The Failed Rejection
Chapter 16

Penelope got back from Illinois and instead of grieving she went right back to reading. Penelope spent the whole time reading, right up until it was the first day of classes. Penelope tried to stay confident, but it was hard for her. In all of her research, everyone said the first year of medical school is the hardest. So standing in one of the top medical schools in the country is intimidating.

“Human we are an apex predator. These humans should be intimidated by us,” Koko told her as she stood outside her first class. Pharmacology. One she wasn’t enthused about. Pharmacology wasn’t just about the different medicines, but also how it interacted with the body. The human body. When she became a doctor and went back to her pack

Penelope would have to take another class about how all medicines would interact with the werewolf body. While we look the same our physiologies are different. It isn’t just that our metabolism is faster and burns off standard pain pills in minutes. Doctor Campbell had told her that once he had described a simple antidepressant. Prozac. One that had been around for years. However, since werewolf’s brains are different it didn’t touch her serotonin levels. It made them bottom out. The wolf barely functioned for weeks before the doctor figured out the drug had the opposite affect on us werewolf’s.

Penelope walked into the fairly large classroom. It wasn’t a lecture hall like in northwestern, but it wasn’t a small class room either. Penelope sat in the very middle of the class. It’s generally where she liked to be. Penelope didn’t like to be called out too much, but she did like to participate in class. Penelope got out her new voice recorder. It cost over two hundred dollars but ever blog suggested that first year students buy one.

When the lecture began she was definitely glad she did. She was desperately trying to keep up with the slides on the projector she missed half of what the professor said. She double checked that the lecture was recorded and let out a sigh of relief.

Penelope checked the time and ran to her next class Anatomy. She wasn’t as nervous for this class. She had some experience with the body, but she always had more to learn. This class was more interesting and engaging. It wasn’t rote memorization. It was about the different parts of the body.

Penelope had one more class for the day, microbiology. However, she had some time before she had it. So she decided to grab some food. Penelope had saw some food trucks when she came in this morning, hopefully they would be open.

Penelope grabbed some tacos from the taco truck. Damn sometimes it is just expensive being a werewolf. We eat just so much more than everyone else. Penelope sat down with her tacos and started eating.

“Damn woman you going to eat all that?” The douche from the orientation came up to her and sat down. Penelope ignored him and continued to eat her tacos.

“Come on, don’t ignore sweetheart,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m not your sweetheart. What do you want?” Penelope said not bothering to stop eating her food. She knew it was very disrespectful, and she could tell it pissed him off.

“Nothing I saw you and thought I’d stop and steal some of your food.”

“A big strong man like you? Aren’t you supposed to provide for your woman?” Penelope stopped for a moment.

“When they are worth it, damn girl where do you put all that food?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Penelope saw the other two of his i***t friends coming up.

“Looks it’s tweedle dee and tweedle dum.”

“Hey at least I have friends, where are yours?”

“My family is back in Illinois and my fiancée is in Corona.” Penelope had no idea why she shared that information with these people. Noah wasn’t even her fiancée.

“He’s our mate.” Koko whined.

“Yeah, that we haven’t talked to in weeks,” Penelope retorted. Suddenly there were fingers in front of her eyes. She snatched the wrist and pulled it back.

“Damn girl, ow!” The main tormentor said.

“Don’t touch me, ever!” Penelope said in a frigid voice. These humans weren’t her friends.

“Sorry, we were just asking if your fiancée was a soldier.” The one on the left asked. Penelope shook her head.

“No, he’s a trauma surgeon with Doctors Without Borders. He was sent to Corona a few months ago.” The trio were silent and Penelope finished her food, and decided to get to her class.

“Where you headed?” The one on the right asked.

“Microbiology.” Penelope threw her trash away.

“Me too, you mind if I walk with you?” Penelope didn’t say anything but went ahead and let him fall into step with her.

“I’m Chris, you?”

“Penelope.”

“So Penelope I just want to say sorry about Max back there, he’s always been a..”

“Prick?”

“Arrogant.” Penelope laughed,

“Whatever you say. But we are in a school full of them.”

“So I was wondering how did you do all that stuff you mentioned when we met at the orientation?”

“I’m an EMT, it’s how I paid through school. Well that and some student loans of course. That and I work at a small clinic in a town where I live.” They stopped talking for a minute as they entered the school building.

