The Failed Rejection
Chapter 24

Penelope pov

Penelope spent the evening with her sister and kids. They ate their happy meals, and then Penelope took the kids down to the pool. Penelope had to buy something from the hotel since she didn’t bring a swimsuit with her. Lili felt so bad for her sister though, who was suffering from morning sickness. The poor thing was carrying twins, one baby was a hybrid.

It was time to leave the pool, and Jocelyn wasn’t having it. She threw a hissy fit. Penelope saw Callum roll his eyes, and Penelope couldn’t stop her smile. Penelope carried a crying Jocelyn up to their room.

“Jocelyn stop it right now or I’m calling your father!” Lili told the young girl harshly. Jocelyn pouted but stopped her tantrum. Lili came up to her, and gave her a hug.

“It’s so good to see you Penne!” Penelope smiled, and hugged her sister super tight.

“It’s so good to see you too Lili. How are you feeling?”

“A little better. Thanks for taking care of the kids for me.”

“No, I was beyond happy to. I know your exhausted, so I’m going to go. Do you want me to grab breakfast tomorrow?” Penelope asked.

“Sure, I read they have great bakeries out here,” Lili suggested and Penelope laughed.

“Yes they do, there isn’t one too far from the university. I’ll pick stuff up,” Penelope told her.

“Yes!” Lili said.

Penelope left her sister, and the kids. Penelope got in the Uber, and gave directions to the hospital. Penelope didn’t know why, but she just felt like she needed to go see him.

Penelope went to the hospital, and managed to slip in even if it was past visiting hours. Penelope sat down in the vacant chair next to her mystery man. She was happy to see that the swelling went down in his face a little. Penelope grabbed her phone out of her pocket, and quickly snapped a picture. It was a little late, so she didn’t send it to Alpha Axle right now.

“Talk to him,” her wolf urged. Penelope sat there for a moment, and decided to oblige.

“I can tell by your face you are doing better, I’m really glad.” Penelope felt a little silly doing this, anytime she came and visited before she normally did work.

“Keep going,” Koko urged and Penelope sighed.

“My family came to visit, I’m excited for tomorrow. Though I’m not sure if I will be by to see you tomorrow, if not I will be by on Monday before I have classes the next day.” Penelope paused. “I feel silly talking to you like this. I know we aren’t mates, I have a mate. Even though I rejected him, and I can’t feel the sparks with you.” Penelope took a breath. “I’m afraid your mate is going to walk through the door, and I’m going to be heartbroken again. But your family deserves to know that you are here, alone.”

Unknown pov

Darkness.

Drifting.

Feeling lost in the darkness. He died. He knows that he died, but why isn’t he moving on? Is this the afterlife? Does the Moon Goddess not take you to some where better? Are all shifter sent to this purgatory?

Drifting again.

How long will he be doomed to this endlessness?

Then he heard it, that voice. It was beautiful. But at this juncture, anything would be.

“Feel silly talking to you like this…” he drifted out again. “Family deserves to know that you are here alone.”

Wait, he wasn’t dead? What was going on? Who was the owner of that voice? He had to know the answers. Before he could figure out anything he felt himself drifting again. Lost in the darkness.

Penelope pov

Penelope Uber’d to the hot after making a quick stop to a bakery. She showed up to the room with breakfast, and coffee. The kids were delighted to see her, Lili just looked sick. Jackson walked from his room across the hall, and joined them for breakfast. When everyone was done with breakfast the kids got dressed, and they left to see the city.

Penelope hadn’t had this much fun since Lili visited her the last time she was in college. Only last time it was Nat who came with her, not her kids.

“What are you thinking about?” Lili asked as they were in line to see the liberty bell.

“Just Nat, I was thinking of the last time you visited me. When you two were still in school.” Lili had a sad smile on her face,

“That was a lifetime ago. That was the first time I met Nathan.” That brought up a question Penelope was dying to ask.

“Why aren’t your mates here Lili?” Penelope looked to her sister who was looking a little green.

“Do you need to go to the bathroom?” She asked, and Lili nodded looking frantically for the bathroom. Jackson pointed her in the right direction, and Lili took off.

“Poor thing, how bad is the morning sickness hitting her?” Penelope asked, and Jackson sighed.

“Harder than I think she is letting on. But with Nathan back at his pack she is putting on a brave face.” Well Jackson opened up the can of worms first. Penelope looked down at the kids who were playing with their tablets to stay occupied in line. Penelope lowered her voice.

