Adin POV

"Why, why did you do that you stupid fucking human?! You rejected our mate! A mate who is a tiger God, a very powerful mate and you just tore his heart out like he doesn't mean a thing to you! He could have helped us, helped us with our shitty fucking life but you had to go and ruin it! If I could, I'd kill you myself so you won't chicken out when you try! What happened to the promise you made to mother?" Chidike, my hyena screeched in my head as I ran out of my mates home, a huge beautiful home that smells warm and feels safe, a home I would never be able to provide for my siblings and myself.

As I ran down the stairs I saw photos of a lot of gorgeous men and beautiful babies, heard laughter from a room, and cries from a baby, my mate sure has a lot of people around him. That must be nice.

"I get it alright. It wasn't easy for me to do and if mother was here I know she'd have my hide. It's been ten years since father killed her. That day I promised her to take care of my siblings."

"Well, you sure as hell did a bang-up job." He said before closing the link.

Shit. I need to go get Ryan and Jason ready for school.

I tried shifting but Chidike isn't having it trying to teach me a lesson so I try to run all the way home.

When I finally got home they were waiting for me and sighed.

"Lecture me later, we gotta go."

I sighed and thanked my bud, William for driving my car home.

"Corrigan, you are aware you're late again?" The dean of the Academy lectured me as I walked into the office to sign them in.

"I'm sorry sir, I lost track of time."

"Three hours late Corrigan. This is your first and final warning." I sighed.

"Yes sir, thank you." I kissed my brothers and drove to work.

"Cutting it close don't you think Corrigan?" I internally groaned. Is it bitch at Adin day or something?

"I'm s..."

"Save it for someone who cares, you're lucky you're my nephew or you'd be out on the streets." Asshole, better out on the streets than being feeling like I owe you somehow.

"I sent what you need to do for the day on your phone." I nodded.

"Bossman chew you out again?" My best friend, Dominic asked.

"For being my uncle he sure hates me."

"He may be blood but sometimes they don't give a shit. It's like you have the plague."

Ever since my mother died he's been on my case like I murdered her myself. He says I look too much like my father.

"I'll catch you later bro, he wants me to make copies of shit and set up meets and other shit." I huffed.

"Have fun with that." He chuckled and I flipped him off.

When I finished my list of stuff to do I left and went to school. I should really change schools. Everyone is so judgemental and bitchy. It's suffocating.

"How the hell can you show yourself here after you cost us the game?" I groaned as I was met face to face with one of my tormentors.

"Not in the mood today Evan." I said and went to my class.

School was almost over, thank God.

"Adin, may I see you in my office?" The dean asked. Please don't tell me...

I followed him to his office.

"Payments for your classes have been withdrawn."

My stomach was in my throat. Could this day be any worse?

"Please sir, I need this." I pleaded.

"I'm sorry Adin but there's nothing I can do. Your parents, well you now are a hundred thousand dollars in debt." He said and I couldn't take it anymore. I just broke down in his office.

After he finished talking I drove to pick up the only people that matter to me anymore.

"Hey, guys how was school?" I tried to be my happy self.

"It was great." They smiled and that just made things better. Chidike still hasn't talked to me, I don't have a school to go to.

"That's great, I'm sorry I made you guys so late." They hugged me.

"We know you're trying. We love you Adin." I hugged them and we went inside.

"Do y'all have homework?" They shook their heads.

"Today we had afterschool remember? We did it already." Ryan said.

"I still want to check it over." They nodded.

"You guys did great." I smiled looking over their homework.

"Although, Ryan, you got four math problems wrong." I pointed them out.

"Oh, I'll fix them. They ran short of calculators. Mrs. Kira said there were like ten missing from the classroom." He said.

"Ok." I ruffled his hair.

"Are y'all hungry?" I asked.

"No, we're ok." I sighed.

"Your stomachs say otherwise. You guys don't have to deny food. We're ok." I smiled.

"Ok, we'll eat." I nodded.

"Ok, I'll make something and y'all can pick something for us to watch."

"Can we have stir-fry for dinner?" Jason asked.

