She Will Be Mine (New Horizon Book 2)

Chapter 2: Jason

When morning finally comes following my restless night, I don’t even have to force myself to get out of bed for the early morning training this time. For once, I’m feeling hopeful. Peppy. Energized and ready to take on the day.

That’s because at some point during the earliest hours of the morning, I rolled over and was once again greeted by the cold, empty side of the bed, and decided that enough is enough. Today’s the day. After I finish with morning drills and my daily tasks, I’m going to head upstairs to see Alpha Aly.

She will be in the suite she shares with her mates and their three newborn pups, the same place she’s been every afternoon for the past two weeks since the triplets were born. I’ve been told that one of them is quite the screamer, and Aly and her mates trade shifts holding her to keep her calm. I won’t lie and say it doesn’t concern me that there doesn’t seem to be a long-term plan in place that will allow our dear Alpha to eventually be able to resume her normal duties and leave the pups with their nannies, but I also know that it isn’t my business. I trust her to do what needs to be done and to know where her priorities should lie.

This is, after all, the woman who carried our pack through the rogue war not so long ago. Making tough decisions and doing what’s best for the pack is what she does, and she does it well. I’m just hoping that she will agree with me that my taking a short leave of absence to finally go and jumpstart the process of bringing home my mate falls under the category of what’s best for the pack.

The way I see it, I’m getting to a point where I either need to see her, or I’m going to have to step down from my position. I can’t function like this much longer.

Just after lunch is when I finally find an opening to make my way up to see Aly. I visited the triplets just after they were born but haven’t had another chance since then, so I’m shocked practically speechless by the sight of them when I get to the nursery. Especially the biggest one, who if I remember correctly is also the firstborn, the future Alpha. I swear it looks like he has about doubled in size, and even his much smaller brother looks a lot more filled out.

Almost the second that I set foot in the room with her, Aly says, “You’re just in time. I just fed Gabe, but it’s Garrett’s turn now, and of course Stirling doesn’t want me to put her down just yet.”

She didn’t even bother to turn around to see who has joined her. I’m not sure she cares. She must have heard an extra set of footsteps, which means an extra set of hands.

“Which one is Garrett again?” I ask, not remembering if he’s the big one or the tiny one.

The only thing I know for sure is Stirling is the girl, and since Aly is holding the one dressed in pink, then Garrett must be in one of the cradles.

“The little bitty boy,” she coos fondly, finally turning to look at me. “Did you just come to visit, or was there something you need?”

“Uh, both. I had a free minute to visit, and I wanted to ask you something.”

“His bottle is right there,” she points to where it sits atop the changing table.

Believe it or not, I actually kind of know what I’m doing and don’t mind at all that she needs my help. Tyler, one of her mates, spends a lot of time helping out in the packhouse nursery and daycare, so whenever I need to speak with him, he usually thrusts a baby at me and has me give a bottle or change a diaper as we chat. I don’t mind the practice, knowing that I plan to have pups of my own someday.

I reach into the cradle where the little guy has been quietly observing the patterns on the soft blanket near his head and scoop him out, grabbing the bottle from the changing table before finding myself a seat in one of the rockers. I’ve done this enough times now to know that sitting in a rocker somehow helps the whole feeding process, although it might be more for me than for the pups. I like being able to move as we cuddle.

“So, what’s on your mind?” Aly asks after we’re both settled into our respective rockers with a baby.

“Ronnie will be graduating soon,” I tell her point-blank. It’s a statement, not a question. I already know it’s true.

“Yeah, next week,” she confirms. “I wish I could go, but there’s just no way. I arranged a gift basket and card from us, though.”

“I’m going,” I continue with the statement-making. I had intended to ask rather than demand, but that’s not how it came out.

“Oh?”

“Well, I came to ask if I could go, but I think Finn already decided.”

She gives me a sympathetic smile, her features softening as she looks me over, probably taking in the fatigue and the desperation that I couldn’t hide if I wanted to at this point.

“It tears you up knowing that she’s over there leading a whole life without you, not even bothering to send an occasional text or anything,” she offers a statement of her own, already knowing it’s true as well.

Pow, right through the heart. It stings to hear what I’m feeling said out loud.

“Yeah,” I admit, fighting back tears and a whole flood of emotions. “I can’t keep doing it, Aly. I just can’t. I have to see her.”

“I know,” she agrees softly. If she didn’t have a baby in her arms, she probably would have given my shoulder a gentle, reassuring squeeze as well.

“Which is why I’ve been working on a whole Parent Trap sort of scheme in my head, trying to figure out some way to lure her here and make her face you,” she adds. “Matt told me it’s too much and not right to manipulate her like that, but I’m not so sure that’s what I’d be doing.”

“What’s your scheme?” I can’t help wondering, now curious what she could plan that would bother her mate like that.

