Chapter 24 - Tyler
Arianna's question echoes through the expanse of the hall, bouncing back to my ears as I stare at the fire in her eyes.
She's clearly confused, her eyes wide with bewilderment as she frowns. It's not that I wasn't expecting a confrontation, especially after the surprises I've had myself today.
My parents returned from their vacation in Greece.
I'd been nervous about telling them that I'm already a father, I've already sired an heir to the alpha title, and I found my true mate—a discovery I made years ago, and one I've been hiding in my attempt to achieve the things my older brother couldn't.
It was nerve-wracking opening up and being honest with my parents, but it was something that needed to be done, especially after last night when realization knocked on my walls of denial.
Saving Noah made me realize that I had to step up and be a man, be the father he needs, and be there to protect him.
Apart from Noah, there was Arianna, too, who'd been spinning my world on its axis at rapid speeds since she returned to Portland and reminded me that I was always destined to be mated to her.
Since that night when I found her at the border with Noah, I've only been discovering how wrong I was about the way I wanted my life to play out.
I wanted her as my mate, and with every obstacle she faced and handled gracefully, I discovered that she was special in ways that made me feel unworthy of her.
I had to do it, as frightened as I was, only to discover that my parents took the news better than I'd expected. It made me realize that I'd been hanging on so tightly to upholding appearances and trying to be the perfect son that I'd been denying my own happiness.
“We only want you to be happy, Tyler,” my mother had told me.
“And no werewolf, especially an alpha, can ever be truly fulfilled without having a mate,” my father added. “Especially if you're blessed with a true mate, that is something no one can question.”
It was shocking, hearing them say those words when Father had been adamant that true mates didn’t exist. But hearing me recount my experience must have changed his mind, the rare occurrence becoming a blessing in their eyes.
They were so understanding about the situation, and consoled me with the reassurance that their pressure only ever stemmed from a good place—that they didn't want their younger son to grow up alone without a family of his own.
And they thought that what I needed to feel complete, to feel whole, was a high-ranking she-wolf as my mate, someone who would be my equal as we led the Moonshine Pack together.
They had no idea that an unexpected she-wolf would turn out to be my true mate—the most sacred bond between werewolves—and emerge as a powerful witch descended from a bloodline of powerful high priestesses.
They were elated to hear the news about Noah and promised to meet him once this meeting was over and Arianna and I had ironed out our differences.
Standing before her now, I can see how wildly disbelieving her eyes are as she stares at me, full of questions, too stunned to speak.
“It's true, Arianna,” I admit, letting every ounce of my ego slip to stand before her with humility, void of my alpha dignity that usually comes across as imposing and cold. “I would like to claim you as my mate.”
Arianna stares at me dubiously, batting her eyelids in disbelief. Her lips part as if she's about to say something, but she snaps her mouth shut and gulps. “Y-you don't have to do this, Tyler. Just because you're Noah's father doesn't mean you—”
Frowning, I begin to stalk forward, and Arianna tenses.
“I'm not doing this because of Noah,” I admit, hesitating as I keep a bit of distance between us, not wanting to frighten her.
I think I've done enough of that for one night.
“I mean…I am doing this partly because he's my son, but it's so much more than that, Arianna. You're my true mate, and it's time I stopped running from that.”
Arianna shakes her head slowly, her hazel eyes glimmering with doubt. “I-I can't accept this, Tyler. I can't do this right now.”
As she spins on her heels, I intercept her attempt to escape by grabbing her arm and tugging her toward me. She crashes against my chest, palms flattened on my pectorals, where she feels my heart picking up pace from the recognition of its fated mate's touch.
She gasps, lifting her dazed eyes to mine as she feels the effects of our mate bond, but she pushes me away with a firm thrust.
“No! You need to stop this, Alpha Tyler! This is madness!” she roars, spinning around to hug her chest with tight arms.
“Exactly,” I begin with a heavy-hearted sigh. “Alpha Tyler…that's the part of me I've been struggling with, always believing that I had to be a certain way, to do what my brother would have done if he were still alive.”
My sincere words draw out a gasp from her as she lifts her head, but she doesn't turn back to me, so I continue.
“But will you do me a favor? Would you look at me as Tyler, not the alpha of this pack? That same man you met in the graveyard five years ago, and showed him grace and compassion? Can you do that for me now?” I beg, and Arianna turns around warily.
“You're not that same man anymore, Tyler,” Arianna whispers, disappointment in her tone.
“No, I'm not,” I shake my head even though the statement is true.
“That boy you met back then was grieving his brother's death, and then you came along.” I press a hand to my chest. “But I was still a boy who thought he needed to keep up appearances, do what's right, become the alpha, and never think of his own happiness.
It's the only reason I rejected you in the past, because I refused to be happy. I punished myself for what happened to Tyson, and I hurt the only good thing that happened to me, all because I thought no one would want to see me happy, either.”
Arianna lets out a painful breath. “You hurt me, Tyler. That's the only reason I kept Noah away from you. I was afraid that you'd hurt me again, and I was right. You did hurt me the other night, and you think that this meeting is gonna change everything. What about my feelings?”
