Chapter 121

Third Person POV

Nan felt ridiculously embarrassed about getting alcohol poisoning.

She had spent days locked up in her one-bedroom apartment, shielding away from the world, drinking. She’s been ignoring her best friend completely and she felt bad about that. She felt even worse when she found out that it was her best friend who found her in that state and brought her to the hospital. Her stomach twisted as she fiddled with the blanket that covered her.

She had a slight headache and a stomach. Not to mention a broken heart.

“Good morning, Nan,” one of the nurses said as she walked into the room. “How are you feeling today?” Nan recognized her as the nurse who assisted her last night. She looked tired, mostly finished up with her overnight shift.

“Like I just got my stomach pumped,” Nan murmured, touching her fingers to her belly and wincing at the tender wound.

“Your wolf should heal you in no time,” the nurse assured her. “You drank so much that even your wolf was a little intoxicated. That’s quite impressive.”

Nan thought about all she had to drink, and she shuddered.

She felt guilty about doing that to her own wolf, but she just needed to numb away the pain for a little while. Her wolf was also in agony over the fact that their mate was a total playboy. First, he took Becky out on a date, and now he was making out with someone in the kitchen of Gavin Landry’s mansion.

He knew Judy because he was in the mansion she’d been living at.

Why would Judy keep something like this from her?

Then, Nan felt stupid for that thought. Why would Judy tell her anything about Chester? She had no idea that he was her mate.

“I wanted to give you this number,” the nurse said, handing Nan a small note.

On the paper, it said: Dr. Hoover, along with their phone number.

“Who is this?” Nan asked, peeking up at the nurse.

“Dr. Hoover is a psychiatrist and she’s one of the best,” the nurse said, surprising Nan.

“I don’t need a psychiatrist,” Nan said, trying to give the nurse the note back but the nurse only shook her head and waved off her concern.

“Something drove you to drink so much that you nearly killed your wolf in the process,” the nurse told her, her frown deepening. “When you came in yesterday, your wolf was so weak, I didn’t think she was going to make it through. You really should talk to someone about whatever you are going through. You were found alone and I’m worried that it could kill you and your wolf if it happens again.”

Nan wanted to tell her that it wasn’t the drinking that almost killed her wolf. It was the fact that she was heartbroken over their mate. It made her weaker and she was caught off guard; there was nothing more to it. But she was also embarrassed over the fact that she was basically rejected without the actual words being said.

Nan pressed her lips in a thin line and forced a small smile at the nurse to show her that she was truly okay. But even she knew it didn’t reach her eyes, and it only made the nurse more concerned.

“Thanks,” Nan finally said, putting the phone number on the small table next to the bed.

The nurse nodded and gave her a reassuring smile.

“You’ll be getting discharged today. I already called your friend, Judy. She’s going to come and get you.”

Nan glanced up at the woman.

“You called Judy?” She asked. She wasn’t sure she could face her best friend right now, but she knew she had to get home somehow and if she were to call anyone herself, it would also be Judy.

“Yes,” the nurse said simply. “She was adamant that she be the first that I call once you are ready to be discharged. Plus, she had Gavin Landry on her side, and I couldn’t deny him even if I wanted to.”

Gavin knew about this too?

Could this get any worse?

Without another word, the nurse left, leaving Nan alone with her thoughts. She stared up at the ceiling, feeling a bit dizzy and overwhelmed. She could feel her wolf stirring around inside of her, she was still heartbroken and couldn’t seem to stop thinking about their mate.

Her wolf was healing her wound, despite the pain she faced, and within the next hour, it didn’t feel as if her stomach had been pumped at all. She sighed in relief, finally feeling strong enough to stand up. She stood to her feet, nearly falling over in the process. She just wanted to use the bathroom and brush her teeth. She felt disgusting and needed a little normalization in her life.

