Filed To Story: Their Bullied and Broken Mate by Teri Petry
It’s been almost 3 weeks since the girls have been born, and they are growing so quickly. I’m starting to recognize little personality traits coming out in each of them, and I can’t wait to see how they are when they get older. They are all three relatively good babies, only cry when they need something and are rarely cranky, but when they are, Goddess be damned if they don’t raise the roof with their cries. Loki swears that Alette is fully his, Adelina is fully Liams and Asteria is a beautiful combo of them both. Liam and I just laugh when he talks like that, but who knows if he could be right? I asked him once where I fit in to that equation, and he just chuckled and said that they had a piece of me in each of them. I guess that is fair. I have been thinking a lot about how to approach Gretchen about being my grandma, but I think that there isn’t going to be an easy way to do it. I’m just going to have to rip the band-aid off and tell her I know. When I think about it though, I get a little angry. She was literally right in front of her sons during the whole Callum demon debacle, and said nothing. NOTHING. She had to know it was them. Their full names were given in the book, which means SHE named them. I decided to go to the old Mill House and talk to her, and see what she had to say.
The Mill House was bustling with activity considering the winter solstice was close, and I found Gretchen pretty quickly. “Melian, my dear! It’s so good to see you!” she exclaimed. She looked around to see if I was alone or had the girls with me, and when she realized I was alone, concern spread across her face. “Is everything OK, sweetheart? Where are the little beauties?” she asked. I sighed and shook my head. “No, I’m not alright. I need to speak to you about something important. In private, please.” I told her. She took my hand and led me into her bedroom, and sat me on the bed. She brought me a bottle of water, and pulled a chair near where I was sitting. Her room smelled heavenly, and I instantly relaxed. It was a mix of lavender, vanilla and sage, just like the sachets she brought me to the nursery for the kids. “So, what’s troubling you my dear girl?” she asked. I had a hard time looking her in the eye, but I pulled the book out of my bag and handed it to her. She opened it where the bookmark was, and I could see her demeanor change just as quickly as it had earlier. “Whe..where did you get this?” she asked. I explained to her how Christopher was helping me learn the history of the packs, and helping me find information about who I am and my mother’s family were. I also told her that he had found it while he was in Dark Star, and brought it to me when he saw my mother’s name listed next to hers. “Gretchen, I know this is probably painful for you, but I need answers. I’m begging you. Mammon had questioned you in the cell house about whether you had told me who I was, and you avoided the question. I would like to know why. I care a great deal about you and your family. If we were family, I would feel honored, but I would still have questions about events leading till now. I hope you understand.” I informed her. She became very quiet and stood up and turned away from me. I knew I had upset her, but I was sincere with my words. I needed answers and I hoped she understood.
“OK, I will tell you everything, but please understand this is a very painful situation for me. Would you like some tea or cookies? This is going to take a bit to tell you.” she stated. I nodded my head with a smile, and she stepped out of the room. While she was gone, I started to look at the things she had set out around her bedroom. There were beautiful figurines and crystals. Candles and bowls of herbs were everywhere. She had a shelf in the corner with many old pictures, and I started to look at them intensely. On the second shelf there were 3 pictures in particular that caught my eye. One was of 2 little boys and a beautiful little girl who looked a lot like me. Another was just of the boys playing with their trucks in some sand, and the last one was the little girl with her doll sitting on a swing. I knew that they were my uncles and mother, but if the timeline added up, it was after she had left them with their father. Did she keep tabs on them? Was she forced to walk away from them? I almost felt like she may have led a double life somehow, because my mother and her oldest son, Marcus, were very close in age. She came back into the room, and I moved back over to the bed to take my seat again. She poured the tea and sat a tray of cookies on her bedside table. “Get comfy, sweety. This is going to take me a little while. I hope you have time,” she said. I sent a text to my mates and the nanny telling them where I was, and that I would be there a while. I put the phone away, and told her I had all the time in the world.
“Alright then, let’s begin. When I was around 15 years old, I was sent to a boarding school in Seattle. My parents were concerned because I wasn’t picking up as quickly as I should with my magical abilities. They thought sending me away to a boarding school for witches would be a good opportunity for me. They obviously didn’t do enough research on the place because it wasn’t just for witches. There were many different walks of life there. Fae, witches, wolves, and other shapeshifters, and a random vampire here and there. I was there close to 2 weeks before I left my dorm room, and tried to meet people. When I finally decided to socialize, I met Albert Rosewood. He was a wolf/Fae hybrid, and extremely handsome. It was definitely lust at first sight,” she said with an ornery look on her face.
The Hard Truth
*Gretchen POV*
When Melian showed up at the Mill House out of the blue, I had a gut feeling about what she wanted. Was I ready to face those memories? I wasn’t sure, but knew it was time to face the past. I started to tell her about how my parents sent me away to boarding school and that I had met her grandfather, Albert, shortly after. She was listening intently, and I slowly verbalized the memories from way back then.
