Chapter 51

Lyle snuck a peak over at her and then looked back at the road. Amaris nodded her head.  Lyle looked at her again as if gauging what he was going to say next. “Amaris, how are you doing with the whole mate thing? I know you have been pretty overwhelmed." He paused as if trying to find the right words, "I want you to know that I am willing to wait for you to get to know me and to get used to all this. Please just give it a chance. Do not reject me before you give this a chance.” His eyes seemed sad almost pleading. His voice conveying the emotion that he was feeling. Amaris looked at him as he stared out of the windshield. She knew that she had feelings for him, and that her attraction to him was undeniable. She was not sure that she was ready to be in a relationship that was the equivilent to getting married without the dating part first. She needed to let him know that she was not saying 'no' she was just saying that she wanted to get to know him, she wanted to be more comfortable with the idea of mates and what that meant.

“Lyle I am not going to reject you. I just need time to figure all this out. Having a mate is not the only thing that has been thrown at me in a matter of days. I will be honest. I am attracted to you, maybe more than is normal, but being told that I am your mate and I am supposed to mark you” She held up her hands making finger quotes “and let you mark me and then I am supposed to sleep you with you to seal the deal. I knew I wasn’t ready for that before this whole werewolf thing and now I am told that I just need to do it. I guess I just need to find my own way there.”

Lyle had a smile and a look of relief on his face. He quickly tried to compose his face to show his understanding. “I can live with that.” A look of intense relief washed over him. He looked at Amaris, and for the first time since she had known him, he actually looked his age. All the concerns that he had been dealing with over the time that Amaris had known him, had always made him look older and more intimidating.  Even at school he was kind and fun and younger than the other teachers, but his seriousness made him seem older.  Lyle seemed content with her answer and found a new topic. “Amaris we will need to prepare you while we are on the plane for what you will find on the island. It is not like other places, and once you are there, they will know who you are. There is likely to be a mixed welcome.” Lyle explained “What is that supposed to mean?” Amaris looked at him alarmed.

“We will talk about it on the plane.” Lyle purposefully looked only at the road now. The road was now tree lined and they were in a forested area again, and no longer on the highway. Amaris had been so absorbed in their conversation that she had not even noticed them getting off the highway. “Here we are Horis and Angel’s place.” Lyle said out loud. Anna stirred and stretched against the door. "Wow that was quick." She said. Looking over at Lyle and Amaris she said "What did I miss?" "Not much. It was a quiet ride." Lyle said with a quick wink at Amaris. Anna had not caught the look as she was stifling a yawn. Lyle turned the truck off the road onto what looked like a logging road. The road was bumpy and he had to slow down significantly. The road got more pitted the further he moved down it. He hit a large pot hole and they all bounced out of their seats. There was a cry of pain from the bed of the truck. “Sorry Marco!” Lyle yelled over his shoulder. Lyle grumbled about how Marco’s friend needed to maintain his driveway better. As the road turned and the truck moved out of the trees, Amaris was surprised to find a huge gate with a tall stone wall.  It was so large that it reminded her of the Great Wall of China. It ran on through the forest for miles in each direction.

Lyle pulled the truck up to a metal box on a post and pushed a few buttons and the gate automatically swung open. “Horis likes his privacy, and when your a werewolf that also means lots of security.” Lyle says as Anna adjusts herself in her seat. “So who is this Horis guy anyway?” Anna asks leaning forward to look at Lyle.

“He is an old friend of Marco’s and of your father’s if I am not mistaken. I know that they have not seen each other in years though. He decided that he did not want to be associated with any pack after your parents were attacked Amaris. He was your father’s best friend, and knew that he had been betrayed. He was so disgusted and did not know who to trust he moved out here beyond pack territories and built his own place. “ They went through manicured lawns and many rows of fruit trees, most heavy with fruit. “Looks like he will have a good crop this year.” Lyle says pointing out the window to the peach trees they were passing.  Driving up to the house it was a modest log cabin with two wings, one on either side that had green houses in the middle and then each ended in another log cabin building. It was an unusual design, but it seemed practical. They drove up to the circular drive and parked. Lyle got out and went around to the tailgate and let Marco out. He seemed perturbed. “Next time you ride in back the whole way.” Lyle laughed and patted Marco on the back while steering him toward the house.