Filed To Story: Their Bullied and Broken Mate by Teri Petry
Riley is special, she has a power inside her that we haven’t seen around here in over 100 years. She will have to tell you what that is. It’s not my place to say, but you will have to trust me,” she expresses. I knew my grandma wouldn’t keep my mate from me if it weren’t necessary, and there was a discussion with Riley and my parents present also. It was decided that our living together would wait until grandma was finished with her training.
It took close to 5 months after we met for Riley to finish her training, and 3 days after she finished, she moved to Blood Moon. Grandma Gretchen said many times that Riley was special, and that it would be revealed to me when the time was right. I don’t know what that meant, and honestly, to me, she is special with or without her powers. I would love her if she was just a plain, normal human. I think I would love her if there were no mate bonds, and we just met randomly. She is beyond amazing, and I can’t wait for our future together. She gets along amazingly with my parents and all of my siblings.
I sense a tinge of jealousy from Alette though. Alette, my little sister, and one of the triplets, and I are the closest to where my relationships with my sisters stand. Adelina is too focused on her fight training, and Asteria has crazy study habits. I don’t relate much to either of them. I was serious about my studies and training too, but I feel like that you have to live life a little as well. I love all my sisters though. I have always been overly protective of them, even when we were very small. Riley says I’m crazy to think that Alette is jealous, and that it’s just my sister adjusting to having to share my attention with someone else other than our other siblings. She could be right, and I hope she is.
Tonight we met with my parents, Rico, Toby, Grace and Christy for dinner. I had invited George and Henry, but they were scheduled for patrol duty. They take their current jobs seriously, and even if it’s for a coronation meeting, they aren’t canceling their work. I respect them for that, and it confirms to me over and over that I made the right choice in choosing them as my Beta and Gamma. Their work ethic is probably better than my dad’s, and that is saying something.
We sat down at the dinner table, and I noticed the grim faces of my dad, Loki, and uncle Rico. My dad, Liam, was snickering under his breath trying to hold it together. “OK, what gives you guys?” I asked. It was at that point my mom, Melian, couldn’t keep her laughter in anymore. “Oh, honey, ignore those grumpy asses. They lost a bet, and are pissed they have to pay up,” she laughed. “A bet? What kind of bet?” I asked. Aunt Grace and mom started to laugh louder, and finally uncle Rico spoke up, “Well, there was a small bet made when Riley moved in. Loki and I thought she would be marked and pregnant before you took over, and Liam and Toby said that neither of you were ready for that yet, and there would be no way that would happen.”
Riley’s face instantly turned red, and she let out a shocked gasp. I was honestly a little angry about that bet, but understood it was harmless. “What do they have to pay up since they are now losers in this bet?” I asked. Loki looked up at me and said, “We have to work midday patrols tomorrow, in evening gowns. I’m not wearing high heels though, so you can all fuck off with that idea!’ I looked at Riley, and she cocked her eyebrows at me.
The next thing I knew, her and I were both laughing just as hard as my mom and Grace. “There will be pictures!” Riley laughed. My dad and Rico stiffened and both snapped their heads towards her. Rico started to protest and Riley put her finger to her mouth to quiet him. “Well, there will be at least one picture. You both chose to bet against our lives, and it’s my call on this one, uncle Rico.” she stated and then shot him a wink.
I pulled her close and kissed her on the temple. I heard mom ask both of my dads, “I wonder how this pack is going to feel having another wise ass for a Luna?” Liam started to laugh and had spit out his drink, so he wouldn’t choke, and Loki started to belly laugh. Loki’s laugh was THE BEST, very boisterous and loud. Riley looks at mom and says, “Well, Luna, they are just going to love it, of course.”
Future Luna
*Riley POV*
I have been at Blood Moon for a couple of months now, and I love it here. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming. Melian, the current Luna, and Maddix’s mom, has been so helpful in helping me learn the ins and outs of being a Luna. I didn’t realize there was so much to learn, but I am up for the challenge. She emphasizes a lot about keeping an open mind and open heart. She says that it is most important to remember that they are people just like us, we aren’t any better than anyone else. “We are all equals, some of us just have more responsibility in the pack.” she says. I have been shadowing her while she carries out her daily Luna duties, and she practices what she preaches. She is one of the most honest people I know, and I am blessed that she will be my mother-in-law.
