Filed To Story: Their Bullied and Broken Mate by Teri Petry
As he spoke his words I started to choke up. He was right, Jack was just as much a hero as Nick was to the pack. I stepped forward and held my uncle’s hand. “My uncle is right, Jack was a hero. He will always be a hero. I bet him and uncle Nick are up there laughing at us being so sad. They were both jokesters who took their place in the pack seriously. They loved Blood Moon, everyone in it, and everything it stands for.” I said.
Rico hugged my neck, and finished his address to those who gathered. “Today, my son joins his uncle. Today my son rejoins the moon goddess. Gabh fois a mhic, coinnichidh sinn a-rithist. Coimhead thairis oirnn gu grà dhach agus gu dìon.” he said as he raised the torch in the air.
He rejoined aunt Grace, and watched as the torch hit the pyre and set it ablaze. I could hear aunt Grace start to sing the most beautiful words.
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rain fall soft upon your fields, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
She repeated the lyrics a few times, and then threw his favorite flowers into the fire. She had one of his favorite blankets with her, and sat on the ground and wrapped herself in it. Rico sat next to her, and pulled her to him while laying his head on hers. My parents joined them, mom holding Grace’s hand, and the rest of us gathered around them for support.
I took my wife’s advice that day, and let myself feel. I let the tears release from my eyes, and I whispered a prayer to the goddess to see if she saw fit, to send Jack’s wolf to my son. His wolf never really got a chance to experience life, and I would be honored for my son to show his wolf what life could be like. Maybe it was selfish of me, but he was a part of my friend. A friend I wasn’t ready to fully let go.
Alette started to get restless, and Damian shot me a knowing look. I gave him a nod. He had Alette say goodbye to everyone and they took their leave. I was certain that she was about to go into her first heat because of how she was acting. Riley was the same way. They had just mated and marked one another shortly before coming here, so it was definitely coming soon. We would fill them in on the news we wanted to share later.
Throughout all the sadness of today, Riley and I pulled those most important to us into a huddle. We discussed our son’s name on the way to the send-off, and both agreed on how much we loved it. I just hope that our loved ones did too.
Once we were all huddled, I placed Riley in between Rico and Grace. “Everyone, we know the gender of the baby, and have decided upon a name. That is, if we can have your blessings,” I said, looking at my aunt and uncle.
Riley spoke up and said, “It’s a boy, and if you would allow us, we would like to name him Sterling Jack. Sterling was my grandfather’s name, and well, you know where Jack is from, but only if it’s alright with the two of you.” Grace grabbed Riley and hugged her tight. “Thank you so much! I would be honored for this precious baby to carry on my son’s legacy. He would have been so happy!” she exclaimed.
It was settled, our son would be Sterling Jack Young.
*Riley POV*
Three months after Jack’s send-off
Things move so fast now. It just seems like yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with Sterling, and now I’m showing pretty well and have a couple of more months to go. He is going to be a big, strong boy. When they told me I wouldn’t carry him as long as a normal human birth, I got scared. Then, when Roxy told me that he was a big boy, I got even more frightened.
This pregnancy, no matter how hard it has been, is still an amazing journey. He is super active, and when it gets too bad, I go lay in the grass near the forest border. I don’t dare go further than that. Maddix was worried that, because I don’t have a wolf and was pregnant, that it would be too dangerous for me.
We have spoken about the possibility of me being turned, but not until after I have Sterling. From what I have been told, it’s dangerous and very risky. The reason being, is that he could release the venom into my system to change me, and it wouldn’t take. Only end up poisoning my system. His aunt Roxy says she only knows of that happening one time, but it was a she-wolf trying to turn a human male into a wolf. Maddix isn’t sure he wants to take the risk.
He isn’t seeing my side of it though. I always feel different. Sure, I’m not entirely a ‘normal’ human, but I’m still different from everyone else. My whole family will be werewolves, and then there’s just my little witchy Fae self. I’m proud of who I am, what I am. I just don’t want my family or pack to resent me for not being like them.
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.