Thierry's POV

One week later...

After a small send-off party at Sunrise Diner (where I also worked) and a farewell dinner the night before; Mom, the twins, and I were finally arriving at the picturesque town of Sammons Falls, Massachusetts. An hour's drive away from Boston and the surrounding town as well as a train ride away from Stamford, Providence, Newport, and even New York City; the town was straight out of Southern Living magazine, from stately homes and mansions that were owned by some of the richest families and quaint small shops that sold wares to passing tourists and neighboring suburbanites to the opulent and well-renowned boarding school known as Sammons Falls Academy that could become its own city.

And speaking of the campus, the place was similar to a small-town college campus but with a more modern feel- thirteen academic buildings, twelve residential halls, several on-campus stores (including a Walgreens and a Target), and several restaurants that catered to visiting families (including a McDonald's and a Whataburger restaurant). There were even some nearby hotels for guest schools playing sports.

After a lengthy tour of the place (led by the ever-cheerful Mrs. Rosseaux-Yanez who greeted me with a motherly hug while ignoring the others completely- cool beans), I was escorted to my apartment-style dormitory where I'd be given a chance to settle in. "Here we are," Mom crooned as the on-hand guards helped collect my luggage. "We have to say goodbye here, Thierry."

"This is it," Tiana cheered, clapping her hands merrily as she looked around. "This place is giving me college-party vibes right now. If I wasn't popular at Barrow South High, I'd totally want to crash here. Hell, I'd want to live here myself."

"Ditto," Fiana agreed. To Mom, "Are you sure that this place would make Thierry into a real man, Mom? I mean, Uncle Cameron still has the number to St. Ivory Military Academy if you say the word right now. We'd have Thierry shipped off in less than a day so he can be made into a man like you and Dad want."

"Girls," Mom said in a warning tone before smiling sheepishly at me and the headmistress (the latter looking more unamused by the second). "Thierry, I know that this isn't what you wanted for your life."

I'll bet.

"But think about it," she continued as she made me face her. "Your father and I are out of options and your uncle is ready to ship you off to military school so you can be automatically enlisted for the Army or Navy. And that would piss your grandmother off to no end and will really make our lives a nightmare. By coming here, you'll see that you can finally stop reading all those damned books and start hunting for a proper girlfriend."

Mrs. Rosseaux-Yanez's eyebrows raised. "Mrs. Lemieux," she said sternly. "This isn't a dating service."

"I know," Mom said, batting her eyelashes. "But what's a little harm in finding a future wife so she can finally make him into a real man in the bedroom."

The twins giggled.

I let out a sigh. "Oh, my God. Mom..." I began but just kept getting lost in her "Mommy's-always-right" face with her winsome eyes and smug look. Any other day, I would just back off and let her think that she has the last word.

But now...I was so done. "All right, Mom," I said. "Look, I'm only here to get my education and to make sure that I bring a fruitful name to the family legacy. I don't know why you insist that I need to 'man up' and be a pig for you and everyone else's sake, but I'm only here to be a representative for the 'Good Kids of Texas' so I can head back home and attend college before I leave the family and move to California."

Mom spluttered, her face pale with anger. "Thierry," she said indignantly. "What about-"

I held up a hand to cut her off. "You said your peace, let me say mine: goodbye and good riddance," I said. "Good day, kooky bitches."

"But-"

"Mrs. Lemieux, he said 'good day,'" Mrs. Rosseaux-Yanez said crisply, folding her arms as two guards came to her side. "Please escort Thierry's mother and sisters off the property and make sure they head back to Logan International to catch their flight home."

"Thierry!" Tiana protested. "Thierry, if you love Mom and Dad, you better do what they want!"

I flipped them off before the headmistress led me inside where students were watching the whole thing, to my utter mortification. Most of the teens sent me looks of pity. I didn't blame them since I'd do the same thing if I was in their shoes. "Sorry that you all had to see that," I said. "My family consists of idiotic airheads who think I'm too bookish for my own good. The one good light in my life is my grandmother Druscilla, who supports my life choices."

Everyone nodded as they headed to their various destinations with getting settled in.

Mrs. Rosseaux led me up the stairs where I would be settling into my room and meeting my roommate. "Thierry," she asked me as we dodged hustling teens and their parents. "How do you live with people like that?"

I shrugged my shoulders, weaving in between two juniors carrying in a big-screen TV. "Ma'am, I ask myself the same thing," I replied. "With families like mine, who really needs enemies or bullies?"

We reached the third floor and stopped at a door that was a step from the elevator. "Well, you'll find more than partying here at Sammons Falls," she assured me. "And my son, who's your roommate, has promised me to keep you on your toes. He's inside right now and getting settled in. You ready to meet him?"

I took a deep breath for courage, already knowing that my trial separation from home was long overdue. "Ready as I'll ever be," I replied as she opened the door.

"Matt? You in here?" Mrs. Rosseaux called as we stepped inside the luxurious dormitory that could put my old home out of business. "Come meet your new roommate."

All right, Thierry, I said to myself. Time to break a leg.

***************

Matt's POV

I watched the young man's mother and sister (all of them dress provocatively) as they were herded off the campus by two pack warriors/campus police with protests echoing throughout campus. I heard Sirion huff in anger. Poor kid, he said to me in mind-link. His mother and sisters are all assholes. I can only imagine his father, uncle, and cousin being the same way or worse.

Can't argue against that, I told him as I heard Mom's voice. "Matt, are you in here? Come meet your roommate."

"Coming, Ma," I said, stepping into my favorite sneakers and grabbing a black T-shirt to wear before heading into the living room to meet my mom and Thierry Lemieux.

And once I got a good look at the well-dressed teenager...that's when I felt the mating bond click and pull me towards him.

Mate. He's our mate, my wolf cheered happily, howling in glee.

I smiled widely. "Hi," I said. "Name's Matthieux. Matthieux Rosseaux-Yanez. Call me Matt, but never Matty. That's for my parents."

I was the luckiest future Alpha alive, folks. And from his lean-yet-slightly athletic build to his cocoa eyes that can pierce your soul when you stare at him, I knew that he was the one for me.

Mom, Thierry is my mate, I told her through the mind-link.

I know, she replied, sending me a small smile before she said, "Well, boys, I'll let you get settled. Have fun and be ready for the next two days as you'll be needing to settle in and get ready for orientation."

We'll talk later, she mind-linked me, sending me a wink and a smile before leaving.

I smiled widely as my mate gave me confused looks. "Everything all right?" he asked me.

"I'm better than all right," I replied dreamily. "I'm dancing on air."

And indeed I was. I'll say it again, folks. I was the luckiest future Alpha alive right now. I had to wait until the time was right to tell him that I was a werewolf. But soon, I was going to have him chanting my name as we make love until daybreak.

And that's a promise.

Thierry and Matt meet at last! And while our future Alpha is over the moon about finding his mate, Thierry is ready to set things straight! How so? Find out in the next chapter!

Song: "College Kids" by Relient K. Dedication: none

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