Rejection Accepted

Chapter 11

When I got to the baggage claim, I was surprised to see Dean and Dell standing there. As I came into their line of sight, they smiled at me and I just nodded at them. Dell grabbed my bag and I followed them to the car. As I climbed into the back seat, I notice that Rivers was already behind the well. I slide into the back seat and buckle my seat belt. Dean sat beside me, so Dell had to sit in front with Rivers.

“Dell told me some of what Jubal said to you. Are you really leaving my service Tami?” Glaring at Dell, I shake my head no. “Only death can take me from your service Sir.” I say just soft enough for him to hear. “That’s good. So, tell me what happened between Dell and you?”

“Nothing Sire. We just had a little understanding is all.” Feeling eyes on me, I look up and lock eyes with Dell’s in the rearview mirror. After a full second, I break contact and look out at the passing cars. Dean would try to get me to talk, but he finally gave up when all I would give was one worded answers. He would glance from Dell to me, out his window and then repeat. As our alpha and king, he could order us to tell him why we were acting like we were, but he swore that he would only use an order on us when it was absolutely necessary.

By the time Rivers parked the car in the garage, I was just about to burst. Dean didn’t like riding with the windows down, so I had to have Dell’s scent blowing in my face because of the a/c. Jumping out of the car, I race to the trunk and grab my bag. Turning to Dean, I bow my head. “Is there anything you’d like for me to do before I turn in Alpha?” Giving me a smile, he tells me to head on up to my room. I could hear Dell right behind me, but Dean called him to his office.

For three weeks, I managed to avoid Dell. Lilly hadn’t spoken to me since we got back to England, and I was missing her. I had the warriors on the field at 5 in the morning, and we didn’t walk off them until 10 that night. I pushed them hard every day but they didn’t complain. But I was pushing myself harder, and I could see the toll it was taking on my body. My eyes had black bags under them, and they were also missing the usual sparkle that was once there. And I had lost weight; not that I needed to lose any in the first place.

I knew that if Dean saw me in this state, he would flip. But lucky for me, he had been so swamped with business that I didn’t get to see him. I’d see him during the weekly pack meetings, but I would stand in the back of the room hidden from sight. Dell would search the room for me, but he never would find me. The vibration from my phone brought me out of my thoughts. Looking down at the screen, I noticed that the thirty minutes were up.

Blowing the whistle, the men and women slowly make their way in front of me. By now they were getting used to the extreme workout routine and I knew that they would be stronger and better fighters because of it. I wonder how they would react if I let them know that this little routine was just a small part of how my dad trained me? Shaking my head, I look over the wolves before me. “Alright guys, you did well today. In fact, I’ve decided to give you the next two days off.” I smiled as they started yelling and laughing. “Now get out of here before I change my mind.” They tore out of the training field like their pants were on fire.

Turning around to go for a run, I almost run into Rivers. “Captain.” He says nodding at me. “Rivers, what can I do for you?”

“Ma’am…” I cut him off nodding for him to fall in step with me. “When it’s just us Rivers, call me Tami.”

“Yes ma’am, I mean Tami.” Laughing, I step onto the track and pick up my pace to where I’m jogging. “Now, what can I do for you Rivers?”

“I’m worried about you Tami. I know the others haven’t really noticed yet that you’ve been pushing yourself five times harder than you push them, but I have.” I didn’t say anything, but I noticed that we were running now. Rivers couldn’t run and talk that well at the same time so he linked with me while keeping pace. I don’t know what’s going on in your personal life, that’s none of my business. But you need to slow down, or you’ll find yourself in an early grave. And that would be a major loss not only for the warriors, but for Dean and our entire pack.

 

I’ll make no promises Rivers. Right now, the only thing keeping me sane is training. We finish the five mile run in silence. But as I threw him a water bottle, I spoke. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell the alpha about any of this.”

“I won’t Tami I swear. Unless he orders me too.” I nod understanding. “You got two days of no training Rivers, I suggest you head on home and start your plans. I’ll see you on Friday.”

“Aye, aye captain.” He gives me a mock salute and walks towards his house. Shaking my head, I could feel the weariness seeping into my body. Taking my time to walk back to the house, I knew that Rivers was right. Pushing myself to hard for too long would push my body beyond what it could endure, even with all my werewolf abilities. By the time I made it to my office, I was too tired to try and reach my room. Stepping in my office, I quickly pull a pillow and blanket from a drawer in my desk.

Laying the pillow on my couch, I kick my shoes off, fall onto the couch and cover myself up. The second my head touch the pillow I was asleep. When I woke up I saw that it was still dark outside. I picked up my shoes and quickly tip-toed up the stairs to my room. Once there, I stripped out of my workout clothes and stepped in the shower. When I stepped out of the shower, I wrapped a thick, fuzzy towel around my body and walked back to my room. Looking from my bed to the closet, I walk to my bed, turn the covers down and slip under them. Sighing softly, I close my eyes and let sleep claim me again.

I was running through the woods taking over for one of the guards who was home sick. Stopping at my temporary post, I begin to trot beside the border smelling for rouges. A familiar scent hits my nose causing me to come to a dead stop. Looking around, I come face to face with Jubal with Greg and Rivers standing beside him. And at their feet lay Dell. Flattening my eyes, I growl at them, my eyes locking on Rivers. “How could you betray your pack?”

 

“I didn’t have a choice Captain.”

 

“Everyone has a choice Rivers.” I say my voice hard and cold. “And right now, I just made a choice to kill you for killing a member of your own pack. But you’re lucky; you won’t die until I deal with Jubal and Greg.” Rivers whine softly, lowering his body closer to the ground. I lunge towards Jubal, my teeth closing around his throat…. Feeling an arm on my shoulder, I jerk awake and growl. Slowly opening my eyes, I look right into the concerned faces of Dean and Dell.

“What’s wrong with you Tami? Are you sick?” Sitting up, I brush their hands off of me. Rubbing my eyes, I notice that the sun was shining and I smile. “Well good morning to you to Mr. Cranky.” I say giggling as I start to slip out of bed but then my eyes catch the towel that’s still wrapped around me. “Good morning?! It’s 2:30 in the afternoon Tamar! You didn’t leave your room yesterday and when I came to check on you, you were growling like you were about to kill someone.”

“I’m fine Dean. And what do you mean I didn’t leave my room yesterday? I spent all day yesterday training the warriors.”

“No you didn’t Tami. Most of them spent the day at the beach.” Looking at him confused, I rub my face. “What’s today?” I ask softly. “It’s Thursday.”

“Oh, well I guess I did stay in my room all day yesterday then. When I came back from training, I had a few things to do in my office and I fell asleep. When I woke up it was still dark out so I came to my room took a bath and went to bed. I guess I was a little more tired than I thought.” Dell looks at me from over Dean’s shoulder. “Why would training make you that tired?”

“I started working in some of my dad’s methods of training; it’s what he put me through when he was training me. And I was growling like I was killing someone because in my nightmare I was killing someone. Now, if the two of you gentlemen would so kindly step out of my room so I can get dressed, I’d be grateful.” Giving them a huge smile, I wait until my door shuts behind them before racing to my closet. Grabbing some clothes, I slip them on and head towards the door thinking of what to eat. But I never reached it.