Page 21 of Next Door Midlife Alpha
So, here’s where you are.
He looked over his bulky shoulder. Even in the darkness, with only a bit of moonlight filteringthrough the treetops, Dylan recognized his mother’s form on the trail behind him.I needed a chance to get out of the house.
And out of your human,she noticed.Even out here, where we have quite a bit of privacy compared to others of our kind, we still don’t get into our fur quite often enough, do we?
Definitely not.Dylan waited until she’d caught up with him before he continued ambling down the trail. It was a narrow one, carved slowly by the local wildlife, but he knew it as well as the roads he drove on every day.I guess you could say I needed to stretch my legs a bit.
She made a waffling sound, her ursine equivalent of a sigh.It hasn’t been easy for you to have Will at home, has it?
Dylan’s ear pricked as a rabbit disappeared into the brush, giving him a moment to figure out how to answer that. It wasn’t a secret that he and Will weren’t exactly friends, but this was still her son. His mother was also the very last person he could lie to or put a front on for.No, but that doesn’t really matter. My job is to watch out for the good of the clan and its members. It sounds like Will is a bit down on his luck financially, and he’s turned to the familiarity of home in a tough time.
She was silent for a moment as she padded down the trail after him, possibly considering her words just as carefully.I admit that I’m thrilled to have him home. I know things were bad in the past, and it was right for him to leave. That doesn’t mean I haven’t worried about him all these years. I used to get the occasional phone call from him, but even that petered out over time. Part of me wondered if he was still alive or if something terrible had happened to him out at sea.
Pausing, Dylan looked over his shoulder at her again.That’s not the way you usually think.
No,she admitted,but a mother always worries. It does my heart good to know he’s alive and well.
Even telepathically, Dylan could sense her hesitation.But?
But I have to question exactly why he’s here,she replied.Will has always had his own ideas about things, his own goals and reasons.
That’s a very diplomatic way of putting it,Dylan noted.
The two of them emerged onto the edge of a small pond. The surface of the water reflected and enhanced the moonlight. Barbara stepped out onto the small shoreline and rested her heavy form on the damp earth.I might be his mother, but I still doubt his motives. I don’t like that idea, but I’d be either a fool orblind if I didn’t pay attention. Why turn up here? And why now?
Dylan grunted his agreement, easily remembering how Will had made himself a black sheep even when he was young. He never wanted help. He never wanted to compromise. There was no teamwork of any kind, and even small games of football in the backyard always turned into fights.Do you think I should’ve turned him away?
No.The answer came quickly. She stretched her paw out into the water, playing idly with the soft mud underneath.If you had, you’d always wonder if you should’ve made a different decision. Some things in life you just never know until you go find out.
The timing could be better.Dylan scanned the opposite shoreline, easily visible across the small body of water. It was a tangle of brush, with water lapping right at the base of the bushes that overhung the steep shore.Will might have been easier to handle if he’d been the only newcomer, but of course, he had to show up right after Stacey moved in.He explained what little he knew of Will’s encounter with their new neighbor, trying to keep his feelings about it from coming out too much.
Apparently, he hadn’t done a very good job.There’s something in your voice when you talk about her,his mother noted.
He stood up, needing to move if they were going to have to talk about Stacey. Dylan might be the Alpha, but there was no avoiding a subject that Barbara was interested in. He turned to walk a short distance along the shore of the pond, heading to another trail that would lead them back toward the clanhouse.She’s my mate.
Ah.Barbara considered this for a moment as she shuffled along behind him.That’s a tricky situation.
Tricky didn’t even begin to cover it.We’ve gone out a couple of times, but I told her yesterday that I can’t see her anymore.
Is that what you want?
A cool breeze rippled through Dylan’s fur, a feeling he hadn’t let himself enjoy in a long time. Would he have to keep his bear even further under wraps now that Stacey was there? That wasn’t a future he’d enjoy, but neither was one where he didn’t spend any time with her at all beyond a casual wave over the fence.What I want doesn’t really matter.
Hm. You’ve already said something along those lines before.
As a former life coach, Barbara Brigham paidattention to the people around her and how they interacted with each other. She always knew how to pick apart and analyze a conversation, finding the things that hadn’t been said out loud and laying them out like they’d been obvious from the very beginning. There were times in Dylan’s life when he hadn’t liked that talent of hers, but right now, he knew she was probably the only person he could truly talk to about this.And, like I also said before, it’s my job to look out for the clan and its members. I’ve spent a little time with Stacey to figure out what kind of person she is, but if I get any closer to her, things will start getting risky. I need to back off for a bit, and I also need to make sure everything is settled with Will.He simply couldn’t handle everything at once, no matter how hard he tried.
The path was wider there, and his mother stepped up beside him.You’re a member of this clan, you know. That means you have to look out foryourneeds, too.
Did you miss that part about her being human?
She let out a snort.No, that’s pretty hard to miss. I can understand you might be a bit overwhelmed by all of this, but I can also imagine how miserable it would be to force a distance between yourself and your mate. Your father and I?—
Are both shifters,Dylan interrupted.I canappreciate the sentiment, Mom, but it isn’t the same. I’m in charge of this entire clan. Having her as a mate would mean exposing everyone I love, everyone I’ve worked so hard to take care of. It’s not like I can keep any of this life separate from my relationship with her.
They were drawing closer to the clanhouse, and the air was getting salty again.Yes. You’re right. It’s not simple, but I love the idea that you might finally have a mate after all these years. I was so sad for you when things didn’t work out with Gwen. I knew just as well as you did that she wasn’t your mate, but that didn’t make watching your heart break any easier. You deserve to have someone at your side who you can love and who will love you back. For who you are,she added.
He paused, not yet ready to give up his black bear. This was still Brigham territory, but leaving the woods in this form was hazardous right now.That’s a really big ask.
