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Chapter Fifty-Four
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Fifty-Five
Reese’s POVReese laughed loudly as Russo choked on the tequila milkshakes they'd made and attempted to slap himself on the back. Reese finally stopped laughing and slapped him on the back, hard. “Dude, you can’t die on me. What if Troy brings Julian back?”Russo wiped the tears from his eyes. “I can’t believe you flashed him in the middle of a conference call!”“Trust me, I’ll never do that again,” Reese said as she stretched her legs out in front of her.“Okay, but seriously, how did you not know who Troy was?”Reese laughed again and felt her cheeks heat. “I was drunk and I really thought if I had a one night stand he’d cancel the wedding. I wasn’t ready to get married.”“No wonder you two fit so well together,” Russo said.“I thought he was an asshole at first,” Reese said and smiled again. “Especially when I realized he’d stolen my underwear.”Russo barked out another laugh. “He stole them to sniff them.”Reese laughed loudly and pressed her head against the pillow on her lap. “H
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Fifty-Six
Reese’s POVJust before dinner, Russo finally left her side, after she’d ordered him away. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts and emotions. She literally had nobody to turn to. Her mother was dead and Cleo … she didn’t know what Cleo was but she knew she couldn’t talk to her right now.She didn’t go down for dinner and Troy never came to look for her. She showered and allowed herself to cry one more time as the water cascaded over her. She was stronger than this. It wasn’t like she loved Troy or anything.Reese got dressed as her eyes shined with new hope. She wasn’t a victim and she wasn’t some stupid little woman who would sit at home and wait for a man. No man would have that kind of power over her.She wrote a quick note to Troy and gathered what she’d need. She jumped from the patio and winced when she landed. This time though she didn’t crack any bones and she jogged towards the forest line quickly.Reese avoided the night patrol and made her way down to the lake. She wait
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Fifty-Seven
Troy’s POVTroy typed up everyone’s statements. He worked on it for hours, past lunch and near dinner time, he realized he hadn’t seen Reese since that morning. A smile crept onto his face as he thought back to that morning.She was so much stronger than anyone gave her credit for. The Oracle giving him her name was the best thing that had ever happened to him. His smile waned as he thought of Amber and what he had to do. He couldn’t let this shit carry on.The High Council had granted his petition to have Reese’s parents’ remains moved to his pack and they would arrive the next day. Troy knew how important it was for Reese to give them a respectful funeral and he’d do everything in his power to give that to her.A knock on his door had him smiling. “Come in.” The door opened slowly and Emily stuck her head inside. Troy’s smile got bigger as he stood up from behind his desk and closed the distance between them.“Ems, it’s so good to see you,” Troy said as he hugged her tightly.“You t
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Fifty-Eight
Troy’s POVTroy paced up and down the hallway, anger and irritation exiting his pores and making everyone avoid him. His skin kept rippling and he wanted to choke the life from Russo’s eyes. He wanted to see it wane and disappear completely.He had tracked Reese’s scent all the way to the river and found Cleo’s scent there as well. He had followed her scent for a mile where it completely disappeared. His wolf was pissed off and he was pissed off.“Is he awake?” Troy asked once the door opened and Dr Tyrell stepped outside.“He’s awake, he has a nasty concussion but he’ll live.” The man sighed and shook his head.Troy’s growl had him quicken his steps and he opened the door and walked into the holding cell where Russo was chained against the wall. Russo’s expression was blank and his eyes betrayed no emotion.“Where did she go, Russo?”“I don’t know,” Russo said and clenched his jaw.“Why would she run? You said it was my fault and the way you said it, is why you’re here chained in thi
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Fifty-Nine
Drake’s POVHe’d stumbled to the couch, the rejection tearing through his soul. He gritted his teeth and fought to stay conscious. He kept his eyes on Emily, focusing on her voice and her face, a tether to keep him anchored in the light.Time seemed to stand still and the blood had dried to a crust on her bottom lip. The touch of her hand on his brought him back to his senses, soothed over the pain and his wolf settled. He squeezed her hand and shifted into a sitting position.“Fuck, how long was I out?” Troy’s office was empty except for them and Cleo’s scent, that now did not call to him anymore, was feint.“Almost two hours,” Emily said softly.Drake got to his feet, feeling a little unsteady and pulled Emily with him, not letting go of her hand. He rolled his head from side to side and heard the comforting crack of his neck as he opened the office door.Emily clutched his hand as they got on the elevator. Neither of them said a word and Drake tugged her behind him as he turned lef
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Sixty
Reese’s POVReese had been on the road for four days and she’d spent the fifth night at a motel. It was cheap, off the main road, and they took cash with no questions asked. It was perfect other than the squeaky bed, the dripping tap and the television that didn’t work.She’d slept through the night, the door barred with the one chair in the room and a knife under her pillow. She wasn’t really afraid of someone entering her room. She’d shift into her wolf if she had to, but she preferred not to.She’d caught the scent of a few wolves but they didn’t smell like pack wolves, which worked for her. Lone wolves wouldn’t question her movements or report her to anyone. She woke up the next morning, feeling much better.She’d showered, had an actual shower, washed her hair and shaved her legs. She’d been exhausted but that shower had made her feel human again. She’d been asleep the moment her head hit the pillow and now she stretched her arms languidly.She was in a small coastal town by the
