He Will Be Mine (New Horizon Book 1)

Costume Party Confessional

Matt  

I take one last look in the mirror, trying to do the best I can with the cheesy vampire costume I'm wearing, and then head out to meet everyone in the living room. Trevor is dressed as a zombie, and Meredith is dressed like a pop star, I think. The toy microphone is the giveaway. Jessica looks sexy in a short, tight nurse's uniform with a fake stethoscope around her neck and one of those cute little white hats that nurses never actually wear.

I spend extra time gawking at her because she looks so good. I think she knows it, too, judging by the look she is giving me. Damn, am I ever a lucky man. Suddenly, I find myself wanting to skip the party and just stay home with her.

"Looks like we're all ready then," Trevor comments as he starts to make his way to the door.

"Tyler isn't coming?" Meredith asks, looking down the hall as though she expects him to appear from his room.

"He'll be there, but he went to Aly's to get ready," Trevor explains. "He said he wants their costumes to be a surprise for us. He's super excited about it, so when you see him, pretend like you're impressed."

We all head out as a group, opting to walk since it isn't that far. Jessica seems cold, which she should have seen coming since she is wearing a short skirt and decided not to wear a coat. Why, I'll never understand. I take off my coat and wrap it around her shoulders, hoping it is enough to keep her warm all the way there.

"Thanks, baby," she says as she pulls it tightly around her. "You're the sweetest."

And the coldest, though I'm better off with my cape wrapped around me than she would be with nothing, so it's a sacrifice I'm glad to make.

Once we get there and push through the crowd a bit, I realize Aly and Tyler must not have arrived yet. I've developed sort of a sixth sense for when she is near, and I don't get the sense that she is around here. I allow myself to relax a little, grabbing Jess and heading for where everyone is dancing.

I love how she just naturally folds into me as we move, though I'm glad for the cape to hide behind as she starts grinding herself on me. It takes everything in me to not just take her to some dark corner and rip that tight outfit right off her. She knows what she does to me, too, judging by the sexy smirk on her face as she turns around to kiss me.

After a couple songs I head over to the open bar and start to make us some drinks. I hear a bit of a commotion from the other room and go to check it out, realizing it is Tyler finally making his entrance. He groans and moans like a zombie, much more convincing than Trevor, but once I finally get a good look at him, I realize he's not just a zombie. He's Frankenstein's monster, and a damn convincing one at that. He looks amazing, but I shouldn't be surprised considering that he always does the best Halloween makeup jobs.

Then I notice that Aly is dressed as a scientist, and I realize when I see her nametag that her and Tyler's costumes go together. She is Dr. Frankenstein herself, and looking sexy in an understated way. She looks really good, even with how she has her hair all crazy, and I feel a ping of jealousy when it hits me that she and Tyler do make a good couple. They even coordinate couple's costumes, something that Jess and I have never done. What a stupid thing to let affect me, and yet, I am bothered by it in ways I can't really put my finger on.

I spend the rest of the night hyper focused on Jess, trying to ignore Tyler and Aly and all the fun they are having together. Not that Jess minds. She seems to love all the extra attention. I probably drink too much, judging by how wobbly I get at some point and the sick feeling growing in my stomach.

I decide to cut myself off before I end up completely wasted and make an excuse to Jess about needing to use the bathroom. She waves me off, too busy hanging out with Meredith at the moment to miss me much. I head up the stairs in hopes of finding someplace quiet to sit for a minute and drink some water to clear my head a bit.

I run into Aly coming out of one of the rooms and grimace, thinking of what she could have been doing in there. She smiles a friendly smile at me and comes in for a hug.

"Hey, you," she greets me. "Nice costume," she adds with a smirk.

"Yeah, yeah, I know it's not terribly original," I admit to her, laughing off my discomfort. "I think I have used this same costume for three years straight now."

"Can't blame you for that. Honestly, if not for Tyler, I probably wouldn't even be wearing a costume. I am so not creative," she says.

