He Will Be Mine (New Horizon Book 1)

Camping on the Lake: Aly

On the drive to the campground, we all take the opportunity to properly introduce ourselves. In addition to Matt and Tyler, there’s Trevor, who apparently has been best friends with Matt since they were little. That’s relatable, as I have known Ryan since we were in diapers and I know what that sort of bond is like. Then there’s Trevor’s long-time girlfriend, Meredith, who also went to grade school with Matt and Trevor and has known them for a long time. And finally, there’s Jessica, Matt’s fiancée. They met her when they first started college. She lived in the same dorm as Meredith and I guess they’re best friends now. And Tyler has been the guys’ roommate since freshman year in the dorms. It’s pretty cute and perfect how close and connected they all seem to be, other than the part where Jessica stole my mate.

That irks me to no end because I had the chance to get to Matt back when we were sixteen, before he even met Jessica. If my dad had just let me follow his scent, which probably would have led me to the same place we’re currently headed to, things would be so different now. If he would have just let me borrow a vehicle and take a road trip to knock on the doors belonging to the people who owned the vehicles that matched that partial license plate number I remembered, maybe Matt would have been behind one of those doors. I was so close, and yet so far, and now he is marrying the wrong person.

But I suppose none of that matters now. Right now, I need to focus on damage control and getting him back. Sure, I never actually had him, but he has been very real to me for these five years, and in my head, very much mine and no one else’s. I don’t know why it never crossed my mind that he could be dating someone else. I guess I figured he was a werewolf, and hoped he was the sort of guy who valued having a mate as much as I do and was saving himself for me. I should have known, though, considering that I could smell him even though he was in a car speeding past me. If he were a werewolf, he would have smelled me too and come back for me.

Anyway, Matt’s friends seem very curious about me. I guess I also should have considered that possibility and thought up some better answers for all their questions before meeting up with them.

“Do you live with all those guys?” Tyler wants to know.

“Why all the privacy? Sure seemed like those big guys were right there to kick us out. Are they like your security guards or something?” Jessica, of course.

“You’re 21 and you have to ask for permission to go camping? Doesn’t that get old? Why haven’t you moved out?” Trevor.

Interestingly, Matt stays pretty quiet for the whole ride over there. Either he isn’t all that interested in me, or he doesn’t want his fiancée to think he is. I wish he would be a little more curious and try to get to know me, but I guess talking to his friends means he at least hears what I have to say.

I do my best to answer their questions without giving away too much. I tell them my family belongs to a private religion and are pretty strict about it. Then I explain that our leaders all live together in a big house and many of our congregation live on the property or nearby. The extra security and need for privacy come from our history with thieves, vandals, and outsiders who just don’t understand the way we live giving us problems.

I think I have come up with the perfect explanation for all the things they seem to find strange about me, and then immediately regret my decision when Tyler pieces it all together and interprets it in a way even I find aversive.

“So, you and your parents belong to a cult,” he states with certainty.

Yikes. I don’t even know how to dispute that, because that is exactly how I have characterized the way I live, and I don’t know how to undo it without contradicting myself. I decide to embrace it instead.

“I mean, some people call it that, I guess,” I brush it off with a shrug. “I know it sounds weird to you guys, but we’re not all that bizarre. We don’t sacrifice virgins or anything.”

I glance at Tyler, smirking, and he seems amused. He doesn’t appear to be turned off by the idea that I belong to a “cult,” and in fact, quite the opposite. He seems intrigued. I don’t dare glance up in the rearview mirror to see how Matt is taking the news.

Moments later, Matt directs me down a side road for about a mile, and then points out the driveway to the campground. There is an over-the-top rustic wooden sign suspended over the driveway that announces we have arrived at Lakeside Lookout. He leans forward over the side of my seat to point me to where his camp site is, and I get lost in his nearness. His scent is so powerful I can’t help but breathe it in deeply, and I can feel his hot breath tickling my neck. Goosebumps spread across my skin and I suddenly feel hot all over, like my skin is on fire. I just hope no one notices.

I turn the truck into the space he indicated and park it, then turn my face his way. He is still leaning over my seat, though he has no reason to at this point. Our eyes lock for a second and he grins, then blushes deeply and sits back in his seat. Though on the one hand I’m glad to be able to breathe again, I mourn the loss of his closeness. I shake it off and take a deep breath, then yank off my seatbelt and open my door to join the others at the back to begin unloading the gear.

This part is interesting to me because I’m curious what all they have brought. As a werewolf, spending a night outside is a minimalist affair, especially in the summer. The humans, on the other hand, have brought multiple tents, inflatable mattresses to sleep on, sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, two coolers, and what looks like too many clothes and belongings for only one weekend. In contrast to my small duffle bag, Jessica has packed a three-piece luggage set, and Meredith has a big suitcase and what looks like a larger version of my duffle bag. At least the guys only have one bag each, or it wouldn’t have all fit back there.

