Chapter 7 Tyler
TYLER
After a magical week of complete bliss in Spike's cabin, reality was calling. I couldn’t ignore my family forever. It was time to introduce my mate to the only other people I loved in the world.
As Spike drove us toward my sister's house, I couldn’t help fiddling with my sweater. They might not understand how much had happened in just one week, but whether they accepted Spike or not didn’t matter.
He was mine and I was his.
But I really hoped they would trust that I knew what I was signing up for. In a normal relationship, one week probably wouldn’t be reasonable to make a life-long decision. But when fate stepped in...well, time worked differently.
"You smell anxious, little one." Spike's deep voice rumbled through the truck cab as his large hand gave my knee a gentle squeeze. "Your family will love you no matter what. If they need some time to accept us, that’s okay."
I sighed and leaned into his touch. "It's not that. They’ll love you, but I’m not sure how they’ll react to your reindeer. My sister is a bit…traditional."
"And your mother?"
"Mom's more open. She's always said she could feel the universe working when things were meant to be."
Spike smiled in a way that made his eyes crinkle at the corners and my heart do somersaults. "Then she'll see it in us."
I hoped he was right.
The past week with him had been a whirlwind of...everything. Being trapped in a cabin with this gorgeous man who happened to transform into a powerful reindeer had fast-tracked us from flirting and dating and mating straight to talks of forever. It was insane but also completely right.
As an omega, I’d always felt like something was missing in my life.
I thought it was the physical aspects of being a respected alpha or the prestige that came with the designation.
But I’d never been more grateful to be omega as I was the moment I looked into Spike’s eyes for the first time and saw how much love and devotion he was reflecting back on me.
Maybe the magic of changing into an animal was new and unexpected to me, but whatever sorcery bought us together made complete sense.
Fate knew what it was doing, and I just hoped my mom and sister would agree that we were doing the right thing by accepting our love and just going for it instead of forcing some kind of timetable that was prescribed to us by society.
And damn, the things we'd done together this week were primitive and biblical and pure instinct that I’d never felt with other partners. My cheeks heated at a particularly naughty memory.
"You're thinking about last night, aren’t you?" Spike’s voice dropped an octave.
I snorted as I turned toward him. "How can you possibly know that?"
"Your scent just changed, omega." He lifted his hand from my knee to brush his thumb across my heated skin. "It's adorable. And sexy as fuck."
"We're about to see my family. I can't be thinking about...that." I pretended to be annoyed even as I leaned into his touch.
"That?" His eyebrow arched in a teasing manner. "Do you mean when I had you spread out on—"
"Spike!" I laughed and pushed his hand away. "Seriously!"
He winked and pulled me in for a kiss to the top of my head. "Alright, alright. Family mode activated."
As we pulled into Mandy's driveway, I felt almost nauseous. This had to go well. It just had to.
Her modest two-story was still decorated with Christmas lights that reminded me of the best Christmas I didn’t even celebrate with my new mate.
Spike killed the engine and leaned back in his seat. "Ready?"
I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "As ready as I'll ever be."
He leaned over and captured my lips in a kiss that started gentle but quickly heated to the point of me being unable to climb out of the truck. That was exactly what I needed.
My fingers walked into the soft hair at the nape of his neck, and when we parted, I was breathless. "What was that for?"
"Just reminding you that we're in this together. No matter what happens in there, I’m not going anywhere without you."
Before I could say anything to that, the front door flew open and my niece and nephew came barreling down the walkway in their Christmas pajamas, despite it being nearly dinnertime. "Uncle Tyler! Uncle Tyler!"
I couldn't help grinning as I climbed out of the truck. "Hey, monsters!"
Emma, six years old going on twenty, was fearless as she sprang through the air, crashing into my legs, while four-year-old Jamie hung back, suddenly shy at the sight of Spike emerging from the driver's side.
"Who's that?" Emma stage-whispered, peering around me at Spike.
I swallowed. Here we go.
"That's Spike. He's my... Well, he's very special to me."
Emma's eyes widened as she took in Spike's impressive height and broad shoulders. Even in his human form, there was something wild about him that almost hinted at his animalistic nature.
"He's big," Jamie said quietly.
