“So, have you had a lot of fun these last few days?”  Mandy had an indulgent smile on her face as she looked up in thanks when Tyler handed her a tall cool drink.

Tyler chuckled.  He could still feel the excitement his cousins and a few others; buzzing at the outer edge of his perception like insect song on a warm day.  The challenge of learning a new skill had all of his cousins find some or other excuse to come and see what all the fuss was about.  His smile broadened as he thought of how much his parents enjoyed having the family drop in on them like this.  He seriously couldn’t remember how many times one of the uncles or aunts said that it was just like old times; and then his mother would add that it was just a teeny bit busier now with all the kids.  Knowing how much she truly loved having them all over he tried to drag all of this out for as long as he could.

Dennis and Amanda; quite unofficially, got to meet their future daughter-in-law.  Poor Abigail was pretty flustered at the rather overwhelming warm greeting she received from Amanda; and Quinn had to play it down a bit; saying that he had never really had an ‘almost’ girlfriend before.  They had both agreed to get to know each other for a while before Quinn would get to meet her parents.  He felt almost like she did not trust him enough; but given the fact that she was human and he had not told her yet that they were mates; he could not blame her for being cautious after all the other boy trouble she had.  Of all the cousins that came along to Yellow Stone; he spent the most of his time keeping the mates entertained; that is the ones who did not insist on their turns target practicing, so that he could spend more time with Abigail.

He was the one to let Tyler know that Mandy was experiencing a lot of the later signs of changing because he was there to see it the one time she blew her top when an unfamiliar female wolf interrupted their family time with a trivial matter that she had already been told how to deal with.  It seemed that this Vanessa did not like being told what to do and had been acting more like a bitch everyday since Alex and Shaun gave her a month to decide whether she would be joining the pack or not.  The fact that Mandy was the only pack member present when Vanessa questioned her instructions did not help because Quinn could see straight away that she did not like take orders from ‘children’; then she made the mistake in telling Mandy exactly what she thought.

Mandy calmly told her that she should do as she was instructed by Cassy but of course Vanessa did not have the good sense to leave the matter as it was, or to go and look for Cassy.  Instead she told Mandy that she did not get to boss her around at which Mandy got all cranky and told her that for an old wolf, she had lousy hearing.

It took Vanessa almost a whole minute to realize she had been insulted twice; her hearing, and being told she was ‘old’.  As soon as she did though; all hell broke loose and she was only seconds away from attacking Mandy when Cassy came in.  With one word she sent Vanessa running with her tail between her legs while she took Mandy away to have a chat with her.  Quinn did not know what it was all about; but when Mandy joined them later on she was not upset or anything, so he expected that Cassy had managed to diffuse the situation.

Tyler still wondered what his mother and Mandy talked about that day.  Quinn had not been able to give him any other information; and because he had decided to trust Mandy to know when she should talk to him about things if she were having a problem, he did not take it up with her or his mother.  But it still worried him that Mandy could have been attacked by a wolf while she was not one yet.  While he was grateful that she had not changed yet because of what it would mean to him; he was rather glad that she would soon be on equal terms when she changed.  Her safety was much more important than his peace of mind.

Tyler smiled back at her as she downed her cool drink, it was incredibly hot and the weather promised to get even warmer during the next few days.  This was one of the worst heat waves in this area according to the locals and they were all hoping for some early rain to relieve the almost unbearable heat.

“Hmm, it has been nice having everybody pop in again.  And yes, they all had a great time shooting with the dart guns.”  He took the empty glass and took it back to the table, then returned to her.  “Come with me for a while?”

“Where to?”  Mandy asked as she lazily stared up at him with her beautiful eyes.

He gave her a lopsided grin.  “Our tree?”

A flicker of interest sparked in her eye before she frowned.  “It’s too far and I am too lazy to walk there.”

Tyler laughed at her and held his hand to pull her up.  “Then I will carry you.”

