Thaddeus’s POV
The rejection took a toll on my body. Exhaustion plagued me. I woke each night covered in sweat and in agony as my body suffered withdrawals from the loss of the bond.
It took a month for my body to recover, but it took almost a year to mentally recover. For the longest time, I wanted nothing to do with love, and hoped I wouldn't receive a second chance mate. Going through another rejection like that wasn't on my list of things to do. Seeing the disappointment in another mate's eyes when they look at my useless legs isn't something I could take living through twice.
I busied myself with work and hid under mountains of paperwork, but eventually my friends pulled me from the darkness I was hiding in.
It's been 6 years since the day I was rejected, and I never found a second chance, mate. I've made my peace with it, but at first it was tough to realize that the Goddess didn't want to give a cripple a second chance, mate. That even she knew it was best not to try, because I would just be rejected again.
Every now and then, I dive into those dark thoughts again, and I hear his voice. At times, the words from the man who was supposed to accept me haunt me even to this day, and remind me that no one would want someone stuck in a wheelchair.
~§~
“Man, I had two of them pinned to the ground, and this fucker came out of nowhere and bit my damn shoulder, look at this shit!” Xander said from the front passenger seat. He pulled his collar down and exposed his shoulder, straining to look back at it.
“Look at that! That fucker tried to take a chunk out of me!” Xander said, shoving his shoulder further over the back seat to show Marcus.
Marcus rolled his eyes and sighed.
“Well, at least he wasn't trying to take your leg off like the other asshole was trying to do to me,” Marcus said, his arms folded over his chest, clearly not happy that Anders held him down so I could wrap his thigh and hip.
The bandage was already soaked with blood, but if he had it his way, he would have rinsed it off with water and called it a day.
Xander turned to face Marcus, kneeling on the seat as he wrapped his arms around it and rested his chin on the headrest, eagerly waiting to hear his story.
“What are you doing?” Marcus raised a brow and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Xander looked like a damn puppy, eager for a treat.
“Well, what happened? I need details! And don't leave anything out!” Xander said, waving a finger at Marcus.
Marcus sighed and gave the Beta a bored expression.
“Nothing happened!” Marcus said, folding his arms tighter over his chest.
Xander raised an eyebrow.
“So, mister, I know every form of martial arts, and can kick everyone's ass, just suddenly has a chunk missing out of his thigh?” Xander said, and to poke the beast further, he reached back and tugged on one of Marcus's long, dark dreadlocks.
Marcus growled and swatted his hand away.
“I hope you've been looking for a replacement, because I'm going to kill him if he doesn't knock it off!” Marcus said, and I coughed to cover my laugh.
Marcus has been threatening to kill Xander for as long as I can remember. He loves Xander, but at the same time, he wants to kill him.
“Xander, turn around, and leave him alone!” I said, feeling like a parent breaking up my children's argument before it became a fight.
Xander turned and plopped down into his seat.
The drive home from Alpha Michael's pack seems longer than usual. Maybe it's because everyone was tired after fighting an endless flood of rogues.
Alpha Michael is a good friend. His pack borders the Southwest corner of my territory, and our friend Alpha Asher is at the North end, bordering mine and Michael's territory.
Our three packs have been allies from the beginning of time, and the three of us have been friends since we were young. They're not as close as Marcus, Xander and I are, but that's to be expected when we're more like family than friends.
As allies and friends, we help each other when needed, and today, Michael needed our help.
Rogues aren't pleasant to deal with. They are wolves that have either been kicked out or left on their own will. A wolf without a pack is a rogue, and they're dangerous. The longer you remain rogue, the more likely you’ll become wild and feral, and once that happens, you lose yourself and your humanity.
The stronger rogues like to band together and attack packs. And today it looked like they chose Michael's pack. Thankfully, we're not far, and within 30 minutes of our arrival, we had his packs secured.
Now, here I am, trying to get us home before these two tear each other apart. Sometimes I let them drive, and other times I like to feel normal and drive my vehicle.
Although my vehicle isn't quite normal. Not when it's set up for someone who doesn't have use of their legs.
An aftermarket lever to the right of the steering wheel gives the vehicle gas when moved in one direction and applies the brakes when moved in the other.