Pretty much as soon as we unload everything, divide it according to which tent everyone is to be staying in, and begin pitching said tents, the local insect populations have discovered the newcomers and decide to make an appearance.

Jessica smacks her own arm dramatically and scoffs in frustration.

“Oh my God! We haven’t even been here five minutes and these bugs are already turning me into Swiss cheese,” she whines to Matt.

Tyler and I exchange a look, both of us trying not to laugh at her theatrics. He and I make a surprisingly good team, working together to quickly get our tent unfolded and into position and then working on threading the poles through the fabric.

“I have some natural insect deterrent in my bag,” I offer to her.

Insects don’t really bother with werewolves too much, but my Uncle Max and I take turns leading nature excursions not far from this campground and we always carry things like insect repellent with us for the humans. My mother is an herbalist, so natural remedies are always in ready supply around our house.

“It’s a salve, so it can be a bit of a process to apply it, but it’s far more effective than your conventional bug sprays,” I continue explaining.

“I’ll try it,” Tyler volunteers, though I’m not sure if he’s more interested in the salve or in trying to impress me.

Either way, him agreeing to use it will make my time here far more comfortable. Humans tend to use too many personal hygiene products already, so their scents can be overpowering. At least I won’t have to be so close to someone using a stinky bug spray on top of all that. Plus, the salve really does work better.

I make my way to my bag, crouch down and rifle around in the end pocket until my fingers close over the jar of salve I’m looking for. I stand up and turn around to hand it to him, only to find that he is standing right behind me. Damn it, I should have smelled his approach, but I let myself be distracted. Now I have to maneuver this awkward moment that I suspect was his intent when he decided to stand so close.

I clutch the salve to my chest and look up into his grinning face. He is gazing back at me intently, his expression still lighthearted and playful, but the scent of his body betrays him. That is definitely the beginning stages of arousal I detect. I chuckle awkwardly and sidestep away from him, then hold out the salve to him.

“It’s strong enough that you shouldn’t need to put it everywhere but be sure to focus on scent points – neck, behind the ears, groin, wrists, and so on. Putting it on any exposed skin doesn’t hurt, either,” I instruct him. I blush and mentally kick myself when I see his grin form into a smirk. Why oh why did I have to say “groin” to this stranger who is obviously attracted to me?

“Groin, eh?” he teases, and predictably suggests, “you interested in helping with that part?”

“I’m sure you have plenty of experience playing with your groin,” I shoot back, “but maybe later,” I add suggestively.

Trevor and Meredith chuckle in amusement, while Jessica scoffs and rolls her eyes. Matt’s expression is unreadable. I can’t tell if he is just serious and focused on his task of pitching a tent, or if he is unamused and a little irritated by the flirty exchange between Tyler and me. I hope the latter.

I’m not actually interested in Tyler, but I do need to make sure to engage his attention just enough to put on a show for Matt. Sometimes, jealousy is the best motivator to encourage a mate to give into the pull. That’s assuming he even feels it. We have made contact, though, and from what I’m told that should be enough to begin tuning into and developing the bond.

Tyler raises his eyebrows at my comments and looks pleased, taking the salve and applying it as I suggested. He even rubs some on his arms and legs, then holds it out to Matt who is standing only an arm's length away from him. Matt and Jessica’s tent will be right next to ours, in the middle of the semi-circle we’re constructing. The fire pit is directly ahead of their tent, sort of centered between us a safe distance away from all our tents.

Matt takes the salve and sniffs it, seeming to appreciate its scent.

“What is this made out of?” he asks me, making eye contact with me for the first time since our little moment in the truck.

My heart races and I struggle to keep my cool. Goddess, he’s gorgeous. I clear my throat and find my voice.

“A few things. Patchouli, citronella, mint, lavender, and even cedarwood oil and beeswax. I’m sure I’ve forgotten some ingredients, though. My mom makes it,” I tell him.

“That’s pretty cool,” he responds, and for whatever reason it feels like he’s praising me.

A warmth spreads through me and I smile brightly at him. He starts spreading it on himself, until Jessica leans over and sniffs him.

“Baby, that stuff stinks. Just use the normal spray stuff,” she demands, handing him the green bottle of spray she just finished dousing herself with.

He glances at me apologetically and starts to hand the salve back to me. I have to wonder if she’s being possessive of him right now, not letting him rub some other girl’s nonsense cream all over himself. Maybe that’s only something werewolves do, though. Maybe she just hates the smell of it as she said. I think I might drive myself mad constantly overthinking every interaction involving Matt.

I return the offending salve to my bag and get back to work helping Tyler with the tent. It doesn’t take us long, and then we’re busy transferring our things inside while everyone else is still fighting with their tents and struggling to get them up. I take secret pleasure in listening to Matt argue with Jessica about how to do it. From what I can tell, he knows what he’s doing, but she won’t listen to him. Good thing she is his problem and not mine.