"Sure bud." I got things out to make it and made a mental note to make two separate batches. Jason only eats white or lean meats and Ryan and I eat everything.

When I finished I brought them their food and we ate together while watching tv.

The boys went to shower and to bed while I did the dishes and once the kitchen was cleaned up, I sat on the couch and closed my eyes, feeling the pain of the rejection, the stupidest thing I have ever done.

"Coming." I got up from the couch and answered the door and Dominic was standing there.

"Come in." I opened the door wider and he walked in.

"What's up?" I asked and he looked me up and down.

"You tell me. You seem off today." He said as we sat down on the couch.

"I had a bad day and it started this morning."

"What do you mean? Things didn't go well with your mate?" He asked, shocking me he knew I found my mate.

"Um not really, I kinda rejected him after we had an amazing night mating. I woke up and my life hit me and I can't drag him into my mess."

"You rejected the top guy in his school for his grade, the guy who is the captain of his school's soccer team and a tiger God on top of it? Do you know how many people would kill to be his mate? He is a nice person, very humble and sexy. You are out of your mind." He huffed after his mini-rant.

"Yes, and what do I have to offer him? Not a damn thing so shut up, it wasn't easy for me Dom, it was the hardest thing I've had to do in my entire life. Seeing his face and feeling his tigers pain and his when I said the words, it killed me inside but that will make him hate me. He can move on to find his second chance mate if he has one. I just couldn't have him in my pathetic life."

"He is your mate, he is made for you and you him. I hope you know what you're doing by rejecting him. Did he accept it?" He asked and I nodded and bit my lip.

"Yea, I can't get his face out of my mind. Every time I close my eyes, his handsome face is all I see, so broken and he was crying. I was horrible with what I said to him, horrible enough for him to forget all about me just like I will him." At least that's what I thought.

"Doesn't work that way and you know it. Do you need anything? The boys?" He asked and I wanted to tell him a new life which I would have had if it weren't for my dumb self.

"No, we're ok, thanks though. It's getting late so you should go so you can get some sleep. I'll see you around." I won't see him in school so no more soccer which means the boys won't be late again and that means they have a chance at a better life than I have.

"See you tomorrow Adin."

"Thanks for coming to check on me, it means a lot." I said as I walked him to the door.

"No problem, you know I'll always be there for you and your brothers." We hugged and he left. I sighed and went to shower and go to bed, I have no idea what I'm going to do now.

*3 weeks later*

"Are you ok?" Jason asked.

I've been throwing up all morning. This is not the time. I start a new job today dammit. I had enough of my 'uncle' abusing his power just because he blamed me for my mother's death so I took him to court for wrongful termination and won of course. He tried countersuing for acquaintance rape and he lost again the court awarded me a settlement of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

"I'm fine bro." I said after brushing my teeth for the millionth time.

"Ok well, Dominic is here to take us to school so see you later." I kissed them goodbye.

When they left I got up off the bathroom floor getting ready to go to work. I have to at least make an attempt to show my boss I want and need this job.

"Morning Adin." The receptionist greeted me.

"Morning Lisa." I smiled.

I took the elevator to the top floor.

"Sorry I'm late Mr. Lancaster."

"Please, I told you, call me Matty." He chuckled.

"I have the blueprints you asked for and your meeting with Oceanside Resort has been pushed back to two in the afternoon." I smiled.

"Are you trying to butter me up Adin?" He teased.

"Nope, just doing my job." I chuckled, walking to my desk.

Life is starting to look up for me. I paid my debt at school but chose to do online school because I'll be damned if I see Evan and his damn minions again. I only stayed for soccer but I don't need to be on their team. I can join another team.

"Adin walk with me will you?" I got up and followed Matty.

"Is something wrong?" I gulped feeling I'm about to be fired.

"Not at all, don't look so pale. I take it upon myself to get to know the people who work for me. Everyone here is like my extended family. You're always so quick to get out of here we never have the chance to talk." I blushed and nodded.

"Sorry about that, I haven't been feeling well and I have to pick up my siblings from school." He nodded.

