Dear Diary, I Have A Mate

by Abbie Lynn

“Ella your dad was the one who sent her to rehab.”

  “She chose to go there.”

  “That's what your dad wanted you to believe.”

  “You're lying.”

  “I'm not.” I've known Isaac for like my entire life and there was no evidence of a lie written on his face.

  “So what exactly are you saying happened?”

  “Your dad sent your mom to rehab after Trevor. He made it look like she was a drunk who beat herself up to kill her baby. She went so crazy in rehab they detained her longer. When she got out she went back to your house to get you, but you guys had moved. When I found out where you were, when you saw me, your mom was with me. You just didn't get a chance to see her. Then you guys left again, and we've both been trying to find you ever since.”

  “Where is she right now?”

  “At the apartment we're renting.”

  “Where is your mother?”

  “I'm eighteen Ella, and she understands that it is important for me to find you.”

  “Why?”

  “I wanted to apologize.”

  “Thanks for telling me all of this but my mom was a drunk. She could have called the cops and gotten him for kidnapping. Most importantly though I don't care, she's not my mother.”

  “Don't say that Ella.”

  “Leave and tell her she's wasting her time.”

  “Okay we will give you some time.” He shrugged, leaving.

  “Tyson has my number when you decide to come to your senses.”

  “Are you okay?” Ty asked.

  “I'm fine Tyson.”

  “Are you lying?”

  “No,” I mumbled.

  “I'll be downstairs.” Carter awkwardly chimed in.

  “Okay,” Ty replied, his eyes never leaving mine.

  “Stop,” I demanded, turning away from his captive stare.

  He grabbed my chin in his hand and moved my head so my eyes were once again under his hold.

  I shut my eyes and smirked.

  “Arrabella.”

  “I'm fine Tyson,” I said, keeping my eyes closed.

  “Then look me in the eye and say it.”

  I opened my eyes, allowing myself once again to fall under his gaze.

  “If my legs worked right now,” I started to say.

  He leaned in and gave me a smack on the lips. I giggled in surprise and let him fall over me.

  “Just tell me baby,” he whispered.

  “Tell you what?” I asked, dazed.

  “What's bothering you.”

  “Nothing,” I whispered, leaning my head towards his lips once again.

  “Tell me.”

  “There's nothing to tell.”

  “Aria,” he teased, moving his lips down to the spot on my neck where he had marked me.

  He kissed it, and I was already gripping onto his shirt in pleasure.

  “Tell me or no kisses.” He smirked.

  “Do you really want to play this game with me?”

  “No.” He sighed.

  “Thought so.” I grinned.

  He then rolled off of me and helped me sit up.

  “Since I have you captive I find it only in your interest to tell me.” He smirked.

  “Why is that?” I laughed.

  “I may just tickle you.” He warned.

  “Ty seriously nothing is bothering me.” I groaned.

  “I think there is babe.” He shrugged.

  “Well it could be that Isaac is trying to get back in my life, or the fact that my mom thinks she has the right to come see me after she let her husband abuse me for all my childhood.”

  “I know love but maybe you could talk with her.”

  “I just can't right now Ty, maybe I'll be able to eventually but right now I need you on my side.”

  “I will always be on your side Aria. I just want you to try and heal from all of this so you can move on.”

  “I know Ty. That’s why I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He chuckled.

  * * *

  “How much did you give her?” Ty asked the nurse. My legs still didn't work, and I was starting to get worried.

  “She was barely breathing alpha. I waited to take it off until she gained control of her breathing.”

  “When will she be able to walk again?”

  “I'm not sure. She's pretty tiny. It must just take longer for it to wear off.”

  “Okay, thank you.” He sighed.

  “I'm sorry baby,” he said when he walked back over to the bed. He knows how much it tortures me when I can't walk.

  “It's okay Ty. It's not your fault.”

  “Ar, why is it that you don't want to see your mother?”

  “I don't want to talk about it,” I replied, shutting my eyes.

  “I think you should.”

  “I'm not going to.”

  “That's not healthy.”

  “Shh,” I shushed.

  “Ar.” He groaned.

  “I'm fine.”

  “Look at me.”

  I opened my eyes to meet his brown ones.

  “She picked Trevor,” was all I said.

  “Yes, but she's been searching for you.”

  I sighed. I want to tell Ty the real reason I really do, but I'm afraid of what he will do, what he will say.

  “Is there something else?” he asked, scrunching his eyebrows together like he always does when I confuse him.

  “You're cute when you do that.” I laughed.

  “I'm not cute Ar.”

  “I think you are.” I shrugged.

  He rolled his eyes and kissed my cheek.

  “Try to move your legs.”

  “I can't feel them.”

  Ty didn't really push me on the subject of my mom after that.

  I can't tell Ty that if I see my mom I'm afraid I'll lose my voice again. I'm afraid of getting the feeling in my gut when I see her. She wasn't well most of my childhood. She used to be a good mom. When I was five she started drinking. My dad started abusing her verbally, then physically. Over the next few years his abuse directed towards me. When she found out she was pregnant she was happy again. I saw a light in her eyes that was beautiful. She started singing and laughing more. Even my dad seemed to be happy; he was going to have a son.

