Consequences for Madison

Chapter 10

CEREMONY

(Mathias’ pov)

Madison was gorgeous, making me question if I should take her to a room and bend her over the bed before heading outside. Knowing my father, he would not approve, so I escorted my beautiful mate outside to the stage. She’s making me struggle with the expanding bulge in my pants.

Whistles, howls and cheers followed Madison, causing me to growl to remind every unmated male wolf that she was mine. Their cheers were louder for her than me, warming my heart because they accepted her as their Luna.

Walking up onto the stage, my father, Alpha Payton, welcomed us, “I want to introduce my son, Mathias Harper, your future Alpha of the Lone Ridge Pack.” With my head held high, knowing all the years I had prepared for this moment, it had finally arrived. I looked over my shoulder at my mate, then back at my parents. I had earned this moment.

Luna Tessa, my mother, held our pack’s ceremonial dagger with a large smile on her face. I noticed her blinking a couple times to hold back tears that were trying to escape. Her love for this pack is endless and I'm proud to be her son.

Watching as she gently sliced my right hand, then my father’s left hand, she guided us to shake hands. As we felt the power transcend through our blood from our family’s long line of Alphas, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, accepting the power and responsibilities of the pack.

Zander growled, accepting the power as I opened my eyes listening to the pack howl and cheer. Having a pack’s support is important as a new Alpha because they will follow my lead and not question my choices.

My mother spoke with her soft, but powerful voice, “I’d like to introduce my daughter-in-law, Madison Butler, as your new Luna of the Lone Ridge Pack.” As the current and future Lunas followed the same traditional exchange of power, I noticed my mother to gasped when the power left her.

Madison stood tall and showed no signs of weakness. As our respected Luna for many years, my mother was known for her powerful wolf, but when she gasped and Madison was still, it showed how powerful my mate’s wolf is. Zander howled with pride over Amelia.

My father announced, “With proof of their marks and completion of their mating,” Madison held her neck to the side to show my mark and I unbuttoned my shirt and pulled it to the side to show her mark. Cheers and howls erupted because not all Luna’s mark their mates. My father continued, “I would like to officially present our new Alpha and Luna of the Lone Ridge Pack.” The howls and cheers warmed my spirit.

THE SELECTION

(Madison’s pov)

Mathias and I continued to experiment in the bedroom, discovering ways to pleasure and control each other. We are a perfect match. I can’t believe my mating dream came true.

A week after the ceremony, Mathias prepared to make an announcement at our whole pack’s meeting. Raising his hand, everyone became silent, showing the true power of an Alpha and the pack’s respect for Mathias.

“Only the top 1% of warriors in the world are selected to train among the best. We are proud to announce that three of our warriors have been selected to attend training at the Citadel.” Cheers and howls filled the air.

He continued, "The top Citadel graduates are offered to serve in the King’s Royal Army while the rest return to their packs with techniques and strategies to improve their training and defenses." Mathias never shared the list with me, so I was excited to hear Jackson’s name.

After another male’s name, Drew Shelton, was announced. Mathias took a deep breath then added, “It gives me great pleasure and the honor to announce the final warrior because she is the first she-wolf to be selected to attend the elite training.”

He turned and smiled as I looked among our elite warrior she-wolves. I stood still in shock trying to process what he said, “Congratulations Luna Madison Harper.”

PERMISSION

(Jackson’s pov)

Madison’s reaction was priceless. She had no idea I had sent in an application and video of her fighting and leadership skills. This has been one of her dreams, but with her stint at the behavior prison, I’m sure she expected to apply next year.

Knowing my scores maxed out on all of the warrior application expectations, I knew I couldn’t attend without her. Besides, she out scored me on most of the expectations.

Citadel representatives visited our pack last month to observe warriors but Madison had no idea they were keeping an eye on her. She did her normal routine, unaware that she was showcasing her talents as a warrior during training by dominating in the fighting rings and she also exposed her strong leadership skills while instructing the young pups with self-defense. Only patient instructors can handle young pups. I am not one of them.

Mathias was not happy when the letter arrived with Madison’s name on the list of selected warriors. As the Alpha and being her mate, he could reject the offer. However, it would look bad on the pack and Mathias as a new Alpha, because no one would ever think to question the Citadel.

