Dear Diary, I Have A Mate

by Abbie Lynn

  “Goodnight Arrabella.” He chuckled.

  “Night Tyson,” I mocked, closing my eyes and easily falling back to sleep.

  * * *

  I woke up and was happily surprised when I could move my legs.

  I sat up and yawned. I then looked over at Ty who was still asleep next to me, or so I thought.

  I went to get off the bed when Ty grabbed my arm.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, his eyes still shut.

  “Uh, the bathroom.”

  “Hurry,” he grumbled, releasing me.

  “I will take all the time I need,” I sang, walking across the hall into his room and into the bathroom.

  When I was finished I walked back into the bedroom and lay back down with Ty.

  “I missed you,” he mumbled into the pillow, grabbing me.

  “I was gone for like three minutes.”

  “That's one hundred and eighty seconds.”

  “Not long at all,” I mumbled against his chest.

  “Hey Ar.”

  “Hmm.”

  “I love you,” he whispered, kissing my head.

  “Goodnight Ty,” I whispered and then let myself once again fall asleep in Tyson's arms.

  Chapter 16

  Dear Diary,

  Ty told me he loves me.

  Love.

  I don't know how I feel about all this yet my thoughts are all jumbled up. I have never known what it's like to be loved or how to love someone back. I think I love Ty, however I just don't know how I feel about the whole wolf thing…

  I'll get back to you on all of this.

  ~Aria

  I woke up tangled in Ty's body.

  With all the heat radiating between us, I'm surprised I didn't even break a sweat.

  Tyson's still asleep. I love watching him sleep. This was the only time he was vulnerable. He wasn't acting tough or anything— he's just innocent like a child.

  When he sleeps sometimes his lips move up and down; it's so cute like he's dreaming or something. His face is totally relaxed as well, like he doesn't have a care in a world. His body language is completely different however.

  He holds onto me like I'm his life preserver. If I make the slightest move his face changes for a second like he's making sure I'm still here. Then he wraps his arms around me tighter. I don't know if he knows he's doing that or not.

  I wonder if he has ever watched me sleep. No, he probably falls asleep the same time I do, besides my face is usually pressed into him so he wouldn't even have the chance to.

  It's kind of creepy after a while. Just watching someone sleep like a creep. That rhymed.

  “Arrabella?” Ty asked, making me jump. It's funny I was staring right at him yet I didn't even realize he had opened his eyes.

  “Yeah?” I asked, refocusing on his face.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked. His brown eyes boring into mine. Ty's eyes reminded me of a puppy.

  “My thoughts are all over the place,” I admitted.

  He nodded and I wiggled out of his grasp.

  “Do you know when you sleep you move your lips up and down?”

  “Yeah, I have since I was a baby, at least that's what my mom tells me.” He chuckled.

  “Where are your parents?”

  “They work for the pack before I became alpha and before Carter became beta his parents were betas and mine alphas. They are always away because they are out helping other packs,” he explained.

  I remember him mentioning his parents were alphas and Carter's were betas. I guess I just will never really understand all of it.

  “Oh yeah, you mentioned that before.”

  “Did you know you talk in your sleep and you scrunch up your nose like a bunny at times?” he asked.

  “Yes, I did know that, and did you just compare me to a bunny?” I laughed.

  “Yeah I think I did.” He chuckled.

  “Did I talk in my sleep last night?” He a blushed a little and then slowly nodded. Seeing him blush made me blush!

  “TY! What did I say?” I shouted.

  “You will never know,” he teased.

  “Tell me,” I demanded, pushing at his chest.

  “Ow,” he mocked.

  “Ty.”

  “I'm not going to tell you Ar. It's private,” he teased.

  “How is it private when I'm the one who said it?” He shrugged.

  This is getting nowhere.

  “Fine don't tell me,” I sighed, getting off the bed.

  I walked out of the room and went downstairs.

  “CARTER!” I shouted when I saw him sitting at the bar.

  He looked up from his cereal bowl and smiled.

  “Hey crazy.” I rolled my eyes and that's when I noticed the boy was topless. What is it with these guys and their muscles? I mean he looks photoshopped. Of course, Ty looks better. Way better.

  “I'm not crazy.” I pouted, sitting next to him.

  “Where's Tyson?”

  “I'm not talking to him.”

  “Because he wouldn't tell you what you said in your sleep?”

  My jaw dropped to my feet.

  “How did you know that?”

  “Wolf hearing.”

  Oh damn I forgot about wolf hearing. That's awkward Carter probably hears everything we say to each other.

  The whole pack can probably hear us!

  “Wait did you hear what I said in my sleep last night?” He stopped short.

  “YOU DID!” I shouted.

  “Well kind of.” He chuckled.

  “Spill.”

  “I can't.”

  “Carter, tell me.”

  Just then Tyson walked into the room. He chuckled at my frustration.

  I hopped off the stool and ran upstairs. When I made it to the hallway Ty was in front of me.

  Damn he's fast.

  I crossed my arms over my chest.

  “You aren't going to talk to me?”. I nodded.

  “You're very stubborn you know?” I shrugged.

