The Mating Rules

Raelyn’s POVNôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

It seems word reaches Mrs Wentlock before I even make it down the stairs as she gives me a stern, disapproving look but steps aside when I head into the laundry room, roll up the towels and head back toward the main door to deliver them to the gym.

Walking through the foyer, the only people giving me weird looks are my own pack, the few visiting wolves don’t even look up as I bustle past, keeping my head down.

I admit that despite my bravado to the Alpha, I had been a little worried that the visiting pack would realise what I am and turn on me, but I might as well be wallpaper for the attention they give me.

I turn down the corridor that leads to the gym and push the door open, stepping inside before I stumble to a stop as I hear grunts from on front of me. My gaze moving toward the far wall, I’m faced with the profile of Beta Isaac who is leaning forward on the bench he’s sitting on, his muscles bulging as he lifts the weight over and over, and dear Goddess, he’s shirtless, again.

My eyes roam over his body, drinking him in until a whimper slips past my lips unintentionally.

Isaac jumps, yelping loudly as the weight slides from his grip and I watch in slow motion as it falls toward the floor and lands right on top of his foot.

He roars loudly, grabbing his foot as I throw the towels onto the shelf and hurry over to him, horrified.

As I reach him, and start to fuss over him, trying to get his sneaker off as gently as possible so I can see the extent of the damage, he tries to wave off the injury. The grimace that flickers across his face when he tries to stand is enough to tell me he’s lying. Damn werewolves and their pride about not showing weakness!

‘No you are not’ I growl back, and I push against his chest to force him to sit back down. The firm planes of his abs don’t give at all from the pressure of my palm and my mind feels cloudy as I run my fingertips along the ridges, in awe of how chiselled his torso is.

‘Raelyn?’ The slightly wary sounding voice calling my name drags me out of the haze I’m in and my eyes widen as I realise I’ve not only got my hands on the visiting Beta, but I’m literally running my fingers all over his naked chest.

‘Uhh, yeah, um, right, Doctor!’ I stammer out, dropping my hands to my side and backing away from the man, trying to hide my mortification.

As he pushes himself up to stand again, he wobbles dangerously, and I step into him, grabbing around his waist instinctively to steady him before he falls and hurts himself further.

Of course, his Beta ego comes out to play, and he tries to point out how weak I am. I snort at his words in my head, I walk miles carrying all my cleaning products in a bucket, I move all the heavy furniture in rooms on my own and he thinks I can’t support him to the clinic?

I try to bite back my temper and merely point out that I am more than capable, but I can’t help but ask if he’s actually calling me weak. He must realise he’s pissing me off because he finally decides to keep quiet and let me help him.

We stumble out of the gym and down the corridor where I hesitate, there is a secret door to our right that will take us directly to the clinic which will save us going all the way through the pack house to get to the entrance.

Biting my l*p nervously, I finally make a decision when Isaac tries to place his foot on the ground again before whipping it up with a g***n.

Reaching around the side of a floor to ceiling painting, I press the button that causes the frame to slide silently to the left and pull the astonished beta into the hole with me as the painting slides back into place behind us.

‘Secret passageways?’ he murmurs and I can feel him turning his head in the small space, taking in the tiny space as we limp our way to the other end.

Reaching a heavy oak door, I easily push it open slightly, peeking through the gap before swinging the door wide and hauling the man out with me into the well lit side corridor of the clinic.

Looking over his shoulder, Isaac mutters, ‘bookcase’ with a shake of his head. Ignoring him, I half drag, half support him down the corridor to one of the examination rooms and shove him inside.

‘Sit’ I order before sticking my head back out of the door and flagging down a nurse who gives me a shocked look to see me out in the open before quickly hurrying away when I tell her that the visiting Beta has been injured.

I turn back to Isaac, suddenly nervous, and fidget slightly under his scrutinising gaze as he studies me.

‘Well’ I murmur, ‘this is the clinic, the doctor will be in pretty soon to check you over.’ I jerk a thumb over my shoulder, ‘I guess I’ll be going now’ I add, fumbling for the doorknob behind me with my other hand.

