Like I was going to fall for that. "When I get back from school, it's going in the trash where it belongs, Dad. I'm not wearing that pink nightmare. Save it for Sapphy when she's older."

Dad turned his sniffling act on her. "Little Princess?" he questioned.

She turned her back on him and hugged me tighter. "No way, daddy. I want to be just like Chloe when I grow up. I'm not going to wear anything ugly like that."

He sighed and took a seat, putting his head in his hands. "Where did I go wrong?" he asked mom.

"Shush, dear. Chloe is almost a grown woman. You can't expect her to play princess with you anymore. Hurry up and get to school, Chloe. We'll have your cake when you come home."

I grabbed a piece of buttered toast and bit into it. "Talk some sense into him, mom."

Jade snorted. "That's about as likely as you wearing that dress. You know your dad is stubborn."

I smirked. "Yeah? So am I. There is no way I will ever wear that thing. Now come on, we gotta hurry up. If we're late again, we'll have to go volunteer at the dance. I will pull our fingernails out one by one before I let that happen." I swallowed my toast and crouched before taking off and racing down the road towards the school.