Madeline.
It is hard seeing Eli like this. All banged up and an emotional wreck for that human. It pains me to see him hurting, but it is necessary. I had to get rid of her one way or another. Jared failed to win her over, so this was the next best thing. This way, we get rid of two birds with one stone. The human is gone, and Eli seeks revenge and kills the hunter that's responsible for all the disappearances this past year. I didn't know the child would be in the car, only the girl. It breaks my heart that he got mixed up in this. I truly tried my hardest during the search to find him alive or even a body, no hope. I find a spot where I can isolate myself from the others and break down. I pray to the Moon Goddess for forgiveness and to guide his soul peacefully into the afterlife. Eli eventually calls off the search. We all take our time going back to the pack & still searching as we go.
"Who was that woman?" One of the warriors asked.
"She seems important enough to make the Alpha cry. I didn't even know he could cry!"
"Maybe it was his mate!" Another jumps in. I growl in annoyance. "Also, the child?"
"Doesn't matter now, does it?" I sped past them.
"What's your problem?" Gabriel gruff from beside me.
"Look, who's talking. You've had your panties in a bunch since the Alpha said you had to stay and help look."
He glares at me but keeps his mouth shut. We get back to the pack just in time to witness the Luna sprinting back to the pack house, looking extremely upset. I wonder what happened now. I will find out later. First, I need to clean up. I go back to my home, about one house down from the pack house. I take a shower and scrub so hard my skin is pink. I guess I was subconsciously trying to wash away the thick layer of guilt I have. I ate some leftovers and took a nap. When I wake up, I head to the pack house. I take two steps at a time, eager to make my way to the Alpha quarters and see Eli. I want to be there to comfort him.
I make my way to the door and knock. It takes a moment, but Luna Allison opens the door.
"Why, hello, Maddie, how lovely it is to see you." She smiles.
"You as well, my Luna." I bow my head in respect. "Sorry for stopping by so late, I came to see Eli. Is he doing, ok?"
"He should be back at the hospital, I assume."
"Still?!" I shout unintentionally. She looks at me quizzically, and I clear my throat, embarrassed.
"I mean, he did seem pretty upset over the human girl."
"Yes, for the boy too." She frowns, wiping a stray tear from her eye. "I can't imagine if the girl takes to the change how she will feel when she wakes up to her child being gone."
"Take to the change?" I question in disbelief. He did not do what I think he did.
She peaks into the halls to ensure no one is listening.
"Come in." She hurried me inside.
She gestures for me to take a seat, and I walk over to the living area and relax on the recliner. The Luna hesitates to follow for a moment, but she does. She paces before me.
"She was nearly dead, and he decided to change her." She shakes her head.
I can feel my eyes nearly pop out of my skull.
"He did what?!"
"Hush!" She hushes me. "She's, his mate."
"Really?" I pretend not to know.
"Yes." She sits beside me and grabs my hands. "I've known for a while, but just a handful of us know, so please don't tell anyone."
"Ok..." I shrug, and we sit in an unpleasant silence.
"Why did you tell me to come home if you knew he found his mate?" I finally ask.
"What do you mean?" She asks genuinely. "You're like a daughter to me. I asked you to come home because you were out there all alone. Had nothing to do with my son. Your mother has been longing for you as well."
This irritates me. She implied that she needed someone to be Luna because she was tired and worn out after all these years.
"So, what was all that talk about needing a Luna if you had one?!" I ask, aggravation lacing my words. "Why hide it from everyone?"
"You mean me venting?" She raises her eyebrows at me. I can tell she dislikes my tone. "Even a Luna needs to vent sometimes. Besides, at the time, she was just a human with a child who couldn't even commit to the pack."
"What happens now if she dies? The council and the humans will blame Eli." I groaned.
"Hopefully, it doesn't come to that. She seems to be progressing faster than the doctors expected."
"I did all this for nothing." I mumble under my breath, causing the Luna to lean towards me in her seat with an attempt to hear me better.
"Did what?" She presses.
I clear my throat and try to hide the frustration in my voice.
"I came all this way." She sighs and scoots closer to me until our shoulders meet.
"You came all this way to be home." She smiles. "Eli isn't the only wolf in the world. Your mate is out there somewhere. You may have to leave us again when you find him, but we will know you're happy and safe."
"I guess." I fake a smile. If only she knew.
"You will be fi-," Her voice hitches in her throat, and her wide eyes glaze over. She is mind linking someone, and by the looks of it, it is serious. A tear trickles down her beautiful face, and she finally blinks away the rest as she closes the link.
"What's wrong? Is she dead?" I try not to sound too excited and more concerned.
"No... she's awake." A smile spread across her face in awe.
"How? It hasn't even been 12 hours since the crash!" I tremble in disbelief.
"I have no clue, but I am so relieved for my Eli."
