The Failed Rejection
Chapter 26

Penelope pov

Penelope went home that night an emotional mess. She did what she does best, and buried it, and focused on her school work. That is what was most important to her, she would deal with tomorrow, tomorrow.

Penelope had picked up dinner on the way home, so she ate and studied well into the night. The next morning, she was ready for her Pharmacology test.

Penelope walked out of her class feeling confident that she aced it.

.

Penelope was headed to the hospital, when she realized that LB didn’t have any clothes.

“Sh.it,” she said out loud.

“What?” The driver asked.

“Is there a cheap place to get clothes around here?” Penelope asked the driver. The driver seemed to think for a moment.

“I just need a T-shirt and some basket shorts.”

“Yeah, there’s a place around the corner,” the driver quickly changed lanes, and took a turn. When he pulled into the store, Penelope started to get out.

“Will you wait for me? Keep me on the clock or whatever you say.” The man laughed,

“No problem.” Penelope got out of the car, and walked into the little boutique. She quickly browsed, cheap my a*s! An outfit was going to cost at least fifty dollars. Does no one have Walmart or Dollar store around here?

“Those sizes wouldn’t fit that man anyway… he’s so big,” Koko commented as Penelope looked for a T-shirt that would fit LB. Penelope didn’t respond to her horny wolf, she also didn’t deny any comments either. That man was built. Penelope didn’t know if this store’s clothes were big enough. Penelope checked the time on her phone, she needed to grab something quick.

Penelope still had to go to the hospital pick up LB, get him settled in her dorm, and finish studying. It was three thirty already. Penelope just grabbed the largest T-shirt the store had, same for the flip flops, and a pair of basketball shorts. She went to the counter.

“That will be fourth-five sixty please,” the cashier told her. Penelope was fuming, but swiped her debit card. How are we going to clothe, and feed this man? Penelope asked herself.

“I know something he can eat,”. Koko suggested.

“Thank you,” Penelope said to the cashier, and once again ignored her wolf. Penelope walked back to the car, and got settled inside.

“Hospital?” The driver asked.

“Hospital,” she confirmed. The driver made quick work of the traffic, and Penelope soon found herself at the hospital. Penelope gave the man a nice tip for his advice, as well as waiting for her to shop in the store.

“Thank you,” she told him.

“No thank you,” he said in response to the tip. Penelope gave him a little wave, and headed to LB’s room. She quickly walked to the halls, and made it to his room. Penelope knocked on the door,’and waited for him to answer. Penelope didn’t know what state he’d be in, she didn’t want to be rude.

“Go in, maybe we can see him naked.”

“Come in,” Penelope heard him call from the other side of the door. Penelope stuck her head in, and saw LB sitting on the edge of the bed in his hospital gown.

“Hey!” She called and came in the room. LB’s face lit up seeing her.

“Hey Penelope, I’m so glad to see you.” Penelope blushed,

“I’m glad to see you. I picked you up some clothes, I hope they fit.” Penelope said and presented the large fit male with the bag of clothes. A bright smile over takes LB’s face, and Penelope’s heart beats a little faster. Penelope was always a sucker for a man with a killer smile.

“Thanks, you are a life saver,” LB grabs the bag of clothes, and heads to the bathroom. Penelope’s phone starts vibrating in her pocket, she answers it without checking the ID.

“Hello?”

“Penelope Braxton?” She doesn’t recognize the voice.

“This is she, who is this?”

“This is Heath Spencer, and I’m Alpha Axel’s Beta. I’m just returning your phone call.” Oh right, Penelope had been so busy she had forgot that she called Axel.

“Has your alpha briefed you of the situation?” She asked the beta.

“He has, Axel showed me the pictures, pretty brutal stuff.”

“Yeah well he woke up.”

“What?” The man on the phone, but Penelope wasn’t paying attention. The bearshifter walked out of the bathroom wearing the clothes she picked out, and Goddess did he look good. The shirt fit him like a second skin, you could see every groove of his muscles. Penelope wanted to trace her hands with those muscles.

“You use your hands, I’ll use my tongue,” Koko said.

“We can’t think like that, we have a mate,” Penelope told her horny wolf.

“Some mate he turned out to be,” Koko came back with. Penelope didn’t get a chance to think about her wolf’s comment, as screaming finally caught her attention.

“Who is he?!” The beta was screaming.

“Sorry! I was talking to my wolf.” Penelope said, and LB smirked.

