Page 19 of Rust the Rejected
“Might I suggest you take a leave of absence for a month? You had a terrible fall yet continued to treat patients, even saved a mother and her unborn baby. You’re new to the team. However, we value your contributions in the short time you’ve been with the department. I’ll make an exception for your leave should you wish to take time off instead of resigning. We would rather lose you for a few weeks than forever. Why don’t you go home and give me your answer in the morning? I’ll have another doctor cover for you today.”
I sag in relief. Time off would give me time to make my serum and restart my injections. Perhaps with my wolf suppressed, the fated mate bond will disappear. Rust and I didn’t know about it all this time. So, the chances of it disappearing again are pretty high.
But is it worth it? Do you really want to give up your heart of heart wish for a partner in life? A pack?
Once again, I ignore my inner voice.
I take a deep, cleansing breath.
“Thank you, Dr. Wright. You’re more than generous with your offer. I thank you and accept.”
“Excellent. Human Resources will reach out to you later today. Take care of yourself. If you’re ready to return earlier than expected, call me.”
He rises from the chair, and I follow. At the double doors, we part with a handshake. I express my gratitude again, and he smiles, wishing me the best.
Before I leave, I tell Paloma Sabela and Thandie. They wish me luck as we embrace. I smile to myself, happy to have new girlfriends. In my office, I take a few things I’ll need during my leave, then head for the dispensary. I tell the pharmacist I’ll send a messenger to pick up the medicines, and he agrees.
Tasks complete, I head for the parking lot. I glance around, half expecting Rust to leap from around a corner and drag me caveman style to his den. My wolf whines as she stares at me with dejected eyes. Sorry, I whisper.
As I pass the emergency room entrance, I spot dark ginger hair shining in the sunlight. My heart clenches. Unconsciously, I slow the car down.
Sensing my stare, Rust turns his head from the patient on the gurney. Our eyes meet.
Electricity sparks through me. I gasp and turn back to the road ahead. My eyes dart to the rearview mirror, drawn like a magnet to steel.
Rust stands in the middle of the road, eyes locked on mine.
CHAPTER8
Rust
“Damn,bro! What the hell’s gotten into you?”
“You look like shit!”
“I’d say look what the cat dragged in, except we’re wolves…”
“Did somebody steal your favorite toy, or what?!”
Jagger, Viggo, Tag, and Dylan double over and high five one another. Their guffaws fill the air as they sit on the terrace of Jagger and Sage’s bayfront mansion on Moon Island.
I can’t summon the energy to respond to my best friends’ inane comments, especially when they’re spot on. It’s been three days since Natalie rejected me as her fated mate. When our eyes connected and she continued to drive away from me, my heart broke anew. It’s been pure torture. A needle hurts. But this pain… Ouch.
An ER nurse had to call me back to care for the incoming patient. Fortunately, it was a mild case of food poisoning, or I would have been beyond pissed with myself. For the rest of the day, I forced myself to focus. By the end of my shift, mental exhaustion set in. Not to mention the searing pain slicing my heart. The night proved no better. I tossed and turned with dreams of tracking Natalie only for her to dodge out of my reach.
The next two days, the pain from her rejection grew worse. Unable to concentrate, I took off two weeks starting today. The Director of Emergency Medicine was more than happy to approve my last-minute vacation request since I rarely take time off and bust my ass each shift. Plus, she took one glimpse of me and realized I needed a break.
Not wanting to stumble about my penthouse, I sent a text message to my boys to hang out. Hopefully, the distraction will ease the sorrow of finding then losing my fated mate after all these years. And stave off the madness I sense in my wolf. I rub my chest and drop onto a chaise lounge next to Viggo.
His ice blue eyes regard me. Those who don’t know think we’re brothers since he has long, red hair like mine. He wears his in a ponytail with the sides of his head buzzed. Pack tattoos adorn his scalp. A tribute to our Viking ancestors. Each of us—aside from Jagger—have paw prints on our pecs as symbolism for our bond as best friends for life.
He stretches his long legs in front of him and folds his bulging biceps across his chest.
“Speak up. What’s going on?”
“I look like shit. I feel like shit. Not from the loss of a toy… But from my fated mate. She rejected me.”
A hush descends. Hell, even the birds and insects stop chirping. A glance at each of my friends’ faces reveals their stunned silent—eyes bug and mouths hang open. If I wasn’t so torn up, I’d laugh at the sight of four Alpha males looking like cartoon characters.
