The Failed Rejection
Chapter 29

Alpha Axel

Axel sat in his office with Braxton’s claimed parents Bill and Melissa Bennet. Axel listened to their sob story about how Braxton was taken away from them in the night.

“Do you buy this story?” Axel asked his beta in the mind link.

“Don’t you?” Heath asked.

“I don’t know. Something just seems off, and where’s that other woman that came with them?” Axel asked.

“I’ll find her,” Heath said, and then politely excused himself. They droned on for quite some time, until Axel couldn’t take it any longer. He stood up,

“I’m sure you had a long trip, why don’t you get settled into your rooms.” Axel ushered them out of his office.

“Yes it really was a long trip from Sitka,” Melissa said to him. Axel nodded before shutting the door in her face.

Axel didn’t believe in coincidences, and with LB or Braxton still having no memories. These people showing up out of the blue seemed fishy. On the other hand; word could have gotten out, and instead of appearing weak the Bennet’s simply covered up their son being missing.

Axel wasn’t sure what to do so he thought he should call in some reinforcements. Axel wasn’t sure if he should call in another bear pack so he thought it best to call Alpha Killian. Axel called the office number, and it rang two times before picking up.

“Alpha Killian speaking.”

“Hello Alpha Killian this is Alpha Axel,” he started.

“Oh yes good to hear from you, hey I know you need to talk to me, but my sister in law needed your number. Did she ever get a hold of you?” Killian asked him.

“She did, that’s what I’m calling about.”

“What’s that?”

“Well she called me about a bearshifter she found left for dead. Penelope had been helping him, I flew out to Pennsylvania to pick him up. The man had an amazingly strong aura. I have been trying to find his pack-“

“What happened to his pack?” Killian asked.

“I forgot to mention that he has amnesia,” Axel pointed out.

“Right,” Killian said wryly.

“Well today three bearshifters showed up claiming to be his parents, and mate.”

“Did he not remember them?” Killian asked.

“Nope, he seems somewhat friendly toward the possible parents, but hostile to the woman,” Axel explained.

“Yup, all right. I will be there in a couple of days.” Killian stated, and Axel was shocked.

“What really?”

“Did you not want me to come?” Killian asked confused.

“No of course, I was asking for help. But I didn’t think you’d drop everything.”

“You saved my mate, other than Nathan’s pack you are my top ally now Alpha Axel. Never forget it.” Killian said and hung up.

Axel sat there for a long time in shock, he couldn’t believe those actions of the darkest time of his life have changed his pack. They were changed for the better, of course.

Axel wondered briefly if Killian would bring Callum, but immediately knew he wouldn’t risk his son. Hopefully Axe can convince Lili to come for a visit when things aren’t so chaotic.

.

Penelope pov

He had a mate. She knew that he would have a mate. Why did her heart hurt so bad to hear those words? Why did her wolf whine so loud?

Penelope waited for LB or Braxton to call her or text her back. But he never did.

Penelope spent the night crying for a man that was never hers to begin with.

The next day she woke up after having a restless sleep, and took a nice long hot shower. Her wolf was still whining for the bearshifter.

“Stop it Koko! He wasn’t ours to begin with!” Penelope yelled at her wolf.

“But he should have been,” Koko whined.

“And Noah should have been a better mate,” Penelope said harshly. “Life’s full of should have beens, it’s our job to be stronger than that. We’ve never needed a man, it’s time to be strong.” Penelope told her wolf, and Koko stopped whining.

Penelope loved her wolf, she was so strong. When she met her mate Koko was heartbroken, but didn’t force the mate bond on Penelope.

Penelope finished the week of classes, and tried not to be heartbroken from not receiving work from LB. Penelope knew his name was really Braxton but she didn’t think about that. She would always know the bearshifter as LB, that’s the man she knew and fell for.

Penelope finished her classes, and was looking for flights to head home when she got a phone call. She saw it was Killian, and thought it was odd he was calling her.

“Hello,” Penelope answered picking up the phone.

“Hey Penelope, have you scheduled your flight for home yet?” He asked with no preamble. Typical alpha.

“No I’m doing that now.”

“Don’t, I need you to come with me, when’s your last class?” Killian asked.

“It’s tomorrow at eleven. Where am I going?” She asked confused.

“There’s a situation at the white claw pack. Axel asked me for help.” Killian said shortly. Penelope’s breath caught,

“How can I be of help?”