  I remember helping pick out the name with them. Then I remember the fighting starting again. How the bills piled up and for a few days we didn't even have electricity.

  When my baby brother was seven months old in my mother's womb he was murdered. He had his life snatched up before he even realized what life was.

  “Aria wake up baby. You're dreaming.” I heard someone soothe. I believe it was Ty.

  I think I was crying but I was too lazy to open my eyes or make any effort to let him know I heard him.

  “What about Trevor baby?” he asked.

  “No, mom,” I mumbled.

  “What about mom?”

  “I promise.” I sighed.

  “What do you promise?”

  I recited what I told her a million times, growing up.

  “I won't fight. I won't shout. I won't talk at all.” I sighed then I felt myself slipping back into darkness.

  * * *

  I woke up in Ty's embrace. I don't think what happened last night was real, at least I hope not.

  “Baby?” Ty asked.

  “Yeah babe?” I asked, turning my head to look at him.

  “So your legs work?”

  I jumped up when I realized they did.

  “Thank goodness I have to pee!” I shouted, running to the bathroom. I heard him chuckle.

  I returned and sat back on the bed.

  “Do you remember our conversation from about two this morning?”

  “I'm not sure.”

  “What did your mom use to tell you?”

  “Shit,” I muttered.

  “I don't think that was quite it,” he teased.

  “I didn't think that was a real conversation,” I admitted.
/>
  “Are you afraid that if you see her you won't be able to talk?”

  I nodded.

  “I can stay in the room with you.”

  I had to face this. I know I do. I sighed and then I nodded my head in agreement. It’s time to put on my girl pants and deal with this.

  “Let's do it.” I smiled.

  Ty called up Isaac. They will meet us here at the house. When the doorbell rang, I felt my throat start to close.

  “Don't think about it,” Ty whispered.

  He opened the door and just like I imagined, I saw my mother's face, and my voice vanished.

  Chapter 26

  Dear Diary,

  I'm afraid I lost my voice.

  I love talking and now it's once again been taken away from me.

  I hope I find it soon...

  ~Aria

  “Come in.” Ty politely motioned.

  My mom entered, and we sat down in the living room. I saw Isaac waiting in the car for her.

  My mom looked the same but slightly older. She let her blonde hair grow out; it was to her rib cage now. Her green eyes mirrored mine and when she smiled. She had dimples like me.

  We sat down in the living room and I just stared at her, not knowing what to do. Ty took my hand and squeezed it lightly, assuring me everything was okay.

  “I'm Tyson, Arrabella's boyfriend.” Ty smiled.

  “Boyfriend,” my mom repeated, looking over at me.

  “You sure have grown up to be beautiful Ella.”

  I nodded and gave her my “what do you want” look.

  “I know you aren't happy with me.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and finally found my voice.

  “I have every reason to be angry with you,” I spat. The anger flowing through me like wild fire.

  She seemed taken aback by my boldness.

  “Ty can you give us a minute?” I asked.

  “Of course.” He smiled. He left and went into the kitchen and out of sight. I knew he could still hear us, however.

  “I picked Trevor because I thought I could come back and get you.”

  “But you never did.”

  “I was sent to rehab.”

  “You got out, and you let him take me!”

  “We had a no contact order.”

  “You could have called the cops and got him for kidnapping!”

  “Ella in rehab I signed my rights over to him,” she whispered.

  “You gave me away?” I yelled.

  “I had to in order to get out sooner.”

  “Leave.”

  “Ella, listen I never stopped looking for you.” She sobbed.

  “You knew he abused me!”

  “I didn't know what to do.”

  “Isaac hit me. He was so mean to me and now what? You guys are living together?” I asked.

  “Isaac is everything I wanted Trevor to be. That boy cares about you Ella. He was young and stupid but he has never touched another girl since that.”

  “I've had a shitty life until Tyson. I probably would have burned in that house if it weren’t for him making me live here. Ty helped me find my voice again.”

  “I think Tyson's a lovely young man.”

  “You and Isaac need to leave.”

  “Why?” she asked, sounding hurt.

  “I don't want to have everything I worked for fall apart.”

  “It won't. I just want to be back in your life.” I looked at my mother's face, the woman who brought me into this world. I don't know if I could reject her. I am after all her only child. I want my mother to be a grandma to my children one day. I sighed and looked at her, offering a small smile.

  “I think that might be a possibility.”

  “All Isaac wants is to be your friend.”

  “I know.”

  “Can I bring him in here?”

  “Sure.” She got out of her chair and went to the door.

  I closed my eyes for a minute. I remember the day she left. I remember a guy escorting her out. Maybe she didn't want to make a scene in front of me.

  She could have called, I think.

  “Hey Ella.” I heard Isaac greet.

  “Hey.”

  “Your mom wanted to give us some privacy so she's in the kitchen with Tyson.”

  “Okay.” I nodded.

  “He seems to really care about you.”

  “Yeah he does.” I smiled.

  “He looks at you and all his eyes hold is love.”