Training at the Citadel was a dream of Madison’s, and I couldn’t let her opportunity slip away without fighting for her. I agreed that the long distance would be a challenge for her Luna’s responsibilities, but after Former Luna Tessa agreed to take on the responsibilities while Madison was gone, it was easier to prove the benefits outweighed the struggle to Mathias, by strengthening their bond and the pack.

After a long explanation of how sending two male warriors to the Citadel, including Madison, would bring honor to our pack, Mathias finally gave his permission.

Remembering the announcement, boy was she excited and relieved when Mathias supported her 4-year-long training! As a newly mated couple, Mathias and Madison were expected to continue the Alpha bloodline with an heir, but to my surprise, Mathias agreed to wait to give her this one-of-a-kind opportunity. I was impressed how quickly he changed his mind. My father and I were expecting a harder battle.

A SURPRISE TO SHARE

(Madison’s pov)

The intensity of my training tripled as I increased my endurance and strength in anticipation of arriving at the Citadel in the fall. I was nervous, excited and anxious. I can’t believe my warrior dream was coming true. Everything about my life was perfect. Jackson, Drew and I trained longer and harder than ever before.

It wasn’t easy. Early morning runs were exhausting, causing me to vomit. I have always been a solid runner with a long stride, but I struggled to keep food down with the constant physical demands. Nervous about the increased training, I visited the pack doctor for help, only to find out I was pregnant.

I was excited about carrying our pup, but disappointed about missing out on my Citadel experience because I couldn’t leave my pup 3,000 miles away from me for four years. Contacting Jackson, he had a quick solution; petition to delay my training until the following year. Would I feel different after having my pup?

When I approached Mathias, he was excited about our pup, but refused to talk about my future with the Citadel. Is my dream over?

SLOPPY OFFER

(Mathias’ pov)

Discovering that Madison was pregnant with my pup and the pack’s heir was the highlight of my week. I was proud to continue our Alpha bloodline. Poor Madison was showing many signs of morning sickness, but she refused to limit her non-contact training.

Her morning runs became a vomit trail while her evenings were consumed with exhaustion. I understood the impact of her pregnancy sickness and hormones and knew she needed to put her Citadel dream aside and focus on our pup and pack.

One night I stayed up late working in my office on paperwork only to hear a soft knock on the door. After saying, “Come in,” I was bummed to see Angela, a pack w***e, and not Madison, my mate. “What do you want Angela?” I asked with a sour tone.

We used to f**k and she had it in her mind that I wanted her as my mate, but she was just an easy lay, sloppy seconds that got passed around the pack a couple times.

Her whiny voice filled the room, “Hello Alpha Mathias, I noticed you’ve been working long hours and your mate is more occupied with herself than pleasuring you. I wanted to let you know that I’m here to pleasure you, no strings attached.” Yeah right, no strings attached. I quickly replied before returning to my work, “Thank you for the offer, but I am doing just fine.”

A SHAMFUL SURPRISE

(Madison’s pov)

Two weeks of nonstop sickness was decreasing my energy as I struggled to train in between meals and long recharging naps. Mathias kept pushing me to relax, but I hadn’t heard back from the Citadel about delaying my training. I had to keep preparing.

In the middle of the night, I woke up to searing pain in my stomach, like someone stabbed me with a knife and was slowly rotating it in circles. Screaming in pain, I reached for Mathias, but his side of the bed was empty.

I stood up to look for him but dropped to the floor as a burning pain ripped across my stomach like someone was kicking me with a boot dipped in silver. Blood slowly began to drip out the side of my mouth and nose. I made it to our bedroom door and crawled outside. The burning intensified as tears poured out my eyes while I tried to endure the agonizing torture.

Crawling to Mathias’ office, I managed to get one hand on the doorknob while trying to protect my stomach from the internal pain. Turning the doorknob, the door slowly opened, and I gasped, watching Mathias pound into Angela.

She looked at me and smirked while he yelled, “Get out!”

I screamed in pain as I watched them continue their f**k session without any concern that I was lying in pain. I heard someone yell as an arm was wrapped around my neck and picked me up in bridal style. Resting my head on a warm chest, the pain kept intensifying as I faded into darkness.