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Sixty-One
Reese’s POVReese had ventured out again near lunchtime, walking down the streets and familiarizing herself with Peak's Cove. It was a quaint, beautiful little town and even though she’d recognized a few other wolves from their scents, they had all nodded at her but nothing more.Reese returned to the motel when the sun started setting to shower off the humidity of the day. She was planning on going back to the diner for dinner but not sweaty and grimy. Reese felt a shiver run up her spine just as she shut off the water in the shower.She had no idea what that meant but she got the idea again that she was being watched. The bathroom wasn’t big and she knew she was alone in the room. Nothing else stood out, there were no other sounds that she could hear except the loud thudding of her heart in her ears.Reese opened the bathroom door, tucking the one end of the towel under her arm and walked towards the bed. She looked up and screamed as she stumbled backwards. Troy leaned against the
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Sixty-Two
Reese’s POVHer blood was boiling. She was so angry that her skin rippled and she could feel her claws trying to push through her fingernails. She wanted to hurt Troy, maybe even cut his balls off. A small laugh escaped her lips and Troy glanced over at her.“What’s so funny?”Reese smirked then and turned her head to look at him. She extended her hand and scraped her nails over his thigh toward his groin. She could see the bulge in his pants grow and she leaned over him and cupped his semi-erect cock through his pants.“I was just imagining cutting your balls off,” she whispered and removed her hand.Troy gripped the steering wheel tighter and clenched his jaw but he didn’t say anything. Reese sat back in her seat feeling satisfied. He’d have to learn that she wasn’t meek and docile. She’d give as good as she got.Two hours passed in silence as Troy kept to the speed limit. He didn’t look at her once and Reese closed her eyes. She might as well try and sleep until they reached Black
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Once rejected, twice shy Chapter One Hundred and One
Reese’s POVWhen the air fryer pinged, she pulled the drawer open and turned the basket over onto a bowl. She started grinding up the dried petals. Russo just watched her as she kept it up until the petals were ground into a fine powder.She mixed it with a little water and mixed it until it was a smooth paste. She didn’t let up or rest once, she just kept on working. After an hour, she was finally happy and she sat down on the swivel chair and wiped her forehead with her arm.“What now?” Russo asked her.“Now we administer it and wait. I should’ve known sooner, Russo, so many people died because I couldn’t figure this out,” Reese said.“Let’s go see if it works,” Russo said and stood up.He carried the tray with the small bowls Reese had separated the paste into and they headed back to the infirmary. It was nine pm and the streets were quiet as Reese power walked to the building in front of them.She headed straight for Troy’s room and Russo placed the tray down on the trolley table
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter One Hundred
Reese’s POVFor a few moments outside of Troy’s room, Reese couldn’t move or breathe. She wasn’t sure what it was but she was certain that maybe their baby had something to do with Troy wanting to get better. It was one of the biggest blessings for an Alpha, a son to take over from him.“Let’s get you back, Reese. It’s been a long day for you,” Russo said.“I want to check in on Max as well. He has no family here and Troy would want me to,” Reese said softly.“A quick check in, you need to go rest, this emotional rollercoaster isn’t good for the baby,” Russo said.Reese gave him a small smile and nodded her head. She did feel tired and the constant hope and worry were wreaking havoc with her system. She wanted to take a long, hot bath and sleep. Every night she had the same hope, that Troy would magically be awake the next morning.Russo led her just three doors further and opened the door. Max lay alone in the room, looking much the same as Troy had. His oxygen had lowered to 39% and
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Ninety-Nine
Reese’s POVNothing changed over the course of the next week and Reese felt like there was nothing more she could do to help. She’d exhausted all her options and every mix she could think of had no effect on the patients.Her stomach had gotten a lot bigger over the last two weeks and she’d felt her baby move. Dr Tyrell came up to the Alpha Suite, after Russo had made sure that he was completely sanitized, to do ultrasounds and check on her.They had over fifty people in the hospital now as the flu spread and Reese cried herself to sleep every night. She was the key, so why wasn’t she finding it? She was pissed off at the world and her biggest fear was that Troy would die.Russo had limited her to one visit a week and she was due to go see Troy again after lunch. News had spread and the whole pack knew that Troy and King Maximilian were in isolation rooms and that they were stable for the moment but incapacitated.Drake hardly seemed to leave the office and a conversation with Emily h
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Ninety-Eight
