The Mating Rules
Book 3 – Chapter 7

Raelyn’s POV

Instinctively grabbing her arm, I steady the girl who I realise is Henrietta. She’s only Sixteen and by the look on her face something is very wrong.

‘Hey, are you OK?’ I ask, holding her steady as she glances wildly at me, ‘I’m so sorry Raelyn’ she mutters distractedly, ‘I didn’t mean to bump you, did I hurt you?’

I stamp down on the pang of annoyance that flutters in my chest, it’s a standard question I get every time someone accidentally bumps me. I’m the fragile pack member, and though I know it’s not malicious, I wish that people would see me as more than just a human. I’m still a werewolf even if I don’t have an actual wolf! I’m faster than a human, I can smell things better than a human and though I heal slowly, it’s still faster than humans do. I’m not made of glass!

‘No no, you didn’t hurt me’ I say instead, smiling down at her warmly, ‘but you look like you need some help.’

Henrietta bites her l*p nervously before she reluctantly nods, ‘I was told by Alpha Jasper to cater to the visiting Beta whenever he requested assistance’ she whispers nervously, ‘but the Alpha has just mind linked me to order my presence in his office to provide help with arrangements for the claiming. The visiting Beta has also sent a request for some bath supplies as it seems whoever cleaned his room didn’t leave shampoo.’ She glances up at me and tears are filling her eyes, ‘I don’t know which order to follow first’ she whimpers. ‘I don’t want to get in trouble with Alpha or Alpha Jasper.’

I glance down at her hands and see a bottle of shampoo gripped tightly between her fingers. I can see the stress this is causing her, if she makes our Alpha wait, he will be angry and she may be given extra chores as punishment but if she doesn’t cater to the Beta as Jasper has instructed, it gives a bad impression of the future Alpha and his ability to lead us when he takes over.

Without thinking, I snatch the bottle from her hand, waving her past me ‘go’ I say firmly.

‘But . . ‘ Henrietta protests, trying to take the bottle back.

I shake my head, ‘I’ll take the shampoo’ I offer simply.

Henrietta’s eyes widen as she shakes her head emphatically, ‘What? Raelyn! No!’ she hisses, desperately trying to take the bottle back from me, ‘if you get seen . . ‘

I hold up a hand, stopping her, ‘I won’t get seen’ I reply. ‘There is a door right next to the Beta’s room from one of the stairwells, well as long as he’s in the room I think he would be put in?’ I raise an eyebrow at the young girl who nods reluctantly, saying I’m right. ‘So I can sneak from the door to the Beta’s room, pop the shampoo in the bathroom and get back. He will be down on the training field with everyone else anyway so it’s not like I’m going to run into him or anything.

Henrietta looks up at me conflicted before her eyes glaze and she jumps in fear. Her eyes clearing, she nods quickly, giving my hand a grateful squeeze before running as fast as she can up the stairs I just came down.

Continuing downward, I place my bucket back in the supply closet before moving to the other side of the pack house via the back passageways and climb bac up to the floor that the Beta has been placed for the duration of his stay.

Pushing open the door an inch, I peer out of the gap nervously, unlike the Alpha floor that is off limits to anyone who isn’t summoned or directly involved with the Alpha and his family, this is a main floor. Everyone is training, I know they are, it’s mandatory to attend, you literally have to be in the clinic to get a pass from turning up, but it doesn’t stop the anxiety I feel as I grip the edge of the door and push it open further so I can slip out.

The other side is an ornate bookshelf and no one would even realise it was a door unless they felt around the fourth shelf for the tiny latch that unhooks the lock.

Holding the bottle tightly, I inch down the carpeted hallway a few feet to the nearest door, hesitating outside for just a second before I lightly knock, readying myself to flee if anyone replies.

Silence greets me so, releasing a breath, I read for the door knob and open the door. Stepping inside, I replace it actually very neat. There are no dirty clothes on the floor, the bed is made and the few bottles of aftershave and deodorant are lined up by size on the small dresser.

Moving toward the bathroom door, I reach out just as it opens from the inside and the hulking form of the Beta fills the doorway.

With a growl of surprise, he reaches out for me, his fingers wrapping around my throat as I try to scream, my voice cut off by the pressure on my neck.