“He was incredibly handsome, and it was definitely lust at first sight. We became friends pretty quickly, and eventually we became intimate. We weren’t mates, but the relationship was worth the risk of heartache. Albert was a good man, or at least at the time he was. We dated for almost a year, and I fell pregnant with your uncles, Jorma and Leif. We were both on cloud 9 and decided that we were going to be a family, no matter if we found our mates or not. I believed that wholeheartedly until your mother was born. When she turned 2, things changed. He was sent to a conference by his father, and he found his fated mate. All the promises of being a family and choosing to stay with each other and reject our mates became empty. He came home and sat me down and told me that he was taking my children and leaving to be with his mate. She would raise them as hers, and I would never see them again. I begged him not to destroy our family, and he, in not so many words, said that we weren’t a family anymore and to forget I was the mother of his children. I was devastated. I pleaded with him to at least leave the kids, and he refused. He had become distant and cruel towards me, and when I looked at him, I didn’t see the man I had fallen in love with.” I explained. I had to take a break for a moment to fight back the tears that threatened to release and slide down my face. “He had brought some of his father’s guards with him, and they came in that night and took my children and all of their belongings. I can remember Leif crying for me, and Albert yelling at him that I was no longer his momma. My heart shattered. I moved out of the house I shared with Albert, and back in with my parents. I fell into a deep depression about being stripped away from my kids, and wasn’t sure who to turn to for help. I finally asked my mother to contact her friend’s son, Tomas Bastille. He was a notorious lawyer in the Portland area, who specialized in family law. When Tomas showed up at our house, I knew the second he walked in that he was my mate. I understood the pull, and why Albert abandoned me for it. It didn’t excuse the fact that he took my children, but it helped me understand the situation. Tomas and I fell madly in love, and he promised to help me get my kids back. He wanted to raise them as his own, and we fought for a long time in the courts to get them back. Albert’s father was a ruthless alpha, and had more money than we did. He funded his son’s court fees and lawyer, and no matter how many times we went in front of the judge with massive evidence that I was fit, and that they would be safe with me, the judge would rule in Albert’s favor. The last hearing we had, Albert had paperwork of adoption for his mate to officially become their legal mother. The judge, once again, ruled in Albert’s favor. I had officially lost my kids at no fault of my own.” I explained.
I asked for another break and Mel kindly obliged. She could see that I was physically upset, but she had no clue how mentally draining this was for me. I knew Albert’s father disliked me because of my witch blood, but I always thought that maybe he would eventually accept me because I was also part Fae. Boy was I mistaken. He made it his life’s mission to destroy me at all costs. I finally was able to gather myself, and finish telling my granddaughter about the past. “I later learned that Albert’s mate was killed by his own brother for treason. She had been sleeping with George to get pack information and was relaying it to a powerful human in Seattle. Albert found out, and confronted George, and when he had realized his mistake, he killed her right in front of Albert. He later killed the human and caused all kinds of issues for the pack. Albert took my children, and left the pack, and they lived as rogues until he met another woman, a witch. When my kids started to show signs of their Fae traits, the woman became very jealous of your mother, and she fought a lot with Albert about making his children hide who they were. Albert started to become scared about the safety of our kids, and came to me when they were around the ages of 15 and 13. He asked me to come up with a spell to hide the four of them from this other witch. I refused, and told him I would gladly take my kids back, and I would protect them myself. He became angry and left. It was the last time I heard from him, and I had to go the hard way of finding out how my kids were doing. By this time, I had already had Marcus and Pablo, and also had to consider their safety. I had to watch everything happening in their lives from afar, but there was one time that I was able to get closer to all of you. It was right after your mother passed away, and your father wanted to call in a Fae priestess to perform her funeral ceremony. They contacted my mother, but I begged her to let me go in her place. She agreed, because she wasn’t in the best of health, and I bravely went to perform the funeral rites for my own daughter. I hung around as long as time would allow me that day, and it was then I learned that you were the most powerful and special of us all. It was also the day that I realized your father, David, was an evil man. I could see the hatred that he held for you, and I vowed to make sure you were safe. I failed, and I’m sorry for that. When I thought he had killed my boys, I stayed away because I assumed that he had already killed you as well. I should have known better, but my grief consumed me. I hope you understand. When I found out you were here, with the twin alphas, and you all needed help with the demon. I was more than anxious to go. I insisted. I should have pulled you aside and told you everything right then, but I was afraid of that rejection and the anger that came with it. I’m sorry, Melian. I hope you and my boys can forgive me.” I finished.