"I understand perfectly. My family is ever growing so we have a lot of young ones." He chuckled and I nodded.

"So you're a part of the O'Brian pack?" I asked.

"I am." He smiled.

"Your pack is literally royalty to my clan." I smile.

"What clan do you belong to?" I sighed.

"My mom passed when I was seven and my dad died in jail from the loss of his mate." He looked at me and I was dreading the next question.

"So who's taking care of you and your siblings?" I bit my lip.

"My mom left a will and I got a house out of it and the family car so it's just me."

"So you only being sixteen are taking care of your ten year old brothers...?" He asked.

"Please don't tell anyone, I know I have to be eighteen but I promised my mom." I was starting to panic they'll be taken and possibly separated.

"I'll make you a deal, ok?" I bit my lip but nodded.

"You and your siblings move in with my husband and I until you can get on your feet after you graduate. If you can do that and prove to me you can build a stable life for you and your siblings we won't have a problem. You can keep the house and car if you want." It was a tempting offer but for nine years it's just been me and my siblings.

"Ok, I'll do it." I sighed.

"I knew you'd see it my way." He smiled and went to a diner to have lunch.

One thing I learned about Matty was even though he's loaded he doesn't flaunt it or spend it haphazardly.

"After work I'll follow you home." I just nodded because I felt sick and ran to the bathroom.

Fuck, he's going to know something is up and report me. How am I going to take care of a baby and two ten year olds? That's if I'm pregnant. I took store-bought tests but they all say different things.

"You're pregnant aren't you?" I heard Matty ask on the opposite side of the door.

"I don't know, I've just been feeling sick for the past week or so." I threw up again.

"Where's your mate?" I gulped debating on if I should tell him.

"I don't know, he's not here that's for sure." I said.

It wasn't a complete lie, he doesn't know that I may be pregnant and he's not here because of me.

"Where is he?" He pushed as I rinsed my mouth out. I didn't look at him, I can't admit it to anyone else right now when it hurts too much.

"Did he reject you for being pregnant?"

"That and because of what kind of shifter I am." I know lying about it isn't a good idea but I can't tell the truth.

"Who is this son of a bitch?"

"Can you just stop asking questions, I don't want to talk about it. Just drop it alright?" I was getting aggravated, I don't need to be asked twenty one questions right now.

"You should really learn how to be respectful to adults young man. I was just trying to figure out what is going on with you when you are going to be moving in with me. I don't need some hot headed asshole showing up at my home demanding to see you. I have a family to think about."

"Well this 'hot headed asshole' won't show up looking for me. He probably hopes he never sees me again which I'm fine with. I don't need his ass."

"No you don't, come on let's go get you some ginger ale and something to replace what you just lost. It'll be ok Adin, you have support now." He said as he put his arm around my shoulder and we walked out of the bathroom.

"I'll make you an appointment to get checked and get you on something for your nausea and to check to see how many you're carrying. Do you know the rank of your mate, just so we have an idea on how long you'll be pregnant to get prepped for the birth and the baby." Yea a tiger God so maybe two three months with his freaking power but shit I can't say who my mate is.

"Some Alpha, I met him at our soccer game against his school." I said and he nodded.

"Ok so roughly five months." More like three I'm sure. My stomach is already tight and a little pudgy and it's been three weeks so I'm going to start showing really soon.

"Possibly yea. Thanks." I said when he handed me some ginger ale and crackers.

"You're welcome. You're not in this alone Adin, you have help ok so just take a breath and relax." Matty said and I sighed, it would be nice to relax but I can't, not yet.

The rest of the day went by fast and we went to my house after I picked up Ryan and Jason from school. To say they were excited to be moving out of the house and into a better one is an understatement, they didn't take long in packing what little they had and me as well. I also packed up important things like documents and photos and grabbed Caleb's sweatshirt I accidentally picked up on my way out of his room but I'm glad I have it, it still smells like him.

"You boys ready?" Matty asked when we all walked into the living room.

"Yea, let's go!" The twins cheered making Matty chuckle.

I locked the door after I made sure everything was off and got into my car and followed Matty home, to my new life for who knows how long.