The Failed Rejection
Chapter 75: Epilogue

Noah pov

It had been years since his rejection and Noah’s life hasn’t changed. He still works as a trauma surgeon in the Boston ER. When he has days off he spends time with his daughter. Noah likes to think he has a good relationship with his daughter, but things changed a year or so when Cassidy wanted to try dating. Noah wasn’t interested and for several months afterward Cassidy’s tried to keep their daughter away from him. He considered going through the human court system, but eventually Cassidy came around. Noah spends most of his weekends with his daughter instead of going out to bars like he used to.

So many days does Noah look back on his life in regret especially regarding the way he treated his mate. His mother had been pressuring him to take a chosen mate, his dad told him to wait for his second-chance mate but Noah knew that wasn’t going to happen. Noah cheated on his mate and he knew that he wasn’t going to be granted a second chance. He didn’t deserve a second chance. Second chance mates were a very rare occurrence and for those where their mate died. None of those instances applied to him.

Noah also didn’t feel the inclination to take another mate. So he just lived his life, he also stopped going to bars and having one-night stands. Honestly most days he felt hollow inside, but this was his life. This was also how he knew there was no second chance mate out there for him. Before he met Penelope the mate bond was there, it was just dormant inside him. Now he just felt hollow, not even like a broken soul.

Noah had to live with the regrets, he fought the urge to look up Penelope everyday. He didn’t think he could stand to see her thriving. It’s no less than what he deserved. Noah did this to himself, he had to make do with living his life saving other people.

Brad pov

He was holding his two year daughter Dahlia while waiting for his mate to wake up. The past several years had been amazing and a whirlwind for their little family.

Brad spent several months at the councilhouse taking care of the trials and going over old cases. Brad spoke to his mate every day while he was gone and every day Violet begged to come to stay with him. It wasn’t until a month into the aftermath of the battle that with the permission of the Alpha, Violet came to see him. They mated and marked each other that night. Dahlia was conceived that night.

When Violet came to him with news of her pregnancy Brad was overjoyed and he was more determined to finish up this mess. Brad managed to wrap up all of the council prisoners and moved Violet back onto Howler pack lands. Dahlia was born three weeks later.

Violet changed after Dahlia’s birth, she was still his amazing, loving, and happy mate. Though it seemed something was missing. Brad would sing to their daughter and Violet would look at them with tears in her eyes. Brad felt dumb for not realizing what his mate was feeling, so one night he brought it up. Violet told him that yes she felt like less of a mother because she couldn’t talk to their daughter. Brad felt like it was ridiculous and untrue, but it’s how his mate felt. Brad would support her no matter what she wanted and Violet wanted to see if there was a way to get her voice back. The pack doctor was unable to help them as Violet had too much scar tissue in her vocal chords.

Lili and Killian supported them and referred Violet to a clinic in Chicago that dealt with shifters/supernaturals only. It was the same clinic that they found the OB/GYN when Lili was pregnant with the twins.

When they finally managed to get into the specialist, she was hopeful about the ability to restore Violet’s voice. Brad was supportive, but clear that he was happy without her voice. Dahlia was learning sign language, and Brad could finally sign well. In fact many members had taken up sign as well. Lili made sure it was taught in the school and she learned as well. He never loved his sister more in the moment when she first signed in the pack meeting a year and a half ago.

It took close to two years to get into the right specialist and to make sure Violet was a good candidate for the surgery. The surgery itself lasted for three hours and Brad was a nervous wreck the whole time. Dahlia played in the kids area until they were called back.

Brad sat with his daughter and waited for Violet to wake up.

“She should be coming around any minute now,” the doctor stated walking up and went to check her vitals.

“Mommy,” Dahlia said and signed at the same time.

“Yeah baby, mommy should wake up soon,” he responded.

“Okay Violet, just really easy now. Try speaking,” the doctor stated. Brad smiled at his wife encouraging her. Violet’s lips moved, but no sound came out. Violet looked upset but Brad was firm,

“Keep trying honey you can do this.” Violet nodded and tried again, there were no words but sounds did come out of her.

“Mommy!” Dahlia cried out excitedly. Violet seemed to be more encouraged by their daughter and tried again,

“D-d-d-Daahlia,” his mate said for the first time and Brad’s face split with the biggest grin.

“Mommy! My name!” Dahlia clapped happily.

“That’s right baby, mommy said your name,” Brad said smiling while still signing. The doctor came over and checked Violet’s dressing.

“The swelling isn’t bad, but let it go down before we try again. I don’t want to get your hopes up, but the surgery appears to be successful.”

“Thank you doctor, thank you very much.”

Penelope pov

The past several years were so hard, it was nothing but studying and flying back and forth to Alaska. They FaceTimed every night and visited each other every month. It was hard work to keep their relationship together, but it was worth it. Noah was worth it.

Now she was starting her residency in a small hospital in Alaska. It definitely wasn’t what she had in mind when she started medical school. Though when she got off the plane and visited her mate’s pack for the first time it truly felt like home.

Penelope was truly worried about meeting her mates parents for the first time given Brax’s family came from a distinct line of white bears. Though Brax swore that his parents loved her. Denali had chimed in that their father loved her since she helped him finally become the alpha he ‘always should have been.’

The prediction was true and Braxton’s parents welcomed her into his family with open arms. His mother and father had seen a change over their son when he returned home to take up the position of alpha. Braxton gave her credit even though she didn’t deserve it, he had the power within him to be a great alpha in him. He just never believed in himself.

It was six months ago that Penelope finally finished up her last semester of medical school and was placed into her residency. The Midnight Howlers Pack had a going away party for her that was so emotional for everyone involved, especially when it came to saying goodbye to her family. Penelope knew she wasn’t saying goodbye forever, but she was moving to be with her mate. She would put down roots with her mate and eventually children. While she would always be welcomed to return to the pack, this was no longer her home. Penelope’s home was now with her mate. It was hard for her and so emotional, she cried so many times.

Lili and Callum’s goodbye was the hardest for so many reasons. Penelope had given birth to her nephew and helped raise him when he was a baby. Braxton put his arms around her and promised that we would visit soon, but she knew it wouldn’t be the same. Her little sister was her everything, her Anna.

…

Penelope was settling into the new routine of becoming Luna as well as starting her residency. Penelope loved the feel of the small hospital that was around an hour and a half from the hospital. Braxton bought her a giant SUV that could make the drive no matter the weather. The weather was still something she was getting used to, even after all these years visiting,

Penelope’s often had ten to twelve hour days at the hospital and then would come home to an hour minimum of Luna training with her mother in law. It was stressful, but Penelope was used to running on no sleep, she had her mate so that was all that mattered.

Penelope came home from a stressful day of work when her sister called her. That was odd, they normally called each other on the weekends and today was a Thursday.

“Hey Lilers what’s up?” Penelope asked as she laid down in bed for the night.

“Penelope…” Lili said before breaking off.

“What’s wrong?” Penelope asked knowing something immediately was wrong.

“Natasha showed up today,” Lili said out of the blue.

“What? Natasha Volkov?” Penelope asked confused. Natasha was Lili’s best friends from high school, and her friend as well. Nat disappeared of the face of the earth several years ago.

“Yeah, I thought you should know.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”