He Will Be Mine (New Horizon Book 1)

Unexpected

Tyler

I suppose it’s a bit strange, but I breathe a sigh of relief when we finally turn onto the dirt path that winds through the quaint little residences on the way to Aly’s house. We’re home, and every bit of me is beyond happy to be back. Now knowing the things I do, I can’t help wondering if it’s because my biological father is a werewolf and his family is from around here, though something tells me it has more to do with this being Aly’s home and as cheesy as it sounds, Aly is my home.

We get back just as her dad should be finishing morning drills with the warriors. My entire body has been craving the release of a workout, so after Aly parks the car, I turn to her with my best pouty face to beg her to come with me to join her dad out back. She takes one look at me and busts up laughing.

“Go,” she dismisses me, waving her hand vaguely toward the training area. “Matt and I will take care of all our stuff.”

That works too, I suppose. I’m not sure if Matt has reached that point where working out is as therapeutic for him as it has become for me, and I don’t want to steal her away from him just yet. I give her a peck on the lips and dash out the back door of the garage, headed toward her dad.

I ditch my jeans, leaving just the shorts I was wearing under, and pull off my overshirt as I make my way to the training grounds. Boom. Workout ready. I work on getting my legs and arms stretched and warmed up, not wanting a stitch or a cramp as a reward for jumping into things too hastily and knowing that everyone else is already warmed up so I won’t get another opportunity.

Mr. Bentley is pouring himself a water at the cooler when I make my way to him, tossing my clothes on the ground nearby.

“Tyler,” he says, seeming surprised. “I thought you guys weren’t coming back for a couple more days?”

“Aly didn’t call or text or anything?” I ask, just as surprised as he is because she is usually so good about keeping in touch with her parents.

“Nope, haven’t heard anything since Christmas morning. Why? What happened?”

I forcefully exhale a breath, wondering how to summarize things so I can get right in on the action sooner.

“Uh, so, I don’t know if you heard Matt’s story about his werewolf uncle?”

His raised eyebrow tells me he hasn’t. Crap. This probably isn’t going to be a quick chat.

“Okay, so, long story short – he has a lot of family secrets. It turns out they’re also my family secrets because, like, we’re brothers. Twins, I guess. Anyway, I kind of just want to go run and beat on things for a bit, so, we can chat about it later?”

He looks stunned, reaching up to drag his hand over his face and just staring back at me. But to my relief, he just nods and agrees.

“Yeah, okay. You’re with me, though. Everyone else is already busy, and they’ll probably be done soon. Get yourself some water and then meet me over here.” He points to an area maybe ten yards from us.

I nod, making my way to the cooler and doing as he said. When I join him, I quickly realize that there’s an ulterior motive to volunteering to work out with me.

“Twins, huh?” he asks, tossing me one of those wicked bo staffs Elder Benjamin introduced me to.

I’m already excited because I’ve been dying to do this again. Then his question registers with my brain.

“Uh, yeah. So, apparently the Elders called in Matt’s grandpa to get some information from him about the family history,” I start to explain, bringing my staff up to block the move he tries on me.

After I turn and regain my footing, I continue explaining, “and he told them all about the big secret, which is apparently that Matt had a twin, me, that his parents gave up because I was too small and weak. I wasn’t in great shape when I was born.”

“I see,” he responds, grunting as he blocks an incoming attack. “You said his uncle is a werewolf?”

“Yeah.” Grunt. Step. Block. “His whole family. Aly said his dad, his grandpa, and one of his cousins too.”

“The rest are human?” Step. Spin. Lunge.

“I guess so. His mom, grandma, aunts, some cousins.” I attempt to twirl the staff a bit, because Elder Benjamin said that helps with balance and momentum or something like that. I’m a little clumsy about it.

“Stop,” he says, and I freeze in place. “Like this,” he demonstrates the move I was just attempting.” He nods his approval when I mimic what he did.

“Do you know which pack?” he continues the interrogation as he resumes our match.

“Uh,” I search my memory, trying to remember what they said. “Silver … Peaks?”

“That’s not a pack I’m aware of,” he responds, grunting and focusing on his footwork.

“It’s like two hours from here or something like that.”

“Ah, Silver Crescent. Yes, I’m familiar. We have an alliance with that pack. That’s good. It should make the Elders view you more favorably as mate prospects.” Turn. Step. Block.

“Okay, so, I’m super unqualified for this discussion,” I admit as I step and lunge for him. Spin. Step. “But they were talking about how that pack was mean to humans,” I yelp a little as he lands a solid blow. “That’s supposedly why Matt’s parents didn’t want to take me there, and why they stole away from there with Matt in the middle of the night and went rogue, or however you say it.”

He freezes, not even flinching when I nail him with my staff. “The dad’s a rogue?” he asks, seeming frustrated and worried.

I stop to catch my breath since he’s stopped anyway. “Uh, yeah. People were sending them death threats and stuff for Matt and his mom.”

“That’s … that shouldn’t be. Alpha Joel must not have known,” he rationalizes in disbelief.

I shrug. “They made it seem like it’s like a systemic problem that’s only getting worse. Grandpa Gabe has stuck it out all this time even though his wife and kids got bullied, but he said that now he wants to move because it’s getting so bad with the new Alpha.”

