Second Chance Mates

-37- 🌹 Waiting For So Long

"I've been waiting for so long, now I've finally found someone to stand by me. We saw the writing on the wall, and we felt this magical fantasy."
~Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes, 'The Time of My Life'

~~~

*Ryland's POV*

Going over my checklist, I make sure I have everything packed for the week. Clothes, toiletries, condoms, show tunes playlist...

My eyes keep flickering to the third item on that list, but I clear my throat and force myself to stay focused. We'll get to plenty of that later; for now, I need to make sure I have everything I'll need for the week.

From what Landon told me, we have until the next full moon before my collar deactivates. I was pretty calm upon hearing that, thinking we had plenty of time until then.

It turns out the next full moon just so happens to be tomorrow night.

Since then, I've been wracked with nerves. We're going to mate. Landon and I are going to have sex. My skin feels hot just thinking about it, to the point where I'm having to fan myself to cool down. My pants tighten, causing me to mentally curse.

Not now, dick, for the love of—

"Hey, are you almost ready?" Landon appears in my doorway, bag slung over his shoulder. I cough into my elbow, trying to cover up my growing blush.

"Just about," I answer, double checking my list one more time.

"Are you alright?" Landon asks, suddenly at my side and pressing the back of his hand to my forehead. "You're looking pretty flushed."

"I-It's nothing," I stammer as I swat his hand away. He frowns, so I offer him a reassuring smile. "I feel fine. Promise."

Landon purses his lips as he studies me for a moment, eventually accepting my answer with a nod of his head. Once I make sure everything is set, I reach down to grab my bag, but Landon beats me to it.

"You don't have to do that," I protest as Landon walks out of my bedroom with both of our bags. "I'm capable of carrying my own stuff!"

"Come on, we have a long drive ahead of us!" Landon calls back as he heads down the stairs, completely ignoring my protests. Shaking my head, I follow him down to the living room.

"Remember to keep all the doors and windows locked," I remind Kai and Xander from where they sit on the couch, video game controllers already in hand. "Don't answer the door for anyone, except for Ronnie, Lyn, or any of Landon's siblings. Got it?"

"Yes, mom," Kai sasses, giving me a droll stare. "We'll be fine. You went over the rules with us a hundred times. We're not children."

I wrinkle my nose. While Kai is eighteen and Xander is seventeen, they still seem so young to me. Maybe having them stay here is a bad idea. I wonder if it's too late to have them stay with Landon's family...

"They'll be okay, honeybee," Landon insists, nudging my arm. "Ronnie is right down the street, and my siblings are only a phone call away. They're perfectly safe here."

Sighing, I look back at my little brother. I know he's a wolf and technically has strength, but he's still so small. As an Omega, he's naturally smaller, slower, and weaker than the others. It makes me nervous to leave him alone, even if Xander is staying with him. Xander's not an Omega, but the kid is still pretty tiny.

"Promise you'll let me know if anything happens," I say sternly. Kai rolls his eyes, and I reach over to ruffle his hair. "I know I can be overbearing, but since mom and dad are gone, I'm your guardian. I can't afford to lose you too."