I don't know how I eventually managed to fall asleep, but I did. Opening one sleepy eye, I gazed at my phone. I'd fallen asleep with it in my hand, clutching it like it was some kind of lifeline, and I saw now there was a light blinking to indicate I had a message.
With absolute urgency I sat up and wiped the sleep from my eyes as muted daylight streamed through a crack in my curtains. My fingers worked as if they had a mind of their own, opening the text message, desperate to see who it was from. I was certain it was Tyler and beamed with excitement when I saw his name come up on my screen.
The message was simple, but still managed to make my heart race and my breath hitch.
Tyler:Morning đ Hope you slept well.
My entire body felt tingly as I read the words, thinking about our unexpected meeting the day before.
I'd spent a good chunk of the night trying to justify the feelings I'd felt with him and reconcile these with my denial of the 'mate bond', but I'd come up short. There was something there that I couldn't explain, and the more I thought about it, the less I wanted to. I didn't want to try and second guess every thought and feeling I had. So instead, I made the decision to simply fall into this head first and let it take me wherever it wanted to go.
I started to type my response with nimble fingers.
Me:
Good morning. I slept pretty good. How about you?
I sat up on the edge of my bed, a glorified pull out couch if we're being honest, stretching and yawning before I scooped my mess of tangled purple hair up in a bun. I looked around my room, half my clothes still packed in my suitcase and the other half strewn about on just about every surface the eye could see. Aunt Mara was right... I did need to clean this place up.
I stood, stretching my limbs once more before heading to the bathroom I shared with my aunt. On my way I dodged the exercise bike and treadmill that took up the majority of the room. Aunt Mara promised me she'd find another spot for them, but the reality was that the house was a shoebox. The only other 'spot' for them was outside. And to her credit, she used them almost daily, so getting rid of them wasn't really an option either.
That being said, the house was small, my room was doubling up as a home gym, my bed was a pullout couch that probably would have killed my back had I been just a couple of years older, and I had to share a bathroom. But this was like heaven compared to where I was before.
I might have lived in a nicer house and had my own huge bedroom with my own en suite bathroom, but let's just say that the company was subpar.
I was brushing my teeth when I heard my message tone. Like a cheetah, I dashed back to my room, snatching up my phone to see if it was Tyler. It was.
My heart pounded wildly as I opened his message, my toothbrush still hanging out of my mouth. He was asking what time I'm free to hang out today.
Torn between desperately wanting to see him again and not wanting to appear like I desperately wanted to see him again, I sighed and began typing with my left hand while I finished brushing my teeth with my right.
Me:
I've just got a couple of things to do this morning, but maybe we could meet up around 12ish? â¤ď¸
However, to my absolute dismay I pressed send before I realised that my stupid left hand had selected the heart emoji instead of the smiley face emoji at the end of my text.
"No, no, no!!" I wailed, desperately trying to figure out how to unsend the message. Was that even possible? But before I could look into it further I saw the little ticks next to my message turn blue. He'd read it.
"NO!" I howled, collapsing back on my bed in despair, foamy toothbrush still in hand while I tried to figure out how I was going to handle this.
"Is everything okay?!" Aunt Mara asked, rushing in to check on me.
"Nothing unusual... Just my love life up in flames again," I groaned, pulling myself to my feet and heading to the bathroom to finish brushing my teeth.
"Sorry to hear that, hun. Wanna talk about it?" my aunt offered, her voice kind and reassuring.
I gave a deep sigh before I replied. "I met my mate last night. And now I just sent him a text with a heart," I explained, mortified by my own stupidity.
"You met your mate?!" Aunt Mara asked in shocked disbelief, rushing into the bathroom as she watched me wash my face, waiting for me to confirm or deny the fact.
"Yeah. But not at the Mating Celebration, just in case that's what you're thinking. No... In true Katelyn fashion I made my mate follow me into a public toilet," I explained, cringing as I thought about it. God... Why hadn't I just got to the stupid celebration. At least we wouldn't have had to sit on a dirty, cold restroom floor all night then.
"Oh honey, that's wonderful!" my aunt exclaimed, rushing at me and giving me an enormous hug. "I'm so happy for you. What's his name?" she asked, her face illuminated with the most heartfelt smile I'd ever seen.
"Tyler," I replied, blushing a little as I applied my moisturizer.
"Tyler?" she asked, sounding a little puzzled. "You mean Tyler Valentine? Alpha David's son?" she asked, clearly perturbed.
"He didn't tell me his surname. What do you mean 'Alpha David's son'?" I asked, anxiety suddenly rushing through my veins.
"I mean, if it's Tyler Valentine, he's the Alpha's son, honey," my aunt replied.
I wasn't sure whether her tone was one of reassurance or worry.
