The Chef's Sick Mate (Book 17 of the Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 24

Gen stood and left the room, heading back into her own. She walked into her small bathroom and stripped off her clothes, looking herself over in the mirror. She'd filled out some, though she was still skinnier than she'd like. Her ribs were still visible, something she hated. Most of her extra weight had gone to her boobs and ass. But she was sort of afraid to overeat. Not that she was afraid of getting fat, not by a long shot, but eating a lot before had made her sick more than once.

She rarely had an appetite, or at least she never used to until she became a werewolf. Now, she was hungry more often than not. Jules encouraged her to snack, which Gen kind of found funny.

'If you're hungry, then that means that I'm hungry, too. You need to eat more. As a werewolf, you have a higher metabolism. You need more sustenance. You're far too skinny,' Jules told her. 'You need the food to keep you going, Gen.'

'I don't want to get sick,' Gen told her.

'You won't. There's nothing wrong with you, love. You're perfectly healthy except for the fact that you don't eat enough.' Jules had huffed in frustration at her. 'Your body requires more food now, especially after shifting.'

They'd had that argument more than once with Jules insisting that there was nothing wrong with her. Gen just couldn't allow herself to believe it. She knew that Jules was aware of that, but she also knew it frustrated Jules that she didn't trust her on that topic.

'I just can't, Jules. I want to, but you don't understand,' Gen told her one night, frustrated with her nagging wolf. Sometimes Jules acted like her mother.

'I understand more than you think I do,' Jules retorted. 'But you need to listen to me, love. You're not doing either of us any favors by not eating enough. You're a malnourished werewolf.'

Surprisingly, her mother hadn't mentioned her appetite either, and Gen found herself wondering if her mother even realized that Gen was doing better. Probably. Melissa knew Gen better than anyone. But Melissa never said anything.

'She knows you eat more than you used to, even if it's not enough,' Jules told her.

'How do you know?'

'Because she constantly watches you, worried about you. She's happy you're doing well, but she's waiting for the other shoe to drop,' Jules said quietly.

Gen shook her head at that. Her health was like a giant elephant in the room that everyone was ignoring. And ignore it they would, until she ended up back in the hospital again. It was inevitable. It was like they were all holding their breath, waiting for her to get sick again.

The longest she'd gone without being sick had been one year. She was a long way from that, but even then, she'd never been perfectly healthy. But still, the entire family had held their breath as time went by, relaxing a bit more as each month passed and she was still relatively healthy. But it hadn't lasted, and the disappointment on their faces had made Gen's heart ache. She hated that her body had betrayed her yet again. That it had stolen her family's happiness. But there was nothing she, nor anyone else could do to stop it. It was why she couldn't trust it now.

She didn't know if she could ever trust her body again. Granted, she felt better than she ever had, even during that year of not being sick. She'd felt good during that year, but not like she did now. That was when she'd thought she might actually be able to attend high school like a normal teenager. Dumbass that she was.

She stepped into the shower, relishing in the hot water that pounded down on her bare body. She opened the bottle of body wash and set to work on bathing, a small sigh escaping her. She was looking forward to seeing her sister and the man who had given her such great sex. Gen smiled sardonically. Not that she would say anything to Ana about it. She would never do that.

'We'll be having great sex one day when we find Mate,' Jules supplied.

Gen rolled her eyes. That wasn't likely. 'Not if he rejects us.'

'Mate won't reject us,' Jules told her.

'I wouldn't hold my breath about that. I have too many issues.' She sighed softly. 'I'm sorry you got stuck with such a shitty human.'

Jules huffed out a breath. 'Gen, you're worth so much more than you know.'

Gen didn't respond to that. She couldn't. She was only good at creating expenses and heartbreak for those she loved. Why would her mate want to be saddled with that? No sane person would. That was just the way it was.

She stepped out and dried off, then walked back into her bedroom so she could dress before settling back down on her bed and picking up her book. Ana would be here soon along with her boyfriend. Gen was curious to see the man who Ana regretted leaving. The man that had somehow convinced her sister to have a one night stand. It was a little crazy to think about. She remembered Ana saying once that she would never have a one nght stand with a man. It was too unsafe.

Her thoughts drifted to what her sister had said about having bad news. She sighed. She really thought it was about her father. Gen had a feeling he was dead. Her heart clenched at that, but she knew with him being gone as long as he was, it was most likely what had happened. She hated the thought of it, but Coleman had never been gone this long, and Gen had known it was a possibility. She had a feeling her mother was thinking the same thing. Gen had found her crying a few times, though she hadn't commented on it. Another elephant in the room. One that no one wanted to talk about, though she had a feeling that's what Ana was coming for. Though why she was bringing her boyfriend along, Gen didn't know. Emotional support, she supposed.

Gen wondered how long they'd been together. Ana hadn't called her in several days, and the last they'd spoken, she hadn't mentioned her boyfriend. She'd always told Gen before. She really wanted to ask her sister a bunch of questions, but doubted she'd get her alone. Oh well. At some point she'd be able to.

The sound of her sister's voice broke through Gen's thoughts, and she put her book down and stood. She hadn't even cracked it open. She'd been too lost in thought. She walked back out into the living room. Ana was standing there talking to a tall man with dark hair stand. Both of them turned to her, and Gen smiled at them. Ana and her boyfriend stared back at her.

Gen had always thought Ana was beautiful. Her sister had long silvery blond hair, and she wore it down today. Gen's own hair was the same color, but hers was short and needed cut, or at least trimmed. Her hair was so uneven, which was normal for her. It was down to her shoulders, but it had grown in curly, which wasn't normal. She liked it that way and hated that at some point in the near future, she'd have to shave it all off again. She was dreading that. Every time she had to shave it, she cried.

Ana's eyes were a pale blue, where Gen's were a little darker. Ana had gorgeous curves and today she wore jeans and a warm, soft button-down shirt that she hadn't bothered buttoning. She had on a tank top underneath.

But the man with her was the main thing that caught her attention. He was drop dead gorgeous, probably one of the most beautiful men Gen had ever laid eyes on. He had dark brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes. He was tall, at least a foot taller than her sister and nicely muscular. He had on a long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans, and his arm was around Ana.

They both were staring at her like they'd seen a ghost. Gen stared back at them curiously, feeling a bit confused. What the heck was going on? Did she look that different? Though why in the world Ana's boyfriend was staring at her that way, she wasn't sure of. She'd never seen him before. If she had, he wasn't a guy she was likely to forget. He was too hot for that.

Suddenly, Jules spoke up. 'They're both werewolves.'

'What?!'