"You look great, though." I glance at the room she just came out of, wondering why Tyler hasn't appeared yet. "Tyler with you?"

She laughs. "No, he's hanging with some of his buddies downstairs. I just needed a minute, and that room has a private bathroom." She points behind her to the doorway she came from.

"Yeah, I'm kind of the same. It gets to be a lot, all the people and music and too much booze."

Concern washes over her face, and I realize that last bit came out with more frustration and angst than I intended.

"You okay, though?" she asks me, reaching for my hand.

I don't say anything right away, instead taking her hand and leading her back into the room she just came from. She doesn't even question me. She just comes along and sits down beside me when I plop on the side of the bed. I pull her toward me, wrapping her up in a tight hug, burying my face in her hair. It's a little stiff and scratchy because of how she has it sprayed to make her look like a mad scientist, but she still smells and feels good.

"You okay?" she asks again after a bit.

"I'm good. Too much to drink, I think. Just needed a minute, and apparently a hug."

"I'm happy to give you both," she says. "But if anything is on your mind, I can lend you an ear, too."

"Thanks," I say, chuckling softly.

This girl is too much. Too perfect. Sometimes, I can't even handle it, but right now she feels so good. I can feel myself relaxing more and more the longer we sit here.

"Do you think you and Tyler will eventually end up in a real relationship?" I ask her after it has been quiet a few moments.

I hope she knows what I mean by that. Not to say that what she and Tyler have is fake, but I know she is always careful to say they're not actually together or they're sort of together. Never together together. I don't know what to call that.

She doesn't seem offended, thankfully.

"I don't know," she admits. "A lot of the time, I really want that, but to be completely honest, Matt, I have trouble with the idea of letting you go. I know you're with Jessica and you maintain that that's your final decision, but something in me won't let me accept it."

I sigh, a sign of my mixed feelings about that. Part of me is glad to hear it. It's selfish of me to hope that she stays available, but I don't think I'm ready to see her completely committed to Tyler yet. I know that's wrong of me, which is why the other part of me is sorry to hear that she isn't ready for commitment. Tyler is a good guy and I love him to death, and I really don't want him to get hurt in all this. Plus, he is devoted to Aly in a way she deserves, and a way that I can't give her. At least not now.

"I've been putting it off, but I think I might actually call your mom," I tell her. "I've been so all over the place lately trying to figure things out, and I feel like there is no one for me to talk to that is a safe enough distance away from my relationship with Jess. And if I tell my own mom that I'm conflicted like this, I can just picture how disappointed in me she will be. And then there's the fact that people have already started plans for the wedding and made deposits on things. I know the last thing she wants to hear is that I might get cold feet."

"I think that's a good idea," Aly says. "My mom is well-known for her insight and advice, and even though I am her daughter, she always tells it to me like it is. I think you do need to talk to someone like that."

"You sure she won't hate me?"

Aly smiles, reaching up to touch my face. I can't help but lean into her touch.

"She won't hate you. She also won't tell you what you want to hear just because you want to hear it, and she won't tell you what I want her to say, either. She'll tell you what she really thinks and try to help you sort out what is important to you. I already told her you might call at some point, so she'll be expecting you. Nothing to worry about."

"Thanks, Aly." I pull away from her, as much as I don't want to. "I really should be getting back to Jess, though."

"And me to Tyler. I miss my monster," she says with an exaggerated pout.

-

-

Aly  

After the costume party, I agree to walk back to the guys' apartment with Tyler. It's going to be a full house since Jessica and Meredith are also staying over. We all leave the party together, many of us still slightly inebriated (or worse, in Trevor's case), and make the short trek back to their place.

I notice that Jessica, being the i***t she is, is more focused on how she looks, completely ignoring the fact that it's barely above freezing outside. She didn't bring a coat, despite hardly being covered by her ridiculous costume. Poor Matt has to give her his coat, and I hate that. I can't stand the sight of him shivering in the cold.

