Filed To Story: Their Bullied and Broken Mate by Teri Petry
I guess they assumed, because I was inside the store, and they were in the doorway, I was safe. I wasn’t about to let these punks see they had me nervous, so I held my composure and did the best I could to keep them from touching me. I tried to walk around them, but the short one kept blocking my way. I held my purse close to me, and started to speak louder, hoping someone would intervene. Thankfully, my husband came through the door.
“Back away from my wife, or there will be big problems,” he said as he approached where we were standing. He had a calm demeanor and a stern look on his face. He wasn’t messing around, and I hoped that the two jerks knew better than to challenge him. They started to get smart with him, and I could feel him release his Alpha aura. Even as a human, I could feel it. They threw their hands up in surrender and backed away from us and out of the store. He quickly turned to check on me after they left, and I promised him I was good to go.
Telling him I was rattled didn’t seem important at the time, and I just wanted to continue with our good time. He asked if I wanted to leave or continue to shop, and because he was making me get clothes and things we needed, I wanted to continue. I didn’t want to let the distraction of two goons deter our fun.
We paid for what I had found in the store we were in, and left to go into the shoe store next door. I ended up grabbing a few pairs of sneakers, and 3 nice pairs of boots. Maddix insisted that I get a good pair of hiking boots, so I did. I am used to having one pair of sneakers, a pair of boots, and a few pairs of sandals.
I prefer to be barefoot, but in the winter, it’s kind of hard. Maddix sent one of the guards out to the SUV with the bags we had accumulated, and we spent another few hours shopping. It felt good just to laugh and be goofy with him. I had never realized how fun he really was. It was nice to see him let loose.
We finally left the mall, and he took me to a nice little pizzeria close to the pack boundaries for dinner. It was owned by a former Blood Moon pack member whose mate was human. His name is Hunter, and his mate’s name is Gail. We ordered a small veggie pizza and a large all-meat pizza. I also ordered a side salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing. Maddix insisted we also get a pan of spinach and cheese stuffed shells. Everything was so good, and we had plenty left over to take back with us.
I was finishing my dinner when Maddix’s phone rang. He apologized and picked up his phone to answer. “Hello?” he answered. I could hear a female voice on the other end, but couldn’t make out who it was. “Yes, this is Alpha Maddix Young,” he said. He listened closely, and his brows started to furrow. “Where is she now?” he asked the person at the other end. “Thank you, Micah. We are on our way,” he told her and disconnected the line. He quickly started to pack up the left-over food without speaking. “Maddix?” I whispered.
He stopped what he was doing and ran his hands through his hair. “It’s Alette. She left pack grounds while we were gone, and went to the beach. That was her friend Micah, and she had let me know that Alette was smashed. She said Alette didn’t drink very much, so she wasn’t sure how she ended up this badly off. I’m sorry babe, we have to go get her.” he explained. I took his hand and told him it was OK, her safety was important, and we grabbed our food and left.
We arrived at Rock A Way beach within 25 minutes of leaving the pizzeria, and Micah’s boyfriend was in the parking lot waiting for us. “Alpha, Luna, I am so sorry about this. We aren’t sure what happened. She only had maybe 4 beers, and then she started to slur her words and then passed out,” he apologized. Maddix accepted his apology and thanked him for watching over his sister. We jogged to the beach and there on a blanket laid his little sister.
Her dark brown hair was wet and covered in sand, and her body was practically lifeless. I knew as soon as I approached her what was wrong. “Wolfsbane. Maddix, someone has slipped her wolfsbane. I can smell it,” I told him. His body froze, and I could feel his anger rising in his core. “Wolfsbane?!? Who the fuck would have given her wolfsbane??? Someone better start speaking, and better be quick about it!” He roared. His aura spilled off of him in waves. Everyone that was surrounding Alette bared their necks, and one boy in particular was visibly shaken. I touched Maddix’s shoulder, and he looked at where I was pointing.
He marched over to the boy and made him stand before him. “What is your name?” he asked. The kid rose and looked towards the ground. “My name is Wiley, Wiley Thomas,” he replied. “Look at me, Wiley. I want the truth. What did you do to my sister’s drinks?” my mate asked. Visibly shaken, Wiley starts to tell Maddix everything that happened. “Alpha, I didn’t mean to give her wolfsbane. I went to a witch in Ruby Meadows during our last visit, and asked her for a potion so that Alette would see me as her mate, even though I’m not. I have loved her for a long time, and just wanted to be with her. I didn’t know it had wolfsbane in it.” he confessed. You could see the remorse in his eyes.
I knew the potion he was referring to, and knew it didn’t contain wolfsbane in the recipe. I got Maddix’s attention, and told him so. I asked Wiley what Ruby Meadows witch he got it from, and the name he mentioned I didn’t recognize.
Cruelest of Pure Intentions
*Maddix POV*
If what this kid is saying is true, someone at Ruby Meadows intentionally gave him something to hurt my sister. I was livid because of this revelation, and I needed to get home quickly. I needed to get Alette to the clinic, and go speak to my parents. Grandma was also still at Blood Moon, so that would be a bonus. I called Phoenix once we got my baby sister in the car, and told him we were about a half hour away. He said he would be waiting for us, and stay with her while Dr. Flores checked her out.
I had Riley call my parents to let them know what had happened, and inform them that we would be at their place right after dropping Alette off with Phoenix. Micah and her boyfriend were bringing Wiley to the pack house to wait for us. I’m sure my parents and grandma would want to speak to him also.
We made it to the pack clinic in record time, a lot quicker than half an hour. Phoenix was sitting on the steps waiting when we pulled up. He rushed to the back door, and pulled our baby sister out of the back seat. He reassured me that he would take care of her and stay with her, and Riley and I sped off to my parents’ villa. “Maddix, what is going on? Is she OK? Who gave her Wolfsbane?” my mother started to question me. I just grabbed her and hugged her tightly. “She is going to be alright mom. It was just enough to knock her unconscious. The boy who slipped it in her drink, wasn’t aware that there was Wolfsbane in it. He is torn up about it. Let’s go inside and speak about it, please.” I explained. She grabbed my hand and dragged me into their house.
We sat in the common room, and once everyone was present, I started to explain what Wiley had told me. To say my parents and my grandma were flabbergasted was just the tip of the iceberg. Grandma stood at her feet and started to rub her temples. “I don’t know of anyone back home who would want to hurt any of you. This has blown me away. Riley, can you think of anyone new that has come to Ruby Meadows?” she asked. Riley shook her head and she said that she didn’t know of anyone. However, she did say that it wasn’t uncommon for outside witches to come into the market and rent a space for the day or weekend. My dad, Liam, asked me to call Micah and have them bring Wiley to the villa. I felt it was risky bringing him here, to their personal home, but they insisted.
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.