"I guess it makes sense why he was so evasive now," I mumbled, thinking back to our conversation the night before.Aunt Mara watched me, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Are you okay with this?" she asked gently."I mean... I don't know. I guess it doesn't really change the way I feel about him," I explained, trying to make sense of my feelings.Aunt Mara nodded understandingly. "It's a big deal, being mated to the Alpha's son. It comes with a lot of expectations and responsibilities."I groaned, feeling a weight settle over me. "I just wanted to get away from all the drama back home. Now it feels like I'm stepping into a whole new kind of drama here.""I'm sorry, hun," Aunt Mara said softly, giving my shoulder a reassuring rub."Maybe you're wrong. Maybe it's a different Tyler," I reasoned hopefully. "I mean, there were like 4 packs here last night. He could have been from any of them.""You're absolutely right," Aunt Mara said with a smile. "Now how about some bre
I raced out of the house, hurrying to meet Tyler, who was in all likelihood already waiting for me. If it hadn't been frowned upon to shift in the streets, I would have done it, desperate to get to him before he could think that I'd ditched him. Fortunately, one of the perks of turning 18 and shifting was enhanced abilities. One of those being extended endurance. And thank God for that, because running definitely hadn't been my strong suit before. It still wasn't now, at least not in my human form, but there definitely had been some improvement. I approached the park, clueless as to the time and how late I was as I jogged towards the restroom we'd met in the evening before. He was already there, impossible to miss with his tall frame and tousled brown hair. He saw me and smiled broadly. Then he started heading towards me, so I slowed my pace and tried to walk casually in his direction so that we could meet somewhere in the middle. "Hey," he said, still smiling. "I thought for a se
Tyler gave an understanding nod, then continued deeper into the forest with me close in tow. "You haven't asked me anything about being the future Alpha," he remarked after we'd been walking in silence for a bit. "I figured you'd tell me when you're ready," I replied with a shrug, having already made my decision in that regard. "Well... I guess there's a lot, and I know we need to talk about it. But can we just have this day not to think about it?" he asked, his tone almost pleading. "Sure," I replied, giving him a reassuring smile. "Whenever you're ready." He sighed, clearly relieved. "Thank you," he murmured with gratitude. As we continued deeper into the forest, the sounds from the park became a distant memory as they were replaced by wild birdsong and the buzz of bugs. The forest floor was carpeted with fallen leaves that crunched under our feet, adding to the symphony of nature. "Tell me about Colorado," Tyler suggested, as we meandered through an area with a nasty thorn b
The pond was calm and peaceful and the smell of rain lingered in the air, though I couldnât see a cloud in the sky above us. Time passed and we sat in quiet content. When we spoke, the conversations ranged from favorite books to most useless skills, which was an interesting topic to say the least. The minutes seemed to slip by unnoticed when Tyler checked his phone and grumbled to himself, "Shit... I missed a briefing." "Oh shit... You gonna be in trouble?" I grimaced. "Hopefully not. Worth it if I am though," he replied with a mischievous smirk. I gave him a shy smile, a little flattered by the implication that I was worth getting in trouble for. "But we should probably start heading back. I'm supposed to be meeting up with Jess soon," he explained pulling himself to his feet and offering me his hand. I took it, eager to feel the warm buzz between us. He never let it go as we headed back toward the park, chatting about everything and nothing. When we finally made it back to
Tyler: I did it đ What do you want to do later? I woke up to 2 messages from Tyler. I'd texted him the night before, just letting him know that I was thinking of him and I hoped things were going okay. He hadn't replied by the time I went to sleep, but in all fairness, he was busy with something pretty serious. To see his messages this morning filled me with a sense of relief, especially when he confirmed that he'd broken up with his girlfriend. I saw that message had come through last night, but I must have fallen asleep just before. Me: Hope it went ok. It's rainy today đ Maybe we could watch a movie or something? The weather did put a bit of a damper on the day. Don't get me wrong, I loved the rain, but I was a bit stumped for ideas on what to do here. Seconds later I heard my message tone. Tyler: Great idea. I'll come pick you up in an hour. We can watch movies and chill at my place. Me: Perfect. See you soon. I hit panic stations. 1 HOUR?! I had over committed and
I stalked out the front door, my prior embarrassment dissipating to make way for irritation and annoyance. I saw his car parked just outside the garden gate and huffed, stomping my way toward it just as the first tiny raindrops began to fall from the sky. "Wait!" Tyler called, hurrying after me. I halted, my jaw clenched as I waited for him, the drizzle becoming more persistent. "I'm sorry," he apologized, taking my hand in his as he stopped in front of me. "I know you're mad. I'm sorry I was early. I didn't mean to embarrass you or anything, I was just excited to see you. I kinda hoped you might be ready," he explained, his self awareness taking me by surprise. He was excited to see me? How could I be mad about that? I sighed and rolled my eyes, not wanting to let him off the hook completely just yet, but in my heart, I'd already forgiven him ten times over. "I'm sorry," he repeated sincerely. "I'll make it up to you," he assured me. "How? Will you be watching movies in a towe