‘Aren’t you going to stay with me?’ Isaac asks quietly, tilting his head slightly as he smiles over at me from his perch on the examination table.

‘Uhhh’ I reply with all the eloquence of my cool a*s self.

Isaac’s smile widens as he pats the bed beside him, ‘you did injure me’ he points out. ‘I think Alpha Grant would be unhappy if the she wolf who caused me to possibly have to miss tonight’s pack run by ogling me, just up and left me to fend for myself in a strange doctor’s clinic.

My mouth falls open at his words, the Beta’s grin goading my temper even more.

‘I was NOT ogling!’ I huff out, crossing my arms over my chest.

Isaac raises an eyebrow at me, ‘really?’ he asks smoothly, ‘so what was that noise you made that scared the crap out of me?’

I turn my nose up, growling under my breath, ‘disgust?’ I offer, ‘horror? Disappointment maybe’ I add with a wicked smirk, ‘take your pick.’

Instead of getting angry with me, the Beta throws back his head and laughs, and Goddess, if it isn’t the most amazing noise I’ve ever heard. I swear, my lady bits just clenched as I watch his brown eyes crinkle up with amusement.

‘Well’ he replies, wiping his eyes, ‘I’ve certainly never had that affect on a woman before.’

I shrug, ‘there’s a first time for everything’ I retort.

‘Well at least you don’t disagree that you were the cause of my injury’ Isaac muses.

‘What?’ I snap, my eyes widening as I take a step toward the infuriating man just as the door swings open and slams me firmly on the a*s, sending me toppling forward with a scream of surprise.

Two arms wrap around me and I’m hauled into a strong chest as our doctor, Amelia Reinman gasps, hurrying forward with words of apology.

As I turn my face toward her, she skids to a halt, her mouth falling open as she grabs at her chest, ‘Rae?’ she hisses, ‘what are you doing here?’

Her gaze moves to the Beta as does mine and I suddenly realise that I’m held tightly in his arms, my head resting on his naked chest.

I pull back, stumbling over my own feet as I open and close my mouth, how do I keep getting into these situations with this man?

‘I . . I . .’ I start, not even sure what I’m going to say.

Isaac cuts in smoothly, drawing the doctor’s attention, ‘I dropped a weight on my foot’ he sighs, waving his hand toward the foot that is still bare from my own inspection. ‘Rae helped me to get here as I was struggling to walk.’

The warmth of my shortened name coming out of the man’s mouth should not affect me as much as it does but I can’t help my like the way he says it, like a caress.

‘Rae?’ doctor Reinman demands again, slightly sharper.

‘Yes, umm, I was placing towels in the gym and Beta Isaac was there, he dropped one of the weights. He couldn’t support his own weight so I helped to get him here’ I agree quickly.

The doctor frowns, ‘and does the Alpha know about this?’ she asks sternly. I know what she’s asking, does the Alpha know that I’m wandering around the pack house where outsiders can and have seen me.

‘No’ Isaac replies for me, ‘and he doesn’t need to, it wasn’t Rae’s fault, I was clumsy and lost my grip on the weight. I don’t want Rae to get into trouble just because my hands were a bit slippery.’

The doctor gives him a curt nod before flicking her gaze back to me with judgement. I give her a tiny nod, trying to convey that Alpha Grant gave me permission to be out in the main areas and just hope she understands.

I just hope that she doesn’t go back to the Alpha and say I injured the visiting Beta or I’ll find myself right back in hiding again!

‘OK’ Doctor Reinman sighs, pulling on some gloves, ‘let’s have a look at this foot.’ She grabs a stool and takes a seat, picking up Beta Isaac’s now black foot, grimacing as she raises an eyebrow at the man who just shrugs sheepishly.

‘It was heavy’ he offers and I snort with laughter, trying to turn it into a loud cough as both people in the room with me turn to face me, one with annoyance, the other amusement.