Once Rejected, Twice Denied.

Chapter Three

TESSA POV:

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Why isn't she waking up?"

Beep.

"How the f**k am I supposed to know, Aimee?"

Beep. Beep.

"Surely you can FEEL something?"

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

"You can't feel anything, can you? Goddess, you are being such a jerk!"

"I didn't want this! I didn't want..."

"She has been asleep for days because of your disgusting need to lock her up in that s**t excuse of a shed! I thought you promised after your birthday that you wouldn't do that again? You said no more torture or funny business after you found..."

"SSSSSHHHH! Will you shut the f**k up already?"

"Oh, I am sorry! Maybe I should say it all a little louder for the WHOLE HOSPITAL TO HEAR!"

"Aimee! I swear to the Goddess if you don't turn it down!"

Beep. Beep.

"Fine, but you are WEAK, Keith, and I hope you get what you deserve tomorrow when it's her birthday."

A loud crash and growl vibrates through the room and I hear the door crash closed. I still cannot open my eyes and I have no idea what this conversation means between Aimee and Keith, nor do I remember where I am or how I got here. I feel myself frowning now as my body tries to awaken.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Hey, shh, shh, it is okay, Tess. Stop frowning. You are safe."

I whimper now as I feel a pain in my side. Why am I feeling pain? I remember their conversation. Aimee was angry because of Keith putting me in the shed and this evokes all the memories within me. He left me in their for long enough to go bonking mad and I started trying to bash my way out. Obviously I used the only part of my body available, which was my side. My eyes start to flicker open and another whimper escapes. Without a wolf I cannot heal fast, which must be why I have been in here for days.

"Ai-Aimee?"

"Shhh, you are okay. You are in the pack hospital and you are fine."

I take a sip of the water she is offering me and I lay back down with care. When I look down, I see I have bandages across my body. Aimee must sense my confusion.

"You broke a few ribs. Goddess, Tess, you almost killed yourself getting out of that trap door. There was so much blood! I could kill that bastard for putting you in there."

She spits out now and I carry on drinking the water. I didn't realize I was bleeding at the time and I didn't know I had broken ribs. It is all a blur really.

"Anyway, the doctor said you will be fine and as soon as you are awake, we can think of taking you home to recover."

I look at Aimee now with wide eyes. Home. The pack house where all the people who hate me live. Once again, my friend must sense my panic because she chimes in again.

"I spoke to my parents and you can stay with us until you feel ready to go back. My mom was quiet excited. She doesn't understand why you insist on living in that staircase room anyway. Her and dad have a bedroom waiting for you and everything."

I give her the same look I always do when she asks me to move in and she rolls her eyes.

"No spice, Tess. I know you feel like you are burdening me but let me help you this time, okay?"

"Okay."

Is all I manage to get out and I offer her a small smile. She responds my squeezing my hand and in this moment, I feel super blessed to have such an incredible friend at my side. She really doesn't care about what people think and nor does her family. I guess there are good people in this pack and I just have my own issues with accepting help. I just don't ever want her and her family to suffer because of their kindness towards me. I am already seen as the reason anything bad happens and they don't deserve that sort of reputation. My mind travels back to how Aimee was defending me against Keith just now. I can still smell his subtle scent in the air. It's like sweet banana bread. Not my most favorite smell, but certainly one that makes my mouth water all the same. Aimee is busy collecting all my things and faffing about to get me ready to take home.

"Aimz?"

"Hmm?"

She carries on walking about the room. She has a small bag of my clothes packed from my room, my basic toiletries and I even see the picture of me and my mom there. Damn, she is organised. Although this looks more like she is kidnapping me for good than just a normal sleep over until I am better. Anyway, that is for a future conversation, as I know I won't win that battle now.

"Why was Keith here just now?"

I see her movements hesitate and her shoulders tense for a bit, but she carries on as if avoiding the emotions that bubble up inside her. Wierd.

"Actually, Keith was the one that smelled your blood and he was pretty upset about how hurt you were. He called me and we brought you to the hospital for medical help."

I let out a sarcastic laugh and scoff. Keith worried about me? What sort of sick joke is that? He was probably petrified that I was dead and that he would be accused of murder. Still, that doesn't explain why he was here today.

"But why was he here today? Like, knowing I am fine?"

Aimee stops now to look at me and I can't read her expression, although I am sure I see some worry there.

"Ugh, you know, he is the future alpha, Tess. He needs to put his best foot forward in showing that he cares about all members of the pack. The doctor was concerned about how you got into this state and it would have been odd if he didn't come check on you."

