Filed To Story: Their Bullied and Broken Mate by Teri Petry
We drove back to Spirit Mountain in silence. We were all exhausted. I explained my theory about my uncle to Maddix. He said we would look into it, but also said something that shocked me.
“Let’s deal with this after this weekend. I just need a break with my family. Our family,” he said. I had to agree with him. We all needed a break, and I needed to make things right with my mate.
I had been keeping her close, but at arms length at the same time. Other than small kisses, hugs or cuddles, I haven’t done anything to try and help her feel wanted. I had overheard her therapist talking to Melian. Lette thinks I am thinking differently about her. She feels like I won’t want her since she is now tarnished. Her words, not mine.
I didn’t realize that was how she felt. It’s not true. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything in life. I had just been trying not to be respectful after what she had just gone through. However, I was going to show her just how much when we were finally alone.
Finally, back in Spirit Mountain, we pulled in front of the pack house and went inside. The house smelled of Italian dishes and it smelled amazing. The best smell of all was of coconut and chocolate. The strong scent of my mate. I followed my nose to the library, and there she was curled up in her big chair sleeping.
I got on my knees in front of her and softly kissed her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, and a smile spread across her face. “You’re home,” she whispered. I kissed her lips this time and put every emotion I had into it, so she knew I meant it. “Hello to you too,” she said. Her face dropped as if something was wrong, and I immediately cupped her face and reassured her everything was fine.
“Alette, I’m sorry, my love. I haven’t been my usual self towards you and for that I’m sorry. I promise you to start showing you just how much I love you, and how much you mean to me. Every single day. I have been handling you with kid gloves because I am afraid of making your trauma worse. I haven’t tried to mark you or make love to you because I was afraid it would make things hard on you. I’m telling you right now, I’m not going anywhere. I am here for eternity. You, my gorgeous woman, are stuck with my big ugly mug for life,” I expressed to her.
Her eyes widened, and her lips started to tremble. “How?” was all she said. “What do you mean, How? How can I love you? How can I overlook what happened and still want to be with you? It’s easy, Alette. I love you because you are funny, you are kind and fierce all at the same time. You make my heart want to beat out of my chest when I look at you. Zion and I feel an overwhelming need to touch you all the time, and we fight daily not to ravish your body and make you completely ours. Then, there’s how can I overlook what happened. I can’t, but it wasn’t your fault at all. I can’t forget what they did to you, but what they did, doesn’t define what we have. I would make love to you and mark you a hundred times over if you allowed me to. All you have to say are the words, my love. I’m following your lead,” I replied.
“That isn’t what I meant, Damian. Who told you that I felt like that? Only my therapist has heard those words leave my mouth,” she sneered. She was angry. I threw my hands up in defense and replied, “Whoa, Alette. No one told me anything. I have been feeling this way, and I notice everything you do. I do pay attention to you, whether you think I do or not. I promise it’s just my observation.”
I couldn’t throw her mom or therapist under the bus because I was afraid she would shut down completely. She seemed to accept my response, and apologized. She said we needed to talk after dinner, and I told her that we could spend all night talking if that is what she wanted.
I took her hand, and we walked down to the dining hall with the rest of the family. During dinner there was a lot of laughter and joking around. It was good to see her laugh. The sound of her crazy laugh always made me laugh harder.
Mid-way through dinner, I excused myself. I went into the office that was my father’s and opened the safe. I took out a small red box and opened it to show an antique engagement ring and wedding band set. It was my mother’s set. I always knew dad kept it in this safe, because Sandy had no access to it. I stuck it in my jeans pocket, and went back to join everyone.
I passed my gamma on the way back, and he asked to speak to me. “Damian? Can I speak to you as a friend, not my Alpha?” I knew it was serious, so I replied, “Of course, Caleb. Always Brother.” He fidgeted for a moment and he sighed. “I found my mate, but I don’t know how to deal with it. It’s Alette’s youngest brother,” he admitted.
“Caleb, there isn’t anything wrong with that. I don’t look at you differently, and the goddess is never wrong. Does he know?” I asked. “I don’t know, D. He keeps staring at me, but left abruptly with you guys when Blood Moon was attacked. I haven’t had the chance to talk to him,” he replied.
Something told me River knew, but hadn’t made a move. He was probably just as afraid as Caleb. I could understand why, but even just meeting each other and talking through things wouldn’t hurt. I encouraged my Gamma to speak with River, and see how it went. They were very much alike, and the worst that could happen would be that they rejected one another. I didn’t see that happening.
Dessert was on the table by the time I returned, and Caleb left my side and sat by River. I saw River stiffen, but when he looked at Caleb, he finally said the word my Gamma longed to hear, “Mate”.
Not to take away from their union, I had a task of my own to take care of. I took Alette’s hand, and kissed the back of it. I asked her to stand, and I faced her towards me. I asked for everyone’s attention and when I had it, I started to speak to my mate.
“Alettte Lily Young, we have been through so much since the second I found you. Through all the craziness, I was always sure of one thing, that I wanted you more than I wanted air to breathe. When everything happened, I lost the biggest part of me and I knew I wouldn’t be fully whole again until you were back where you belonged. By my side,” I began.
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.