This time she took hold of his hand eagerly.  “Like when I was still small?”

“Mandy, you’re still small to me.”  A quick jerk and she was on her feet.  “High or low?”

Mandy smiled at the amusement in his voice, it made her feel so happy when he was happy.  “High!”  She said, throwing her hands in the air.

Shaking his head at her silly behavior he played along.  “OK squirt; assume the position.”

With a light hearted giggle she planted her fists in her sides and jumped around, facing away from him.  Immediately he covered her hands with his and as if she weighed nothing more than a feather, he lifted her over his head and put her on his shoulders like he used to do.  Enjoying her delighted laughter he took off at a slow jog, making her bounce around and giggle even harder until she was laughing so hard she could hardly hold on anymore.

He reached ‘their’ tree and she basically just let go, sliding off of his back.  She was still laughing when he turned to face her.  “Oh Ty, you make me laugh so much.”

Hearing her words, Tyler felt like his heart could burst with pure joy and happiness.  “I know.”  He said, completing their ritual as he hugged her to him tightly.

Wiping the laugh tears off of her face, Mandy sank down into the longish grass under the tree, lately it had gotten more time to grow and she carefully dragged her hand through the long blades.  She waited until he was seated next to her, but looking at her.  And waited.  He did not speak for a long time, he just sat there with her hand in his, playing with her fingers.  Just when she thought she would be the one to break the silence, he spoke.

“We should really come here more often; I miss being here.  It is so restful.”  He gave her a lopsided smile.  “It feels like having my batteries recharged when I am here with you.”

Mandy smiled gently at him.  “It is nice to know that; but I am sure it is not the real reason behind your walk down memory lane.”

Bringing her hand up to his lips, he kissed the tip of each finger before speaking.  “You know me so well.”

An impish smile lit her face.  “It’s my job to know you.”

He frowned down at her playfully.  “I sincerely hope that it does not feel like a job.”

Rolling her eyes she answered him with a serious expression.  “No, it is more than just a job Tyler; it is the one thing that nobody else is as good at as I am.  Do you know that even your mother came to ask me what you would prefer the other day?”  Knowing that he knew she did not expect an answer, she carried on talking.  “Me knowing you, it’s like it is instinct.  It simply is.”

He was unable to keep the worry from showing when he stared at her.  “If you know me so well; why are you asking me why we are here?”

In a gesture that made his heart melt, she pulled his hand closer like he did just now, and kissed each of his finger tips.  Then she held his palm so that she could rest her cheek in it.  “Because you have to talk about things if it is bothering you.  Normally you would not have a problem talking to me about it, but because it is me; or us actually; that you are worried about, you are unsure about talking to me.”

She twisted her head and kissed his palm before letting his hand go.  “You are worried about how my change is going to affect things between us.  I can see that it might be a bit difficult, bit I am sure it won’t be anything we can’t handle.”

Tyler nervously flickered his eyes away from her piercing gaze.  “I am not so sure that it is going to be as easy as that.”

Mandy took the time to think about what he had said.  Would it really be that bad?  She knew that he fully intended to wait until she finished school before he completed the mating; surely if that was his decision they should not have a problem sticking to it?  Unless … there was something he had not shared with her yet. 

That cute little frown popped up on her forehead and as was his habit, he reached towards her and smoothed it out with his finger.

“Why not?”

Her question made his finger pause.  Then he tapped her nose lightly and sat back with his arms folded in his lap.

Although he tried to act as if he had it all together, the nervous tapping of his feet gave him away and Mandy almost laughed at him.

“Because I honestly do not know how you changing and going into mating heat will affect me.”  He saw her mouth drop open in surprise; she certainly did not expect that, did she?

The utter puzzlement on her face would have made him laugh if it was not so darn uncomfortable talking to her about his.  But it had to be done.  Not because he wanted to, but because if it proved to be more than he could handle, he would stay away from her and she deserved to know the reasons for his absence.  He would never keep her in the dark again; no matter how uncomfortable the topic.