"Uhm, no it wouldn't have. I am nothing to him and he is nothing to me. In fact, I was hurt because of him!"

Aimee winces a little at the venom in my voice at the end.

"I know doll, but ugh, I don't even know what to say. This pack is f****d up at the best of times."

She looks defeated, but her last statement makes me laugh a little. That is a serious understatement. Keith's actions are bizarre and I wish I could understand how one minute he is kissing my neck, the next he is throwing me in the shed until I almost kill myself and then he is being nice and checking up on me again. It's like he has two sides to him that don't agree.

"Ah, Tessa, you are awake. Good to see you drinking some water too."

The doctor walks in and proceeds to do his check-ups on me.

"You are fine to go home, but you have to promise you will rest. No walking around or doing anything extreme until your next check in five days' time."

I nod and so does Aimee, almost as if she is my guardian and taking notes to care for me. I have to hold in my laughter.

"On your file I saw it is your eighteenth birthday tomorrow?"

The doctor asks and I smile and nod again. He smiles back.

"I am sorry that you need to be so locked up on such a remarkably important day. Try to enjoy it, nevertheless?"

"Oh, don't you worry Doc, I have all her favorite movies lined up on Netflix."

Aimee chimes in again and they both laugh. I do too, but the reminder of my birthday is bittersweet. What if my mate is out there and I don't get to see him because I am inside the house? How s**t! I have waited for so long to turn eighteen. The Goddess hand picks our mates and I just know that my mate will be my ticket to a better future. Now I am stuck inside a house all because of that stupid i***t, Keith. If it weren't for him, I would be able to have a normal day and hopefully meet the other part to my soul. I sigh now and Aimee nudges me. Without much further thought, she lifts me into the wheelchair and we make our way out the hospital. My eyes have to adjust to how bright it is outside, but my skin welcomes the humid air and the prickles of sunshine. I really hate the cold and don't envy the packs that live more north in the snow. Not that I have ever seen the snow fall before.

"We are going to have so much fun..."

Aimee is rambling on, but honestly I have no idea what she is saying. After not breathing in outside air for who knows how long and being trapped in darkness for so much time, all I can focus on is my surroundings and the way the air moves around me. My nose lifts at a small rustle of wind. Sweet banana bread. My nose tickles as my eyes zone in on a shirtless Keith in the training arena. He is ruthless and quick compared to all the other guys and girls around him, but then this is to be expected from a future alpha. His muscles are so defined as he dances around in combat and I find myself mesmerized by his every move. Another wolf howls and goes in for the attack from behind and I feel myself bubbling in anticipation as certainty creeps in that the wolf will get Keith down, but just as the wolf jumps up, Keith swings around and uses his hands to skillfully tackle him to the floor. The watching crowd claps and I feel my chest pumping with excitement at how he looks right now.

"Mom said she is even making cookies to..."

I nod to make as if I am listening, but my eyes stay on Keith. He moves to the side to drink some water and then he pumps the rest of the bottle over his head and down his body. He must feel hot right now. Goddess, I feel hot right now. I open my mouth and my fingers start to fidget with the same buzzing feeling inside. What is this feeling? Keith's eyes search around until he finally sets his gaze on me and then it feels like the world stops for a second. His gaze darkens and he stares on with an evil smirk. The type of smirk that promises to seduce me and kill me at the same time. What the heck?

"Tess?"

His eyes never leave mine and, for a reason unbeknownst to me, I cannot look away. He is the reason I am in this wheelchair, yet every part of my body wants to cling onto his gaze. It's seriously warped. I hate Keith for how he has treated me. I hate him for how sadistic and horrible he is. For the amount of times he has called me hideous, for all the times he pulled me hair, for the time he cut up all my fluffy toys or embarrassed me in front of people. I hated him for being my worst nightmare, yet in this moment, all I wanted was to be seen by him.

"TESSA?"

Aimee's voice shouts now and clicking fingers gets me out of my daze. I look at her now with irritation, then realize I had been ignoring my best friend for long enough to arrive at her house.

"Sorry, Aimz, I was daydreaming."

I laugh shyly and I am sure she can tell I am conflicted. Thankfully, she doesn't ask.

"Tell me about it. Did you even hear anything I said?"

I shrug my shoulders and she rolls her eyes.

"Honestly!"

She wheels me into her house and I decide to shake my previous thoughts away. I can't have a crush on Keith. Not after everything he has done to me.