The Summer Moon
Chapter 72 -

Malia

My nerves built as we stepped towards Ty's front door, but his arm wrapped around my waist soothing them. "You have nothing to be nervous about," he whispered into my ear, his hot breath washing across my face, his lips running down my hair, and I leaned into him. My body settled into his side.

We stepped through the front door together and I heard the TV playing in the family room. Tyrese took my hand, squeezing it, and led me towards the couches where his parents sat. Together they sat on the sofa against the window, turned to watch the TV screen. Diana leaned back into her husbands arms and I couldn't help but smile. They looked like they loved each other so much.

Together Ty and I stepped into the room and Ty was the first to announce our arrival, "Mom, dad," he said, clearing his throat. Diana spun and jumped up as soon as she laid eyes on us, the biggest smile stretching across her face. I smiled back at her, meeting her eyes. Whereas, Ty's father gave us a much different look, almost as if he were confused.

"Malia, honey!" Diana cried out rushing towards us and throwing her arms around me. She pulled me into a hug and I cautiously wrapped my arms around her returning it. I looked up to Ty over her shoulder and he gave me a shrug and a smile as if he had been expecting this. "Can I get you anything? Water? Tea? A snack?" She began rambling off and I quickly shook my head but couldn't help but giggle anyways. Every time I was here she was always more than happy to see me, I only wished I could say the same for Ty's father who was still looking at me like something was wrong.

"I'm okay, thank you though," I said politely, stepping back into Ty's side once more, feeling that usual warmth rush over me again. Ty's arm tightened around me as he gave his mom a half hug then turned to nod towards his father. "We have news," Ty announced and I felt a blush creep across my face.

"Are you pregnant?!" Diana burst out, her hands coming up to cover her mouth. Her eyes twinkling and I noted the excitement she was trying to hide on her covered lips. My eyes went wide as panic rushed through me but as Ty sensed it he squeezed my side again. I looked up to him unsure what to say and he had the nerve to laugh looking down at me.

"She's not pregnant mom, calm down," he said turning back to his mother and shaking his head. I released the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding and felt my heart rate return to it's normal speed. That would hardly be something to be excited about, I'm only 17. There's still so much I want to do in my life before I have kids, Ty and I hadn't even talked about kids yet. I knew I wanted them, but did he? He had to right? He was always so friendly with Kali and Thomas, they loved when he came around. He played games with them, gave piggyback rides around the yard, there's no way someone who's like that around kids didn't want his own, right?

"What are you so lost thinking about? Calm down, focus here on me," Ty's smooth voice came into my mind and I blushed feeling guilty. I turned to look up at him and mouthed "Sorry," pressing my lips together in my best apologetic smile. Then as I turned my attention back to Ty's mother, her eyes were wide once more, rapidly moving between us.

"This is better," she mumbled and I watched as her hands came up to her face once more. Water began to accumulate in her tear ducts and for a moment I thought she would cry but she was quick to brush it away, her smile widening even more, if that were even possible. She clasped her hands in front of her, waiting for Ty to say the words.

"Malia's marked," Ty said quietly, turning his eyes back to mine and I couldn't turn away from him. Those blue eyes were home to me, they always would be. The sweetest smile rest on Ty's lips, his hand coming up to brush my hair back from my face and I heard him say my new favourite words into my mind, "I love you so much."

"Oh my goddess, thank you!" Diana was shouting, pulling the both of us into another crushing hug, but Ty's hand never left mine. "Where are your things? When is she moving in? Are you moving in together? Will we be having a wedding? When can I start planning?" Diana was squealing like a teenage girl and I felt panic come through me again as she asked the long list of questions I hadn't even begun to think about.

"Mom!" Ty caught her attention, cutting her off thankfully. "I just got Malia back, can you please stop trying to scare her off?" He laughed at her, shaking his head and squeezed my hand again. I felt the slightest tinge of guilt echo through me, was Ty still afraid I was going to leave him? I was so certain this was my home now.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm just so excited for you. Who would've thought little Malia would grow up to be so beautiful and your mate, I still remember when you were just this tall and the look on my little boys face when you used to come over," Diana began to reminisce and I smiled back at her. She was right, it was crazy to think how far we'd come. From running around together as little kids, to the passionate hookup in the airport bathroom, to dating, fighting, and now here. This life with him surely was a rollercoaster but I couldn't imagine anything better.