Tyler is wearing a hoodie under his coat, so when I just can't take it anymore that my mate is freezing in the cold because he's too chivalrous for his own good, I lean over and whisper to him.

"Matt gave up his coat and looks pretty uncomfortable. Do you think he could borrow your hoodie?"

Tyler looks down at his clothes, hesitating for a moment and looking conflicted. Maybe humans get colder than I realize. I could offer my jacket to Matt instead, since I need it the least of the three of us, but it probably won't fit him, and I know Jessica will have some insane issue about it because she cares more about keeping me away from her fiancé than keeping him warm.

"Yeah, sure," he agrees finally, pausing for a minute to take off his coat and hand it to me so he can pull his sweatshirt over his head.

After he replaces his coat, he jogs to catch up with Matt and holds out his hoodie. Matt's relieved and grateful smile as he takes it from him is enough to reassure me that I did good here. Tyler slightly chilled for a few minutes is preferable to Matt completely frozen.

"Thanks, man," Matt tells him appreciatively.

"Yeah thanks, Tyler," Jessica agrees, giving him a friendly smile. "You're so sweet to take care of my Mattie."

I have to grit my teeth together and hold Mari back to keep myself under control. I do not like her calling him her anything. She's still the imposter in my mind.

Tyler slows his steps to fall back to where I am pulling up the rear of our little group. He reaches out for my hand and gives it a warm squeeze, and I smile at him. Sometimes, I really adore this man.

Once we make it back to their apartment, Tyler and I head straight back to his room so we can shower off all the makeup, face paint, and hairspray. It was fun, and we did look pretty rad, but I'm ready to feel like myself again. It doesn't hurt that I get to admire his beautiful naked body as the water rolls over his perfectly sculpted form.

What Ryan said about him being better prepared for the physical trials from the Elders pops in my mind again. Honestly, Tyler doesn't look all that different from a werewolf. He's a little shorter, a little less bulky, but just as chiseled and defined which shows all the work he puts into keeping his body in top shape. Matt would need to start working out, and I don't know that he would be interested in doing it. Choosing him might mean choosing a simple life with my mate, Alpha position be damned. With Tyler, I could have a chance at both.

"What are you thinking about, gorgeous?" Tyler asks me, taking over my task of washing myself in the shower. Apparently, I've zoned out staring at him again. He doesn't seem to mind.

I blush slightly, not knowing how to tell him the whole truth. "Just stuff. Embarrassing stuff, honestly."

He gets that smirky, seductive look when I tell him that. "Stuff like how much you'd like to ravage me right now?" he asks, his voice coming out lower and smoother than usual.

I laugh, enjoying where this is going. "Yeah, that's a big part of what I was thinking about." I step toward him and put my hands on his chest. "How much I love your body is something else I was thinking."

"You know it's yours whenever you want it, right?" he reminds me, using his finger to tilt my chin up so I'm looking in his eyes instead of at his chest. "All yours, and no one else's," he says and then plants a gentle kiss on my lips.

Hearing him promise that sends a jolt of electric tingles up my spine, making my skin come alive in anticipation. It feels like his way of telling me he wants something more serious with me, which does excite me. It also forms a pit of guilt and dread in my gut because I wish I could promise him the same in return. The truth is, though, that if Matt ever shows that kind of interest in me, I think I would be powerless to resist him. I would likely invite and encourage it, in fact.

I think Tyler notices the conflict surging through me because his expression shifts from flirty and teasing to serious and concerned, his brows knitted together and his eyes searching mine.

"What is it?" he asks me softly, his arms snaking around me and pulling me into his reassuring embrace.

I lay my head against his chest, conscious of the feel of his wet, naked form against mine. The shower is still on and the warm water is beating down against his back, bouncing off his skin and forming a gentle mist that continuously wets my face. The sound is soothing, and I almost want to just stand there and bask in the moment with him and never let go, never think about anything ever again.

