Part 36: Truce

Tyler POV

The little shit actually thought he could keep her from me. I should skin him alive right now but Ruby's temper held me off. Even she was upset with the way her brother was acting. He seemed to think that he was the only one who has ever mated with a female. Please when Ruby and I mated she never kept Sophia from me and I didn't keep him from Ruby. Lucas Cates was being unfair and I wanted to sink my teeth into his neck for it.

Vivian's call had been a welcome relief but I could hear the tension in her voice. It had obviously been a struggle for her to get her son to agree to the dinner. Ruby sighed next to me as we raced down the winding roads of Wolf Lake.

"Tyler slow down," yeah like that is going to happen. "Please Tyler?" she begged and I eased up on the gas.

"Sorry," I sighed. "I am just anxious to get there."

Her blue eyes darkened slightly as she saw her former home loom ahead. "Please go easy on him Tyler he is young and doesn't exactly understand that he needs to be less selfish. He is learning, slowly."

"Too slowly," I grumbled. "If he is only going to think about himself in his relationship with Sophia I am going to try and force a damned reversal. She deserves to be worshiped not horded away like some damn toy."

Ruby rubbed his shoulder trying to calm him down forcing calming waves through their link. "Come on Tyler you know that he doesn't think that. He just wants to keep her safe and in trying to do so he has gone about it the wrong way."

I glared at her not liking that she was trying to eradicate my volatile thoughts. "Stop trying to calm me down baby I want to be mad for this. Maybe then the little bastard will finally fear me."

Ruby just sighed and patted my shoulder. "You and Matt," she sighed shaking her head.

It was obvious that the evening was not going to go well I was going to make damn sure that it didn't go well for Luke. The kid thought he had some claim over my charge well he had another thing coming. Okay so he might be her mate but still there were just some bonds a dude did not mess with and Luke was dancing with danger as far as I am concerned. I am her protector he is just the bed boy.

"You're broadcasting sweetie," Ruby sighed.

Well damn that's not good. I gave her a sheepish smile as she glared at me dragging me to the door. "Be good," she hissed at me as she rang the bell.

Yeah like that is going to happen. I put on a grin and laughed as an eager Sophia opened the door launching herself at me as she hugged me tightly. Man I have missed her. "Soph," I sighed swinging her around before setting her down and following her and Ruby inside the Cates home.

Immediately the scent of Luke burned by nose and I couldn't help the snarl that left me when I realized it was coming from Sophia; she practically reeked of the damn pup. Sophia eyed me wearily as she dropped my hand, guess she was not happy with me for voicing my dislike. I can't help it she is supposed to be my little sister forever and now Luke has ruined that.

"Tyler you need to calm down you are making her upset. Please just calm down," Ruby begged mentally. The desperation in her voice had me on edge as her blue eyes begged me to listen to her. I nodded at her letting her know I heard her as I tried to breathe through my mouth instead of my nose so that the disgusting scent wouldn't continue to annoy me.

"Come on in and have a drink we are just waiting for my dad now. He got held up at the station apparently Miranda decided to drink a little too much at lunch and then crashed her newly fixed car into the post office." Sophia sighed shaking her head.

"Ah I see she started her train wreck of terror early today. Normally she waits until dark to crash into public buildings." I laughed thinking back to one of my favorite human drinking buddies. Miranda was always worth a laugh and back in the days before Ruby came back, she was a good lay for a human.

"Matt will have his hands full," Ruby growled a slight curl in her lip. She was never fond of Miranda and my involvement with the human only added to her dislike.

Vivian Cates musty flowery scent grew stronger as her high pitched laugh grated on my ears. "Well he will be here come hell or Miranda after all he has been panting to see his daughter." Vivian said looping her arm around Sophia's waist.

Vivian led us into her sitting room where her annoying pup sat stiffly on the couch. Sophia quickly eased out of Vivian's grasp and made her way over to Luke a look of sheer relief on her face the moment she saw him. Ruby looked at me as her thoughts opened to me, "They are still suffering separation anxiety. No wonder my brother has been loath to let anyone else near Sophia."

She was right if they were still feeling the effects of a new mating like this than they had to be on an emotional rollercoaster. "Luke," I said nodding at him as he cuddled Sophia to him looking wearily at me.

"Tyler," he grunted as Vivian shooed us into chairs around the room.

The room was tense and stiff as we all stared at each other unsure of what to do and say. I wanted to take Sophia aside away from Luke and ask her how she was but I knew that was no longer an option. I wasn't a heartless man and if the new mates were still feeling clingy I wasn't going to make them separate. From the death grip Luke had on Sophia though it looked as if he was afraid I was going to do just that.

