The Failed Rejection
Chapter 35

Penelope pov

Penelope was sitting on the bed and felt the bond break. It wasn’t as heart breaking as Liliana described it to be. However, she still reached for Brad’s Tshirt she had tucked under her pillow. When he was packing his small bag of clothes Penelope couldn’t help but keep the first shirt she bought him. Braxton had wore it so often that it was covered in his smell, no matter how much he washed it.

Noah saw her touching the shirt and immediately grabbed it. Noah smelled the shirt and drew back in disgust.

“What the hell is this Pen?” He asked her. Goddess she hated when he called her that. She never admitted that aloud before, but now that they were no longer mates she finally could.

“Don’t call me that,” Penelope said reaching for the shirt. Noah kept the shirt out of reach.

“Why not? Your bear shifter too busy calling you Pen?” Noah said tauntingly. Penelope let out a low growl. Koko was furious.

“Don’t talk to me like that!” Penelope snapped with her wolf blending into her voice. His wolf growled back at being challenged.

“Look Noah, I don’t know why you are being like this, can you please just leave?” Penelope asked.

“Why so your lover can come over?” Noah taunted.

“I don’t even know where he is!” Penelope screamed. That seemed to shock Noah.

“Noah, there’s a reason you decided to accept my rejection what was it?” Penelope asked. Noah started to calm down,

“My family made me realize that while I want the mate bond, I haven’t been mate material.”

“Why is that?” Penelope asked. She wasn’t gloating, she was just curious as to what he would say.

“I made mistakes, and instead of letting you come to terms with them I forced the issue… Then ran away.” Penelope sighed then grabbed his hand.

“I know I have been awfully stubborn. While we could have been good mates to each other, maybe the Goddess has chosen a different path for us.”

“Does it include this bear shifter?” Noah probed. Penelope shrugged, she wouldn’t lie to him.

“I wish it did, but I honestly don’t know. He has his own life to figure out.” Penelope took a deep breath, “I have to finish medical school, and that’s enough for me right now.”

It has to be, Penelope told herself.

Noah left and they parted on decent terms.

.

Penelope went back to classes and sole focused on them. She worked so hard that she finished her first semester in the top three percent. She was so proud of herself given the sh.it life had been throwing at her these past few months. She envied the other simple life’s of the students around her. Penelope became close friends with Chris. Even though she often worried about the fallout of Max’s disappearance being traced back to her.

When she went back to the pack house for the week of Christmas and new year the school contacted her letting her know that she could live off campus. At first Penelope was excited, until Penelope saw the cost of apartments in walking distance of the campus.

The prices were outrageous, even the studio apartments! Penelope had mentioned it to Jackson in passing, he offered to pay for her apartment but she refused. Jackson had already done so much for her already. If it wasn’t for him Penelope would have to take out additional school loans.

That Christmas Brad came home for the first time in years. Jackson was super excited to have all of his kids home for Christmas as he put it. That made Penelope feel warm and fuzzy all over. It definitely helped easy the sting of seeing all the mated couples with their pups around the packhouse.

“It is my destiny to become a doctor,” Penelope repeated to herself in her head over and over again. She also repeated, “I don’t need a mate for my life to be complete.” Penelope looked at Jackson for an example of that, his mate died almost fifteen years ago. He was happy and made a wonderful life for himself.

“Want Braxton,” her wolf Koko decided to pipe up at that moment.

“I want him too,” she told her wolf. “But we haven’t heard from him in months now. We have to continue on with our life’s.”

“Why did he leave us? He said we were his?” Koko asked her. That caused a tear to run down Penelope’s eye,

“I don’t know.” That night her sister must of sensed she was hurting for Lili declared it was sibling night. The three of them watched movies, ate popcorn, and junk food. The three of them sat in Jackson’s house while Jackson and her two mates sulked while watching the kids for not being invited.

It was the most fun Penelope had for a long time.

.

It wasn’t until the night before Christmas Eve Penelope found out why Brad had come home that year.

The council was taking Jennifer into custody to some remote prison. Apparently Jennifer worked to help create the aconite that Juan had in his room. That was either an execution or prison time. Jennifer’s family were dedicated warriors to the pack, so Killian allowed them to choose the punishment. Obviously they choose jail.

Brad wanted to accept his rejection before she was moved to the prison. Penelope only found out when Brad came to her room and asked to join him for moral support.

Penelope accepted right away. Penelope knew right away how hard rejections were. The looks of pity you got from the pack for being the odd one out. The two of them went down to the dungeons, briefly being stopped by the guards. They were only allowed to move forward once they got clearance from Killian via mindlink.

