Finding Her Mate

Chapter 51

Maddie thinks, 'back then, he used our bond to take my pain away, all of it'. Maddie says, "It's going to be ok, Rhydian". She looks at him asking, "Rhydian, do you trust me?". Rhydian replies, "with... with me?". Maddie closes her eyes and presses her forehead to his, she reaches inside herself pulling in on their bond. Rhydian finds it in the center of her heart, warm like an ember, ready to burn bright. Maddie remembers all the moments with Rhydian, the arguments, the laughs, the kisses in the moonlight. They both feel the warmth in waves as Maddie passes her power into his hand to relieve him from pain. Rhydian gasps as the color returns to his face, the sweat drying. Rhydian says, "whoa...". Rhydian looks at her with wonder in his eyes, he squeezes her hand and his voice clearer and stronger than before. Rhydian says, "Maddie.. thank you". Maddie gasps in surprise and strokes his cheek so grateful for the brightness back in his sharp eyes. Rhydian feels his body shake and looks at the wound saying, "this won't stop the bleeding, Maddie. It won't stop the poison...I-I don't have a lot of time". Maddie gets up saying, "No...". Rhydian says, "listen... before I go... need to tell you something". Maddie says, "Rhydian, don't talk like that, you-". Rhydian coughs saying, "Maddie, please... please let me say my peace... please". Maddie nods as Rhydian says, "the pack... they.. they won't have a leader without me, they need someone to follow... someone to help guide them". Maddie with tears in her eyes says, "they need you, Rhydian... please hold on". Rhydian says, "not an option anymore, sorry". Maddie says, "but you can do it, I know you can". Rhydian smiles saying, "funny, the best thing I ever did... I did when I was a kid". Maddie was confused asking, "what do you mean, Rhydian?". Rhydian answers, "saving you, helping you get away... it was the best thing I ever did... I love you, Maddie". Maddie says, "I love you, too. Always". Rhydian closes his eyes as his body goes still, the link between the both of them fading and growing weaker until finally it vanishes. Maddie feels the pain as she almost wishes to die with Rhydian. 

Suddenly a hand lands on her shoulder and she glances back to see a familiar face. Akira says, "Maddie...". Maddie stunned to see her asks, "Akira? What are you doing here?". Akira replies, "I followed my parents here, they told me to stay behind but... but I wanted to help". Maddie says tearfully, "oh, Akira...". Just then another hand lands on Maddie's shoulder, joining Akira in an act of gentle support. Maddie says, "Kayden?". Kayden says, "not just me, Maddie". Sarah says, "we're all here for you, Maddie". Everyone gathers around her slowly along with members of Daniel's pack as she feels tears in her eyes. Suddenly something stirs in her chest... a feeling that's warm to the point of burning... almost a hundred flickering flames reach out to gently rekindle your heart... Maddie looks at Rhydian as she can feel him. Maddie says, "Rhydian?". Maddie feels the bond between them flickering for just a moment like it wants to flame back to life. Maddie leans forward and kisses Rhydian, her lip brushing softly against his. Their bond surges then, the spark of life drawing from her to him pulling him back to the land of the living. 

Maddie takes his face in her hands, she leans down pressing her lip hard against Rhydian; as she kisses him, her tears fall, tears of sorrow and joy around everything she's gone through with her Alpha. Maddie thinks, 'please...please work... come back to me Rhydian'. Rhydian says, "Maddie...". Maddie steps back as Rhydian opens his eyes gasping as Maddie smiles happily. She hugs him as he says, "you... you brought me back". Maddie says, "oh my god, Rhydian... you were stabbed with that dagger, you burned, you- you died". Rhydian says, "hey, I am here now". Rhydian moves to stand as she helps him to his feet, as soon as he straightens, a hush falls over the crowd. Rhydian holds her saying, "I want you Maddie, I want to see you take your rightful place as Luna of this pack by my side... it's your birthright, it's what you were meant to do... I love you Maddie". Akira says, "we all do". Rhydian digs into his pocket and pulls out something that glints as it catches the light. He takes it out saying, "this was my mother's I kept it after... Maddie, if you'll have me.. I want you to have this". Maddie gasped surprised as he says, "I've lost so many people in my life, Maddie and I've always been afraid that it would happen again that's why I've been so protective of you, I think deep down I was afraid I'd lose you too... I want to ask you something Maddie... something I've never asked before". Maddie says, "ask me, Rhydian". Rhydian asks, "will you stay with me? Not as my mate, but as my equal?". Maddie says, "as your equal?".