My heart pangs with guilt when I see the sadness in her eyes.
Hanging my head shamefully, I say, “I'm stupid, okay?
I was possessed by jealousy, and that's why I turned cold that night.
I'm sorry, Arianna. Forgive me, please,” I plead, dropping to my knees and hanging my head in shame, my hands resting on my lap, palms facing the ceiling in surrender.
“I am humbling myself before you, acknowledging that I was wrong for the way I behaved in the past. I was wrong for thinking that I would be better off without a mate—my true mate—and I was wrong for pushing you away every time I got too close.” I pause to swallow the lump in my throat, finally feeling the emotions I’ve been repressing so that I would show up for my duties.
Only now I realize how much lighter I feel when I allow myself to feel my emotions, not weighed down by the burdens I’ve been carrying all this time.
“I am just a man humbling myself in front of the woman I love, begging her to forgive me and give me another chance to prove that I can be the man who deserves her love—the love she gave freely before, which I took for granted.”
“Y-you l-love me…?” Arianna asks softly, and I look up to find her brows furrowed, her bottom lip trembling.
“Of course, I love you, Ari. I’ve loved you since the day you gave me that lily for my brother’s grave.
I’ve loved you all along, and I’ve been torturing myself trying to deny it.
It’s done now, it’s out in the open. That’s why I had to announce it tonight, before I backed away like a coward. I’m a coward.”
My pathetic plea is met with a whimper as Arianna drops to her knees in front of me, her eyes full of the warmth and compassion I’d been shown that first night we ever spoke.
“You're not a coward, Tyler…you're anything but a coward,” she whispers as she tentatively reaches out to touch my cheek with her warm fingers.
A sigh of relief escapes my lips when I feel the soft pulses that flow from her fingertips to the layer beneath my skin, bringing awareness yet again to our true mate bond.
“I am a coward, and I hurt you.” I hesitate to touch her hand where it rests on my cheek.
“I know I hurt you, and I completely understand everything that's happened since then. It was my fault, and I will spend every second of my life making it up to you.” I finally find the courage to place my hand on hers, sinking into the warmth that flows between us.
“You mean all of that?” she asks, her bottom lip quivering with hesitation.
“Of course, I do.” I use my free hand to pinch the skin on my neck in a gesture of honesty. “I've failed you before, but it won't happen again, I promise.”
“I know a little about failure,” she sighs as she averts her eyes nervously, drawing her hand away. “I failed to keep Noah safe, and James got to him. My visions are useless…”
Shaking my head, I reach out for her this time, cradling her face with both hands. “Hey…you're not a failure. You're still learning, and we're gonna do it together. We're gonna keep our son safe together from now on. I promise I'll keep you both safe.”
Arianna lifts her sad eyes to me, nodding timidly. “It's gonna take some time for me to start trusting you again, you know that, right?”
“I know,” I nod gently. “It might take a long time, but I'm never breaking your trust again. So, why don't we start now?”
Arianna's eyes immediately flicker to my lips before returning to my eyes as she nods slowly, leaning in, and making me the happiest man alive when she agrees to give me another chance.
I seize the chance with every ounce of my being as I close the distance between our lips, placing a chaste kiss on the plush buds that taste like cherries.
Sparks fly as soon as our lips meet, and it's impossible not to become ravenous as my inner wolf stirs with arousal from kissing my true mate.
I pull back, only to stare into the warm pools of hazel that bear recognition in them, confirming that she's aware of our sacred bond and the truth I've declared tonight.
Keeping my hand on her cheek, my thumb drawing circles on her delicate flesh, there's a deep, inner knowing, a confirmation that I'm finally on the right path when I'd been feeling like something was missing all this time.
I was born to be mated to Arianna Hart, but life threw obstacles in our path when I was forced to take over as the alpha—a position that was meant for my brother.
Now, as the alpha, all that's left is for me to take my rightful place as Arianna's true mate. I take her hand and help her to her feet, replacing my hand on her cheek.
“Where's Noah right now?” I ask, to which she frowns lightly.
“He's with Brynta. I told her I'd get him—”
“That's not necessary,” I tell her as I shake my head, my lips curving with a mischievous smile. “I guess it's time for him to meet his grandparents. I'll ask Mom to get him from Brynta's.”
Arianna's face pales. “Oh, my Goddess! Isn't it too soon?”
Chuckling, I press a playful kiss to her lips. “You should have seen how excited they were to find out they had a grandson. That's all they've been pressuring me about since I stepped in as alpha, but it's not for the reasons I thought. They just want me to be happy.”
Arianna nods thoughtfully. “Are you happy?”
“I am…but there's something that'll make me even happier. I have a feeling it'll make you happy, too.”
Arianna's brows furrow as I take her hand and lead her out of the hall. “Are we going to your parents’ house?”
“Nope,” I responded with a lighthearted chuckle. “I just sent Mom a mind link about Noah. You and I are going home. There's something I need to do.”
Arianna purses her lips as she quietly follows me, her tanned cheeks filling with a soft shade of pink.
I know what she's thinking, but I'm about to prove to her that it isn't just sex I want from her.
It's everything. She is everything I want.