Rejecting The Alpha Twins (Regan) novel Chapter 2

Regan POV

I heard the front door shut and knew that meant the Alpha twins were gone, breathing a sigh of relief as I continued to fold clothes and iron them in the laundry room. Moments later, my stepmother’s face appeared, a more mature version of Isabelle’s, her green eyes blazing as she glared at me.

“What on earth was that?” she snarled, putting her hands on her hips and eyeing me fiercely.

I paused, putting the washing down, and looked at her questioningly.

“I’m sorry, what was what?” I asked dumbly.

I had made certain to remain out of the way while Isabelle visited with Xander and Xavier, keeping upstairs and out of their sight. As far as I knew, I hadn’t done anything wrong.

“The way you’ve been acting” she hissed, looking down her nose at me, “Isabelle told me how you insulted her and then you almost ran into the twins because you weren’t looking.”

“I didn’t insult” I began heatedly, but she held up a hand silencing me and my protests.

I bit the inside of my lip and fumed. It wouldn’t matter what I said, she would always defend her daughter and find something to complain about in regards to me.

“Don’t bother” she interrupted fiercely, “Go and get dinner ready. Your father will be home soon, and he’ll be hungry.”

I scurried past her, down to the kitchen, and began to cook, keeping my head lowered, aware that my stepmother was looking for any excuse to grow angry with me. There was no sign of Isabelle but that wasn’t unusual, considering that she often went to eat with her friends. By the time I had finished, my stepmother and father were sitting at the table, waiting with frowns on their faces. I carefully put a plate in front of each of them and then sat down at the end of the table alone. Just like I did every night. I stared down at my food, moving my fork around listlessly.

“How was work sweetheart?” my stepmother cooed, smiling brilliantly at my father.

My father grunted. “There’s been a few sightings of rogues. We’ve had to increase patrol and secure the perimeter extra tight. More men are patrolling the grounds, and we’ve started training some of the younger males so that they can learn to defend the pack” he sighed. “The work is never-ending” he shot me a glance of disapproval, “But the fewer that are killed during rogue attacks the better,” he said icily as the blood drained from my face.

I knew that was a deliberate shot at me. A reminder of what I had done.

Heather shot an uncomfortable look at me and then reached over and touched my father’s hand, drawing his attention back to her, and thankfully taking his focus off of me. I kept my head down, playing with my food, my appetite now gone. I could feel my chest tightening as I struggled to keep my breathing even.

“Honey, guess what” Heather said excitedly, as my father looked at her and raised a brow, his eyes softening as he gazed upon his mate.

“Hmm, I’m guessing it has something to do with Isabelle” he guessed, making Heather laugh out loud and throw her head back, her eyes dancing in amusement.

“Xander and Xavier came to speak to her today. Am I right in guessing that negotiations have been concluded?” she leaned forward, spearing my father with a fierce gaze, “Is my daughter to be the official Luna of the pack?” she asked, her voice rising in excitement.

My father grinned. There was a gleam in his eyes as he looked at his wife, his hand gently squeezing hers. Neither of them so much as spared me a glance or paid a whit of attention to me. I might as well have been invisible for all they cared. Isabelle was always at the forefront of their minds. It was a triumph for both of them, to have organized such a huge deal for the family and to be able to elevate their status with Isabelle's becoming Luna. My father was glowing with pride.