His words hung in the air, thick with implication and the weight of unspoken truths. The instant he said them, I knew it was true. The pull I'd felt this time hadn't been for Tyler, it had been for this other guy, his twin brother. "You never said you were twins?" I whispered, looking up at Tyler with surprise as I tried to wrap my head around this turn of events. "I didn't think to. I guess it's common knowledge around here, but I suppose I didn't really consider that you're not from around here. But wait... you're his mate?" he asked, needing me to clarify the life-altering fact I had simply glossed over. I wasn't sure what to say. It felt like we were in a Mexican Standoff, each of us shifting our gaze from one to the other, waiting for someone to say something. When I didn't reply, he looked to his brother for answers. "Ryder?" "Yeah, she's my mate," he said, his tone firm and unapologetic. "Kate?" Tyler said, looking back to me for confirmation. He didn't look angry or up
Tyler and Ryder remained under the awning, watching as we drove away. "What happened, honey?" Aunt Mara asked, her tone filled with worry and concern. I kept it together a moment longer, waiting until we were out on the street before I let go. I sobbed. It was as if I had sprung a leak the way the tears simply flowed from my eyes. "Honey? What's going on?! Did they hurt you?!" Aunt Mara pressed, obviously concerned now that I'd been the victim of some terrible act or something. I had to set the record straight. I couldn't have her thinking my mate... Wait, correction, my MATES were complete and utter reprobates. "No," I managed to choke out. "Nothing like that," I tried to assure her, but I'm pretty sure that the delivery was unconvincing. "Then why are you crying like this? What happened, Katelyn?" she urged desperately. I tried to take a deep breath, but it caught in my throat. I pressed on regardless, knowing that I needed to give her an explanation. "They're... They're bot
(Tyler's POV) Before I had a chance to put together some kind of response, Ryder continued, âYouâve always been better at everything, Tyler. You could always run that much faster. You were always that much stronger. You always scored that much higher. Everything you ever did... Everything you ever do... You just do it better than me. You can even skip a fucking stone further than I can..." he went on, scoffing at the absurdity of it but I could see that it weighed him down.I bit my lip, still not knowing what to say. To some degree it was true, but there was so much more to it."And I don't hate you for it or anything, okay?" he said, as if trying to set the record straight. "It's not like it's your fault that I couldn't measure up. It's just the way things panned out, and that's fine. I guess the pack needs a leader and that's you. You were always the one everyone looked up to and I guess I just figured that the best thing I could do was stay out of your way and not hold you back.
(Tyler's POV)Ryder hesitated for a moment before shaking his head again and replying, "I'm just... trying to figure shit out.ââFigure what out?â I pressed, trying to sound curious rather than forceful.He was quiet for a long moment and I was almost one hundred percent sure he was going to give me the generic 'stuff' reply again, but he surprised me.âThat empty feeling I told you guys about after the marking? Well, itâs still there. I tried to ignore it, figuring that The Elders being here was more important. I thought that maybe it would go away if I didn't think about it, but it hasnât. It's just gotten worse and with all the shit that asshole Simon was saying... I just... I think⌠I think I might know why I've been feeling this way...â he trailed off.I frowned. âWhy?âHe hesitated, his hands clenching into fists. âIt's the Alpha thing, I'm almost sure of it. Iâve been avoiding it for years, telling myself I didnât want it, that it isnât who I am. But now? Itâs like itâs catchin
(Tyler's POV)The Fortress was as busy as ever. People milled around the gym, sparring, chatting, working out, the usual. The faint smell of sweat mingled with disinfectant hung in the air.I scanned the room, hoping to see Ryder beating the shit out of a punching bag or leaning against the wall, smirking at someoneâs terrible form, but there was no sign of him.He didn't come here often, so my hopes weren't high to start with, but it was still disappointing when he was nowhere to be seen.If he wasn't in the gym, he didn't really have much reason to be here otherwise. But even so, I figured I may as well make the most of it and do a thorough check of the building.Making my way down the hallway that led to all the meeting rooms and classrooms, I peeked into a few of the rooms where I knew I wouldn't be interrupting anything important. Along the way, I ran into a few familiar faces, but no one I asked had seen him around.With no sign of him here and no solid leads, I stepped back out