“Why is Nathan back at his old pack? Why aren’t they here?” Jackson looked between the kids, and looked back up at her.

“It’s Lili’s wish. Killian’s been looking for land for Callum’s pack, and something came up right before we left. Killian was looking forward to coming out, and seeing you. However, he couldn’t miss the land. I guess there was something special about it.” Penelope waved,

“It’s okay, I get it,” Penelope looked at her nephew. “Callum is special, trust me I guest it.” Penelope looked up at Jackson, “but I don’t understand why Nate is at his old pack. Lili is pregnant with a hybrid for heavens sake.” Jackson sighed,

“Lili’s rationale is that he will have to leave the pack when the babies are born so it’s better they are separate now.” Penelope thought about it,

“I guess it makes sense, she has Killian to help her, it still stinks.” Jackson nodded,

“Yeah it’s a rock and a hard place.” Penelope looked, and saw Lili come back. Poor Liliana, she looked awful.

“The good news, we are almost at the front!” Penelope said in a cheerful voice. Lili’s eyes lit up at that, Lili was always a history nerd.

They quickly made there way to the front of the line. The kids were over it, so Penelope snapped a quick couple of pictures. Then she took the kids away, and let her sister look at it for a few minutes. The group took a quick drive to Independence Hall, then took the kids to Franklin square. Penelope had a blast playing mini golf with the kids. The kids loved the rides especially the carousel. Penelope couldn’t remember ever having so much fun with her family.

That evening Lili worn out so they grabbed some take out, and went back to the hotel. The kids ate, took their shower, and quickly passed out. Instead of going back to her dorm she simply passed out next to her sister that night. It was a very good nights sleep.

The next morning Penelope took the kids down to the hotel conference room for breakfast. Poor Lili had her head over the toilet from morning sickness. When she got the kids sat down, and a plate full of food she decided to ask them what they wanted to do that day.

“Pool,” Jocelyn said.

“Swimming pool, please,” Callum begged her. Penelope nodded,

“Okay, that sounds fun. But we need to eat our breakfast.” Callum ate well, but Jocelyn didn’t want to eat much. Penelope finally gave up after Jocelyn let out a scream. Penelope let out a sigh, and threw away their trash.

“Come on let’s go check on your mom,” Penelope said as she took the kids hands and started walking to elevator.

“Mommy gets sick all the time now,” Callum said sadly.

“I know buddy, but sometimes that’s what happens when mommy’s have babies in their belly’s,” Penelope tried to explain. They got to the elevator, the kids fought over the buttons.

“Guys, Jocelyn you hit this button. Callum you can hit the button on the inside.” That seemed to pacify them. They finally got in the room, but Lili was nowhere to be found. Then Penelope heard the tale tell signs of retching. Her heart sunk hearing her sister so miserable. Penelope wished she could do something for her. The only thing she could do was help with the kids. Penelope decided to go ahead and take the kids swimming.

Penelope and Jackson spent the day with the kids swimming since Liliana was too sick. Lili felt bad, but there was nothing she could do about it.

On Monday Lili felt well enough to take the kids to the zoo. Penelope looked at her sister, and knew that was a lie. But, Penelope didn’t argue with her. Penelope knew Lili was doing it to make the trip memorable for the kids as well as her.

Penelope had a blast at the zoo, and was quite exhausted afterwards. Penelope gave Lili a long, and tearful goodbye. Their flight left tomorrow while she was in class. Penelope helped the kids get settled in, and the decided to leave for the hospital. Penelope couldn’t help it. She needed to see the mystery bear before her week started.

While Penelope missed seeing her sisters mate, she was glad they didn’t come. Penelope had a feeling that they would know something was going on with her. Killian was very overprotective of her, even though she was older Killian became the protective older brother she never had. Penelope loved it in most cases, but she was afraid of him getting involved of this one. Penelope didn’t even have a rational reason why. She was just afraid. Afraid once he woke up that he’d leave, like everyone else. Penelope knows it doesn’t make any sense. That this man is a stranger to her.

Penelope worked so hard to be strong, and independent. She just wanted to drop her armor sometimes, and she can only do that around two people. Liliana and Callum. Penelope has never been able to drop her walls around her mate. She started to, and he pulled away first. So Penelope didn’t understand why she had the urge to do so around this man in a coma. Was it because he was in a coma? Penelope’s head was in a whirl. She was lost, and she needed an anchor.