Instead, I need to answer him and maybe try to explain myself. I know my behavior must seem odd, and my internal conflict is not what he wants to be met with when he is offering himself to me so openly.

"I have a lot on my mind," I begin to explain. I don't know what else to say that would be honest but not too revealing.

"Let's get out of here and go talk about it," he offers, reaching behind him to turn off the water.

"I think it would be better if we did it some other time. We've had a lot to drink tonight," I remind him.

I actually did not have nearly enough alcohol to be affected by it, but it seems a plausible enough excuse to get out of a more serious conversation with him for now. I'm still putting it off, even though him asking me about mates has been on my mind since last night. I need to sort out how to use that to my advantage and come up with a way to tell him that I'm still torn between him and the other guy. Not tonight, though. Tonight, I just want to cuddle with him.

We step out of the shower and towel off, then head back into his bedroom. He hands me one of his oversized t-shirts to sleep in, something that has become sort of a tradition for us whenever I sleep over on the weekends. I pull it over my head and slide my sleep shorts on, then join him in the bed where he is lying on his side, shirtless and in just his lounge pants. He holds out his arm to me, inviting me to snuggle up to him.

The expression on his face is that serious, we-need-to-talk expression, and my stomach starts doing flips. He apparently didn't get the message that I don't want to right now.

"Tell me what's on your mind, Aly," he demands gently. "Just one thing. Let's talk about one thing that's bothering you."

I sigh, quickly trying to think of something that I feel like talking about right now. Something not too serious that won't keep us up all night, because I am tired. Some of that might come from running into Matt at the party and letting him get into my head about my relationship with Tyler and get me thinking about my intentions toward him. That conversation seemed to drain me and leave me focused on him rather than on the guy right in front of me.

"Tomorrow. We'll talk about things tomorrow, Tyler," I insist. "Please," I plead, still not wanting to get into any of it. We had a good night. This isn't how I want to end it.

"Okay," he says, and I can tell he is a little disappointed. I don't know why he wants to delve into my baggage so badly.

We settle into the pillows, still snuggled together, both trying to relax and let the sleep wash over us. After only a few minutes, I feel that stabbing pain in my gut return. Uh-oh, here we go again. I wish Matt and Jessica could keep their hands off each other and leave me in peace for one freaking weekend.

Even though I try to stay still and quiet and just breathe through the pain, Tyler figures out something is up. He turns on the lamp on his nightstand and looks me over. What a sight I must be, tears silently streaming down my face and my features twisted to match the agony I feel. Since he is already onto me, I bring my arms up and wrap them across my middle, tucking my legs in closer to me.

"Is it the pain again?" he asks me.

I can't talk yet, so I just nod, still focusing on my breathing.

"Babe, we should probably get you into a doctor at some point if this is going to keep happening. I'm worried about you."

He shifts positions beside me, pulling me into him enough that I can bury my head in his neck, and he can hold me and rub my back gently. This happens often enough that he knows I can't talk or move much until it passes, and I've already told him that holding me and rubbing my back like that does help. It at least gives me something else to focus on until it is over.

Once it starts to subside, I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"It's better now," I tell him. "And I am thoroughly exhausted."

He shifts himself to line up his face with mine, grasping my head as he leans in to kiss me softly.

"I hate when that happens," he says with a worried expression. "But I am glad it's over for now. Let's get some sleep, Dr. Frankenstein," he adds with a small smirk.

I laugh at that, and he reaches over to turn out the light. We settle back into cuddling each other again, me squirming so that my head can lean on his chest and my leg can drape over his. I sigh contentedly and begin to drift off, my breathing becoming deeper and slower as I'm on the brink of losing consciousness.

Then I hear him say in a whisper low enough that I probably wouldn't have heard it if not for my exceptional werewolf hearing, "I love you, Aly."

I'm so screwed.