Page 12 of Rejection and Redeemed
The receptionist smiled. “We get that a lot. We have rooms in the main hotel, or we have lodges available. Which would you prefer and how long will you be staying?”
“I’d like a lodge, as for how long I’m staying, I’m not sure yet. Can I book a week and then take it from there?”
“Of course. The lodge is £100 per night, we offer room service for all meals, or you can eat in the hotel restaurant. There are also facilities in the lodges for if you would like to cook your own food.”
“I didn’t bring any food with me. What time does room service finish?”
“Midnight Sunday to Thursday, 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday,” the receptionist told him, clicking some buttons. “Do you have a credit card and I can swipe it and leave the tab open? You can then settle up when you leave.”
Jacob pulled his wallet out and handed over his own credit card. He had enough money in his account to cover his stay, but would need to go into his father’s accounts and transfer money over before Cresswell stole it all.
The receptionist handed him a form to complete and, once done and his card swiped, she handed him a key. “This is forlodge number four, there’s parking just by the lodge. Can I order room service for you now?”
Jacob nodded. “Burger and chips, and a coffee, the largest coffee you have, just with milk. And mayonnaise for my chips.”
She smiled. “I can arrange that for you. There’s coffee in the lodge, but I’ll have room service bring you some milk.” The smile then fell off her face as she looked towards Jacob’s neck. “Do you need a doctor, sir?”
Jacob shook his head. “No, thank you,” Jacob replied, picking up his key and credit card. With a final thanks, he left the reception and walked back to his car, to drive it to lodge number four.
Once there, he only pulled out a bag of clothes, it was all he could manage at the moment. He dropped the bag by the lodge door, unlocked and opened it, then picked up his bag and went in, closing the door behind him.
It wasn’t fully dark yet, so he didn’t need to put any lights on. The lodge was open planned, with a table set for four off to one side, a large lounge area, and a small kitchen. He followed the hallway and found two double bedrooms and a bathroom. It was basic, but he could cope. At least he was safe here — he wasn’t on anyone’s pack land. He could stay here, shift, heal, and try to work out his next step.
CHAPTER 6
Fran had driven the roads for hours, he ignored his phone and all the calls and messages he had received to focus on finding Jacob. He pulled off the road at a garage to fill his car up and grab some water. He leant against the side of his car and thought about where Jacob could be. If he was kicked out of his pack, made a lone wolf and an outcast, where would he go? Not somewhere that was pack held. He stood up straighter. Jacob would be looking for somewhere safe to stay.
Fran wracked his brains. Yes, there was a village not far away that was just outside of the Pullman pack lands. He would go there and have a look and see if he could find Jacob.
The tank was now full, so putting the toggle back and closing the petrol cap, he walked into the station. He grabbed some water and sweets, then spied takeaway coffee and got one of them as well. Once everything was paid for, he swiftly walked back to his car.
It took him about forty minutes to get there and then he had to decide which of the two hotels Jacob might have booked himself into. He thought he would try the biggest one first, and if that was a bust he would try the next one.
Fran drove round to the hotel car park and parked his car. He got out, and as he did, he caught the faint scent of frankincense and mint. So Jacob had come here. He sighed in relief and leaving his car where it was, he followed the lingering scent. He found it by the reception and in the car park, but apart from that he couldn’t find it again.
Looking around in frustration, Fran saw some lodges off to one side. If he was staying here, he would want a lodge. Hoping that was Jacob’s thinking as well, Fran decided to have a walk around and see if he could find Jacob.
Luck was on his side, he picked up Jacob’s scent again, close to one of the lodges. As he got closer, he saw a car parked outside of it. He stepped close to the car and smelt Jacob all around it.
Fran sighed. Jacob was safe, he could stop worrying now. Well, not quite, he was still worried about Jacob and what had happened to him. He debated for all of a minute before he decided to knock on the lodge door.
Jacob had finishedhis burger and chips, and was now drinking his coffee. His laptop was open, with all the bank cards on the table and the paper containing all the bank details. He was just logging onto one of the banks when there was a knock at the lodge door.
Frowning, Jacob wondered if the waiter had forgotten something. Sighing, he got up and threw open the door, only to take a step back when he saw his blue-haired mate standing there.
“What do you want? I’m not on pack land?” Jacob demanded.
“That’s not why I was here. I heard what happened and I ...”
“Came to gloat?”
Fran shook his head. “No, I came to see if you were okay, and if there was anything I could do to help you.”
Jacob gave a rude snort. “Like you could help me. You do know I’m an Alpha heir, right? And what are you?”
That stung, but instead of allowing Jacob’s words to hurt him he replied, “No, youwerean Alpha heir, now you’re a lone wolf and an outcast.”
Pain flashed in Jacob’s eyes for a moment.