Driving down the road at 55 mph with the window down so I can feel the wind blowing through my hair is the most normal I can feel in human form.
Although I'd actually be able to enjoy it if Xander could stop talking for at least a minute, unfortunately, now he's on a roll talking about all the hot she-wolves back at Michael's place.
I groan and contemplate shoving him out of the car.
I suppose Marcus isn't the only one who has threatened to kill Xander over the years.
I jumped, startled when Xander suddenly rang out a little too loud, “Hey guys, why do fathers take an extra pair of socks when they go golfing?....
In case they get a hole-in-one!” Xander laughed, and Marcus rolled his eyes.
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, knowing he's only getting started.
“How does the Moon cut his hair?...
Eclipse it!” Xander laughed even harder and slapped his knee.
“Why don't skeletons fight each other?...
Because they don't have the guts?” Xander curled forward, laughing way too hard at that one.
“Thaddeus, if you don't kick his ass out of the car, I will!” Marcus growled, glaring at the back of Xander's head.
I groaned and ran my hand down my face.
“Xander, for the love of Goddess, will you knock it off!” I was nearly begging at this point.
Xander folded his arms over his chest with a huff, pouting. “You guys are no fun!” he mumbles under his breath.
“No, you just like having a little too much fun, and don't know how to keep your mouth closed, or that thing in your pants!” I said, remembering what this idiot did at Michael's.
After taking care of the rogues, we stayed for lunch. Everything was going well until it was time to leave. What I didn't realize was that my Beta had snuck off to see a girl, and that girl just so happened to be the sister of a very large bear shifter, Michael's Commander, Anders.
With the front of the pack house full of people, including omegas and children, this idiot decided to embarrass not only himself, but me.
My conversation with Michael was cut short by the chaos of Xander being chased by a very angry bear shifter.
It wasn't just the fact that Anders was chasing him; it was the fact that he was butt naked and screaming while Anders yelled every profanity known to man at him.
The look on Xander's face was a mix of terror and amusement. Somehow, he thought it was funny to have death chase him.
“Get back here, you fucking mutt! That was my little sister, you asshole! I'm going to rip your fucking dick off and shove it down your throat!” Anders yelled, and Xander shrieked when the commander almost caught him.
Thankfully, Michael and Ryder were there to calm Anders down,
Xander shrinks down in his seat, and for once, it's finally quiet in the car. Unfortunately, the peace and quiet didn't last, and five minutes later, he was talking again.
Unable to take any more, I slammed on the brakes, and since he wasn't wearing his seatbelt, which I was well aware of, Xander's forehead was introduced to my dashboard.
That bought me another five minutes of silence, and thankfully, by the time he began talking again, we were home.
~§~
I sat in the shower with the hot water raining down against my back. As I washed my tattoo-covered legs, I remembered how muscular they used to be. Now, they're thin and atrophied from years of no use. I stopped washing and trailed my finger along the tattoo on my right leg. I found myself wondering if somehow I still had a mate out there, if he'd be able to look past these useless legs.
I let out a sigh and let go of my leg, letting it drop, and hung the washcloth.
Thirty minutes later, I'm dressed and wheeling myself down the hallway of my apartment on the top floor of the packhouse.
When I reached the end of the hallway, I found Xander had let himself in and made himself at home in my living room. The beta is sitting on the couch, playing video games and eating what looks like everything in my kitchen.
Xander cock's is head around the couch and smiles with a mouth full of food.
“Hey, what's up?” Xander doesn't bother swallowing his food before speaking, and I shake my head at the mouthful of food I saw.
I wheeled myself around the couch and snatched the bag of chips out of Xander's hand before picking up the rest of the food scattered all over the coffee table.
“I don't know why you're eating all this shit! We're about to go downstairs and have a feast, and you're up here loading up on all this junk.” I scolded and wondered where half the shit came from. I don't remember buying a bag of Doritos or donut holes.
“That's okay. I have plenty of room for all of that, too!” This pig said with a mouth full of food.
“All that work I did at Michael's worked up quite the appetite,” Xander said, and I smirked. “Yeah, that must have been some hard work with Anders's sister?”
My comments had the opposite effect that I intended, and a large smile spread on the Beta's face.
