He Will Be Mine

Chapter 44: Meeting Mari

*** Alyssa's POV ***

"I. Am. Exhausted." That's all Matt says before he drops to his knees and then sprawls out on his stomach on the grass.

I can't say I blame him. He's been stubbornly trying to keep up with Tyler and me for the past two days when we join the warriors for training. Granted, I haven't been letting him do everything everyone else is working on, but I have been making him run with me instead of walking, plus we've been working on some strength training.

It's his choice, though. He got up the second day here and insisted on coming with us to train, arguing that there's no better motivation to get himself in shape than to tag along whenever we go to work out. I think he's perfect how he is, but I won't complain if he wants to make improvements. My dad seems pretty happy about it, too.

"Maybe you should tap out early and go get some rest," I suggest, dropping down next to him.

He rolls over so he can look up at me and shakes his head. "Nope. Just give me five and I'll be good to go."

"Why so obsessed with training all of a sudden?" I ask as I lean down to brush a sweaty piece of his hair away from his forehead.

His thick, curly, golden-brown hair has been getting long and could probably be put in a ponytail soon. It's gorgeous, and I kind of like it this way. It frames his face in a way that really brings out his beautiful brown eyes, which look kind of caramel-colored in the sunlight. Very similar to Tyler's, which I'm not sorry about. The eyes on these boys make me swoon.

"I don't know," he admits, suddenly getting shy on me. He turns his face away as though he feels embarrassed to be having this conversation.

"I guess I'm self-conscious," he continues after thinking for a moment. "It's bad enough back home and at school when I look around and see so many guys with bodies like Greek gods, but here it's basically everyone. Every single person is beautiful and fit. I mean, look at me," he scoffs, his face blushing bright red.

He's still not looking at me, but when he blushes like that you don't have to see his face to know it. Even his neck and ears turn red.

"Matt, don't do that. Don't hate on yourself and make impossible comparisons like that. I don't have a problem with you wanting to get in shape and be healthier, but I do have a problem with you pushing yourself because you think there's something wrong with you. You're special, and you're perfect. I think you're gorgeous. You don't know how hard I have to fight to keep from jumping your bones every second of every day. And Mari? Well, let's just say if she had her way, you'd never wear clothes again."

He laughs, covering his face with his hands and turning even redder, if that's possible. I prop myself up on an elbow and lean over him to pry his hands away from his face and make him look at me. Once he finally does, my heart skips at the vulnerable look he gives me. I place a soft kiss on his lips and then pull away to admire him some more.

"Speaking of Mari, do you think you're ready to meet her?" I ask uncertainly, not wanting to upset the peace he seems to have found since the rocky start we had his first day here.

He smiles and half sits up, seeming excited. "Yeah, absolutely. Can I watch you change or whatever it's called?"

"It's called shifting, and yes. Only if you're sure. It might be unsettling to see because, I mean, my whole body breaks apart and puts itself back together again, except bigger and with lots of fur. Sure you're up to it?"

"I'm sure," he insists. "Although maybe we could call Tyler back over here. I think I'd feel better about it if he's with me. He's seen it before, right?"