She noticed a small bag of her things, which included extra clothes, undergarments, and toiletries. She knew her toothbrush must be in the mix as well; this to-go bag had Judy written all over it. She smiled at the thought of her friend caring for her while she was out of it. She truly didn’t deserve such a great friend.

She grabbed the bag and went into the bathroom. As predicted, she found her toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. She quickly brushed her teeth and then finished doing her business. She washed her face, grateful that Judy remembered her face wash as well.

Once she was finished, she quickly put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, throwing her hospital gown in the hospital laundry basket that sat in the corner of the bathroom. Once she was finished, she could hear some voices in the room. She thought maybe Judy had arrived and was speaking to one of the nurses.

She braced herself for what she was about to walk into; she was embarrassed, especially in front of Judy. But she knew she had to face her at some point and delaying it would only make things worse.

She grabbed the door handle and pushed the door open, stepping into the room. Her wolf immediately stood to attention when they caught wind of something familiar. A mouthwatering scent that nearly made Nan’s legs weak.

Judy turned to face her, a smile spreading across her lips and relief clear in her eyes.

“Oh, there you are, Nan. I thought you tried to run away,” Judy chuckled, holding her arms out to hug Nan. Nan immediately opened her own arms and collected Judy in her arms. Judy was a bit shorter than Nan, so she rested her chin on Judy’s head.

“I’m sorry I scared you,” Nan whispered.

“It’s okay,” Judy said, stepping back to study Nan. “You look well. Did your wolf heal you?”

“Yes,” Nan said, patting her belly. “All healed and ready to get out of here.”

Judy nodded and then turned towards the presence lurking in the doorway.

“Are you seriously just going to stand there?” Judy asked, folding her arms across her chest.

Nan peeked over in the direction Judy was looking in and her heart stuttered. Her breath got caught in her throat and she suddenly felt weighed to the ground. Standing at the doorway was her mate. He was staring at Nan with his pale blue eyes and a worried expression on his face as he studied her.

Her entire body was heated under his scrutiny.

“Oh, my Goddess,” Judy groaned marching over to him and grabbing his arm. She yanked him through the doorway and into the room, closer to Nan. “Stop being so weird, Chester.”

Chester.

That was her mate’s name.

Nan heard Judy saying something about Chester being her chef at the mansion. So, that meant, her mate worked for the Landry’s as a chef. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of finding out this information about her own mate. She had always wanted to be a chef as well. It was one of her main goals and something she was studying in school.

She cursed the Goddess for this cruel twist of fate.

“I’m sorry to just drag him here,” Judy said, eyeing Nan carefully. “But I really think you two should talk.”

There was no doubt in Nan’s mind that Judy knew that Chester was her mate. She felt even more embarrassed now. Does Chester know that Nan had alcohol poisoning? Did he know that she nearly drank herself to death? Heat attacked her cheeks, and she wanted the ground to open and swallow her entirely.

“He gave me a ride here. I can always find a new ride and—”

“No!” Nan said, almost too quickly. “Please, don’t leave me alone with him…”

Nan noticed the hurt that flashed in Chester’s eyes, but she ignored it, turning to face her best friend.

Judy looked just as surprised, but she nodded and gave Nan a reassuring smile.

“How about you come over?” Judy suggested. “That way I can keep an eye on you.”

Nan wanted to tell her that she would be fine returning to her apartment, but truth be told, she really didn’t want to be alone.

“Okay,” Nan relented.

“Do you think we can talk later?” Chester finally asked, breaking the silence between them. His voice was smooth and it warmed Nan’s insides. But then the memory of him with those other women clouded her mind and that hurt returned in a second.

“I think you’ve said all you needed to say,” Nan said as she grabbed her belongings, her eyes anywhere but on her mate. “Unless you plan to reject me later, then I don’t think we have much to say to each other.”

Then she paused and glanced up at him, her heart in her throat, a question on her lips she knew she needed to ask.

“Do you plan to reject me, Chester?”