“You saved his life, you know more about him than anyone else. Will you come or not?” Killian asked shortly. Penelope knew he wasn’t being an a*s about it. Killian didn’t want to be away from Liliana when she was pregnant so he wanted the situation handled as quickly as possible.

“Yeah I’ll be there.” Even if I do regret it.

“Good I’ll send you the flight information,” Killian said and hung up.

Penelope sighed and sat down on the bed. She didn’t know how she was going to get through this.

“We are strong,” Koko told her. Penelope got up, and packed her carry on. She was about finished packing when she got a notification from her email.

Penelope landed in Michigan on time, but was late getting off the plane. When she finally got out of the plane. She pulled out her phone to call an Uber.

“Penelope!” Some one shouted. Penelope looked up and saw Killian coming up to her all the way across the airport.

“There you are!” Killian said as he weaved his way through people. Killian gave Penelope a hug,

“I didn’t know you would be here!” Penelope said as she pulled back. Killian nodded,

“Yeah I thought it would be best if we arrived at the pack together. Come on, Holden is double parked.”

Ugh Holden, it has been awkward between them since he told her he wanted to reject his mate for her. Penelope forgot he was the new Gamma.

Penelope walked out of the airport, and followed Killian to a black SUV. Killian took her carryon, and put it into the back. Penelope opened the back seat, and got inside. Killian shut the back, and got in.

“Let’s go,” Killian said shortly.

No one said anything as Holden weaved his way out of the chaotic airport traffic. When the SUV was finally out on the highway Killian finally turned to her.

“So tell me about the night you found this bear shifter?” Killian asked.

“The night itself? Not much to tell. I went to let Koko out, it was at a park with a small wooded area. I was running when I smelt b***d. Then I found the bear shifter, honestly I thought he was dead. It was only by the grace of the moon goddess he lived.”

“You sound just like your sister, but I doubt it was just the moon goddess. I’m sure you had something to do with it as well,” Killian said.

“He was in a coma for two weeks, when he woke up he had amnesia but he was completely healed.”

“What were his injuries like?” Killian asked. Penelope pulled out her phone and sent the pictures to Killian.

“They were extensive, his leg was almost ripped off, several internal injuries.” Then as an afterthought she added, “they burned off his tattoos.”

Killian turned to look at her,

“They burned them off?” Penelope nodded,

“Yup every single one, not one that could identify him has come back.”

“What is a big deal about these tattoos?” Holden asked.

“Shifters have evolved and moved away from old traditions, but the one tradition that bear shifters hold dear is their tattoo. They used to wear cloakes that told their story, or war paint. Now they have tattoos. These tattoos will tell a story; what their rank in the pack is, the pack itself, their kills, and everything about that shifter. The fact that those tattoos were burned off is very worrisome,” Killian said and started pulling out his phone.

“What are you doing?” Penelope asked.

“Calling Svetlana, I think we will need her help,” Killian said as the SUV turned off the highway and what Penelope assumed was pack land.

“Yeah Svetlana we could really use your help with this,” Killian was saying. Penelope was looking at the pack lands they were approaching. She hasn’t been to Michigan, or seen a bear pack before. Penelope hoped to see one running around, she wished she could see LB’s bear. Unfortunately it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask him.

“Penelope!” Killian said snapping her out of her misery. She looked up at him,

“Yeah?” She asked him as Holden parked the car.

“Anything else before we get out?” Killian asked and she thought about it.

“Well he’s an alpha bear…alpha Axel felt his aura on the phone and flew right out.” Penelope paused, “While I’m not putting the bear shifter down, you have a much stronger aura. I’d put him on the same level with Nathan.” Penelope said and Killian nodded. “Which I don’t understand cause Alpha Axel has met you before.” Killian nodded,

“Yes but I’ve never let out my full aura in front of him. Only a few people have seen it.” Killian looked at the house. “Okay let’s go,” Killian said as got out of the car, and Penelope followed him.

Penelope, Holden, and Killian had walked into the pack house alpha Axel was coming down the stairs with several people with him. Penelope didn’t see LB anywhere.

Penelope saw the pink smoke that indicated Svetlana was going to teleport in, and there she was.

“Hey Penelope it’s so great to see you,” Svetlana said as she ran approached her with a hug. Then the most shocking words you could barely hear came out of Alpha Axel’s mouth,

“Mate.”