Then in a single second, this happy moment drifted away from us as Ty's father's voice boomed above all. "Tyrese you did what?!" He shouted, making me jump backwards, only to be caught by Ty's arms and pulled into his side. His arm wrapped around my protectively, but my eyes were locked with the coldness of Ty's fathers as he looked between us.

"Oh William, calm down look how happy they are," Diana soothed, returning to her husband's side. She brushed her hand against his arm and I wondered if he felt soothed the same way I did every time Ty touched me. But he was quick to pull his arm from her touch.

"Diana you're being naive, he's chosen the wrong mate just like Jordan did," William turned to his wife and growled. Diana was quick to back up from her husbands side, a look of frustration crossing her face, but his attention turned from her and back to us quickly. "You were to mark Chloe, to eternalize our alliance with the Dark Moon pack. Can you not do a single thing I ask of you?" He shouted and I could feel Ty's mood shifting quickly, anger bubbling over inside of him. I leaned into his side but I knew the damage was already done.

"I've done everything you've asked of me my whole life. I trained harder than anyone else, I took over your pack and became an alpha, I waste our warriors and trackers everyday searching for Jordan even though he's long gone but I do it for you because you can't let go, I walk on eggshells running this pack trying not to disappoint you. I've done everything to get your approval but not with this. I won't. This is my choice alone and Malia is my mate, nothing will ever change that," Ty's voice rose above his fathers, the alpha command coming out clear and to my disbelief William actually took a step back from his son's words.

Diana widened her eyes at Ty, but a small smile still danced on her lips. She was proud of him. I was proud of him, and more than proud to call him mine. I wrapped my arms around him from the side, resting my head on his chest. "I love you more," I pushed my thoughts towards him and felt his anger settle beneath my touch.

"And that right there tells me that our son has chosen the correct mate," Diana turned to face her husband, that same bitter look in her gaze as she looked at him. "She makes him a better alpha, look how he reacts to her, think about how much he has grown since meeting her. I think you owe Malia, Ty, and myself an apology," she stood up to him, and for a moment I thought he would cave to her, but instead he just shook his head and stormed out of the room. Diana walked over to us once more, a small smile playing on her lips as she reached up to touch each of our cheeks. Turning to me first she said, "my husband is a stubborn man, but he will come around," and I really hoped she was right. I hardly wanted to create a wedge between Ty and his father. "Let's everyone get some sleep, we can talk again in the morning," she gave us one last tight squeeze of a hug then the room was empty, with only Ty and I remaining. Ty turned to me and took my hand, then jogged up the stairs with me in tow. As we walked into his room, he shut the door behind us then walked forward. His back was to me as he rubbed his hands up his face then through his hair, beginning to pace back and forth. I watched him anxiously, unsure what to do until he finally turned and his eyes met mine, that familiar ocean blue I'd come to associate with when he was feeling particularly emotional.

"I'm so so sorry Lia I never should have brought you here like this. I should have known my dad would be an asshole about this, I should've had this conversation with him on my own," Ty began rambling but I couldn't listen to him any longer. He was wrong, he was wrong about this. I ran towards him, grabbing his face with both of my hands making him halt. Then I reached up on my tip toes and pulled his lips towards me. Meeting him with passion and fire, he froze beneath my touch, unsure how to react as I pulled back. His arms snaked around my waist as his eyes desperately searched mine for understanding.

"You never have to do anything alone anymore. I'm here, I'll always be here. So stop telling people they're going to scare me off because they won't. Stop thinking it, stop worrying about it, just stop. I am here, and I love you," I said feeling the rush of love filling both of our hearts. Then I whispered Ty's words from the very start, hearing them echo in my mind, "Don't doubt me."