  “Anything you want to say to me?” I shook my head.

  He lifted me up and carried me to his bedroom.

  I was about to scream at him but I restrained myself. I won't give him the satisfaction of hearing me talk.

  “You scare me when you don't talk,” he whispered when he set me down on his bed.

  I sighed.

  “Okay Ar, I'll tell you. Just say something,” he groaned.

  “Tell me.” I smirked.

  He rolled his eyes and then sat down next to me.

  “Okay, okay.”

  “Is it that bad?” I laughed.

  “You said I love you Tyson,” he confessed, scratching the back of his neck.

  I sat there for a moment. In all the confusion of the past few days this was the one thing I’m sure about: I love Ty.

  “I do love you Ty,” I whispered.

  His head snapped in my direction and he gave my goofy smile.

  “Sorry I missed that.” He grinned.

  “I'm not repeating it.”

  “Guess what?” He beamed.

  “What?”

  “I love you too.” He grinned, pecking my lips.

  “You shouldn't be scared Ty.”

  “Scared?”

  “I'm not ever going to stop talking again. In fact, you will now probably never get me to shut up.”

  He chuckled.

  “I wouldn't want it any other way.” He smiled.

  “Well good because I owe it to you.”

  “You did it yourself babe.” He winked. I laughed. Babe? I don't really know what Ty and I are. I guess we're mates. A mate is like a lifelong partner so does that mean Ty and I are dating?

  “Do you have a question?” Ty asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

  “Mates are lifelong partners, right?”

  “Yes exactly.” He grinned. I think he was really happy that I was finally getting it.

  “So if we were going to put a title on our rel
ationship…”

  “Arrabella?”

  “Tyson don't call me that.”

  “Aria James will you be my girlfriend?”

  I started coughing. Girlfriend?

  I nodded, smiling.

  “Yes?” He beamed. I nodded again while once again coughing. This is too much to handle.

  “Are you okay? SHERRY!” He shouted.

  “NO!” I said coughing. I'm pretty much choking on my own spit right now.

  “Alpha?” Sherry asked, entering the room.

  I tried to stop coughing, so I held my breath.

  “Are you holding your breath?” Ty asked. I let it out and another cough came out.

  “I'm fine,” I choked out.

  “Alpha?” Sherry asked again as if she was asking for permission. She just probably wants to gas me again!

  I took a deep breath and finally got myself under control.

  “I was choking on my spit Ty.” I said, slapping him in the chest.

  “Oh sorry, Sherry you are excused.” He chuckled.

  “It's not funny and you can't freak out like that every time I start coughing.”

  “I know Ar. I just worry about you.”

  “That's because you're a good boyfriend.” I smiled.

  He grinned back, pulling me onto his lap. I leaned my head against his chest while he stroked my back. Ty's touch felt magical; just being in his arms made me feel safe.

  “You know we have to talk about what happened in the woods babe,” he sighed.

  “I know.”

  He nodded and then dropped the subject. We spent the next hour just sitting and taking in being in each other's presence.

  The next morning Ty and I talked about what happened. I told Ty I just needed some time to adjust to the whole werewolf thing. Most of all because of Ty's temper; it reminded me of my father's.

  Well on the subject of my father, I really wonder what happened to him. I mean he hasn't tried to come see me at school or try and contact me in any way. I know he doesn't want to come for a visit. I just thought he would want me back to take his anger out on and feed him; I mean he can't even make himself cereal.

  Ty acts weird when I bring up my dad. He says I shouldn't even be thinking about him. How can I not think about the man of my nightmares? Ty won't even let me go by the house, see if he's there or anything.

  In fact, when I brought up visiting the house Ty threw a table! A table! He just picked it up like it weighed nothing and threw it against the wall.

  I know he's keeping something from me and I'm going to get to the bottom of it.

  Chapter 17

  Dear Diary,

  Hey, it's been a long week. School has been okay and we get out in one week. Ty says we have tests on the last two days.

  The bigger issue is when I bring up my dad. Ty acts like I'm bringing up the end of the world. I don't want to see my father or anything. I just want to know what Ty is keeping from me.

  It's been one week since I found out Ty is a wolf. One week since Ty said I love you, but most of all one week since I became Ty's girlfriend, even though we are way more than boyfriend and girlfriend.

  Anyway, Diary I'm on another mission… a mission to find out what Ty is keeping from me.

  I will report back soon.

  ~Aria

  I woke up to Ty hugging the death out of me! It was Sunday morning and tomorrow we start our last week of school! Ty and I haven't really talked about what will happen after high school; I am kind of hoping he will bring that one up. I sighed in Ty's arms and then wiggled around, no use. I tried to pull my arms out from under his arms, no use again.

  “Ty.” I groaned.

  “Tyson.”

  “TY!”

  “Mhhm?” he mumbled, snuggling his head further into me.

  “Ty I have to use the bathroom.”

  He grunted.

  “I'm serious.”

  I wiggled again and he held on tighter. I didn't even think that was possible two seconds ago but guess what? It was possible.

  “Ty.” I coughed, knowing it might work. He loosened his arms slightly. I coughed again.

  “Arrabella.” He protested.

