Will Rejection Hold? novel Chapter 34

This is me now. The man who turns to alcohol to solve his problems. The man who drowns himself in whiskey. I don't like me.

TUCKER'S FLASHBACK

"No man!" I laughed throwing the football back to my best friend Dante. The hot sun, beat down onto my bare back. My idiot friends were behind me, jumping around, and throwing the football back and forth.

"Come on man! Let's just go steal a couple hot dogs!" He pointed over to an abandoned picnic blanket, covered in food. The family playing a couple yards away.

"We are not stealing their food!" I cracked up laughing.

"Come on!" I turned around to look at him as I walked. Next thing I knew, I bumped into something light. Sparks shot through my body.

My wolf howled in delight, 'MATE!'

I turned around quickly and caught her by the waist. The fire burned warm against were our bodies touch.

"Sorry." Mumbled looking into her deep hazel eyes. My voice came out huskier than I had intended. I silently cleared my throat, and snapped out of my gaze. I quickly set her up right, and distanced myself.

"You're my mate." She whispered in awe. The beautiful girl standing in front of me was far from a stranger. Hannah Claire and I had been friends for years, that's what set my heart beat skyrocketing.

She's gonna reject me. She's gonna reject me. She's gonna reject me. She doesn't see me like that.

My instincts kicked in and I protected myself before she could even hurt start me hurt me.

"No." I spoke with power. I grabbed her and pulled her off the the other side of the park. I mind linked Dante and told him I was going to get food. That should give me some time. I don't really need the boys interrupting this right now.

She whimpered from my rough hold on her upper arm. I immediately dropped it, "I'm so sorry!" I panicked. "Did I hurt you?" My hands flitted over her body with a feather light touch looking for her source of pain.

"No, no. It's fine!" A breath taking smile took over Hannah Claire's gorgeous face! I sighed a content, happy smile. Before I remembered why I dragged her over here. I held her in my hands and just admired her. It was like the world around us didn't exist.

Smoke clouded the road. I slammed my breaks and threw the car in park. I jumped out of my truck and ran to her. I passed car after car after car.

"Faith!" I screamed. "Faith! Don't leave me!!" Her car was smushed, smoke coming from her engine. To the right of her smoking car was a truck. I knew right then she was gone. No way did her little car stand a chance against that truck. I felt like my heart was being ripped in two. I had never felt such pain before. A piece of me was gone forever. Ripped away before I could ever really appreciate it. Before I could love her the way she deserved to be loved.

I fell to my knees in a split second. Tears poured down my face. I cried. I haven't cried since I was a boy. But I did. I cried and I cried.

My Hannah. My sweet perfect little Hannah Claire. I never got to love her the way I should've. I'll never got to love her at all.

LEXI'S POV

"It's fine Chase." I ran my hand down his arm lightly to reassure him.

"Dammit! No it's not Lexi! I should've been there! I should've been the one to save you!!" He stood up and shook me off of him in his anger fit. "And you!" He turned to Tucker. "As grateful as I am you saved her, I should be the one saving her!" He began to shake lightly. I stood up and wrapped my arms around him again, knowing he needed help calming down, his eyes closed, and he leaned into my touch. I felt his chest move up and down as he began to calm his ragged breaths.