“Mandy,” he tried keeping his eyes on hers, but it was too embarrassing; so he found a spot on the tree trunk and kept his eyes on that instead.  “I have never kissed another girl.  Never.  When I kissed you for the first time; it was the first time I kissed someone.  I have never held a woman in my arms and …” He cleared his throat.  “You know …”

From the corner of his eye he could see the deep red blush covering her face and the rush of heat only managed to intensify her beautiful scent; making his head spin.

“Oh.”

This time he did not attempt to sweep away the frown between her eyes and he waited patiently for her to process his answer.

“But why would that be a problem for you?”

Tyler felt like throwing his hands up in the air.  Could she not this once; this one time; not be so darn curious?

“Because I do not know how you will affect me because I do not really know what to expect from that.  I know that I have been ‘eavesdropping’ on other people’s emotions more than any one person should be able to; but experiencing a secondhand emotion about someone I have no real connection to is not going to be nearly the same as when you shift.  It would kill me not being there for you when it happens; and at the same time; I know it will most likely kill me being there too.”  He grasped both her tiny hands in his.  “Mandy; I have got no idea what will happen to me if … when you go into mating heat.  There is a part of me that can not wait for that to happen; regardless of the fact that you only sixteen compared to my twenty three years.  What could happen is just plain wrong on so many levels.  I know that with us, your parents would understand if I were to take you; but we cannot simply ignore the human laws because it is convenient for us.”

“Hmm, so you think that the more animal instincts will override the human side?”

As reply he only shrugged because he knew that she was not quite finished yet.  “But why?  If you listen to the stories about both our parents meeting each other; even your aunts and uncles meeting up; none of them jumped at each other; they were all very capable of waiting; why do you think that it is going to be so difficult for us?”

His hand ran through his hair before he shot her a glance, then dropped his head and stared at his hands twisting nervously.  “Mandy,” he ground her name out in frustration; “I seriously do not know what to expect!  I have never had any desire to be with anyone and since you have … matured;” he scratched his throat and continues before he could chicken out; “I have done my best not to think about what it would be like.  So I honestly don’t know; OK?”

Mandy tried very hard not to laugh.  He looked so uncomfortable sitting there with his head bent so that she could not see his face.  But she could still see the deep red on his neck.  She had never seen Tyler blush like this; never ever!  He was still twiddling his fingers, normally, if he was nervous about saying something to her; once he was done, the finger twirling stopped; was there more?

“Ty; what is really bothering you?  It is not just me changing and going into mating heat, is it?”

He swallowed before he looked up at her.  “I am not exactly your average wolf Mandy; I have got no idea, honestly no bloody idea what this is going to do to me.”

Without a single moment’s hesitation, she climbed onto his lap and wrapped her arms around him; cradling his head against her like her mother used to do with her when she was younger.  “It is going to be fine Tyler.  I know it.”

“How can you know that?”  He mumbled the question into her neck as he clung to her.

“I know this because you will never allow anything to happen to me that you would not be happy about; even if it is you we are talking about.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Carefully Mandy lifted his head so that she could look into his anguished eyes.  “Because I trust you.”

He gave low, warning growl and it rumbled through her; sending shivers down her spine and she gasped.  With that, his hold on her changed as his hands roughly molded her to him, sending heat flashing through her whole body and soul.  By the time his eyes searched her face and reached her eyes, she felt like she would explode if he did not kiss her; right now!

“Well, you shouldn’t.”  Tyler said just before he slid his hand through her golden hair until he could grip her head and angle it so that their lips were almost touching.  He held still like that until both of them could not breathe properly anymore, and only then; did he move his head that fraction of an inch for their mouths to collide hungrily.

His kisses have never been this electric; this drugging; this mind blowing.  Rational thought became impossible as his lips plundered her mouth, taking all she had to offer; and still, she wanted to give him so much more.  With his hands moving all over her with a strange desperation, she had no other thought than to enjoy this new sensation.  It was only when his fingers were fumbling at the back of her bra strap that she surfaced.

