Tempest

Chapter 8

As soon as Tempest got Amy settled she shut herself in her small office to call Braedon. She explained the situation and what was needed. Fifteen minutes later she called her mother knowing that not only Braedon, but Chrissy, the Pack Omega would be with her.

The last thing she wanted was to cause her mother pain, but what her father had done was unthinkable. Her mother needed to know what her mate had tried to do before the man showed up behaving as nothing had happened.

Chrissy the Pack Omega sat alongside her mother, reaching for one of her hands as Tempest began to speak. "Mum, it's Tempest. I asked Braedon and Chrissy to visit with you for a while. There's something I need to talk to you about." She sighed. There were actually a few things they need to talk about, but for now she had deal with her father.

Tempest took a deep breath before explaining what had happened with her father. The last thing she wanted was to cause her mother pain, but she needed to know. She could hear her mother crying as she spoke, could only hope that Chrissy and Braedon would provide the comfort she needed.

"Mum, I know this hurts, but I couldn't not tell you."

"Emma," Braedon spoke softly, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You don't need to worry about Patrick. I'll make sure I'm notified if he shows up. I'll deal with him."

Emma surprised everyone in her reply, "Thank you Braedon, but this is my mess and it's time I cleaned it up. I've given Patrick too many chances, far too many opportunities to prove himself to me. I know I'm not his true mate, but for him to treat me with so little respect." She shook her head as more tears flowed.

"I'm sorry I let this go on for so long Tempest. I failed you, I just wish I knew how to make up for what you went through."

Tempest winced at her mother's words, winced again when she heard Braedon growl. "Emma, I know what goes on between mates is their business, but I'm getting the distinct feeling that your mate has mistreated not only you, but your daughter."

Emma burst into tears unable to speak. Tempest knew Braedon wouldn't be happy about the way their lives had been, but it was past time that her Alpha knew how one of his own had treated the women he was responsible for.

"My father was a difficult man to live with. As you know, he wasn't my mother's true mate, which I believe in the end made matters worse. To be honest I'm not certain whether or not he really loved her or if she was a means to an end. That would certainly support his behaviour tonight."

Tempest wiped away several tears. "He didn't treat my mother the way others treated their mates."

"Tempest!" cried Emma, and Chrissy held her closer.

"No mother, it's time he knew the kind of man you lived with." She was silent for a moment giving her mother a chance to speak her peace. She didn't. "He wanted an heir. When my mother didn't give him one his manner towards her changed. He became... at times... vicious. At first it was only with my mother, but as I got older I." she sighed, "I couldn't stand by and listen to him berate her, I couldn't watch him hit her for the slightest wrong and not try to help."

"You stepped between them, didn't you?" Chrissy spoke for the first time. It wasn't a question, more of a statement, making Braedon growl again only louder.

"Why didn't you come to me?"

Emma straightened up, wiping at her tears. "For better or worse, he was my mate. We were young, I knew little of what being a mate meant. He was more dominant than me. I didn't have the strength to speak up, when I finally did he beat me, made me believe I was in the wrong and that I deserved the way he treated me." A sob escaped her, "I couldn't even give him a son. How was I supposed to come to you with that?"