  “He's really special.”

  “You think he's the one?”

  “I know he is.”

  “Listen Ella, I'm so sorry for everything.”

  “I accept your apology. I want to say thank you for helping heal my mother. She really loved that baby. She loved him from the second she found out about his existence,” I sniffled.

  “She loves you too Ella.”

  “Thanks Isaac.” I smiled.

  After they left Ty and I watched Pitch Perfect.

  “Hey Ty?” I asked while he took the movie out.

  “Yeah babe?” he replied, sitting back down on the couch.

  “I want to meet your parents.”

  “My parents?” He repeated.

  “Yes.”

  “They're really pushy babe.”

  “Pushy?” I asked.

  “My mom will want to be your best friend and my dad will want us to mate.”

  “I want to meet them.”

  “Okay princess.” He smiled.

  “Does that make you happy?” I mocked. He was smiling like a small child, and it was so adorable.

  “We have a party to plan.” He smirked.

  “A party?” I asked.

  “When they come home, the pack gets together on the front lawn.”

  “The entire pack?”

  “Are you up for that?”

  “Yes,” I said boldly.

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.” I smiled.

  * * *

  “I don't know if I can do this” I panicked.

  “Baby, you're perfect. Everyone will love you.” Ty smiled in encouragement.

  “Or they could all hate you, and you could be forever shunned by werewolves,” Carter added sarcastically.

  I looked at him in fear, which made him laugh.

  “I'm kidding Aria. Everyone is really excited to meet you.” He smiled.

  “You're an idiot Carter,” I muttered.

  Ty laughed and grabbed my hand. We walked downstairs, and I could hear all the people outside.

  I was wearing a purple dress with a brown leather jacket over it and brown cowboy boots to match. Ty is wearing a white button-down shirt with dark jeans and black shoes. He looks amazingly gorgeous.

  “Be yourself princess. You're beautiful by the way.” He smiled.

  “I got this,” I encouraged myself.

  We walked outside hand in hand, and everyone looked in our direction beaming.

  I offered a smile and Ty led me through the crowd and over to an older couple, I'm guessing his parents.

  “There they are!” The women beamed, racing up to us and pulling me into a hug.

  I was prepared for this because Ty told me to expect this from his mother, so I hugged her back until she let go.

  “I'm so happy to meet you!” She smiled.

  “Me too. I'm Aria.” I grinned.

  “I'm Emmalee, Tyson's mother.”

  She was a very pretty woman. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was pretty tall as well.

  “I'm Tyson's dad, Dalton.”

  “It's nice to meet you. I'm Aria.”

  “You're so pretty.” Emmalee chimed in.

  “Thank you,” I replied shyly.

  Ty's dad looks a lot like Ty but older. His eyes are also a darker brown and not as vibrant and pretty as Ty's.

  After Emmalee planned a girl's day out and Dalton talked about mating, Ty told them we were going to say hi to the other pack members.

  I liked s
eeing Ty blush when his dad brought up mating.

  “Jada.” Ty smiled. I looked up at him, wondering why he was so happy to see her.

  “This is Carter's mom, Jada.” He introduced.

  “No way.” I laughed.

  “Way, I can't believe I take credit for that kid.” She shook her head. She was a very petite woman but taller than me. She had brown hair and she had Carter’s pale blue eyes.

  “Don't worry, I've been keeping him in line,” I assured.

  “Good to hear.” She laughed.

  “I can hear you.” Carter pouted, walking over to us.

  “Aw, don't pout.” I teased.

  “Mom, she's making fun of me,” he protested.

  “Carter's always been a pouter. In fact when he was seven,” she started to say.

  “MOM!” Carter cut off.

  “Let her tell the story,” I shushed.

  “When he was seven his father told him that the ice cream truck only played music when it was out of ice cream, and when he found out the truth he sat in the driveway and pouted for three hours straight.”

  I started laughing so hard my stomach hurt.

  “Okay mom that's great.” Carter groaned.

  “Speaking of my husband.” She smiled when a man came over and grabbed her hand.

  “This is Carter's dad and my husband, Joey.” She introduced.

  “Nice to meet you.” I greeted, getting myself under control.

  “The ice cream truck scam was one of my greatest successes,” he added. He didn't exactly look like Carter but you could tell he was his father.

  After talking with Carter's parents for a while Ty introduced me to some of the other pack members.

  I met some really nice people. I also got to meet a lot of the children who live in the same house, which was great because I love babies.

  “I'm exhausted,” I said, crashing on the bed.

  “They all loved you.” Ty smiled, taking off his shirt and slipping off his pants and shoes, leaving him in boxers.

  He then slipped on some sweatpants and joined me in bed.

  “You were totally checking me out,” he mocked, turning the lights off.

  “You were totally checking me out all night.” I laughed.

  “I can't help it.” He chuckled.

  “You look like your dad.”

  “Yeah, but I'm more handsome,” he said, and I could tell he was smirking.

  “I don't know.” I mocked.

  “Were you checking my dad out?” he teased.

  “Definitely,” I replied sarcastically, laughing.