Billionaire Alpha's Human Mate

One of Us

Tristan

I quietly followed Avery out of her room. She glanced back at me, and I smiled. “Have you met everyone?” she asked when we reached the living room.

“No, I only spoke to your uncle,” I reply.

“Everyone, this is Tristan Emerson,” Avery says.

“We know,” a young girl says.

“What is he doing here?” another girl who looks identical says.

“Those are my sisters Amanda and Kaitlyn,” she said, pointing to the girls. “Amanda has shorter hair,” Avery gestures to the one on the left.

“I’m also taller,” Amanda says.

“But I’m older,” Kaitlyn mentions.

Amanda elbows her, “By like two minutes.”

Kaitlyn elbows her back.

“Girls,” a woman I assume to be their mother, barks at them. She then looks at me with an intense stare. Something about her eye makes Dragos stir.

“That is my mother, Sally,” Avery says.

I smile at Sally, “Pleasure.”

Sally stares intensely at me, “Hmm,” she says and leaves the room.

“You met my Uncle Roger,” Avery continues. “Next to him is his wife, my Aunt Leanne.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tristan,” Leanne says, holding out her hand. “What are you doing here?”

“Leanne,” her husband chastises her.

“What?” Leanne shrugs.

Avery doesn’t say anything and moves to the next person. “That is my brother, Jayden, and my cousin, Logan,” she points out.

“Are you like loaded?” Jayden asks as he stands up.

Avery gives him a look while I laugh. “You could say that,” I laugh.

“Are you like dating my sister?” Jayden asks.

“Yes,” I wink at Avery.

“Why?” Jayden asks.

“Jayden,” Avery yells at him.

“Seems like a good idea,” I shrug.

“No, really, why?” Kaitlyn joins in.

Avery sighs.

Feeling put on the spot, I chuckle again, “She is beautiful and smart. It’s like we were meant for each other.”

“How long have you known each other?” her cousin chimes in.

“Wow, so many questions,” Avery whistles.

“Well, Avery, you can’t expect not to have questions,” her aunt says.

“Avery, can you come in here,” Sally calls her.

“Excuse me,” Avery smiles nervously at me.

I watched Avery walk out of the room. Dragos whimpers in my head.

“Why don’t you sit down, Tristan?” Leanne says to me.

I smile and sit on the couch beside her.

“Do you want something to drink?” She asks.

“Sure,” I reply.

Leanne stands up, “What can I get you? There is soda and beer.”

“Beer is fine,” I tell her.

“So, how rich are you?” Jayden blurts out.

“Jayden!” One of the twins screeches.

I smile. “I could buy this whole neighborhood and still have money left over for a jet and a large yacht.”

“Could you buy me a yacht?” Jayden asks.

“I want a Ferrari,” Amanda says.

“Well, then I want one,” Kaitlyn nudges her.

While the kids are talking, I can hear Avery arguing in the kitchen, arguing with her mother. “I know what he is,” Sally says in a forced whisper.

“He is just a man, Mom,” Avery says.

“Avery, he is no man!” Sally scream whispers.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” Avery says.

I turn my attention back to the kids. “Would you kids like to see the limo?”

“I would,” Jayden says while the twin nods.

‘Todd, I’m sending my mate’s siblings out to see the limo. Keep an eye on them,’ I mind link my driver.

‘Yeah, Alpha,” Todd replies.

“Go on out,” I say as Avery sits beside me in a huff. “What’s wrong? “

Avery shakes her head as Sally and Leanne walk out of the kitchen. Sally hands me a bottle of beer.

“That was my husband’s favorite,” Sally mentions.

I sip the bitter liquid and try not to make a face, “It's good.”

“Hmm,” Sally snorts. “The pizza should be here soon,” she says.

I nod, and we sit in silence for a moment. I sip the beer while everyone stares.

“So, Tristan says he can help us pay off Trenton’s debt,” Roger breaks the silence.

Sally glares at Roger, “We don’t need help, Roger.”

“Sally,” Roger argues. “You are about to lose – “

“We don’t need help, Roger,” she yells. Her intense eyes glare at me. “We aren’t a charity case,” she yells and stomps out of the living room.

“Like mother, like daughter,” I mumble.

“What?” Avery looks at me.

“You had the same reaction,” I respond.

“My mom is an independent woman, especially since Dad died,” Avery said. "She is used to having to work for everything.

“I can understand that,” I say.

“You can?” Leanne snorts. “I would have thought everything was handed to you.”

“Leanne,” Roger nudges her.

I clear my throat, “I had to work hard to learn how to take over my father’s pack- I mean company,” I explain. I remember training night and day starting when I was thirteen. I hardly slept during that time due to my father and grandfather’s strict training regime.

“I guess learning to run a big company isn’t easy,” Roger joins in.

Everyone quiets down again. I finished the beer. “Where do I put this?” I ask, holding up the bottle.

“I’ll take it,” Avery takes it to the kitchen.

I get up to follow her.

She tosses the bottle in a garbage can. A hand run through her hair, “I am so sorry about my family.”

I start laughing, “Why?”

She stares at me and throws up her hands.

I laugh harder. “Avery, I think they are wonderful.”

“What?” She looks at me with an exasperated look. “How could you- “

I interrupted her by kissing her. “They just are,” I whisper as I kiss her more.

“People eat in here,” Sally interrupts us. She grabs a bottle of wine.

I back away from Avery. “Sally, I don’t see you as a charity case. I just want to help. I would feel terrible if you lost your house.”

“It’s not your problem,” Sally says while struggling to open the wine. She grunts a few times until I take the bottle from her hand.

I easily opened the bottle and handed it back to her. “Who do you owe money to?”

Sally shrugs, “Don’t worry about it.”

“Some guy named Erasmus,” Avery blurts out.

“Really?” I say while refraining from growling viciously. Dragos roar in my head, but I must maintain my composure.

“Avery,” She glared at her daughter.

“I insist on helping you,” I say. “Victor Erasmus is a bad guy.”

Avery looks at me weirdly, “Victor?”

I ignored her for a second and looked at Sally. “I’ll pay off, Victor, and you can pay me. But I will not take your house.”

Sally pours herself a glass of wine, “Why?” Her intense eyes stare me down.

“You are one of us, aren’t you?” I say.

She says nothing and looks at the ground, “I am the wolfless daughter of a rogue beta.”

“Mom?” Avery gasped.

“He and my mother abandoned me,” Sally mentions. "My mother’s cousin raised me.”

“Grandma?” Avery looks at her.

“She isn’t really your grandmother, and Carol isn’t my sister,” She confesses. “So, why are you really doing this?”

I look at Avery and take her hand, “Avery is my mate.”

Sally curses under her breath.

“Victor Erasmus is a vampire,” I mention.

“I know,” Sally whispers.

“Victor,” Avery says. I can sense her figuring it out. “The vampire who bit me?”

Sally gasps, “Is that what happened to you?”

Avery hangs her head.

“I saved her,” I grin proudly.

“Did you get the venom out?” Sally wonders.

“An old friend of mine helped,” I mention.

Sally is about to say something when one of the twins pokes her head in, “The pizza is here.”

“We’ll be right there,” Sally mentions. She looks at me, “Pay off the vampire. We will work something out.” She states and walks out of the kitchen.