(Katelyn's POV)Two days had passed since The Elders had left, and the weight of their impending decision hung over us like a miserable storm cloud. Everyone seemed to be carrying it differently. Tyler busied himself with pack matters, his steady demeanor a calm anchor amidst the uncertainty. Liz had thrown herself into the house, preparing meals and cleaning each and every nook and cranny as if that might somehow scrub away the tension that had been building. David had been quieter than usual, which was its own kind of unsettling.And Ryder? Ryder had been... absent.At first, I didn't think much of it. Ryder wasn't one to stick to predictable routines. He moved at his own pace and showed up where and when he wanted, usually with some sarcastic comment or mischievous grin.But today was different. I hadn't seen him since the morning when he'd looked a little out of it and had just told me he had a lot on his mind. That was it. That was the last time I had seen him. It was late afterno
(Katelyn's POV)I stared at Helen, my mind spinning with her words. Each revelation felt like a hammer blow, shattering any illusions Iâd clung to about where this was going.âSo, then whatâs the point?â I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. âWhatâs the point of learning to control my abilities if it wonât make any difference? If theyâre just going to see me as some kind of⌠resource?â The word tasted bitter in my mouth.Helen sighed, her gaze softening as she looked at me. âItâs not that simple, Katelyn. I wonât lie to you, there will always be those who see you as a means to an end. A 'resource', as you put it. Thatâs not going to change overnight. But that being said, things are changing. Times are changing and so is the way people think.ââYeah, not fast enough,â I sneered, the frustration bubbling inside me.âNo,â Helen admitted, nodding. âNot fast enough. But they ARE changing. And people like you? People like us? Weâre the ones who will push those changes forward. We're th
(Katelyn's POV)I heard the vague sound of hurried footsteps approaching us, but I made no attempt to lift my head from Ryder's chest to see who it was. In my mind, I had pictured Liz coming to offer me some comfort, but when Ryder spoke, I realized my assumption must have been off."I don't think she wants to talk to you," he said, his voice firm and protective as he still clutched me tightly."Please," Helen's voice begged, "I just need a minute. I just want to explainâ"But Tyler cut her off. "Listen, Helen, we appreciate how you've tried to assist with Simon and all that, but I think she just needs some space right now. There's nothing you can say that's going to fix this. It seems pretty obvious that the Council of Elders has their own agenda here," he stated, trying to keep his words firm without coming across as hostile."Katelyn," Helen tried again, refusing to give up, but Ryder simply rotated me away from her, standing as a barrier between us with his back towards her.I hea
(Katelyn's POV)The heavy doors of The Fortress loomed ahead, the rain tapping against their dark metal surface. I stood between Ryder and Tyler, with Liz and David just behind us. The soft drizzle felt like icy pinpricks against my skin, but I barely noticed it, too preoccupied by the weight that pressed down on my chest. We stepped into the gym, which seemed a little busier than usual, reminding me that life went on as normal for everyone else. For me... This all felt anything but normal. I still felt like I'd been living in this weird state of limbo for the past couple of weeks. I hated it. It felt like I had no stability, no sense of certainty about anything.I was still in some kind of daze as Tyler and Ryder led me down the hallway to the meeting room. I felt my chest tightening more and more, the anxiety mounting with each step that led me closer to my fate.We stepped into the all too familiar oppressive atmosphere that seemed to accompany every meeting here. Helen stood a
(Katelyn's POV)The scenery blurred past my window, a mixture of towering evergreens and the dull gray of an overcast sky. My forehead rested against the cool glass, and I barely noticed the low hum of the radio in the background. Tyler drove while Ryder sat beside him in the front seat, and David and Liz followed behind us in David's truck.They had been so sweet and reassuring, promising us that they were on our side and whatever happened today, we would all get through it together.Despite the anxiety coiling inside my chest, it felt good to know that they were with us... that they supported us. This was what family was and it felt good to be a part of it.I'd tuned out of the world around me, focusing only on the thoughts that swirled through my head as the rhythmic motion of the car lulled me deeper into some weird kind of trance.My nerves were on edge. Today was the day. The day that the Elders would deliver their final decision. As I sat there, barely conscious of the fact t
(Katelyn's POV)I left the meeting room with my pulse thundering and my whole body shaking with rage. I knew storming out hadnât been the most professional choice, but I couldnât stand another second under Simonâs hateful scrutiny.His sharp words kept echoing in my mind, cutting deep, stinging like theyâd left invisible scars.I made my way down the corridor, every step I took matching the furious beat of my heart. I headed straight back to the gym where Ryder and Tyler were waiting. The second they saw me they both straightened up, obviously sensing something was off.âWeâre leaving,â I announced, jaw set and fists clenched.Tyler raised an eyebrow. âAre you done?ââThey might not be done, but I am,â I said, my voice still brimming with anger.Ryderâs eyes narrowed with concern. âWhat happened?ââFucking Simon, thatâs what happened!â I shot back, barely able to contain the fury in my voice. âHe wanted a 'demonstration'. He said they need to âfigure out what to do with me,â like Iâm