Today we are visiting Nick’s Place, the pack’s group home for abandoned children. I love it there, all the little ones are so cute, and I love spending time with them. We are making cookies with the older kids today, and tomorrow we are going to do small crafts with the younger ones. Henry and his mate Celeste will be taking over the running of Nick’s place once Rico and Grace retire. Celeste was so happy that she was blessed to be given this opportunity. She and I have become really close, and she has taught me a lot about “wolf life”. Apparently, I am the first Luna of Blood Moon that doesn’t have a wolf. I was told by Grandma Gretchen that it would be possible for me to be turned, but it is extremely painful. As long as Maddix is fine with me not having a wolf, then I’m fine either way. I would endure the pain if it was something he wanted me to do. However, I truly believe he doesn’t care whether I have a wolf or not.
“Earth to Riley!” Melian chuckled. “Are you still with us sweetie?” She asked. I nodded my head and apologized. “Yes, I’m sorry. Was just thinking,” I explained. “Well, you must have had something good on your mind because you have had that cheezy smile for a hot minute,” she continued. I started to laugh and told her she was right. I explained what I was thinking about, and a look of concern came over her. “Sweetheart, Maddix will adore you no matter if you were a wolf, bunny or bear. No matter if you are human or an alien. My son loves you with all he has. We love you too. I’m not 100% wolf, and my mates worship the ground I walk on, and I do the same to them. It’s not about what you are, but who you are that matters,” she said. I knew that she was right, and I thanked her for reminding me. We finished with the kids, and she took me over to the pack seamstress. My dress was finished, and we wanted to make sure it fit.
“Hello Luna! Hello future Luna! It’s good to see you again!” Kate the seamstress yelled out. She was a short, heavy-set woman with crazy red hair. She had a booming voice and a bubbly personality. She smelled like peanut butter cookies, and just being around her made you feel good. “Hello Kate! I’m happy to see you too!” I yelled back. She came out of the kitchen with a plate of sliced banana bread, and a kettle of vanilla tea. “Before we do the last fitting, please, sit, have a small snack with me,” she said. Mel spoke up and said, “How can we resist fresh banana bread and vanilla tea?” A smile spread across Kate’s face, and she served each of us a slice. I took a bite, and thought I had just died and went to heaven. “Oh my goddess, Kate, this is amazing. It’s so moist. Thank you for this,” I exclaimed. I didn’t realize I needed a snack until I was eating what she offered. It definitely hit the spot.
We made small talk, and she asked a lot of questions about the ceremony. I insisted that she attend, and she assured me she would be there. She took the tray with our dishes back to her kitchen, and came back out with a black dress bag. She hung it on a hanger, and unzipped it. Removing the bag revealed the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. It was an Emerald Green backless dress, with silver star beading. The straps were made of silvery crystals, with a silver chain draping across my back. They were going to be paired with a pair of silver heels with beaded straps, and some family jewelry from Melian’s personal collection. Mel bought rhinestone hair jewelry for my hair, and I felt more like a princess than a Luna. I had mentioned that to my mother-in-law, and she said that I might as well have been, because Maddix’s bloodline was from Royalty on her mother’s side. Somehow I could never picture Gretchen as royalty.
We left Kate’s shop, and walked back towards the pack house. “Luna! Luna! Please wait,” we heard a small voice call. We turned around and there was a small boy, maybe 6 years old, running towards us in a panic. “Luna, please! It’s my momma! She fell on the kitchen floor and wouldn’t wake up!” Mel and I started running towards the boy’s cottage. I learned his name was Lucas, and it was just him and his mom at that moment. Her mate was a questionable man, who had been spending 3 years in the cell house for armed robbery. He was currently beginning his second year, and refused to see his mate or their son. Mel ran straight to the kitchen, and tried to revive her. It wasn’t working, so she checked her vitals and started CPR. She instructed me to call the hospital and have them send medics. I did as she asked, and I tried to comfort Lucas the best I knew how. The medics arrived, and they were able to get her stable enough to move to the hospital. We told her that we would take Lucas to the group home to be looked after until she was well enough to do it herself, and she nodded her head, acknowledging we were looking out for them. I helped gather a few things for Lucas, and locked up their cottage.
As I walked him to Nick’s place, he asked me a lot of questions. Where did I live before here? Was I happy to be living here now? Did the future Alpha Maddix like bubble gum? Does Alpha Loki always act like a goofball around little kids? I think there were more questions asked than I had answers for, because I surely didn’t know the answer to the last question. Will Miss Alette’s mate be mad that she kisses a lot of boys? How do I answer that one??
Ceremony Day
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.