Filed To Story: Their Bullied and Broken Mate by Teri Petry
We pulled into our destination, and no sooner as we parked the car, my mom and dad’s were at the back doors getting the kids out. There was no ‘Hello son’, nothing. They just took my kids and disappeared.
I heard my sister laughing as she waddled out the door towards us. “They have been patiently pacing a path in the floor since you said you were on your way. Mom definitely doesn’t like being away from those two. I don’t know how she is going to handle it when she has all 10 grandkids in 4 different packs,” Addie said.
I pulled my very pregnant baby sister in for a hug, and she started acting very strangely. “Maddix? Why do you smell like fresh baked bread? You never smell like bread,” she said as she kept sniffing me.
Are you fucking kidding me? I already knew what this meant, and I just prayed for the best.
My new Beta finally came around the SUV and placed our bags down beside us. I went to introduce him to Addie, and she froze.
“No……” she said, and hurriedly went back into the pack house. The look on Gunner’s face was full of hurt, and I asked Riley to explain the situation to him. Gunner had only met my sisters a few times at events, but at that point, they were mated to others, and he wouldn’t have recognized her as his mate.
I left him with Riley and rushed to Addie. She was in full-blown panic mode, and Ginger was trying her hardest to calm her down.
“Addie, calm down sweetie, it’s OK, I promise. He isn’t like Miles, he is a genuinely good guy. He is also my new Beta, or do I say was?” I explained.
“Maddix, I’m terrified of history repeating itself. Plus, who the hell would accept me with me about to drop 5 babies who aren’t theirs? I don’t know if I can do this again,” she cried.
We talked for at least another 45 minutes before Riley walked in with a very confused and conflicted Gunner. He looked between Addie and I, and I formally introduced them.
“Beta Gunner Vincent, this is my little sister, Alpha Adelina Young. As you can see, she is very pregnant, and very scared after what happened with her first mate. He was a very unkind man, and she was very afraid of history repeating itself. I have tried to reassure her that you are different, but I think only you can help her understand how true that is,” I said.
Gunner straightened his back, and said that Riley had explained what kind of man he was, and that he remembered him from the attack. He wasn’t aware that Miles was Addie’s mate, and had missed it when she killed him. He was on the far back border fighting off rogues.
To prove my point of what kind of man he is, he calmly approached where we were sitting and stooped down to her level.
“Adelina, I am not like most people in general. Man or woman. I would rather hurt myself than hurt someone I care for. I protect those I love fiercely, and I am unapologetic for it. I’m sorry you faced such things as you did with that guy, but I’m not him. Nor would I ever treat you like he did. I had been waiting for my mate for a very long time, but I gave up hope, but here you are. All I am asking is for a chance to get to know you, and if by the time we have to go, and you still don’t want me, I will accept your rejection with dignity. However, I would love to be able to call you mine, and raise your kids as my own if you want that too,” he gracefully said.
Mom had obviously been eaves dropping, because just as he finished speaking to Addie, mom yelled from the other room, “Adelina Rose, don’t torture yourself or that beautiful man. Give him a chance to prove himself for goddess sake!”
All of us couldn’t help but bust out laughing when she called Gunner a ‘beautiful man’. His face turned blood-red, but she had a point. Gunner was definitely a handsome dude.
Adelina took a deep breath and finally replied to what he said. “Look, I want to try. I don’t do anything half ass, ever. So if we do this, it has to be all in. You just became Beta for my brother, and I don’t plan on giving up my Alpha position here. How is this going to work?” she asked.
Before he could reply, I cut in. “I will gladly release him of his Beta duties at Blood Moon if you accept him. However, I won’t let you reduce this big hunk of a man to a Luna. It has to be co-alpha. He is of Alpha blood. Female Alpha blood. I personally think that you both would be amazing leaders together,” I explained.
I hated that I was losing another Beta, but if it meant my sister and my friend’s happiness, then I would gladly reappoint someone else.
“Can I trust what he says, Riley?” Adelina asked my mate. Riley nodded her head, and then told her how he lulled Sterling to sleep in the car. She explained how he stood up to the king with me, and how he even added to his vow as Beta.
