He Will Be Mine (New Horizon Book 1)

Her Two Mates I

Tyler

Aly insisted that we’re staying with her in her room, and then she left to go talk to her dad. I don’t know how I feel about it because it seems a little disrespectful to be cuddling up to a man’s daughter under his own roof, but Aly is a force and when she wants something, I don’t think she’s used to hearing no. She’s not spoiled, but more like because she doesn’t ask for much, when she demands something it has more impact. I just hope her dad is okay with it.

I also hope Matt is okay with everything. He’s been really quiet since Aly told him about being her mate. I thought he’d be more excited about it, though to be fair, he’s a pretty quiet dude in general and he has been through a lot lately.

I try to put all of that out of my head, as well as my growing anxiety about what she and her dad are talking about. There’s a small sliver of hope that it’s about the Elders’ decision.

I flop onto her bed and stretch out, soaking in the comfort of what is probably my most favorite mattress in the world. Then I sit up and prop myself against all the fancy pillows she has on here, watching Matt. He’s quietly taking in everything she has in her room, almost as though he has entered the museum of Aly and wants to take his time with all the exhibits.

“Where’s your head at right now?” I ask, his silence finally getting to me.

He turns and looks at me, smiling softly. “It’s just really cool to be in her room and see more about her and what she’s into.”

“Yeah, I know the feeling. What about with everything she told you earlier?”

He pauses, his whole body tensing. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to think about it. It’s like a dream come true, but I also don’t know what it means to be a werewolf’s mate. I don’t know what it means to be her mate when she’s so obviously into you. I don’t know how to feel about spending years of my life with the wrong person, or how to move on after all that has happened. I don’t know anything.”

“Yeah, man, it’s a lot. I can see that,” I say soothingly, scooting off the bed to stand up and go to him, throwing my arms around him. “But listen. It’s not a competition, not between me and you. I love you too much for that, and I love her too much to make it harder on her. If she wants you, then that’s what she gets.”

He hugs me back for a few seconds, and then pulls away and picks up a snow globe Aly has on her bookshelf. “What do you mean? She said something similar about how she needs to make a decision, but I don't really understand why if I'm her mate and we're meant to be together. I don't know if I'm ready right this minute, but it is what I want. I think. It's just confusing.”

I don’t know how well she explained their bond to him, but I know a fair amount about it from what she has told me over the weeks. As I’m watching him touching her stuff, I realize that even if he doesn’t know it, just interacting with her things soothes him, probably because of their bond. I think it’s because these things are hers and they make him feel connected to her even when she’s not with him. Or maybe I’m making something out of nothing and he’s just keeping his hands busy with whatever is nearest to him.

I also know I’m no expert on werewolves and mates, but I started this and I’m his best option to explain it to him right now, so I give it a try.

“Well, her dad explained it to me like basically, each werewolf gets a mate and that’s like a huge light-up sign pointing at a certain person and being like, ‘hey here’s this person who would be perfect for you,’ and you know it’s a sure-thing. You can go off and live happily ever after with that person. But sometimes, circumstances make it not so easy, like how you were with Jess and unavailable to Aly. So, since it looked like her mate might not work out, she started shopping around for other options, because apparently if there’s something preventing you from being with your mate, you can choose someone else.”

He turns and looks at me, pursing his lips together. “And you’re the other option,” he figures out on his own with a sigh, "and I pushed her toward you."

This is such a tough conversation to be having. I’m really trying to be careful about Matt’s feelings and trying to avoid giving him another anxiety attack, but I also want to be honest.

“Yeah, I mean, she was looking at me as an option because you were taken,” I admit. “Since I'm not her true mate, I had to do this whole thing to prove I’d be worthy and let the Elder werewolves decide whether to approve me. But still, even if they do, then she doesn’t have to pick me either.”

I don’t want to overwhelm him, but I feel like he should know the scope of the decision Aly has to make, and what she has been up against, why it’s not just as simple as hey, this guy is my mate and now we run off into the sunset together.