I can't stay any longer. The anger, disappointment, and fear that fills me in that moment is urging me to head over to the hospital and slash my claws across her throat. I let that anger lift me to my feet and drag me to them. The Luna throws on her robe and slippers hastily and tries her best to keep up with me. She probably assumes I have other motives.
When we get to the hospital, Luna takes the lead since she knows the room the bitch is being held in. I stomp behind her. I am going to kill her right there in front of everyone without remorse. I am also expecting my life to end near seconds later by her Alpha mate.
Who cares? Not me. He was supposed to be mine and I am definitely going to be on some "If I can't have him no one can" shit and rightfully so.
As we turn the corner, we spot Dr. Rameriez, Ethan, and Tristian arguing amongst themselves, across from the room. Luna goes towards them as I continue to walk towards the entrance. Suddenly, Tristian's hand is swallowing up my wrist and he anchors me in place.
"Let go!" I growl.
"What are you doing here?"
I am unable to answer before Eli begins yelling for a doctor. We all pour into the room to find Eli repositioning his unconscious mate on the bed. He looks at Rameriez anxiously.
"I think she passed out." He pouts. "I told her about Alex."
Doctor Rameriez calmly walks over and begins checking the girl's vitals.
"She's fine." She confirms. "She just fainted."
"I figured." His eyes connect with mines and hold them briefly. I can't quite understand the look he is giving me, but I can't avert my gaze either; Not until his mother speaks.
"So, she really woke up and her transformation is complete?" She asks eagerly.
"Seems like it. She appears to be in some physical pain still which is understandable the state she was in. It's unbelievable to see how much she has healed. Even for a wolf with her injuries, she should have been bedridden for at least two weeks and I wasn't expecting her to be awake for one."
"Amazing!" The luna moves over to Eli and begins rubbing his arms from his shoulders to his elbows in attempt to comfort him. "How is that possible?"
"I'm not sure." Rameriez frowns. " It's beyond what my medical schooling has taught me. It's not even in books or even in historical documents." She walks over to the bed and picks up the patient chart.
"Later on, I will have to take some mouth swabs and blood samples from you, Mr. Alpha."
"Must be some miracle spit." Tristian chuckles.
He and Ethan simultaneously make their way to either side of the bed and stare down at Eli's mate in an almost endearing way that is kind of odd and creepy.
"What do we do now?" Tristian asks.
"We wait." Eli gives him a funny look almost as if he is jealous and Tristian backs away from the bedside. Possessive Alphas.
"She smells nice." Ethans eyes flicker black, and he covers his face in his hand. "I should be going, keep me posted." He says as he rushes out of the room. What the hell is wrong with them?
"Ugh, me too!" The Luna kisses Eli on the cheek and chases after Ethan.
"Go." Eli orders and Tristian slowly strolls past me. I stayed.
"What do you want Madeline?" He yawns out. He is getting comfy in the chair beside her bed. The doctor sneaks her way out of the room. It is no secret to the pack the relationship we used to have.
"You're staying here tonight?"
"Obviously, my mate needs me here."
"Can you walk me home, so we can talk?"
"Talk about what Madeline?" He asked giving me an exasperated look.
"Why did you change her?" I find myself asking.
"She's, my mate." He shrugs, leaning forward in his seat. He stares over her proudly making my stomach turn with envy.
"She's so strong, isn't she?"
"You could have lost it all."
"But now I have everything." He answers sternly.
"You promised!" My feelings explode out of me.
"What?"
"You promised to reject her for me, don't you remember?"
"Madeline," His jaw clenches and he closes his eyes. "Do not do this right now, or at all even."
"Why did you change your mind?!"
"Because you did first!" In the blink of an eye, he is towering over me his chest heaving. "You left Maddie! You were gone without a word, and it took me forever to get over you. Now I have my mate, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy you bailed on me."
"I didn't, I was just scared you'd do this to me!" I point my finger at his sleeping beauty. "I always knew you'd leave me for your mate. Fuck our promise, right?!"
"Maddie, please it's a little too late for this. You left; you threw away our promise way before I did."
"Oh, did I?" I ball my fists at my sides and match his stare. "Then ask Gabriel about how I rejected him!"
His eyes are wide, and darting around my face, trying to figure out if I am lying. He can't believe what I just confessed. Why did I say it?
No one knew the real reason why I left. Yes, part of it was because I was scared of Eli breaking his promise. The other reason was because I was grieving. I rejected Gabriel for Eli. I loved Eli with all I had. That didn't mean it wasn't painful to let go of my mate. Gabriel begged me not to, but he also understood how Eli and I felt about each other. So, when I rejected him, he accepted it. I couldn't bare to be around him at first, and I noticed he couldn't be around me either. So, I left using school as an excuse. Now I regret everything.
Eli is staring at me with pity. I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes, so I run.
"Maddie!" He shouts after me and I stop. Down the hall and by the exit, I wait but he's not coming after me. He is still choosing to stay by his mate's side over mine. It is fine. I will get rid of her somehow, and he would have no choice but to come for me.