Alyssa's Wolves (Wolf Masters, Book 4)(17)

He’d meant to leave her be, let her live her new life in peace.

Wells had been preoccupied with two gentlemen in his office when Tyler had arrived. Fredrick motioned for Tyler to enter anyway, but the older man had barely given him the time of day. It made things easier. A simple, “yes, she’s mated,” was all he’d had to produce. Tyler shook as he gave the information, hoping neither Wells nor the other two men in his office could tell how nervous he was. Although Fredrick was shuffling around on his desk in search of something, the other two men peered at Tyler with eyes that nailed him to his spot. Tyler didn’t even know who they were, but they gave him the creeps.

Actually, for as urgent as this task had been to Fredrick just a few days before, Tyler found it rather odd that the man didn’t seem even remotely interested in the outcome. Why had he been sent to check on Alyssa after two years? Relief over not having to answer two hundred questions had made him slump into bed exhausted beyond belief.

Tyler’s issues didn’t go away though. He awoke every few hours in a sweat, his dick hard. Alyssa and her sweet smile seized his brain day and night.

He’d gone to a few job interviews the past week, both local and short distances away, but nothing had sparked his interest. Of course, he could barely concentrate on anything.

Shit.

Tyler tossed his cell phone onto the bed and ran his hands through his hair. A glance in the mirror confirmed the strands were sticking up on end. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hands were shaking. He’d not eaten or slept well for days.

And there he stood making the most monumental decision of his life.

It wasn’t a choice really. He didn’t know why he was deliberating over things so hard. Alyssa was his, and he had to go claim her. He had to leave his family, his home, his pack and never return.

He couldn’t even tell his mother goodbye. The break had to be fast and clean. Everyone knew he had an interview tomorrow in Denver, and they believed he was flying out tonight for that purpose. Carrying no more than what he’d managed to sequester in his car over the last few days, and the overnight suitcase stuffed as full as possible, Tyler was about to walk away from his life of twenty-four years, never to return.

He wasn’t heading for the airport. Instead he was going to drive to Denver for the interview. He hoped it went well, and he’d be offered a job. His next stop—Corvallis, Oregon, where he intended to claim Alyssa. God, he hoped she liked the idea of living in Denver because that interview was very promising.

He glanced around the room at his childhood. Trophies, trinkets, mementos from his life in high school and college. His father would be pissed, and his mother would cry when he didn’t return. By the time they realized his disappearance was permanent, he’d be nowhere near the state of Oklahoma.

* * * *

Alyssa sat at Kara’s kitchen table, turning the mug in front of her around in circles. The liquid was cold by now and untouched. Didn’t matter. She wasn’t overly fond of coffee anyway.

Kara plopped down in the seat across from Alyssa and took a deep breath. “The kids are finally napping.” She leaned forward and rested her chin on her palms. “Talk to me.”

Guilt flooded Alyssa as she considered her encroachment on Kara’s only free hour each day.

“And wipe that look off your face right now. I’m all yours for as long as you need me. You’re like a sister, and I love you.” Kara smiled warmly and reached with one hand to grab Alyssa’s.

Tears filled her eyes … again. She was like a leaky faucet these days.

“Michael’s been here two days. He’s the most patient man I know, but I can’t put him off forever. I can see it’s killing him. And…” Alyssa choked on a sob. It was killing her too.

In fact she didn’t think she could sleep another night under the same roof as him. The house was big, and she had her own room in a separate wing from his, but that didn’t keep the entire place from filling with his scent to drive her crazy.

“Why are you hesitating?”

Alyssa stared into Kara’s eyes. The woman knew.

“Look,” Kara began, “I know this is hard. You’re convinced you crossed paths with another wolf who is your mate last week, and you’re torn. I get that. But, Alyssa, sweetie, no matter who or what that other man is to you, it doesn’t take away from the fact Michael is your mate. It’s not your fault the guy took off. You may never see him again. And wouldn’t it just suck if you spent the next thirty years guilt-ridden, feeling like any relationship with Michael meant you were cheating on the mystery man?”

And there it was, plain as day. How did Kara know her so well? Alyssa smiled and wiped a tear off her face with her free hand. “You’re right. That’s exactly it. I feel like I’m cheating on another guy. And it’s not fair. It’s not fair to me, and it’s not fair to Michael. I didn’t ask for this.”