“She could also pick some other werewolf if she wanted to, which was what her dad wanted her to do,” I continue explaining, hoping it doesn’t make him feel like he has no chance with her at all considering how many other people are vying for her attention.

Maybe if I tell him more about how the odds have been stacked against me too?

“Her dad really did not like me at first. He’s friendlier now, but I think being willing to go through those trials for the Elders is what helped me win him over a little.”

Crap. Maybe that was too much. Maybe it just seems like I’m trying to talk myself up and intimidate him, which I’m not. Maybe I should just stop talking.

It’s really hard to read how he’s taking what I’m saying. He just stands there, still and quiet other than his fingers moving over Aly’s trinkets and things.

Finally he asks, “Was that why you did the thing with the four big guys beating on you?”

I smile, remembering my day with Elder Benjamin. “Yeah, that was the last part. It was a whole three-day ordeal. I'm not sorry about it, though. I learned a lot.”

He sets down whatever is in his hand and turns to me. I notice that now he is flexing his fingers, then he makes a fist and stretches it out. I think he’s agitated now, but it’s hard to tell. I can’t help but wonder if I’m helping or hurting him.

Then he blurts out, “Well, how is that fair if you did all that but all I did was … I don’t even know. Be born I guess? Because she said something about being picked as mates at birth or something. And then I brushed her off for months because I was with Jess. I actually don’t even know why she would pick me at this point.”

Oh, Matt. Somehow, he has been completely blind to the way Aly looks at him, and how she lights up whenever he touches her or gives her any attention at all. The better question is why would she pick me?

“She understands that you didn’t know what you were to her,” I assure him. “It’s different for humans. They can’t, like, smell their mates or whatever. She’s still crazy about you, though.”

He nods a few times, and I don’t know whether it is because he accepts what I’m saying or is just processing it all. Then he comes and sits next to me on the bed.

“Is it okay if I just lie down for a bit?” he asks. “My head is swimming. I don’t know how you know all this stuff and it just doesn’t faze you.”

I chuckle, remembering back to when she first told me everything, especially the bit about how Matt is her mate and not me.

“It did, especially at first, and still does sometimes. But at the end of the day, I love Aly, and that’s all that really matters. I want to learn everything I can about her and her pack. Plus, keep in mind that I have a head start on you. When I first learned about all this stuff, it hit me hard and I took a break from her to get my head on straight. You’ve had to have a crash course.”

He looks like he just realized something and nods. “Oh, that’s what that was about. That makes sense now.”

“Yep. But hey, lie down if you need to, or we can head downstairs and take a break. There’s a room with a really big TV in it and tons of video games and stuff. I’ll show you, if you’re interested.”

He considers for a moment, and then smiles. “Actually, yeah. I could use a distraction and that sounds amazing. Let’s go.”

-

-

Aly

“So, what did you need to talk to me about?” I ask my dad after I plop in the overstuffed chair at the far end of the room, across from the couch where he’s sprawled out reading something.

He sits up and leans forward to try to lock onto me with his serious expression. I know he does that as a signal to pay attention, but a lot of the time it just makes me want to laugh. I don’t, though. I know whatever is on his mind is important.

“I received a call from Elder Gerard the other day,” he begins to tell me, and my heart starts pounding with anticipation. I very much want to know what the Elders think of Tyler, even though I think I have already made my decision and I’m not so sure that they will support it.

I can’t seem to fight back the urge to just tell him what I decided now before whatever he is about to tell me gets in my head and makes me second-guess myself, though.

“I want them both,” I blurt out. “I don’t care what the Elders say. I can’t choose between them. I’m sorry.”

He gives me a weird smile that slowly spreads across his face. He seems amused by me, which is not the reaction I expected, but I’m also not thrilled with it. I was amusing when I was six. Right now, I want to be taken seriously.

“What? What’s so funny?” I demand. “It’s not a joke. Even Mari doesn’t want to choose one over the other. So, I decided that I’ll mark Matt since he’s my mate, but I want Tyler too. I still want to know what they said, though.”

