The Mating Rules

Raelyn’s POV

‘Isa . . I mean, Beta’ I correct myself quickly, flicking my gaze nervously toward our head omega who is now wringing her hands together fretfully as her gaze darts between me and Isaac.

I am in soooo much trouble, I quickly push the broom back into Robert’s hands and back up into the kitchen. ‘Uhh, I’m sorry, I need to run, I have work to do’ I stammer before literally turning tail and haring my way across the kitchen and through the door that leads up to my bedroom.

When I reach the attic, I slam the door shut, flipping the lock for good measure before sinking down onto the floor, my head in my hands as I grip at the strands of my hair.

‘No no no no no’ I mumble, ‘why was he there? The dining room is always empty by then, the door should have been locked already!’

It took even less time than I expected for the pounding to start on my door, ‘Raelyn! Open this door right now!’ Jasper’s voice roars through the wood just before Verena’s soothing voice follows.

‘Jas, calm down, it’s OK’ she murmurs but I still catch her words and can see in my mind, her touching his arm to help his agitated wolf.

‘Vee, she got seen! By the Beta of all people!’ Jasper replies anxiously/

‘And she’s fine,’ Verena returns gently, ‘Mrs Wentlock said that she ran from the room as soon as she saw Isaac, I doubt he even had a chance to scent her before she bolted. She did exactly what she was supposed to do, it will be OK.’

I reluctantly stand up and pull back the lock, stepping back as Jasper practically barrels into my room and hauls me into a tight hug. I glance at his mate over his shoulder as she follows him inside, rolling her eyes at me as I force myself not to giggle.

‘Are you OK? Did anything happen? What did he say?’ Jasper rants as he places me back on my feet and starts to inspect me, pulling up the sleeves of my sweater and then going for the hem as I swat his hands away.

‘What are you doing?’ I growl at him, ‘I was around the man for thirty seconds and Mrs Wentlock, Robert and Violet were all there with me! Do you really think he had time to assault me somehow?’

I shove the Alpha’s hands away again as he tries to turn me around to look at my back, but he doesn’t relent until Verena finally steps in and draws him back to her.

‘Raelyn is fine’ she repeats, ‘I keep telling you and your father that she’s a lot more capable than you give her credit for. I find all this hiding her away ridiculous’ she adds with a huff and I throw her a grateful smile as I am also fed up with scurrying around the packhouse like some sordid secret.

‘Babe’ Jasper pleads, turning toward his mate, ‘she’s not like the rest of us . . ‘

Spotting me crossing my arms over my chest as I glare at him, he quickly back tracks. ‘I mean, of course you are like us, you are a werewolf’ he corrects, ‘it’s just, you aren’t as strong . .’

His face pales as anger starts to bubble up inside of me and he tries again, ‘what I meant to say is that with your . . condition . . . we have to be careful. What if something happens to you and I’m not there to protect you? Without a wolf . . ‘

My scowl deepens as I growl angrily, ‘I am not a human Jas’ I snap, ‘I do train, I can take care of myself just as well as any omega in this pack. Do you make them skulk around the packhouse walls like a rat? Are they kept away from our Allies in fear that they might be hurt?’

‘But Omegas have their wolf’ the young Alpha argues back before snapping his mouth shut again.

I must look ready to launch at him, because he turns to his mate in hope she will save him, but she merely holds up her hands and takes a step away from him.

‘Oh no’ she growls, ‘you dug this hole all on your own, you can dig your way out of it. I’m with Raelyn, it’s time we stopped hiding her.’

‘But! . ‘ Jasper argues worriedly, his gaze flicking from me to his mate uncertainly.

‘I am thirty years old Jules’ I grumble, ‘I am not a pup anymore, I can handle myself. I can do my work around the pack house without getting into any trouble. It’s wrong that you and Alpha keep treating me like a weak child all the time. I trust Alpha’s judgement, if these people are trusted enough to enter our territory then I believe that they wouldn’t hurt me. I also know that if they tried, you and Alpha would rip their heads from their bodies before they could reach the front door’ I add with a smile, walking over and nudging Jasper shoulder with my fist.

The Alpha sighs deeply, ‘dad is not going to like this’ he grumbles.

‘I know’ I reply, ‘but I have an ace up my sleeve’ I add as I walk toward my door and link my arm through Verena’s. ‘I have his favourite daughter in law on my side and she’s carrying his first grandchild so there is no way that Alpha is going to risk upsetting her.’

Laughing, Verena nods and walks out with me, heading down the stairs so we can make our way to the Alpha’s office.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

As we step out of one of the hidden doorways, I ignore the stares of horror from my pack mates as we pass. A couple step forward to intercept me, but Verena merely waves them away, making it clear that we are not to be stopped.

When we reach Alpha Grant’s office, Verena knocks softly, waiting only a second before our Alpha’s gruff voice calls out for us to enter.

Pushing open the door, Verena steps in first, Alpha Grant’s face softening when his gaze falls on his bronze skinned daughter in law.

‘Vee, sweetheart, what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from you/ Is my son being a pain again? Send him to me and I will sort him out’ he growls warmly.’

His smile falls as I step out from behind her and he quickly climbs to his feet, moving around me to shut the door just as Jasper appears in the doorway.

His smile falls as I step out from behind her and he quickly climbs to his feet, moving around me to shut the door just as Jasper appears in the doorway.

Jasper opens the door again, grumbling loudly before shutting it behind him, ‘seriously? I was right there’ he huffs, throwing himself into one of the chairs facing Alpha Grant’s desk and pulling his mate into his lap as she giggles.

‘What are you thinking Jas! If Rae needed to see me, you should have linked me and I would have come up to her room! What if someone had seen her?’

Jasper throws his hands up, ‘don’t look at me Dad, I had no choice in this, I was outvoted’ he replies.

‘Outvoted? You are the future Alpha, no one outvotes you’ Alpha Grant scowls as I frown in annoyance.

The pair of them are talking about me like I’m not here or even worse, not able to really understand what they are saying and I’m getting fed up with it.

‘Hello? I’m right here!’ I call out angrily, waving a hand down my body just to make the point that I’m standing in the room.

Alpha Grant, turns toward me, his expression softening again, ‘of course you are Rae Rae’ he murmurs, moving over to me and pulling me into a hug. ‘I’m just annoyed with Jasper for bringing you here while we have visitors, it’s dangerous, he should know better.’

‘Dad! I said it wasn’t me! I told them not to walk through the pack’ Jasper growls back immediately, his words stilling Alpha Grant’s hand that is smoothing my hair in a fatherly manner as he holds me to his chest.

‘What?’ he rumbles, the word vibrating through him as he steps back to look at each of us in turn. ‘What do you mean Raelyn walked through the pack?’ His gaze flicks angrily between us and we all cringe under the strength of his building rage. Finally it settles back on me and I give him a small smile as he grips my arms and holds me in place.

‘Rae’ he growls, ‘please tell me that Jasper is being dramatic, please, on the Goddess, swear that you did not put yourself in danger like that and walk through the pack house when we have other wolves here?’

I grimace as I meet his gaze and bite down on my l*p before shaking my head, ‘I can’t’ I whisper, ‘because I did.’

Alpha Grant’s eyes widen as he pulls me toward the sofa, pushing me into the seat and sinking down on to the coffee table in front of me.

‘Why Rae’ he finally croaks out, ‘why would you do that, you know it’s not safe . . ‘

I shake my head again, more firmly as I straighten my shoulders, ‘no’ I cut him off, ‘I’m fed up Alpha, I’m not a dirty secret and I don’t want to be treated like one anymore!’