Breaking the news
*MELIAN POV*
I sat and listened to Gretchen patiently. I had so many questions, but honestly, did they really matter anymore? Her story was full of sadness and tragedy. I wondered if my uncles remembered any of what she was telling me, and I intended to question them about it before arranging the meeting between them all. I do forgive her for not telling me who she was to me. I tried to put myself in her shoes, and imagine how she felt as well. I couldn’t imagine being in her situation, and was thankful I had amazing mates. We sat in silence for quite a long time as I processed what she said, and I finally slid off her bed and kneeled before her. “Gretchen, I cannot even fathom the pain you must have suffered. I would have lost myself if I lost any of my children like that. Unfortunately, nothing can change what happened or bring my mom back to us. I know she is watching over us, and knows you tried. I remember the day of her funeral, and I can remember you being there. I thought you looked so much like my mom and a few of my brothers, but I never placed 2 and 2 together, but then again, I was really young. I do forgive you, and I hope to become as close as a grandmother and granddaughter should be. I also want you to be a part of my kids’ lives. Not as Gretchen, but as a great-grandmother. I will talk to my uncles and see what they say about setting up a meeting with you. I can’t promise you anything, but I will try,” I informed her. Her smile spread across her face, and she thanked me for understanding. She pulled me into her embrace and she finally released the tears she had been holding. “Thank you, Melian. I appreciate your kindness so much. I’m not sure if I deserve it, but I will definitely do everything I can to not lose my family again.” she cried. We talked for just a while longer, and I took my leave. I needed to get back to the girls and Maddix, and then needed to get caught up on some paperwork for my Luna duties.
Walking back to the packhouse, I took out my phone and dialed my uncle Leif. He picked up quickly, and I asked if he had time to talk with me. He said he did, and I didn’t know how to start the conversation other than at the beginning. I told him everything that Gretchen had told me, and I was almost certain he had hung up on me. “Leif? Are you still there?” I asked. He said he was just in shock. He confirmed everything she said, but was flabbergasted that it was Gretchen. “She doesn’t look like I remember her,” he said. I don’t remember much of the woman he was with after my uncle killed the woman I knew as our adopted mother. Dad was always honest about who our mother was, but he never called her Gretchen. He called her Rose. Mel, I hope this isn’t rude, but I need to go. I need to talk to Jorma. If you could prepare a room for us, I’ll talk with Jason about us coming there this weekend. Thank you for calling me and letting me know. I appreciate it greatly. Love you kiddo,” he said and disconnected the call. I didn’t want Jason blindsided when Leif went to him, so I called and explained everything to him as well. Shock seemed to be the right feeling for everyone when the news came out. Hopefully, now that things are out in the open, our lives can merge together and finally learn more about our lineage.
When I walked into the nursery, I was surprised to see Grace in there with all the kids. I asked where the nanny was, and she explained that she had gotten sick, so she called Grace. I didn’t trust many people with our kids, so I was thankful she called Grace and not some other Omega. I thanked her for coming over, and we sat and talked while I fed the girls. She was playing with Maddix, and started to cry. “Grace, are you alright?” I asked her, and she nodded her head. “I’m great, actually. I’m pregnant, Mel. I plan on telling Rico tonight at dinner. I hope he is happy. I mean he came into a ready-made family. I adopted the twins, and then the 3 boys came into my life. So, I hope more doesn’t freak him out.” she said. I tried to reassure her that Rico would be elated that she was carrying his pup, and she agreed. She said she knew she was freaking out about nothing, but she still had nerves. I told her to call in her help for the kids, and make it a romantic night. “He will love it,” I told her. It wasn’t long before my mates, Rico and Tobias came into the nursery and Grace and I started to laugh. Loki looked at me weirdly and asked, “What’s funny? Do we have something on our faces or something?” I started to laugh harder and made them more confused. “No, honey. You guys are fine. Grace and I had a bet on how long it would be before you both showed up here. Grace won, by the way. What we didn’t expect was for you to bring an entourage. Rico started to defend him and Tobias, “Hey, I wanted to see my godchildren. Tobias was just tagging along.” Grace and I started to laugh a little harder at how cute they all were when it came to those little ones. Maddix wobbled over to Tobias and reached up to him, and he was quickly picked up and tossed in the air. I can remember hearing Rebecca say one time that you can always tell good people with the trust of a child. It was in this moment that I realized how truthful that really was.
Busy Luna
*Melian POV*
2 weeks later
The uncles are coming today, and they will finally have a sit-down conversation with grandma Gretchen tomorrow. I know she is beyond nervous, and so are they. I’ve spoken to them all several times over the past couple of weeks, and it was Jorma who needed the most convincing. He held a little resentment towards her because, even after everything, she still chose to stay away from them. It was only by a fluke that she was exposed and had to come forward. He was so upset that he didn’t take into consideration that she thought they were dead for years. Just like the rest of us. I think it took that realization to set in for him to come to terms with it all and agree to come and speak with her.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.