“We … they … no,” he stammers, sucking in a huge breath and slowly blowing it out his nose. “Okay, let’s continue,” he says finally, resuming his balanced stance and motioning for me to make the first move.

He seems to have gotten one hell of a second wind because now he is coming at me like he means it. It takes all my concentration to keep up with him and defend against the constant barrage of quick, precise blows. Eventually he seems to come out of his haze of hyperfocus and remember that his opponent is an unskilled human.

“Oh, Tyler, I’m so sorry,” he apologizes, pulling back and returning his staff to the beginning position, tucked in the inner curve of his foot. “I got lost in my head there. You did well, though, so it only made it easier for me to forget myself.” He chuckles uncomfortably.

“It’s cool, Mr. B. If I had a problem with it, I would have let you know. This is what I’m here for.”

I look around and realize that most of the warriors have finished their drills and training assignments and are standing around with their protein bars and cups of water, watching us together. I feel heat rise to my face, suddenly feeling self-conscious that so many werewolves were watching me clumsily take on their Alpha.

“We should train together, one-on-one,” Ryan offers as he steps over to me, clapping me on the back. “I didn’t know you had all that in you, bud. Here I’ve been taking it easy on you all this time.”

Mr. Bentley smirks our way, nodding at me approvingly when I catch his eye.

The way he is looking at me, an expression I might go so far as to describe as pride, combined with the approving looks and smiles I’m getting from the other guys gathered around us, only confirms for me that this is where I belong. My own parents might not have wanted me, but these people sure seem to.

-

-

Aly

It doesn’t surprise me that the first thing Tyler wants to do is join the warriors for training. I think that might be his favorite part of visiting my pack, after hanging out with me, of course. Actually, no. The training might just be his favorite part, period. I’m okay with that, though. It’s something he and my dad have in common.

Matt and I grab some of our stuff from the trunk and make our way into the house. I grab the attention of the omega who comes to greet us, though she is quite obviously surprised to see us. That’s my fault for neglecting to give my parents a heads up that we were heading back early.

“Hey, Jana. Would you mind grabbing the rest of the stuff from my trunk and bringing it up to my room?” I ask her as I toss her my keys.

“Of course. My pleasure,” she agrees, rushing off to do as I asked.

I lead Matt upstairs, and we both collapse on my bed after depositing our bags on the floor.

“Why am I already so exhausted?” I ask, though I know why. It’s been an emotionally exhausting 24 hours, so despite it not even being lunchtime yet, my body feels like it could use a rest.

Matt turns his head to look at me, smiling softly. “Me too,” he agrees. “I don’t even understand how Tyler could go and work out right now. I feel like I could sleep for three days straight.”

“Come here. I’ve decided it’s cuddle time,” I demand.

I hold out an arm in his direction, and he accepts the invitation, scooting over to lay his head on me. I pull a knitted afghan over us and close my eyes to soak in his comfort.

It lasts all of two minutes before Jana bursts in with the rest of our stuff.

“Oh, so sorry, Miss Alyssa,” she apologizes, blushing profusely and looking like she’s torn between bringing our stuff to us and just turning around and fleeing.

“You’re fine, Jana. I asked you to be here. Just bring it in and drop it there,” I point to where Matt and I left the other bags.

She does as instructed and then hurries out. I’ll never understand why our omegas always scuttle around as though they’re terrified of disturbing or upsetting us. We’ve never been cruel to them, and always try to make a point of reminding them that though their jobs involve serving us, they’re still people. Once their shifts end, there is no difference between them and the rest of us.

My mom has explained it as having to do with the naturally skittish, submissive nature of omegas, which tends to manifest regardless of how well you treat them. The only exception to that rule seems to be Henny, which I suppose is why she’s such a natural in her leadership position overseeing all the house staff.

My mother is next to interrupt our rest, coming in and clearing her throat. I open one eye to see who it is, though I already know from my over two decades of experience with that sound.

“Hey, Mom,” I greet her, not bothering to move at all.

“Hi, Aly. What a nice surprise,” she comments, a hint of amusement in her tone. “I didn’t know you were coming back already. Everything okay?” She sounds concerned now.

“Yes, but no. Visiting Matt’s family kind of devolved into some reality TV-style drama, so we came back.”

He laughs against the side of my neck. “Yeah, it was kind of like that, I guess,” he agrees.

“If it’s okay with you and Dad, we’ll probably stay the last few days of break here before heading back,” I inform her.

“Of course that’s okay,” she readily agrees, coming around to Tyler’s side of the bed to sit next to me and drop a kiss on my forehead. “It’s honestly good timing. I literally just got off the phone with Elder Norissa. She’s on the way from Silver Crescent to come talk with us.”

Matt lifts his head and props himself up to look at her. That news stirs me the rest of the way, too.

“About their decision?” I ask.

“I think so, and to explain some things. She should be here this afternoon.”

I guess this is it then. Soon we’ll know how the Elders feel about my mate situation.

I turn and look at Matt, who is now tense and nervous. I pull him to me and settle him back against my shoulder. I can’t think of any better way to spend our time in limbo than exactly like this, soaking in the comfort of our mate bond and hoping that the Elders have enough sense to see it the way we do. I just wish Tyler were here with us.