Spike crouched down to make himself smaller and less intimidating. It was a gesture that made my heart swell. "I am big, but that just means I give better piggyback rides."
Emma's face lit up. "Can I have one? Can I, Uncle Tyler, please?"
Before I could answer, Mandy appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Kids, let them at least get inside before you attack."
My sister's eyes narrowed slightly as she took in Spike. I knew that look. Mandy wasn’t expecting me to bring home a man, so her protective radar had to be pinging.
"Hey, Sis." I waved and tried to sound casual as we made our way to the door. "Mom here yet?"
"In the kitchen. She’s making her famous rolls." Mandy's eyes never left Spike. "You must be the mysterious man who's been keeping my brother hostage all week."
I winced, hoping he knew she was teasing. "Mandy..."
Spike just smiled and extended his hand. "Spike Boreal. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mandy. Tyler speaks highly of you."
"Does he now?" She took his hand, and I could tell she was surprised by his firm but gentle handshake. "Funny, because he's barely spoken to me at all this week. Just cryptic comments about staying with a friend."
I felt my cheeks heat again. "I was kind of...distracted."
"I'm sure you were." Mandy's tone was dry, but she was already warming up to my mate. "Come on in. Mom's dying to meet your...distraction."
The warm house engulfed us as we stepped inside as the mouth-watering aroma of roasting turkey and sage filled the air, and Christmas decorations still adorned every surface. It felt familiar to be with the people I’d spent every other Christmas with, but it also felt different now.
Or maybe I was the one who was different.
"There’s my baby!" My mother's voice carried in from the kitchen doorway. She was wiping her hands on her apron and walking toward me.
"Hi, Mom." I hugged her and inhaled the calming scent of her lavender perfume mixed with baking bread.
"And you must be Spike." She looked past me with a knowing smile. "I've been trying to get details about you all week."
Spike stepped forward and bent down to kiss my mother's cheek. "Mrs. Reynolds. Thank you for welcoming me into your home. I brought this." He handed her a bottle of wine I hadn't even noticed he'd brought.
"Oh, the good stuff. Thank you.” My mother's eyes twinkled as she accepted it. She was already smitten. “And please, call me Diane."
Some kind of silent communication I couldn't quite grasp passed between them, but when my mother's smile widened, I felt a knot in my chest loosen. She was okay with him. With us.
"Tyler, why don't you and Spike get settled while I finish up? Dinner in fifteen minutes."
Mandy was still watching us with her arms crossed. "Yeah, I'll show you where to put your coats."
As she led us down the hallway, I prepared for the inquisition I knew was coming. Sure enough, the moment we were out of earshot from the kids and Mom, she turned on me. "One week, Tyler. You've known him for a week."
I sighed. "I know how it sounds."
"Do you? Because it sounds insane. How could you miss Christmas for a fling?"
Spike tensed beside me, and I felt a flicker of his protective instinct.
I put a hand on his arm to calm him. "It’s not a fling, Mandy. It’s real. I promise."
"How can this be real after a few days? Just because he's hot and swept you off your feet during a snowstorm, doesn’t make it real. " Mandy's voice was tight with concern.
"He's my mate, Mandy." I stared right into her eyes, making sure she could see my sincerity. “For real.”
The words hung in the air between us for a full minute before she snapped out of her shock.
"You mean, like that fairy tale Mom used to tell us about when we were kids? The fated mates stuff?"
I nodded. “Exactly.”
"Ty, that's an old wives’ tale. It's hormones and pheromones and—"
"It's real." Spike’s voice was surprisingly gentle despite the tension in the air. "I understand your concern for your brother, and I’m glad to know he’s got you looking out for him. But what we have...it's something neither of us can explain fully. We just know we’re meant for each other."
Mandy looked between us, and her expression softened just a fraction. "You believe in that stuff, alpha?"
Spike nodded. "I do."
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair as she gave him a closer look. "My mom already loves you, by the way. I could see it the moment you walked in." She sucked in a deep breath and sighed. "Just...don't hurt my brother, okay. He's one of the good ones."
"I know he is." Spike reached for my hand and pulled me closer to his side. “I swear that I never will.”
The raw sincerity in his voice made my eyes sting.
Mandy studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Okay then. Put your stuff down and we’ll eat."