Reese’s POVThe combinations she’d been working on had kept Max from deteriorating further but it wasn’t healing him. It kept him in a sort of limbo and Reese was grateful for that at least. It gave her some time and she spent every free hour in the lab.Reese pushed herself away from the microscope and her hand rubbed over her chest. Russo was at her side instantaneously, his hand at the small of her back.“What’s wrong, Reese?”“I don’t know. It’s a weird sensation …” Reese turned wide eyes towards Russo. “It’s not me, it’s Troy, something’s wrong with Troy!”Reese was physically lifted from the floor as her legs automatically started moving towards the door. “No, Reese! I can’t let you expose yourself!”“Russo! Put me down immediately!” Her nails clawed at Russo’s arms but he held firm.“Not a chance, Reese! You are my first priority. Troy’s in good hands!”A scream tore from Reese’s throat and her body sagged against Russo’s. He didn’t let go of her, he just tightened his arms and
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Ninety-Seven
Reese’s POV“I’m okay, Reese, I promise. It’s just a cough and you know Tyrell. He’s going to monitor me and everything will be fine,” Troy said.“I’m coming to see you,” Reese said.“No! You are not coming anywhere near this infirmary. I’ve given Tyrell permission to intubate me the moment I collapse. Keep yourself and our baby safe, promise me, Reese.”Reese tried not to cry but the tears didn’t obey her silent order and they ran down her cheeks unchecked. “I will, I promise.”“Good. It’ll only be for a few days. Drake will be acting Alpha and he has orders to lock you in our suite if you don’t do this for me, okay?”Reese nodded her head, knowing full well he couldn’t see her and she clenched her eyes tight. “Okay,” she finally whispered.“I have to go now,” Troy said with a sigh and the call ended.Reese sank down against the wall and lowered her head to her knees and cried. In that moment, she hated Amber with everything in her. It was her fault that Troy was sick, her fault that
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Ninety-Six
Troy’s POVTroy ran down the hall when he reached the other side of the floor and the door opened as he neared. Max was sitting on the couch, fully alert now with an oxygen mask over his face. He was a little pale and his hands shook but otherwise he looked okay.Max pulled the mask away from his face and looked at Troy. “I’m not going to the infirmary.”Troy gritted his teeth as he looked at his long-time friend. “Yes, you are. You are not dying, Max. I won’t allow it!”“If I get any worse, I’ll go but not before it’s absolutely necessary,” Max said.“Fine,” Troy relented and leaned against the wall.The other men in the suite didn’t look pleased but they refrained from saying anything because Max was their King and his word was the law. Troy didn’t like it one bit. Max needed to be monitored because he couldn’t let Max die on his watch.“The moment he so much as wheezes, I want him in the infirmary, you hear me?” Troy’s eyes darkened as he looked at each man.“Yes, Alpha. I’ll drag
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Ninety-Five
Reese’s POVThe week progressed slowly and then on that fateful Friday morning all hell broke loose. Amber was the first one to die from the flu. Her body was moved to the morgue and Dr Tyrell had taken precautions even in the autopsy room and wore protective gear to do her autopsy.They all knew the cause of death would be carbon dioxide poisoning. It had taken Amber eight days longer to die than victims from other packs and that was due to Reese’s plants. She hadn’t liked Amber, but she hadn’t wanted her dead.Troy hadn’t reacted, at all. He nodded his head and went to his office. Reese felt morose and knew that he had to feel something. She was sure that he was hiding his emotions so as not to upset her but this wasn’t something she’d be jealous of.He’d loved her at one point and they had been mates with no rejection between them. She wished he’d talk to her and tell her how he felt. She watched him every night as he ate. The exhaustion was there because Troy never stopped.He wor
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Ninety-Four
Drake’s POVThe days seemed to drag by. Work was trickling to a slower rate although they were kept busy with conference calls and meetings over Skype. They still had business dealings out in the world and they couldn’t just stop working. Humans weren’t affected by this flu epidemic and it made things difficult for them.At night he’d lie in bed next to Emily and think about the rising numbers of deaths in other packs and wondering what made them so special to hold the key. He’d already figured out that Reese would somehow come up with a cure.It was taking time though and he was worried about the sick warriors they had in the infirmary. He didn’t want any of his people to die, except maybe Amber. He didn’t care if she died, not after the shit she pulled.He shifted on his side and stared into Emily’s open eyes. Her hand cupped his cheek and he gripped it tightly. “What’s bothering you?”Drake sighed internally. “Besides the cock talk? Not much, really.”Emily smiled and his heart flu
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Ninety-Three
Reese’s POVRusso dressed Reese in a rainsuit with a mask, a plastic shield over the mask and a hairnet. She had to wear medical grade gloves and make her way to the lab in the mornings. She tried to stifle her laughter as Russo trudged behind her, the plastic of his own rainsuit squeaking with each step.“What’s the hairnet for?”“I have no fucking idea but it covers your hair, don’t bitch about it,” Russo said and adjusted his own hairnet.Reese laughed as she stopped inside her office and Russo started disinfecting everything. He did that every single day, even though nobody else came into their office or lab. She felt fine and even Troy had been cleared by the doctor.The number of sick had risen to twenty, all of them warriors that had worked shifts in the dungeon and had had contact with Amber. She was their patient zero and for now it seemed that the many respiratory plants were helping and the patients in the infirmary weren’t doing too badly.“All clear,” Russo said and took
