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Chapter Forty-Two
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Forty-Three
Reese’s POVReese had showered and changed her clothes while Troy sat on the bed. His eyes were sad and his expression was one of hurt and anger. He wasn’t mad at her though. He was pissed off at Bryan and the truth that Drake had figured out.She hadn’t dressed to impress, she wore a summer dress that ended below her knees and the neckline was high. Flat sandals adorned her feet and she’d left her hair loose. She hadn’t bothered with make-up either.“Reese,” Troy said and stood up from the bed.She lowered her head, not wanting to talk to him about anything. She didn’t want to discuss Bryan or Amber. Troy’s finger lifted her chin and she looked into his eyes. She could feel the bond pulsate between them.“I didn’t cheat on you. I love you and I’m here for you. Hate me if you have to but at least give me the chance to prove my innocence. I know it looks bad, fuck Reese, I’m not an idiot and I’m not a cheater,” Troy said softly.It was useless to fight it. She wouldn’t win, not against
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Forty-Four
Troy’s POVThey left the dining room in silence, his hand clamped tightly around Reese’s. He didn’t like Bryan and he didn’t like the atmosphere in this pack. Michelle had blatantly stared at him throughout dinner, like she was undressing him with her eyes.It made his skin crawl and he shuddered slightly. Reese glanced at him, having felt it and she tried to hide her smile. “That bad huh?”“Worse.”Drake shook his head and Russo chuckled. “I thought she was going to try and sit on your lap at one point.”“I thought Reese was going to crawl over the table and rip her hand clean off,” Drake said with a grin.“Something’s not right here. I don’t know what it is, but something’s off,” Troy said.“Cleo texted me earlier. I’m going down to her room on the first floor to see her,” Reese said.Troy nodded his head. “Take Russo with you. I don’t trust Bryan’s friendliness but I can’t exactly refuse a meeting. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”“Troy, is there a way we can take Cleo with us?” Ree
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Forty-Five
Reese’s POVHer lips still tingled from Troy’s kiss and she briefly closed her eyes to try and gather her thoughts. What could Bryan possibly want to discuss with Troy? If it was news about her parents then he could’ve told them all at dinner.Russo’s hand gently touched her shoulder and her eyes snapped open. “I never believed you had an affair with Drake.”“Why not? Drake’s an attractive man,” Reese said as she watched him intently.“I don’t know about that. I prefer a more feminine form myself but first off, the way you look at Troy … there’s no way you’d cheat on him and secondly, Drake’s a hell of a Beta, loyal to a fault, to both of you. I know you’re pissed at Julian but I’m not him so all I’m asking for is a fair chance.”“You’ll get it from me.” Reese said and Russo smiled. He looked like a giant teddy bear when he smiled and Reese knew then that Russo would be with her for a long time.“So this friend of yours, she’s not happy here?” Russo asked her.“She’s not unhappy per s
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Forty-Six
Reese’s POVShe could feel Russo’s presence in the sitting room. He had kicked the door open and Bryan was flung away from her. Russo’s face appeared and she closed her eyes in relief. She was safe now. Her dress was pulled down and then Russo was gone.She smelled blood and she could hear grunts. “Russo …” she whispered. She didn’t want him to get hurt but the facts were that he was a Gamma taking on an Alpha. She had no idea how strong his aura was but at least he was twice Bryan’s size.Reese tried to turn her head but she couldn’t see anything. Russo’s bulk blocked her view and she cried with relief that he seemed unharmed. His hands slid underneath her body and then she was lifted into his arms.“I’ve got you, Reese. You’re okay,” Russo said gently.She turned her head into his chest and he held her tightly as he ran up the stairs towards their suite. In the hallway she could hear Troy and Drake’s voices. She was too exhausted to turn her head but she could hear Russo’s rumbling
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Forty-Seven
Troy’s POVHe’d felt Reese’s fear and then her relief and Russo’s mindlink had been instantaneous. He had rushed back to the Alpha Suite with Drake and saw that Reese was drugged half out of her mind. His wolf had growled loudly in his head and all he wanted was Bryan’s blood.He followed Reese’s scent back to the first floor where Bryan had just started to stir. Russo had done a real number on him. His left cheek was caved in, blood flowing from his nose and mouth, bruises littered his chest and jaw.“You fucking piece of shit,” Troy growled and grabbed him by the front of his shirt.Troy had beaten Bryan until he was unconscious again and stood up as Drake rushed into the room looking around with wild eyes. His eyes found Bryan on the floor and Troy straightened up, his knuckles raw and bloody.“How’s Reese?”“She’ll be fine. Russo’s with her. Is there someone else here?”Troy frowned and his head turned to the door where he could hear a heartbeat. “In the room probably. Why?”Drake
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Forty-Eight
Reese’s POVReese and Troy were alone in the SUV with Russo driving them. She had no idea where Drake was but she knew that Troy wouldn’t leave without him. He had to be in one of the other two SUV’s with the warriors.Her mind was still fuzzy and she didn’t remember much from just after Russo carried her out of Cleo’s rooms. She shuddered again as she thought of Cleo’s face, tear streaked and apologetic. She didn’t want to be mad at her friend, but she couldn’t help it.“Everything feels fuzzy. I thought you were meeting with Bryan in his office?” Reese directed the question at Troy and his eyes darkened once more.“Michelle tried to seduce me,” Troy said through gritted teeth.“What?” Reese was stunned and then she lowered her gaze. Intense jealousy raged through her at the thought of Michelle’s hands on Troy.“She climbed onto my lap and started touching herself. I had to physically push her off me,” Troy continued.“That fucking bitch,” Reese whispered.Troy chuckled then and Rees
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Forty-Nine
Drake’s POVThe silence was killing him. Cleo had finally stopped crying, the occasional sniffle could still be heard but he was in a car with two guards and he didn’t know anything about this woman. He’d swooped in and claimed her in front of Jeffrey and here they were.She hadn’t fought him, hadn’t said a word but he could feel the bond between them, the magical tingles that only a mate’s touch could ignite, swirl over his skin every time they touched. He hadn’t even given her time to pack anything.This whole thing reeked of something sinister. Drake rubbed his hands over his face and glanced over at Cleo. He didn’t even know her last name or her age. Fuck, he’d never felt so out of his depth before and especially never over a woman.He hadn’t been thinking clearly. He had a girlfriend at Black Claw. Emily was sweet, kind and he’d considered taking her as a chosen mate. They’d been seeing each other for a year and she was due to return to the pack grounds in two days.“Where are we
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Fifty
Reese’s POVUpstairs in their quarters, Reese changed into pajamas while Troy headed straight for the bathroom and seconds later she heard the shower. She wanted to sleep and forget Bryan even existed, she just wanted one night’s restful sleep.Reese slid into their bed and closed her eyes. She felt at home and when the bed shifted a few moments later, she exhaled with a soft sigh. Troy moved up to right behind her and she snuggled against him. His arm snaked over her hip and then tucked it underneath her other side.Troy’s breath fanned over the back of her neck and goosebumps broke out over her skin. “I just want to hold you tonight.”She fell asleep in Troy’s arms and she was thankful that she had no nightmares. Troy’s presence calmed her and when she woke up with the sun, she felt well rested and refreshed. The drugs were completely out of her system and she smiled.Troy’s arm was still around her and she shifted slightly and turned her head to look at him. His eyes were open and
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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