“Adelina, I would never tell you someone was good if they weren’t. Gunner has been above and beyond for Blood Moon for a long time, and I have no doubt he would be good for you,” Riley stated.
“Good, I want this to work so badly. The bond feels different this time, and we haven’t even touched,” she whispered. Gunner took his hand and placed it on top of hers. She gasped at his touch, and he then cupped her face and asked, “How does it feel now?”
*Adelina POV*
I couldn’t wait to see my family this weekend. It had been too long, and if we didn’t do this ceremony soon, I would be giving birth while reciting my oath. The other members of my family being here also gave my parents someone else to focus on. I love them to pieces, but they were driving me insane.
They mean well, but I can only be looked after for so long before I start feeling smothered. Thank the goddess for Ginger, because without her, I definitely would’ve snapped already.
“Addie, they are pulling through the gates,” my mom announced. I stood to put my shoes on, and decided to wait until my parents left their vehicle before venturing out.
With one swift swoop, they had surrounded the car, disengaged car seats and fled the scene like three thieves in the night. As I watched the scene unfold, my wolf, Ariel, was on edge. I figured it had to be the fact I was moving around more than I should be without assistance, but I wasn’t fully sure.
I was technically on bedrest until I had the babies, but a little walking was good for me according to my doctor. Just no strenuous activity.
Ginger took my arm, and helped me out the door. I waddled my way to my big brother and nearly threw myself in his arms. His scent was very off, and he smelled like fresh baked bread. It was only on his clothes though. “Maddix? Why do you smell like fresh bread?” I asked.
He and Riley looked at me as if I was crazy, but I wasn’t. As I was trying to figure out his scent, someone dropped his bags next to him. The scent grew stronger, and when I saw the feet of a man, I knew where the scent was coming from.
“No…” I whispered as the panic set in. I couldn’t allow myself to fall for the mate bond again. Didn’t the goddess put me through enough the first time?
As bad as I felt about it, I turned and went back into the house as fast as I could. I made it as far as the foyer before I nearly collapsed.
I knew Maddix would follow me, and at this point I didn’t care. Ginger was trying her best to calm me down, but it was my brother who finally talked me down.
He explained to me a little about my new mate, and how good of a person he was. I wanted to believe his words, but I had thought the same way about Miles. We all know how that turned out.
I took to heart what Maddix said, because I knew for fact that he wouldn’t put me or my babies in danger. If he put himself out on a limb to vouch for the guy, maybe he wasn’t so bad. When Riley came in and also confirmed what Maddix had said was true, my heart sank a little more.
I had left this gorgeous specimen of a man standing in my dust. I had made a fool of myself in front of him, and I didn’t know how to fix it.
My mate followed my sister-in-law inside the pack house, and when he heard the conversation, he took it upon himself to reassure me that he wasn’t a bad guy. In fact, it turns out he was an honorable and good guy. I felt awful for judging him based on experience.
“I want to try, but I’m afraid,” I told everyone. I also told them that the bond did feel different, and when he touched me, I knew I was a goner. His touch felt right, like his skin was made to touch mine, and only mine.
He mentioned that he would raise my pups as his own, but my fear was that he didn’t mean it. I wish my trust issues weren’t so bad, because I can’t trust myself to believe his words. Riley insists he loves kids, and would make a great father, but there are 5, and that is a lot to ask anyone to take on.
“Adelina, there could be 20, and I would still accept and raise them. Your worries are valid. I am not trying to discredit them in any way, but I am saying that unless you try and accept my words, you will never truly know,” he reassured me.
I tried so hard to focus on his words, but his striking features, his deep cocoa-brown eyes, made it hard. All I could do was focus on his full lips and think of how I would love to taste them. What was happening to me? Was I giving in?
“Alright,” I whispered. “Yea?” he asked. I nodded my head, and pulled him closer to me. I leaned my forehead against his and whispered, “Yea, I want this.” I brushed my lips against his, and he gently kissed me back.
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.