Page 51 of That's the Way Rejection Goes

I led Roger through the hotel to the laundry facility where I kept spare clothing for incoming wolves. We spent the better part of five minutes sifting through it until we found something warm and in his size. Fitting Alphas was always difficult. I expected them all to be jacked and tall, but it turned out they came in a lot of different sizes. In order to have enough for everyone, I practically had to run a thrift store in the back of the laundry room. Still, we were able to fit him, and I grabbed a key from the front desk as we headed to the elevator. Roger would be staying on the third floor on the far opposite end of the hotel from me. It was about as much distance as I could hope for.

“So,” I said as we got into the elevator. “Why did the Alpha challenge you?”

“What?” The question seemed to take him by surprise. And the fact that I was talking to him at all.

“The Alpha that beat the snot out of you,” I repeated. “Why did he do it?”

“Oh…” Roger looked at the floor, shifting his feet nervously. “It’s not important.”

“Roger.” My tone made him jump.

“Fine,” he sighed. “Someone caught me out with another man… well,men. At a bathhouse.”

“Old habits die hard I see,” I scoffed. “How long were you Alpha of the pack?”

“Six years.”

“And in all that time you didn’t think to change the laws? Or maybe start telling your wolves to quit being such assholes?”

“There were rumors about you and I… I didn’t want people to think I was… you know…”

“Gay?”

“Yeah.”

“You being a single male leading the pack didn’t make them suspicious?”

He furrowed his brow as he looked up at me. “I wasn’t single. Dad picked out a Luna for me before I took over.”

“Jesus fucking Christ Roger…” I just shook my head, grinding my palms over my eyes. “Please tell me you don’t have kids at home…”

“No! God no…” He sounded almost sad about it. “Her and I… well, we don’t have a lot of chemistry.”

“Couldn’t get it up, huh?” I scoffed. But then I stopped myself, giving myself a mental kick. Roger was a tenant now, not someone for me to abuse. As much as I wanted to berate him, it was unprofessional of me. “I’m sorry,” I said before he could reply. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

The elevator dinged and we got off at the third floor. I led him to the far end of the hotel and opened the room for him, letting him inside.

“Toiletries are in the bathroom cupboards. You’ll find towels and soap and toothbrushes, everything you might need. I think there’s some disposable razors in there too.”

“Thanks…”

“And I’ve got three rules while you’re here. No drugs, no fights, and no prostitution of any kind. I gotta keep this place above board if I want to stay open.” I placed his key on the table and headed back to the door. “I’ll call Andy and let him know you’ll be showing up. He and Josh will make sure you get a good meal.”

I was just about to leave the room when Roger spoke up behind me.

“Th-Thank you, Sam,” he said softly. “For letting me stay.”

“That’s what I do, Roger. I take care of my own.” I gave him one last irritated glance. “It’s time for you to learn to do the same. And to accept yourself. Nobody here gives a shit who you like to fuck. But they will care if you’re a good friend and a good neighbor.”

He nodded, knowingexactlyhow pointed that comment was. “I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to go clean up the mess you just caused with my mates. And you better fucking hope they aren’t already gone because so help me Roger, I will bury you where you’ll never be found.”

With that last satisfying threat hanging in the air, I slammed the door closed and took off down the hallway.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Erick

The last thing I wanted to be doing was folding my shirts and putting them in my suitcase. But Calum was right. There was a very good chance that the man downstairs was important to Sam. He had to be. People didn’t kiss like that when it meant nothing. There was love in that kiss. And so, there was a very good chance that Sam was going to show up at some point and tell us that he wanted nothing to do with us anymore. After all, after just a couple of weeks together, how could I ask him to commit to forever?

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