“He doesn’t know, he has amnesia.”

“What? Well does he know?”

“Yes, he knows he’s a bear. He knows I’m a wolf, but that’s it. He’s recovered so the hospital wanted to discharge him.””

“What that’s crazy,” Heath commented.

“I know, so he’s headed back to my place for now. But I thought maybe it might be best if he stays with other bears. Maybe that would help his memory.” It pained Penelope to send him away, but it was best for him.

“Axel’s gone to Michigan for an Alpha meeting. He won’t be back for a week, but I’ll call him.”

“I appreciate it.” Penelope hung up, and looked to the man in front of her.

“LB, I don’t want you to think I’m getting rid of you-“

“No I get it-“

“I think it’s what will be best for your memory loss. I’m just a wolf that knows a little about bear culture.” LB frowned,

“You saved my life, so many times. You are amazing.” Penelope couldn’t help but blush as his words.

“There are some packs a few hours away, but I don’t feel right sending you there. I know Alpha Axel, he saved my sisters life.” LB looked intrigued, Penelope looked at her watch.

“How about we grab some food, and I’ll tell you the story over dinner.”

“Thank goddess, anything is better than this cafeteria food.” LB said dramatically, and Penelope couldn’t help but laugh.

“Come on there’s some cheap food trucks near the dorm.”

They left the hospital after signing discharge papers. Soon enough Penelope found herself at her normal table eating tacos, reciting the story of meeting alpha Axel. Penelope left out the parts of Callum being an original alpha.

“Wow you had to defib your own sister? That’s so badass!” LB was saying as he shoved another taco in his mouth.

“More like terrifying, but it had to be done.” LB just shook his head.

“Beautiful, smart, how is it that you don’t have a mate yet?” He asked playfully. The simple comment was like an arrow to her heart, and Penelope looked away.

“I’m sorry. Did he reject you?” She shook her head,

“I rejected him when I found him hooking up with some one. He rejected the rejection, and it’s been rocky ever since.” LB looked surprised, and shocked.

“Why didn’t he accept your rejection if he wanted some one else.” Penelope sighed,

“You don’t get it. The moment we recognized we were mates, he was hooking up with some one else. I interrupted them, and caught scent of each other.” LB visibly grimaced,

“Yeah, I tried rejecting him. He said he could win me over, and I just couldn’t get past it.”

“Where is he now?”

“He decided to join Doctors Without Borders. I can’t tell you where.”

LB POV

LB looked at the woman sitting next to him, and couldn’t help but think her mate was an i***t. LB did his best not to cringe at her story, but sometimes things happen. The man however was an i***t for leaving his mate. Unless of course he didn’t want the bond in the first place.

“All right, let’s head to my dorm,” Penelope said standing up. As they exited the table area Penelope started talking again. “I warn you though, it’s pretty small.”

Goddess was she right! It was small for a large man for him anyway. LB looked around, and saw little touches of Penelope added through out the room. He saw a photo of what he assumed was her family. Penelope was too busy running around to notice.

“Okay I hate to do this to you, but I really need to study. So can you watch Netflix or something with headphones on?” Penelope asked him frazzled. LB felt bad,

“I can try and help you study if you like?” Penelope looked torn.

“I don’t know.”

“Do you think I’m a dummy,” he commented slightly offended. He couldn’t say either way. LB didn’t even remember. It seemed her manners got the better of her,

“Sure.”

It was an hour later, and it turns out that he was in fact not a dummy. While he didn’t know the medical terms, LB knew the uses and common knowledge of human anatomy. It was a big help to Penelope.

“It’s strange but I feel like I’ve done this before.”

“Maybe for your mate,” Penelope commented a little sadly. LB felt sad at the mentioning of his mate, but he didn’t know why. Whether it was because it made Penelope sad, or something in his past that was tragic. LB decided to lift the mood,

“Or sister, or maybe my mother.”

“Even yourself. You clearly aren’t dumb.”

“So you don’t believe the stereotype?”

“What’s that?” Penelope asked.

“That all werebears are dumb?”

“Does it look like I believe it?” Penelope asked a little offended.

.

When it came to bedtime it was a little awkward. There was a large fight onto who would take the bed. Penelope won the fight, saying he should take the bed, as he was still recovering from his injuries. LB wanted to pull Penelope into his arms, and fall asleep. However, with all the talks of mates LB didn’t think it was appropriate. So LB slept alone, and miserable. Wanting Penelope.