“Tyler.”

His name sounded like music to his ears and he lifted his head to beg her to say it again.  The sight of her flushed face and swollen lips made him realize what he had just done; or nearly done.  So spell bound at the sight of her, he did not hear it at first when she called him.

“Tyler!”

“Huh?”  Mandy laughed so quietly at him that he could not hear her; he could only feel the way she was shaking.  “What?”

“Could you please let go of my underwear now?”

Horrified he looked down to see that the buttons to her blouse were all undone and his one hand was holding a covered plump looking breast while the other was tangled behind her under her blouse.

As if she were a hot lump of coal he let go of her, moving as far away from her as he could while he was still seated and in the process; she fell off of his lap.

“Ouch!”  She cried out in startled surprise.

“Oh goodness; I’m sorry!”  Tyler reached out to help her up, but the moment his hands made contact with her skin; he withdrew his hands.  “I’m sorry.”

Mandy did not know whether to laugh at his predicament at her semi undressed state or moan at the pain in her rear end.

Soon his concern for her overwhelmed any discomfort he was still feeling and he stood up and picked her up carefully.  “I’m sorry Mandy.  I really did not expect that to happen.”

“What, me falling on my butt?”

He took a deep breath and steeled himself as he looked her straight in the eyes.  “That too.”

As they stood their staring at each other, the looks became more heated, charged with an electricity that hummed around them until Tyler drew his eyes away.  “Perhaps you should cover up.”

Mandy blushed as she hurried to button up her blouse; then she realized something.  The bra she was wearing fastened in the front, not the back.  For a wild moment she wondered what would have happened if it had been one of her others that fastened at the back.  Or if he had realized it and unfastened her bra.  ‘Oh goodness me!’  She thought as she tried to concentrate on her bruised derriere.

“Are you alright?”  He asked, with a concerned look on his face.

“Yeah, I have a pretty good chance of surviving this.”  Her heart skipped a beat when he gave her a toothy grin.  “Of course, ice cream would make the chances of survival even better.”

“It would?”  Tyler asked with a pretend surprised look that threatened to be replaced by a smile.

“Oh yeah!  Ice cream in the new secret miracle drug; haven’t you heard?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Seriously!  It’s all the kids are talking about these days.”

“Humph!”  Tyler snorted making Mandy laugh.  “I am not surprised to tell you the truth.  Perhaps we should see if we could find any for you?”

“Yep.  Good idea.”  Mandy stuck her hand out for him and before she knew it, he had picked her up; carefully so that he did not hurt her sore rear end any further.

They first went looking for the other cousins and found them outside the pack house; already partaking of the new miracle drug.  So Tyler set her down and ran off inside to fetch a fluffy pillow for her to sit on.

The rest of the afternoon was spent goofing around and discussing how the new dart guns were going to make things easier for all the packs.  When Rudi came around with Alex he chatted with the youngsters for a while before wishing them a good night.  Mandy stood up, gave Tyler a kiss on his cheek and left with her dad to have dinner with her own family for a change.

Later that evening just before everybody went to bed; Wade dropped in to give Tyler a wrapped medium sized square box from Mandy.  At the unspoken question from Tyler, Wade shrugged his shoulders.  “My sister is weird man; what can I say.”

Tyler laughed all the way upstairs to his room.  He left the parcel unopened until he was ready for bed.  It was filled with a lot of tissue paper with a small note on the top.

‘Use these to practice on.’

The cryptic note in her handwriting had him puzzled.  What did he need to practice for?

After scratching around and throwing a lot of paper onto his bed, he pulled out two bras with notes attached with safety pins.  They both had notes pinned to them, the one on the back and the other on the front.  The note had large arrows pointing to the hooks at the back and the clasp at the front.  The notes both read; ‘open here’.