"Well while the old stick in the mud isn't here we can get a few things out of the way," I sighed watching Ruby and Vivian stiffen in their seats.

Sophia cocked her head her brown eyes seeking mine questioning what I wanted. "Tyler…" Ruby warned.

I looked to my wife and grinned hoping she would relax before I turned back to Sophia and Luke. "How is it going being new mates?"

Sophia looked startled by the question as her shoulders sagged in relief. "It is going great," she sighed patting Luke's thigh.

Luke nodded looking down at her fondly. "It is scary at times and frustrating. I mean I was told what to expect but hearing about something and actually experiencing it are two different things. We just didn't expect to feel so strongly it is a little daunting at times."

At least he is honest I can sense nothing but love and compassion for Sophia coming off of him which is winning him huge brownie points right now. "I know," I sighed looking to Ruby remembering how frightening it was at first. "If it was scary for me in my late twenties you two have to be frightened out of your minds as young as you are."

Sophia shrugged grinning at Luke. "We might be young but I know that this is right."

"Well that is what is important," Ruby chuckled.

Damn I can see how happy she is it is practically radiating off the two of them. Here I was all ready to rip into the pup when he is clearly just looking out for her. Luke really is trying to do right by her.

"How far apart can the two of you be now?" I asked softly almost afraid of the answer. I knew it couldn't be very far based on how tightly they clung to one another.

Vivian sighed from her chair massaging her forehead. "They can be separated anywhere within the house and a few feet from the house but farther than that they get upset. I had Luke step out of the driveway yesterday while Sophia was in the kitchen and it didn't end well."

That caught my interest. Sophia's cheeks reddened and Luke looked down guiltily. "What does that mean?" I asked.

Sophia turned her head into Luke as he rubbed her back. "I don't like him being that far away so I got angry and destroyed the island in the kitchen."

Ruby snorted next to me, "Destroyed the island how?"

"She ripped it out completely," Vivian sighed. "I can't replace it though until Luke allows other males into the house that aren't family members."

"I don't see that happening for awhile," I said noting that Luke had yet to release Sophia from his iron grip.

Luke looked sheepish as he hugged Sophia to him. "Luke you can let her go it is just Tyler," Vivian sighed.

"Mom my head knows this but everything in me is screaming to keep her close," Luke huffed.

It was a feeling all of us faced as new mates but for some of us it was easier to get over the hurtle than others. It looked as though Luke and Sophia were going to be among the few who struggled for enough control and sanity to let their mate out of their sight and be around members of the opposite sex. There was nothing I could do or say to help them and that frustrated me to no end; I was unable to help Sophia get through this it was something only she and Luke could work through. I hate feeling helpless but since this was not my mating problems there was nothing I could do.

I can hear Matt's police cruiser approaching the house and I see Luke stiffen in his seat a low growl escaping him. "Luke it is my father," she huffed.

"Sorry," he sighed.

I smirked at Luke as he followed Sophia up like a lost little pup as she raced to the door to meet her father. Luke looked as though he were heading to his doom as she opened the front door before Matt even rang the bell.

"Daddy!"

"Sophia!" Matt hugged his daughter to him tightly not seeing Luke practically crush the doorframe him his left hand.

"Luke calm down!" I barked through a private link. "See needs to see her dad, it is only her dad now let go of the damn wood." I was happy to see his grip loosen as his shoulders loosened up a bit as Matt released Sophia.

"Luke," Matt grunted.

"Sheriff," Luke grunted back. I looked to Ruby who just rolled her eyes at me.

"You are no better therefore no comment Tyler Maxwell Creed." Ruby admonished.

I really don't think I am as mean to Luke as Matt I mean Matt is just plain evil. Matt didn't release Sophia as made his way into the alpha home and past a shaking Luke. It was apparent the pup wanted his mate back. Even I knew that Matt was pushing it with how long he was holding onto Sophia.

Sophia looked back as they were walking down the hall towards Luke a pained look on her pretty face. Luke was staring after her his body shaking violently as claws ripped from his hands and his ears moved into finer points and his mouth began to change. I glanced worriedly at Ruby who was already moving towards Matt and Sophia while Matt remained ignorant to it all.

"Matt let Sophia go Luke is not handling this well," Ruby hissed as Sophia squirmed under his arm trying to get loose without hurting her father.

Matt eased his grip slightly but it was enough for Sophia to squirm out from under his arm and over to Luke who was halfway through the flip as she rubbed up against him. His features remained wolf like as he nuzzled her neck and nipped at the skin behind her ear his clawed hands pulling her close. It was all a little much for me I really don't want to see displays of affection between the two. Sophia and Luke seemed to sense this as they stopped and Luke slowly returned to his human skin.

"Sorry," he grunted sheepishly. "I am trying Sheriff honestly."