My eyes widen as he glares at me before slowly releasing me again and they only get bigger as they fall down his body which is very big, very muscly and very very naked!

The towel he was wearing around his waist is now pooled by his feet as the hand he was holding it closed with was the one that he wrapped around my throat.

Getting a strangled scream out this time, I slam my hands over my eyes, ‘Oh my Goddess!’ I yell in a hoarse voice.

‘What the hell!’ the Beta yells at the same time, stooping to pick up the towel and holding it protectively in front of his man parts. Dear Goddess, did I mention his manly parts? That is supposed to fit inside a woman?! How?

‘What the hell are you doing in my room? Where is the other girl?’ the Beta is demanding and my mortification slips away as my mind catches up with the situation.

Dropping my hands slowly, I glare right back at him, ‘what do you mean the other girl?’ I demand hotly, ‘are you talking about Henrietta? The SIXTEEN year old GIRL who was supposed to come here? What were you planning to do Mr Beta? Was that show for her?’

The Beta’s mouth falls open in surprise and I take my opportunity to carry on, my ire building like a volcano. ‘What was your end game here, were you going to force yourself upon her, was that what was happening when you put your hands on me? Then you realised I wasn’t a small girl who you could make do whatever you wanted? That young girl is a CHILD! Maybe the age of consent is lower where you are from or your pack turns a blind eye to this sort of thing, but I can tell you now that you will get no such liberties here my friend. How dare you even think to expose yourself to her! I have a good mind to tell the Alpha about your disgusting behaviour, your own Alpha needs to know what kind of person he is sending into our pack!’

I can see the colour building in the man’s face as he stares at me, but I’m too far gone to care. I know what it’s like to be the weakest member in a room, and the thought that this a*****e was going to use his strength and position against an omega child has every ounce of my own bitterness bubbling out of me.

‘Now wait just a minute’ he growls with authority.

‘No! You wait just a minute’ I cut him off, poking him in the chest for good measure. ‘You think you can just come into our pack and treat the weaker members like they are disposable assets? Henrietta may have been assigned to help you but that doesn’t mean that you get to use her as your own personal . . ‘ I grope around for the worst thing I can think of, ‘c*m bucket!’ I spit out in the end. ‘She’s a virgin for a start, she’s underage and she has a mate out there somewhere! Your whole thought process is vile and degrading and . . and . . you are a terrible person!’

I shove the shampoo against his chest, not waiting for him to grab it before I spin around on my heel and storm toward the door. The Beta is quicker than me, darting around me and slamming the door shut, trapping me in the room with him.

I stumble back a step, suddenly very aware of the situation I’ve just put myself in. Not only have I allowed a non pack member to see me, I have shouted at the highest ranked member of our visiting pack and physically assaulted him by poking him in the chest. The man who has his back pressed to the door as he looks down at me can literally drag me to my Alpha and demand I be punished for my insubordination.

I’m also acutely aware of just how big and strong this man is and that he was planning some not very nice things with a little girl who is actually stronger than me. I have no hope of getting away from him if he decides that I would make a decent replacement for Henrietta.

‘You have quite a mouth on you’ the Beta murmurs, his gaze running over my face, studying me.

I straighten my shoulders, refusing to cower to him. I have no wolf so I don’t feel the need to submit to the ranked wolves like others do even if I can feel their power radiating from them. It’s why I have no official rank in the pack, without a wolf, no one knows what I would be. I’m b***d tied to my Alpha here so his authority does make me obey him and the other ranked members, but outside wolves have no effect on me. This is another reason I’m kept hidden, wolves do not like to be challenged, and my lack of need to submit could be seen as an outright challenge of a ranked wolf’s position if he realises that I am not compelled to respect him like every other wolf.

‘I’m just protecting my pack members’ I retort with as much attitude as I can muster. He may have more strength than me, but I know this pack house like the back of my hand, and I’m already figuring out any way I can to get me out of this situation.

The Beta sighs deeply, adjusting the grip on the towel that is now wrapped around him again.

‘I’m Isaac’ he finally says, giving me a small smile.

I stare at him is shock, my mouth falling open, ‘uh . .huh . . w . .what?’ is all that I manage to respond with, is this guy insane?