Rejected, My Jaded Love
Episode 35

I surprised mom and dad by showing up at the packhouse this weekend. I hadn’t been here since Christmas, so I know mom and dad missed me and were happy to see me. I thought Dixon and Bree missed me, but they had both been upset with me since I arrived. I know Dixon was mad that I missed the Gamma Ceremony.

We had just finished dinner and I had gotten a return text from Ashley. I had sent her a message that I was coming in tonight for a visit, and asked if she was up for dessert together? She replied with “Yes, I would” so I had that definite setup.

I just finished putting my phone back into my pocket when my sister leans over and says “What has you smiling Asher? Got a hot date?” and I see my mom glancing over at me.

“What is up with you Bree? It is none of your business I am about to be 20 and I am an adult, you need to just mind your own business” I tell her in a low tone.

“No, it IS our business when you are getting a friend of ours bullied Asher,” Dixon tells me, and he is not trying to keep his voice down at all.

“What in the world are you talking about Dixon? What friend and what could I have I done that could have possibly caused a problem?” I ask Dixon.

I know my parents are now listening in on my conversation, but I have NO idea what my brother and Sister are talking about. Who is being bullied, and by whom, and why would they think I was involved in some stupid, petty, high school drama?

“Jade was confronted at school by Ashley’s sister Brittany. Apparently, Ashley is again mistakenly thinking that she is soon to be the Luna. Jade had just approached her brothers in the dining room. Ashley and Claire, who were flirting with Tyler and Tate Harris from the Dark Moon pack, got mad that Jade approached the guys while they were talking to them and started in on her and said some rude things to her. From what Ashley and Claire said to Jade, both guys told them to just get away from them and said something to the effect of pretty on the outside, but ugly on the inside to the girls. When Ashley told Brittany what had happened, she totally lied and said it was Jade that started it and that Jade made them threaten Ashley and Claire. Brittany then mentioned Jade needing to watch her back because Ashley was going to be the next Luna, and implied that Jade would get what is coming to her then. So, yea, you must have said something for Ashley to think that.” Dixon says.

I glance down the table at my mom and see her mouth in a thin line. She can’t stand Ashley and knows that Ashley had been around and slept with several members of the pack and doesn’t think that she will be a good Luna. Now I am sorry I came. I am going to have to listen to a lecture and I am going nowhere tonight. Why did Ashley have to say anything to anybody, and who is Jade?

Great there is no way to get the conversation changed to another subject, I am going to have to engage.

“Look I might have mentioned to Ashley that maybe, in a few years, if I haven’t found my mate, I would go ahead and make her my chosen mate, but that would be a long time from now. She is a highly-trained warrior and I know she would be able to help protect this pack. But I didn’t say for 100% that she WOULD become the Luna. I still have several years to look for my mate. I am still going to try to find my actual mate.” I tell them and look down the table at my mom and dad trying to put on my sincere face, hoping that my words convinced them that they did NOT need to sit me down and give me the lecture that I KNOW is coming.

“Maybe this Jade person is the one that lied? Did you think of that? Maybe she is the one that started this whole problem? I ask.

“Do NOT EVER accuse Jade of lying or being a bully” Dixon grounds out.

I am surprised at his tone and words as he is normally the most easygoing person in our family. I didn’t expect him to growl or ever be aggressive towards me. “Um, do you think that having a crush on whoever this Jade person is could be preventing you from looking at this clearly?” I ask him.

I hear a chair scrape and Dixon jumps up and starts yelling at me, “I don’t have a crush on Jade, she is my best friend, and she is the best person that I know. She is not a bully, she has been bullied, she has gone through so much at her last pack and you just have no empathy or concern for anyone else. You are the same as Ashley, if it wouldn’t run this pack totally into the ground I would wish her on you as a mate, but you both know you are not mates. Bed buddy’s yes, but not mates. I cannot wait until you finally pull your huge, ego-having, big head out of your own a*s. How can Bree and I be as good as we are, and you be such an a*****e? How? Goddess, please answer me?” Dixon then turns and walks away going up to his room.

No one speaks for a few minutes and then Bree pipes up, “Dixon is right, you are a total a*****e, and I am embarrassed to call you, my brother. You didn’t even give our side of the story, or Jade the benefit of the doubt, you just believed that slut. She is a lying, manipulative, b***h, and she went the extra mile to cause Jade grief at school when her whole life had been nothing but traumatic, and you think it would have made her be an a*****e too, but she is the nicest person, the most grateful person that I have ever met. She sends Brittany, and her b***h patrol, almost daily to bully her. Yea, Ashley is such a great person. You deserve her. You can just visit with Mason or Brax, but I will tell you now, that they love her too. In fact, every single person at this table does but you, and you are willing to judge her because you believe in Ashley, well I feel sick. You don’t have to worry about fitting me into your schedule Asher, I would rather hang out with Jade 100 times to 1 day with you. You better straighten this up, Asher. Because if you don’t and they keep it up on Jade and keep bullying her, I will be backing Jade, I will be defending Jade, and Ashley, as good as she is at fighting, ISN’T better than me at it”. Bree gets up from her chair and stands and looks down at me. “I used to look up to you, you were my big brother and I love you regardless of what you have done. But backing a bullying w***e is not your greatest accomplishment”. Bree then turns and goes up to her room as well. I look around at the table and my Uncle Bryan, Aunt Aubrey, and my cousin Nicole all get up and leave as well. I hadn’t said anything bad about the girl, I don’t even know her. Why is everyone so passionate about defending this girl, Jade?

“Mom” I start.

“Asher, we will talk in the morning. I hope you remember what I have already told you. You know how I feel about that girl Ashley, it is why she is texting you instead of approaching this table. She knows what she has done, she is a malicious and sneaky girl. She makes herself available to a lot of men and was doing just that when Jade innocently walked up to Tyler and Tate, Ashley and Claire were just mad that she interrupted them. Asher, I want you to meet your father and I, at 10 am, in the Office.

We will explain then why everyone is so protective about Jade. We need you to make better choices for yourself, especially in a chosen mate son”. My mom finishes and she and dad get up to go to their room.