Filed To Story: Their Bullied and Broken Mate by Teri Petry
*Maddix POV*
Addie slept soundly through the night. I was thankful for that because she needed it so desperately. She had gone through something extremely traumatic, and with her being pregnant with multiple pups, it had to have taken a big toll on her.
I wanted to talk to her more about her decision to take over as Northern Sun Alpha. I wanted to make sure she wasn’t just doing it out of obligation and that she truly wanted the title. I wanted her to get some food in her belly, and rest as much as possible before bringing it up.
She was still asleep when Riley came in, and I made sure my mate was quiet as she came in. “Shhh, let her sleep a little longer,” I said. Riley climbed in the extra bed with me, and it felt amazing having her in my arms. “Has she slept soundly?” Riley asked. I nodded my head and told her she had. “Good, she is going to need all the rest she can get. Maddix? Maybe we can talk her into staying here with us? She is going to need help with the babies, and I know I would love having her here,” Riley whispered.
I began to tell her what Adelina had said last night, and I heard my sister mumble, “I’m awake guys. I’m just still resting my eyes.”
Riley giggled and replied, “Well then, you heard what I asked your brother.” Adelina opened one of her eyes and looked over at us. “Yes, I heard. I take it he hasn’t told you what we talked about last night,” Addie replied. Riley sat up and looked down at me and shook her head.
“I was just about to. However, I wanted to talk to you about your decision before making it public,” I told her. I filled Riley in on the conversation that Addie and I had, and Riley’s face turned to one of worry.
“Just say what’s on your mind, Riley. We are family, and you can say what you feel. I promise not to get upset,” Addie said to my mate.
Riley took a deep breath, and a tear escaped her eye. “Addie, I know you want what’s best for the Northern Sun pack, and I believe wholeheartedly that you could lead them to become a strong pack. However, right now, do you truly think you are in any condition to run a pack? You have already had complications in your pregnancy, and the stress of running a pack might make things worse for you. Then you lost your mate, and that alone can do crazy things to your mind and body. I have no question about your ability to run the pack, you would be a badass female Alpha. I just worry about you is all,” Riley explained.
Addie tried to get up off her bed, but remembered she was hindered by monitors. She asked Riley to come sit with her, and I moved a chair close to Adelina’s bed to join the conversation.
“I appreciate your concern, I really do. To be honest, I am concerned as well. However, I think this is my calling. I think the goddess put me in the Northern Sun pack for a reason. I had never thought about being anything but Luna when I met Miles, and when I left and had Phoenix come get me, I never planned on returning to that pack. When I pulled his heart out, I didn’t feel normal pain like you should when you lose your mate. Yes, the pain was there, and it still is, but it’s more of an empty feeling than pain. Ariel has told me that my babies, all five of them, are thriving and will be born strong,” she began to explain.
Addie hooked her arm in Riley’s and finished her explanation, “That is really all I can hope for where they are concerned. When I woke up after blacking out last night, I had some sort of epiphany. The first thing I thought of was my babies, and after realizing that they were fine, my thoughts shifted to the Northern Sun pack, and how they have been given such a shitty deal for so long. Everyone I have met there aside from Miles, Simon and their families, are super kind and hard-working. They only want to be in a pack that is fairly lead, and a good place to live. One where they can raise their families without worrying about the higher ranks hurting them, selling them or worse. I want to be that hope for them. I know I can be. So, big brother, before you try and talk me out of it, save your breath. I’m doing this, and I’m going to need your help,” she finished.
After she finished her explanation, I understood more of where she was coming from. I felt bad for doubting her motives and her ability to make the right decision about her life at that time. Adelina had always been the strongest of the three, in both mind and strength, and I should have had more faith in her.
Riley assured her we would be with her every step of the way, and we would enlist as much help as we could to make sure that not only the pack was taken care of, but her needs as well. I told her that we needed to fill our mom and our dads in, as well as the rest of the family. I had to call in the council due to the circumstances, and we would be able to talk to them about Ginger while they were here for our meeting.
Addie said that she had already asked Ginger to come see her, but said Asteria hadn’t answered any of her links. I found that odd, so I told her I would go check on her. I left her in the hands of Riley, and made my way to our sister’s room.
I knocked lightly, and heard no answer. I cracked the door and poked my head in. “Asteria?” I called out. The room was darkened, and I fully stepped in. I called her name again, and this time I heard a small voice come from the bathroom. “I’m in here, Maddix,” she said. “Are you alright?” I asked. I heard her sobbing softly, and I asked if I could come in. I heard her say yes, and I opened the door.
She was sitting on the floor wrapped in a blanket. The light was off, and I asked her why she was hiding in the bathroom. She told me she was afraid, and that Simon came to her in a dream and told her that he would make sure she paid for his death. I pulled her up off the floor and carried her to her bed.
“Sis, it was just a dream. He can’t come back and hurt you. Dead is dead, and trust me, he is definitely dead,” I said as I hung my head. Taking a life was never easy, and this time was no different. It was probably harder knowing the pain it caused my little sister. Even though she didn’t want to be with him, that bond doesn’t discriminate when it comes to the pain of losing your fated mate. If he hadn’t marked her, it wouldn’t have been so bad.
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.