Broken Mate (Sequel to My Cruel Mate)

Chapter 8

A/N
I'm so sorry to everyone reading for not updating. I was just going through a lot when I finished chapter 6, but I'll try to keep updating quickly. Thank you!

I was hit with a wave of nostalgia when I entered my childhood home. Memories of either playing or fighting with my brother. Everything was how I remembered (from what little I remembered).

I spent the next hour or so explaining to my family everything that happened to me. I kept stopping when my sobs got too hard to control or when someone else needed a sobbing break.

"What was that at the beginning about a fire?" My dad asked after the whole story was done and everyone had gained control of their tears.

"The men said they were taking me to save me from a fire in our territory." I explained.

"There was no fire," My mom said, "A group of wolves did attack though, but we managed to kill them all."

We sent people to deal with them. I shuddered, realizing those wolves were meant to harm my family to try and prevent a rescue. I thought about how panicked my family must have been. To have just lost me, then to have to fight off invaders.

"We sent out a search party for you almost everyday for five years." My mom sighed sadly, "Every few months a fighter would come back injured or in worst cases, dead."

She started crying again, so my dad finished the story, "Other packs and predators were too much of a threat to search parties so eventually, even though it broke our hearts, we stopped sending them and declared you officially dead."

It was hard to process everything, so I just sat there, quiet. For four years everyone thought I was dead. If it hadn't been for me shifting, I'd still be there and maybe always would have been.

After a few minutes of staring off into space thinking, I asked, "You couldn't track my scent?"

"We tried," My mom said sadly, "Their friends attacked just after the van took off and by the time we could get fighters over to help, yours scent was gone."

There was another few minutes of silence. Everyone lost in thought. My brother got up to sit beside me and hug me. He didn't say anything, but somehow I could tell he wished he had been older and strong enough to hunt me down at the time.

I finally broke the silence, trying to change the subject before I started crying again, "Who was that girl you were with earlier?"

He hesitated, caught off guard by the subject change, "Her name's Ashley, she's my mate."

"Is she pregnant?" I realized how bad that would sound if she wasn't just after asking it.

"Yes." He chuckled, noticing my reaction to my own question, "She's actually due in about a week with our first pup."

I smiled. I was happy he had a better life than I have had. I wouldn't wish my past on anyone - at least I hope it is all in my past.

Just then, I jumped to the sound of knocking on the door. Nathan grabbed my hand calmingly, silently telling me there was nothing to worry about. My dad answered it to the woman - Ashley.

"Speak of the devil." My mom chuckled as Zack greeted her with a gentle hug, being careful of her belly.

She apologized for inturrupting and said she just forgot something here. After retrieving whatever it was, she grabbed her stomach.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Zack rushed to her side.

"The pup," She panted "It's coming!"