  “I have to pee.” I groaned.

  He sighed and then released me.

  I ran into the bathroom.

  Ty and I are back in his room. I don't think Ty knows the meaning of space, and I don't think I really want space.

  I walked out of the bathroom and looked at the clock. It was only six in the morning. I yawned and then climbed back into bed.

  Ty didn't waste a second and grabbed me into his arms again. He took a deep breath and nuzzled back into me.

  I feel like he's caging me. I can't protest too much because I love that Ty needs me as much as I need him. I guess we really are the perfect match.

  I relaxed once again and fell back asleep instantly.

  * * *

  “Why won't you tell me?” I groaned. This has been going on for twenty minutes! I mean seriously this is my dad we are talking about; you'd think World War Three was about to break out.

  “You don't need to check up on anything,” he groaned back.

  “You have no right to tell me what I need.”

  “Arrabella stop thinking about him.”

  “Oh so now you want to tell me what I can and can't think?” I shouted.

  “He hit you; he abused you every day. Why do you want to go back there?” Ty yelled.

  I stepped away from him. That felt like a slap in the face.

  “I don't want to go back there. Why aren't you listening to me?” I screamed.

  “I am listening Arrabella, you said it in your sleep last night,” he shot back.

  “I don't want to go back there I want to know what you are hiding from me!”

  “I'm not hiding anything!”

  “Then why are you yelling?”

  “This isn't yelling!”

  “Fine,” I growled, stalking out of the room.

  I heard something shatter and I ran down the stairs. I ran past Carter and I think Jason, then I went right out the front door. I started walking on the sidewalk. If Ty wouldn't take me to see what is going on with my dad then I will just walk past the house and see for my damn self.

  I walked forward and made it about two sidewalk squares before I heard my name being called I knew for a fact it wasn't Tyson.

  I turned around and saw Carter jogging towards me.

  “Aria, wait.”

  “I've already stopped.”

  “Where are you going?” He laughed.

  “I can't tell you.” I replied, turning around and walking away.

  “Hey, why not?” he questioned, easily catching up with me.

  “You would go tell Tyson.”

  Carter stood in front of me, making me stop.

  “Are you going to your dad's house?” he asked, but he already knew the answer.

  “Bye Carter.” I waved, stepping around him.

  He didn't follow me. In fact he was probably telling Tyson right now. I sighed. I'm going to find out even if I have to fight with Ty all day.

  “Arrabella!” I heard my name being called. I knew then it was Tyson.

  I didn't stop walking. In fact I sped up a little, stupid I know, like I could outrun a werewolf.

  Ty was in front of me.

  “Go away,” I muttered, pushing at his chest.

  He grabbed my hands.

  “You aren't going to his house.”

  “Tyson stop,” I growled, pulling my hands out of his grip.

  “You can come back inside or we can stand out here all day.” “I'm going to my dad's,” I snapped, stepping around him.

  “If he saw you, do you know what would happen?” I kept walking. That slug isn't going to see me.

  “If you just tell me what you've been keeping from me this will all be over.”

  “Aria,” he sighed.

  I turned around and waited.

  “Your father, h
e died of alcohol poisoning last week.” “You're lying.”

  “The cops think that drugs were involved as well.”

  “Why didn't you tell me?”

  “You were doing so well I thought your mom would be notified from rehab and then she could set up a funeral.”

  “My mom's release date was five years ago. She's never coming back,” I whispered.

  “Aria, please you were doing so good. I didn't want you to stress about this.” I started walking away. Who does he think he is? He was my dad. I know he was cruel and doesn't even deserve a funeral but seriously what else is Ty keeping from me?

  “Aria,” Ty demanded, stepping in front of me again.

  “Move,” I said through clenched teeth.

  “Let's go back inside.”

  “If my dad's dead why does it matter if I walk by the house?”

  “It doesn't, but you're upset.”

  “So what?”

  “So come on.” He said, taking my hand and turning me around. I sat down on the sidewalk and looked up at the sky.

  I heard Tyson sigh.

  “I can't do this,” he muttered.

  “Do what?”

  “Don't move.”. I rolled my eyes and lay down on the sidewalk.

  “Got tired of standing?” Carter asked as he once again approached me. What is this, some version of good cop/bad cop, or in our case good wolf and bad wolf?

  “I'm looking at the clouds,” I replied, holding back a smile.

  “Why?”

  “My mom told me that people are like clouds. Other people can see them as they want but only the person knows who they truly are.”

  “Sounds like a smart person.”

  “No, she just had her moments,” I replied, standing up.

  “Come on Aria,” he added, walking towards the house.

  “Where did Ty go?”

  “He just needs some time to settle down.”

  “I don't want to go in.”

  “Why?”

  “Ty lied to me.”

  “You don't have to see him.” Carter shrugged.

  “I don't want to.” I really don't care that much. I just want to see if Ty's making Carter get me into the house. I mean seriously he probably ordered him to do it.

  “Did Ty order you to get me into the house?”

  “Something like that.” Carter chuckled.

  That's what he meant by he didn't want to force me, so he's making Carter seem like the bad guy, that idiot.