Matthew Donner did not look happy but even he could see that Luke was trying to let Sophia embrace them. "I know Luke; this is all just going to take some getting used to."

"Come on now everyone let's sit and eat," Vivian hummed trying to break the tense atmosphere. Good luck Viv this is going to be a tough night.

The night progressed slowly as Matt and I tried not to growl and snap at Luke who tried to keep his hands on the table as much as possible. There was only one instance where Matt and I might have over stepped when Luke kissed her cheek. It was a natural reaction for Matt and I to growl and try and stop Luke from touching Sophia when the actions had become ingrained in us. We knew we had gone too far when Luke growled back bearing his sharper than normal teeth at us as Sophia's eyes welled with tears. She yelled at us for trying to stop Luke from doing something normal something she had seen us all do on numerous occasions, a gesture to calm and comfort a mate. She demanded to know why it was okay for us to comfort our mates but her mate was not allowed to comfort her.

Vivian looked smug as Matt and I were put in our places. It was no secret that she had been panting for this mating after all it would secure her the lifestyle she had grown so used to over the years. All her life Vivian had been the alpha female and the mere thought that her son might not keep her in her comfy place sent her screaming in terror. Ruby might be the white wolf but even I knew that I am not going to be strong enough to take on Luke when he is older. He will be alpha and Sophia as his mate will rule by his side, white wolf be damned.

As the dinner plates were cleared by Sophia, Ruby, and Vivian I got the sudden feeling that there was something Luke and Sophia wanted to discuss. "Come on guys spit it out," I sighed as Sophia set down dessert on the table.

She glanced at Vivian and Luke and then her father and I. "Are we that obvious?"

"I can feel your nerves over here."

"Oh, right well there is something that Luke and I would like to run past you." She said looking between Matt and me.

"Why do I have a feeling I am going to regret asking this?" Matt asked as he rubbed his forehead. "What do you want to run past us Soph?"

Her hands started twisting as she stood before us Luke by her side offering support. "Well you know that Luke and I are now mated and we are obviously having trouble with being separated for long. We think it is a good idea if I move into the alpha house with Luke and Vivian."

"Hell no!" I growled standing up faster than even I knew was possible. I can feel my muscles twitching as I fought the change.

"Absolutely not!" Matt agreed.

"Matt, Tyler hear them out," Vivian barked.

Oh so the alpha bitch is going to try and pull rank on us and make us listen to her brat and Sophia. I don't think so Vivian I am not going to listen to your son try and defend the idea of him having an all access pass to my little Sophia and I know Matt feels the same way. I glared at the alpha that held my gaze raising an eyebrow daring me to defy her.

"No," I grunted.

"Tyler," Ruby sighed but I kept shaking my head.

"No I am not going to listen to the two of them try and justify giving Luke an all access pass to Sophia. It is bad enough that she has been here this whole time."

Sophia's face fell as she stared at me. "Tyler…"

Matthew Donner shook his head looking sadly at his daughter. "Sophia the two of you are just so young. I mean here you are teenagers in high school and you are mated. This is just a lot to take in sweetie."

"Dad it is just impossible to be away from him. He is my mate why can't I live with him?"

Okay so she might have a point. I don't know if I could live separate from Ruby now that we were officially mated it would just be too hard and I know I would go crazy. Luke's dark looks and twitching muscles let me know that the pup obviously felt the same way about Sophia. I might not want her to grow up and leave my protection but I have to admit I can't see Sophia living with me now that she is mated to Cates it would just be too hard having two unrelated dominate males existing in the same space. Matt's drawn face hinted that he was thinking along the same lines as me; we both wanted Sophia to live with us but we would have to take the dominate male with her and that would just not be possible.

"What if we had an official ceremony officiated by Sherman? Make it legal in the human and skinwalker world in front of the pack." Ruby offered.

"At least this way they wouldn't be living in sin so to speak." Vivian chuckled clearly enjoying that her son was winning.

"Fine," I grunted hating this more than chewing my way out of a bear trap. "It's not as though we actually have a say in any of this anyway."

Luke and Sophia looked confused; obviously Vivian never explained what their mating really meant. "Welcome to the adult pack pups. Now that the two of you are mated you are considered adults in the eyes of the pack. Technically you don't have to listen to us anymore. The belief has always been that if you are old enough to mate you are old enough to make your own decisions."

"As much as it kills me," Matt sighed. "Tyler is right we no longer can make these choices for you it is all up to you."

"If you want to live here Sophia we can't stop you. All we can do is growl and bitch about it." I grumbled hating that I was once again powerless in this situation. I hate that I can't have a say in her life but I guess this is just one more instance of Sophia my little sister growing up and I can't do a damn thing to stop her.