Aly is usually a kind, thoughtful person who would never try to force anything on anyone, not when it’s personal stuff anyway. Somehow, I doubt this scheme has anything to do with her role as Alpha, which is a whole other story.

“I want you and Ronnie to be the godparents for the triplets,” she tells me next. “I was going to plan a whole event for it and ask her to come and stand with you.”

Designating godparents isn’t really something that is done much in the werewolf world, so it mostly just strikes me as odd. I mean, I see the scheme part she’s talking about. Doing that would mean Ronnie and I would both have to attend some ceremony and stand together while it’s going on, and if I understand it correctly, it would also mean a commitment to the pups that we would share. And Ronnie would agree to it if it’s important to Aly, even if it makes her uncomfortable, which is where I can see Matt having a problem with it. It shouldn’t be important to Aly. The whole purpose would be to trap Ronnie in a situation where she would have to be near me.

Noting my confused expression, Aly explains, “Ronnie is Catholic. It’s a thing for her religion, and I think she would appreciate the gesture.”

“Yeah,” I begin to respond slowly, drawing out the vowel sounds a bit, “but not really a thing for us. As much as I want to see her, I think I’m with Matt on this one. I don’t want to force it like that.”

“Ugh,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Well anyway, the other thing he accused me of was letting my pregnancy hormones get the best of me and make me a little psycho. Maybe he was right.”

“Maybe,” I chuckle softly. “But maybe my idea will work out better. I want to go see her graduate and hopefully get a chance to hang out with her a bit. I’ve been waiting and being patient, just like she asked, but I’m starting to realize that without seeing me, it’s too easy for her to avoid the issue entirely. I get the impression that she isn’t going to decide to come back here on her own, and I think she might need a little nudge. So, I’ve decided I’m done waiting. I think it’s finally time to go remind her of what she’s been missing out on.”

The smile Aly gives me next is devoid of the pity and sympathy from before. This time, it’s full of pride. She’s proud of me for finally deciding to fight for my mate, and any lingering nerves I had been holding onto evaporate. I know she’s going to say yes. That smile gives her away.

“Yes it is,” she agrees, still smiling. “And I think you should go, but first you need to convince your brother to take over your duties during your absence. Or your father. Someone we can trust to do a good job without much time spent on training. As you know, my mates and I are already spending half our days away from our own duties, so we can’t afford to lose our Gamma right now too.”

That makes sense, but I’m only asking for a weekend here, so it’s not like it will be the end of the world if there’s no Gamma here for a couple days. I can catch up on stuff when I get back, maybe put in some overtime, whatever it takes.

“But I understand your urgency, and I agree that it’s good timing for it on her end,” she continues. “She’ll be moving out of the dorms right about now. I think she’s planning on continuing with graduate studies, though, so you’ll have your work cut out for you to convince her to divert any of her attention your way. But don’t let her just run off to grad school and leave you behind without any answers again. Make her listen, and make her decide. And she’s stubborn, so it could take some serious time to get through to her.”

“And if it does? That’s okay with you?” I’m trying not to sound too disbelieving or make it seem like a challenge, but I did not expect that.

“As long as you have your duties covered before you go,” she reminds me of her only condition, which now makes more sense to me.

She’s basically asking me to designate an interim Gamma so that I can leave the pack indefinitely. It’s like sending me on assignment, except it’s entirely personal, and this sort of thing is basically unheard of for pack leadership.

“Wow, okay,” I comment quietly, still reeling from how quickly this went from a simple request to her approving some significant time off. “Thanks, Aly. I was only asking for a weekend, but I’m not about to say no to the possibility of something more long-term. Not when it’s time with Ronnie we’re talking about.”

“I miss my friend, Jason. If you can spend the time and finally convince her to come home, then we both win,” she offers as her heartfelt explanation.

At the back of my mind, I’m kind of with Matt wondering if it could be leftover pregnancy hormones or maybe sleep deprivation that’s at fault for her emotional decision-making and how generous she’s being, but I’m not about to question it out loud and risk changing her mind.

“Fair point,” I concede, chuckling a little and fighting to hold back the giddiness threatening to bubble over and make me start laughing like a maniac.

My Alpha basically just told me to take an extended vacation, as much time away as I need to get the job done, despite the fact that I still have some serious obligations here at the pack. That’s so much more, and so much better, than anything I could have conceived of to ask for. I didn’t even know it was an option.

The lightness and excitement I woke up with this morning come back full force, my mind already racing to try to plan and prepare for my trip.

“And Jason?”

I turn my head to meet her expectant gaze, wondering what more she could possibly add to what she’s already given me.

“Don’t screw it up, okay? I’m counting on you.”

She’s smirking, and I know she meant it light-heartedly, but I can’t help feeling the weight of it. I’m counting on me too. Somewhere deep inside, I know this might be the only shot I get with Ronnie, because if she pushes me away again, chances are it will be for the last time.