“It’s not funny,” Dad insists. “I’m not laughing at you, it’s just … well, I think you’ll be interested to hear what Elder Gerard told me. And no, it wasn’t their decision about Tyler. They haven’t finished all their deliberations.”

I shake my head, not computing why he would call if they’re not finished yet. The Elders don’t make social calls here. None of them come from our pack.

“Then what did he say?” I wonder.

“If you’d let me finish,” he scolds me, and then regains his composure. “Somehow, they’ve arrived at the conclusion you have, that you shouldn’t choose between them. They think they’re both your mates, and I’ve been instructed not to let you make a final decision or act on it before they send someone to explain everything to us. The important takeaway is that Elder Gerard said you absolutely must not reject anyone right now, because they think if you reject one of them then you’d be rejecting them both.”

I shake my head again. I like what he’s saying, but I don’t understand it.

“That doesn’t even make sense. If Tyler were my true mate, I would have sensed it.”

“I know,” he shrugs. “I thought the same thing, but for now, I’d advise you just do as he said. Do nothing. Eventually, they’ll come and explain. And it’s not like that’s going to be so hard for you to do. You just told me you refuse to choose one.”

I consider it for a moment, deciding he is right. The why doesn’t matter. It’s the outcome I want and was ready to fight for, so I should just take the gift they’re offering. But still, I wonder about the implications of it.

“So, if I take them both as mates, the Elders would approve of that?” I ask, wondering if just because they told me not to reject them means they would support me accepting them both.

Dad shakes his head, explaining, “He didn’t say that. He said they’re still discussing things. I think he was just warning you not to destroy your mate bond accidentally, and just hold tight until you know all the details of what’s going on. They could still rule against both boys, despite them being your true mates. They’re humans, and it violates tradition to take two mates. So, don’t do anything, even though you think you want them both. It could backfire if they decide it’s not appropriate for an Alpha.”

I sigh, so tired of his arguments always centering on me doing what everyone else wants me to do, and not what I want.

“But that’s just to become Alpha,” I argue. “I could still mate with them and just let Riley take over.”

He purses his lips together and crosses his arms over his chest, giving me his best “I’m not amused” expression.

“Aly, please. Be sensible,” he says tersely.

I scoff at that. “Dad, please. Have a heart,” I shoot back at him. “I want my mates. That’s what I’m telling you. I’ll gladly be Alpha after you, but not if it means sacrificing my relationship with them.”

He tenses his jaw and opens and closes his fists a few times before answering. And when he does, it catches me off guard.

“What about Matt’s engagement?” he asks as his expression changes into a self-satisfied smile.

That startles me, and I feel myself jolt in my seat and blink unbelievingly for a few seconds. He looks pleased with himself, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of asking how he knows.

“He broke it off with her. He wants to be with me, and now that he knows about me and being my mate, there’s nothing left in the way.”

“I see,” he says flatly, and then takes in a big breath through his nose. “Well, I advise you do as Elder Gerard suggested and do nothing for now. We’ll hear what the Elders have to say about it all soon, and then we’ll talk more.”

I can tell he’s just done talking about it for now, and honestly, so am I. We’re just speculating what the Elders have up their sleeve. None of what we say matters until we know more about what is going on.

“May I be dismissed?” I ask him, and he nods.

I hurry out of his office, excited by the news and hoping to be able to talk with the guys about it. I know my dad told me to do nothing, but I mean come on. The Elders wouldn’t just say something like that without having good reason. It doesn’t make complete sense to me yet, but it does match what I’ve been feeling.

I catch a whiff of Matt’s scent and start to follow it. It seems to be leading to the rec room, which makes me smile. I’m glad they’re making themselves at home already. My excitement gets the better of me and I start to jog my way there, eager to see them.

I can’t wait to tell Tyler that he might actually be my mate like he has wanted all along, and I need to see how they both feel about it all. Even though I won’t let my dad tell me what to do, I’m not forcing Matt and Tyler into anything they’re not comfortable with. Regardless, it feels good to be a step closer to a decision after all these years, even if it’s not at all what I pictured.