Rejection and Redeemed

Chapter 46

CHAPTER 46

F ran didn’t have time for lunch at the castle and, after dropping Jacob off and leaving his bag in the hall, he drove to the hospital.

“Hey, Fran,” Emory said, as Fran started work. “You and Jacob alright?”

“I think I messed up and hurt Jacob,” he replied.

“How did you do that? Did your mating not go as planned?”

“No, all of that was perfect. We were just at my house packing a bag and Jacob reminded me that I needed to have lunch before I got to work. I said I’d eat here. Then Jacob said when our kitchen was up and running, he’d make me lunch every day. I told him I’d been taking care of myself a long time. We drove back to the castle in silence.”

“He was showing his caring side,” Emory said gently.

“Yeah. I didn’t mean to shut him down, he’s overcome toxic masculinity and keeps showing me his caring side. I just didn’t want him to worry about me.”

“Fran, our mates worry about us, just as we worry about them. Of course Jacob wants to look after you.”

“I’ll talk to him when I get home. I also need to find a way to make it up to him,” Fran said.

Emory grinned. “Well, you have all afternoon to think about how.”

Jacob was walking towards the dining room. He wasn’t sure what to make of what Fran said. Sure, Fran was older than him, but did that mean he wasn’t supposed to look after him?

“Jake.” He heard Joe call as he came bounding down the stairs.

“Hey, Joe.”

“Have you been out? Congratulations on your mating.”

“Thanks. Yeah, we went to Fran’s house so he could get some more clothes.”

“Do you have enough energy to walk to lunch? I must say, considering you were mated last night, you don’t seem very happy,” Joe pointed out, taking Jacob’s arm and leading him to the smaller dining room.

They walked in and saw Finn, Ezzy, and Frank already at the table.

“Sorry we’re late,” Jacob said.

“You’re not late. Welcome to the family, Jacob,” Frank said.

“Thanks,” Jacob said with a small smile.

Lunch was already on the table, so a few moments were spent putting food on plates.

“I must say, Jacob, considering you’re newly mated, you don’t seem very happy,” Finn pointed out, unknowingly echoing Joe’s words. “Did something go wrong with last night?”

Jacob shook his head. “No, last night was lovely. It’s just, I know Fran is older than me, but I didn’t realise that would mean I couldn’t look after him.

“What do you mean?” Frank asked. “The age difference shouldn’t matter.”

“I know I was taught differently, but I always hoped that I would have a mate I could care about and that I could do whatever it took to keep them happy and pampered. I was worried about Fran not having time for lunch today. He said he would eat at the hospital and I said that when our kitchen was up and running, I would make Fran lunch every day. He didn’t like that idea and told me he’d been looking after himself a long time,” he explained.

“I’m sure he didn’t mean you couldn’t look after him. The hospital really does have nice food,” Ezzy said.

Jacob gave a sad smile. “Ignore me, I’m sure I’ll get the hang of being a mate soon enough.”

“There’s nothing to get the hang of. You’re already a good mate,” Frank assured him. “It sounds like miscommunication to me.”

Jacob looked at him, hope in his eye. “You think?”

Frank nodded and smiled at him. “I really do. Chat with him when he gets back from the hospital.”

“Will do.”

“Before that, we can go outside and shift,” Ezzy suggested.

“That’ll be good. Each shift makes me stronger,” Jacob said.

“Frank, I heard from my parents as I came downstairs,” Joe announced. “They want to come the day after tomorrow if that’s okay. They wanted to come tomorrow, but there’s the funeral we’re all going to.”

“They could still come tomorrow. Rose’s funeral is tomorrow morning,” Frank replied just as the door opened and Berni walked in, smiling.

“Good, lunch is still going on. Hello boys, Frankie. Congratulations, Jacob.”

“Thanks.”

Dishes were passed to Berni so he could fill his plate.

“Jacob, Alpha Cresswell has asked permission to come and visit. He wants to bring your mother’s furniture and update me on what’s been found. I would like you by my side when he arrives.”

“I’m not sure he’ll be pleased to see me again, but I can be there.”

“You’ll be fine. We’ll all be outside with you,” Berni reassured him, picking up his cutlery. “He’ll be here the day after tomorrow.”

“I can put my parents off, they were coming then as well,” Joe told him, finishing his dinner.

“Don’t do that. I can’t wait to meet them.”

“Annfield and Morty are lovely. They, along with Joe, are pretty much why I’m not a total screw-up,” Jacob said, with a wry smile.

“You’re not a screw-up,” Finn said adamantly.

“We’ll find out when Fran gets home.”

Berni looked at Jacob. “Problems? I understand last night went well. That was a lovely idea of yours, having Laura cook a special meal.”

“Just a miscommunication, I hope. Fran and I will chat when he comes home after work,” Jacob replied.

“Misunderstandings and miscommunications happen, it’s a fact of life. Just be open and honest and everything will sort itself out,” Berni told him.

“It will. Are you and Frank coming outside later and shifting with us?” he asked.

“I could come for a few minutes. Frank?”

“I can come as well. I don’t have a meeting until four. I’m also finalising a training rota, I just need Fran, Robbie, and Emory’s shifts.”

“And I contacted our college. They’re in the process of having all your school records transferred over. They want the three of you to pop in next week, so you can look around and discuss your lesson plans.”

“We can do that,” Finn said. “It’ll be strange being in a college with people that will talk to me and help me if needed.”

Ezzy laughed. “You’re mated to the future Duke, everyone will be bowing and sucking up to you. You’ll have more friends than you know what to do with.”

“I’d forgotten about that,” Finn muttered.

“Not to mention you’re the only white wolf there is. That would have gotten out after your fight with your father when the fair was on. Thankfully, no one knows about Jacob being the only silver wolf yet,” Ezzy added.

“We’ll try and just keep that in the family,” Berni said. “We’re still looking into what a silver wolf means.”

“I found something that said a silver wolf was only born once every five thousand years or something and that they were called ghost wolves. But it didn’t say anything about abilities or what a ghost wolf was,” Finn told them.

“I don’t think I’ve heard the term ghost wolf before,” Frank said, looking at Berni. “At least I can’t remember learning about them, can you Bern?”

“No, but it’s another line to follow anyway.”

Everyone chatted while Berni finished his lunch, and then they all went outside, shifted, and played.