It wasn’t hard to replace Jennifer, one could hear her screaming from a mile away. Jennifer must know she was being transferred soon. The two of them walked slowly down the hall, Penelope grabbed his hand for support,

“You can do this.” Brad nodded.

When Jennifer saw Brad walking up to her cell she got really excited.

“Brad! Brad!” Jennifer yelled and ran to the cell. “I knew you would come and save me!” Jennifer tried reaching out to grab his hand and strengthen the bond. However, Brad pulled away.

“That’s not why I’m here.” Brad’s face was stoic, giving nothing away.

“You don’t mean that, you’ve always wanted me to be your mate. We can leave this pack and never look back,” Jennifer said seductively. Penelope was worried that Brad would be swayed, but there would be nothing Penelope could do about it. It is his Brad’s business. Brad seemed to pull himself together, and said,

“No. I’m here to reject you Jennifer. I Brad Flynn accept your rejection Jennifer.” Brad told Jennifer and she fell on the floor in pain. Brad stumbled a little but simply grabbed his chest in pain.

Penelope managed to get Brad out of the dungeons, and to a sofa in the packhouse. There the two of then collapsed, panting hard from the exertion. When Penelope managed to catch her breath she told Brad,

“I’m glad. Glad you managed to say no.” Brad gave her a look.

“I didn’t want to, I wanted let her go so bad.” Brad let out a heavy sigh, “ I knew she was lying. I just wanted it to be true.” Penelope couldn’t help the tears that fell at hearing Brad’s confession. His feelings mirrored her own. The two of them sat there crying until they gathered up their strength to move on.

.

Christmas morning came and Penelope was rudely woken by her niece and nephew. While she loved being an aunt, Penelope hated waking up early on Christmas.

“I see some things never change,” Lili laughed at her bed head and grouchy demeanor. Penelope sat down next to Brad on the sectional who handed her a cup of coffee. Lili was still laughing at her so Penelope decided to stick her tongue out.

“Thanks, what time did they get you?” She asked him.

“Right before you,” Brad responded. The two of them sat and watched as the kids gleefully opened their presents. In the middle of the bedlam a timid knock came,

“I’ll get it.” Penelope walked to the door and was surprised to see her mother.

“Hey mom good to see you,” Penelope looked at her mother who stood there a bit nervously.

“Come on in, the kids are going through their presents like nothing,” Penelope ushered her mother in and sat her down next to her on the couch.

Lili saw mom sit down next to her, but ignored her. Penelope saw her and Killian’s eye fog over as if they were having a conversation via mind link. When they went back to normal Killian reached out to Lili, but she brushed his hand away. Oh, looks like Killian invited mom without telling Lili about it. Penelope shook her head, Lili and mom had a rough relationship Killian should know better. Lili of course was the bigger person and didn’t let it ruin everyone’s day. She would most likely just cry in her room later when no one was paying attention.

“Penelope here this is for you, and Brad this is yours.” Killian said giving them on the couch their gifts.

“Wait,” Lili said and started to get up.

“Sit down babe, what are you looking for I’ll get it,” Nathan said as he sat her back down.

“That small box right there in the tree, it’s Penelope’s.” Lili said and Nathan retrieved it for her. Nathan handed it to Penelope.

“Sorry Brad I relied on my mates to get you something they thought you would like for Christmas.” Liliana said with a laugh. Penelope opened the small box and saw a heart shaped locket. Penelope opened up the locket and on the inside was two pictures engraved into it. One was a picture of her and Lili, the second was a picture of her and the kids.

“Oh Lili I love it!”

“I love mine too!” Brad screamed out. Penelope looked and saw Brad had some sort of compact cross bow. Penelope dismissed him and opened the second gift she got. It was an envelope. When she opened it was a signed lease agreement for an apartment near campus.

“Liliana, I can’t accept or afford this,” Penelope said sadly.

“Well that’s the thing. The first month is your Christmas gift. However, as long as you come back to be a doctor for the B***d Howlers pack the rest of it will be taken out of your salary every month when you start.” Penelope looked at Killian as well as Liliana.

“Are you serious?” Penelope asked.

“Of course Penne. I told you this is your destiny and we believe in you,” Lili told her. Callum decided to walk up to her and sat in her lap. Callum looked in her eyes,

“You be great doctor aunt Pee.” Penelope laughed and hugged her adorable little nephew.

“Thanks my little king, you will be a great king one day.”

FYI I did kick around the idea of Brad and Penelope being mates but dismissed it. Seemed too icky.