“Hey, I can't help it. She came onto me!” Xander placed his hand over his chest, feigning innocence.
“You know, you need to learn to keep that thing in your pants! What are you going to do when you find your mate?” I asked, and Xander mumbled under his breath as he sank down into the couch as if he was trying to hide from me.
~§~
By the time I made it outside, the full moon celebration was well underway. The bonfire was lit, the children were playing, and the rest of the pack mingled, enjoying the warm summer evening.
Soft music played from the speakers, and the scent of food filled the air.
I settled in at the end of the table, locking my wheelchair in place before digging in and eating. I had only taken three bites when another plate was placed beside mine. I looked up to find Zendaya giving me a look that said, “Don't even try it.”
I laughed and shook my head. Of course, she thinks I didn't grab enough food. I swear this lady's trying to fatten me up.
“Hey, don't laugh! I saw how much you put on your plate, and that's nowhere near enough. Besides, you didn't get any of the damn pig! My grandmother helped Grace with that sucker all day. She'll whip my ass if she knows you didn't eat any of it!” Zendaya shook her fork at me and gave me a firm look.
“Well, in that case, I'd better eat this plate first.” I laughed, switching the plates around.
“So, where's that wonderful mate of yours?” I asked, noticing I didn't see him anywhere.
“Hopefully, not out there killing Xander. They did a quick run out to the front gate. They should be back any minute.” Zendaya said before taking another bite.
“Is there someone here?” I paused and felt for the guards at the front gate.
“No. Those two are always looking for an excuse to go for a run, and besides, you know how they are. Always wanting to make sure everything's secure.” Zendaya said, licking the barbecue sauce from her fingers before grabbing a napkin.
Just as I brought a bite of potato salad to my mouth, Xander came bursting from the tree line at full speed. He kept glancing over his shoulder every few moments, and I groaned, knowing why.
Zendaya turned around in her chair just in time to get a pair of shorts thrown in her face.
“These are yours now!” Xander said, out of breath. The Beta slid as he rounded my chair and dropped into the seat beside me.
His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. Without a word, he reached over and grabbed a chicken leg from my plate. I glared at him and gave him my best “what the fuck?” look, but the idiot simply flashed his signature smile before taking a bite.
Zendaya pulled the shorts from her face and held them out, looking at them in confusion. At that exact moment, a very naked and very angry Marcus burst from the tree line, growling. It didn't take long before he spotted Xander and ran toward our table. He slid to a stop when he saw what Zendaya was holding.
“So, you're the one who took my damn shorts!” Marcus said as he plucked the shorts from Zendaya's hand and slipped them on. The commander pulled the seat out beside her and sat down, smirking at her.
“If you wanted me naked, all you had to do was ask.” The commander said playfully, smiling at the beautiful lady next to him. Marcus rested his elbow on the table and propped his chin against his fist. His smirk deepened, and he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
Zendaya forced out a breath and rolled her eyes. “This man!” She said, shaking her head.
“And this man is all yours!” Marcus said, swaying his hands down and along his body in a showing fashion.
“Xander, you need to stop spending so much time with my mate. You're starting to rub off on him!” Zendaya said before popping a piece of chicken into her mouth.
I laughed, and Xander's face lit up.
“Shit, now I'm going to spend even more time with him! Before you know it, we'll be finishing each other's sentences.” Xander said excitedly.
Marcus groaned and ran his hand down his face.
“Please, baby girl. Please let me kill him,” Marcus pleaded with his eyes closed.
Zendaya laughed as she rubbed his back. “Stop acting like you don't like it. You know you love his goofy ass!”
“Of course, I love the idiot. That doesn't mean I still don't want to kill him!” Marcus said, and Xander's face lit up again.
“Aw, I love you too, big brother!... Or little brother. You are kinda shorter than me.” Xander flashed his goofy grin at Marcus, and the commander growled at him.
Zendaya placed her hand on Marcus's shoulder, “Xander, if you want to live to meet your mate, I highly suggest you stop poking the beast!” She said while rubbing Marcus's back. Marcus's expression softened as he turned to look at his mate, and she blushed when he kissed his cheek.
- End of Chapter -