“What about you? Were you a medic?” Chris shook his head,

“No Max is the medic, I was a combat life saver.” Penelope looked confused, Chris laughed,

“It’s kind of the army equivalent of an EMT. Generally we show up, get the wounded stabilized until medics show up.”

“Oh gotcha, did you three serve together ,” Penelope asked.

“No, but we did end up at the same college, so we gravitated toward each other.” The entered the class room and sat down for class. Microbiology had a lecture then lab directly afterwards. It made for a long afternoon.

“Do you want to partner for lab?” Chris asked.

“Are you going to be a jerk?” Penelope asked.

“No I will be on my best behavior,” Chris replied. Penelope nodded and let him sit next to her in class. The class wasn’t that hard, and neither was the lab.

“What other classes do you have this semester?” Chris asked.

“Well today I had anatomy, which wasn’t bad. But before that I had pharmacology, that’s just the worst.” Chris let out a g***n,

“At least I’m not the only one who thinks so, I have that tomorrow and I’m not looking forward to it.”

“Yeah it was awful. Tomorrow I have immunology and Physiology. Then I have to meet with Doctor Cho about my clinical work.”

“I had immunology today, I have histology and anatomy tomorrow. Penelope I hope this isn’t too forward, but can we exchange numbers since we are lab partners?” Penelope let out a little laugh,

“Of course it’s not like you are asking me out.” They quickly exchanged numbers and went on their way.

Penelope went to the closest place to eat and grabbed some food. She didn’t feel like ramen tonight. She took her to go bag and quickly returned to her room. She pulled out a fresh notebook and started transcribing today’s lectures. Penelope did not want to get behind.

She was in the middle of the first lecture when she saw her phone light up. Liliana was FaceTiming her. Penelope quickly picked it up. Soon the screen was filled with Liliana, Callum, and Jocelyn.

“Pen!”

“Pee!”

“Penne!” Penelope heard everyone cry for her and Penelope just wanted to cry from the joy it felt.

“How was your first day of medical school?” Lili asked.

“We are so proud of you!” Penelope heard and then the phone was moved and she saw Jackson was there too. Penelope also saw Killian and Nathan were there.

“Sorry.” Penelope heard and then the phone went back to Lili and the kids. “I know you are doing your homework but the kids couldn’t wait any longer to call you.”

“Miss you!” Jocelyn said simply.

“Want you to come home,” Callum said and it broke her heart.

“Callum, remember we said aunt Penelope has to be gone for a little while but she will be back soon. We will visit her soon.” Penelope’s head shot up,

“You will?” Lili let out a shrug,

“It was supposed to be a surprise. You let us know when you have a day off from school and we will come see you. Kids.” Penelope couldn’t stop the tears,

“No this is the best surprise ever!”

“Penelope are you ok?” Lili asked.

“Yeah it’s just with everything, it’s just hard.” Lili got up and you could tell she left the room.

“Do you need me or Jackson to come and stay a few days? We will be on the next plane out?” Penelope was surprised by the offer.

“What about the pack?”

“The pack that didn’t give a crap about me my whole life? Screw the pack, I only care about you. My sister, my family. Killian and Nathan will protect the kids.” Penelope took a breath, thought it over.

“Give me a week to adjust, and then I’ll see if I need you.” Lili nodded,

“Penelope never forget who you are.”

“A werewolf?” Penelope let out a sad little laugh.

“No!” Lili said fiercely. “You Penelope Braxton are the smartest, strongest person I have ever met. Do NOT let anyone tell you any different.” Penelope nodded,

“Thanks, I needed to hear that.”

“It’s the truth, I’m not indulging you. That is who you are. Don’t let anyone at that school tell you any different. They are just threatened by you.” Penelope nodded,

“Your right, how did you get so smart?” Penelope asked.

“I watched you. Now go become a doctor. My offer still stands, and we will come out there this semester.”

“I love you Liliana.”

“I love you Penne.” Penelope hung up on her sister.

“She’s right, they are threatened by us,” Koko told her. Penelope agreed and went back to her work feeling ten times lighter. First year medical school, bring it on.

Authors note: sorry for the late chapter it’s been a lot of research into what first year classes for a med student is, and I’m still not 100% sure what clinical is, so I may just kind of gloss over it. And since the rejected wolf is PTR I’ve been giving it more attention, but don’t worry I love Penelope just as much.