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Chapter Twenty-Seven
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Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Twenty-Eight
Reese’s POVThe office Troy showed her to was at the back of the packhouse and held two desks, one for Julian, as she soon found out. Since he was her Gamma, it was his duty to also act as a buffer between her and pack members wanting appointments, much like Drake did for Troy.They had a small kitchenette with a very nice coffee station and another door that led to somewhere. Troy gave her a grin and stood in front of the door. “I know your office is a little out of the way and normally you’d have the office next to mine, but …”Reese’s heart sank a little. If her office was right next to his then they’d be close the whole day. She didn’t want to think about what that meant. They hadn’t talked about Amber again and Reese wasn’t sure she wanted to.“Reese.” Troy looked at her and she blinked as she snapped out of it. “We needed more space for your lab than the other office allowed for.”“My lab?” Reese felt like she’d been sucker punched but with tingles and marshmallows of happiness.
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Twenty-Nine
Troy’s POV“Max,” Troy answered his phone just as Reese and Julian rounded the corner.“I hear congratulations are in order,” Max said and Troy smiled.“Everything’s going according to plan except that Amber has returned to the pack and she’s making waves,” Troy said.“Troy, if you want to back out, I’d understand. Marriage is one thing but Amber is your mate,” Max said.“The Oracle was adamant. Our survival rests on this. Reese needs to be here with me in Black Claw. I could never put our species in danger like that. I agreed to your proposal to marry Reese and I’m not backing out, not now,” Troy said.“Sounds like this arranged marriage is working for you,” Max said with a light chuckle.“She’s … she’s a good person. She’s smart and caring, she’s beautiful too and … she’s nice, okay.”Max laughed and Troy closed his eyes briefly. “You’re in love with her.”Troy wiped a hand over his face. “Yes, I am.”“So Amber being there isn’t a distraction?”“Not like I thought it would be. I can
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Thirty
Reese’s POVReese was so engrossed as she studied the spores under the microscope that she hadn’t heard the door to her lab open. The flower she’d found in the late afternoon held her captive. It was a flower she didn’t know, which was odd in itself, and that intrigued her.“You do realize that you missed dinner,” Troy said from behind her and she let out a yelp and sat up straight so fast that the back of her head hit him on the chest.“Shit, Troy, you scared me!”He chuckled and placed his hands on her shoulders where she still sat on her stool. “What’s so interesting that you stood me up?”Reese smiled and moved her neck from side to side. “I’ve never come across this flower, not even in books and I hate that I don’t know.”Troy’s thumbs dug into the muscles of her shoulders and Reese closed her eyes as she felt the tight balls of spasms. She’d been sitting, hunched over, for hours. She hadn’t even realized that she’d missed dinner since she’d sent Julian away when the sun set.His
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Thirty-One
Bryan Bergenson’s POVHe’d been Alpha for two weeks and his first action as Alpha had been to send his parents away. His father had been furious, but he was glad to be rid of the meddling old man. He clenched his fist on the table and looked at the file in front of him.“Where did you go, little wolf?” he asked out loud.Reese Willowby was his true mate but he had rejected her in favour of Michelle, an Alpha’s daughter. He had to think of his future children, and Alpha genes on both sides were always better. At first he’d cursed the Moon Goddess for pairing him with a Beta daughter but when he realized that Michelle wanted the bond with him just as much as he did, he felt better.His plan had been to keep Reese close, she was his mate after all and her presence would ground him like Michelle’s never would. Their marriage ceremony had been uneventful and the marking process later that night hadn’t been as exciting as he thought it would be.Michelle was good in bed, but the erotic sen
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Thirty-Two
Amber’s POVThe vase that had once adorned a side table near the sliding doors of the patio now lay in shards against the far wall. Her fists were still clenched by her side as anger flowed through her veins. Her hair was disheveled and her mouth was set in a grim line.None of her plans had worked so far. Why, after six years, did Troy suddenly decide to move on and with an arranged bride? She might have understood it better if he’d fallen in love with someone, dated and then decided to take the leap into marriage.Her wolf had retreated that day in Troy’s suite. That woman’s scent was all over the place, infuriating her wolf. What was so special about the slut in any way? She knew they didn’t love each other, Troy had told her, so why?It didn’t make sense. They were fated to be together and if Justin had just kept it in his pants then she would have been Luna by now. She was the rightful Luna and no two-bit slag from wherever was going to change that.A knock on her suite door star
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Thirty-Three
Reese’s POVAnother week had gone by and Reese had noticed the subtle change in the Omegas behaviour. She kept to her routine, went for her run in the mornings, ate breakfast with Drake and Troy and then showered and went down to her office.Her diary had finally been filled with her first five appointments and she was excited to see what would happen. She was the Luna now and it was only right that some of Troy’s workload was assigned to her, she wanted to help.Reese wasn’t bothered by the odd looks at first or the whispers that seemed to follow her, nobody was outright rude to her or anything but something definitely felt off. Amber had kept to her word after her discussion with Troy.She sat at a normal table with Katherine and some warriors, bowed her head when she or Troy entered the dining hall and made no snotty remarks about them. It was a relief really.Reese hummed a tune in her head as she headed downstairs and on a whim decided to go to Troy’s office first. He’d left earl
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Thirty-Four
Drake’s POVDrake stood under the water in his shower and lifted his head into the spray. He was tired, somewhat depressed and bored. Troy was being kept busy with international investors, King Maxim and their other businesses.He needed to find his mate, his wolf was already agitated and becoming more ruthless as time went by. He travelled with Troy, extensively and on his own. It’s been years and he’d started to believe that she was dead or had taken a chosen mate. He’d never know.It was still early when he headed to the Alpha office and read the text Troy had sent him. He had three business meetings in the city and would only be back late that night. He settled in behind his desk and opened his laptop.He hated paperwork, he preferred field work, fighting, loved the bloodlust that surged through his wolf’s veins, loved the hunt and the thrill of being in the midst of battle. Peace was good too, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t sometimes wish that a group of rogues would brea
Once rejected, twice shy Chapter Thirty-Five
Troy’s POVTroy leaned over the bed and kissed Reese’s forehead as she slept. He left the suite and met Drake in the small foyer. He was still in his pajamas and he handed Troy a travel mug of coffee. “Let me know when you get there.”“Don’t let Reese eat alone in the dining hall. Amber’s been playing nice but just for in case,” Troy said.Drake nodded his head and grinned as Troy stepped into the elevator. “So, no kissing?”Troy chuckled and raised his middle finger as the doors slid closed. Two warriors waited for him by the front door of the packhouse and one opened the door of the SUV they’d be traveling in. Troy slid into the backseat and looked up at the large sliding doors on the balcony of his suite.There was no light on and he felt satisfied that he hadn’t woken Reese. She spent too much time in her lab and even Julian struggled to coax her out of it. She only left if Troy himself went to get her for lunch or dinner.They drove the two hours to the city in silence and stoppe
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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
