The Mating Rules
Book 3 – Chapter 13

Isaac’s POV

I was in shock as I watched Raelyn run from me in the dining hall and rust stood there stupidly, staring at the space that she had occupied, blinking stupidly.

‘I am so sorry Beta’ the older Omega huffs, seeming to pull herself together now that Raelyn was gone. ‘Robert, sweep up the mess, Violet, if you are OK, go into the kitchen and get the Beta a cloth to wipe his clothes.’

Glancing down, I realise my jeans and shirt are splattered with stains from the broken plates, and I rub my hand down the front without much success as the older woman fusses over me.

‘It’s fine’ I say as she takes the cloth from the young girl and starts to try and wipe my clothes, ‘T’ll just go up and get changed, it’s not a problem.’

The Omega looks uncertain, glancing toward the kitchen then back at me, ‘ well if vou are sure.

” she starts.

I nod firmly, ‘honestly, don’t worry about it, no reason to get all crazy about an accident.?

The older woman releases a breath as she nods, OK, well, if you leave the clothes outside of your room, I’ll get them collected and washed for you’ she replies.

Giving me another apology, she bustles the young girl back into the kitchen, the teenage boy, finishing sweeping up the mess and disappearing after them.

I turn toward the main door, sliding out and heading back up to my room to change. Pulling off my shirt as I enter my room, I ball it up and drop it just outside the door before grabbing a new one from my closet and putting it on. I discard my jeans, instead opting for some workout shorts, I might as well put a little time into using the pack’s gym as I missed training.

Heading back out of my room, I place my stained jeans on top of the shirt before shutting the door tightly and heading back down to the main floor. I stop one of the Omega’s who is hurrying past, asking him if there is any reason I can’t use the gym.

The twenty something shakes his head, ‘No Beta’ he replies with a slight bow of his head, ‘Alpha said that you are welcome to use any facilities that you wish. If you would like to use the pool after your workout, I can get someone to turn on the heat as it can be a little cold sometimes.’

‘That would be great’ I agree, thanking him before heading to the back of the pack house where the gym is situated.

Pushing open the heavy door, I’m thankful to replace that the place is empty, meaning that I can work out at my own pace without having to cater to anyone else.

Grabbing one of the towels that is rolled up on a shelf to the right of the door, I head toward the running machine, pressing the buttons to start myself off at a decent paced walk. As my muscles warm up, I increase the speed and then the incline, pushing the machine to the max as my feet pound against the belt.

Sweat runs down my chest and I relish the burn as I eat up the miles,

Indigo urging me on in my mind.

‘Would be faster in the forest’ he huffs when I finally slow the machine, stepping off and wiping my face with the towel before heading toward one of the weight machines and taking a seat.

‘We’ll go out tonight’ I reply firmly, ‘there is usually a pack run two days before the claiming, we’ll go with them.’

My wolf grumbles sullenly but flops down in my head, as I push the little pin into the bottom weight and grab the bar above my head, pulling it down with ease toward my shoulders.

As I use the machine, my mind wanders back to the feiry red head and I g***n in agitation. Why did she run from me? Maybe she was still nervous after 1 grabbed her like I did. I mean, I apologised but maybe stre still feels like I’m a danger?

I work my way through each machine, trying to push my body to its limits, as my mind continues to try and work out why the woman had fled at the sight of me. It’s hard to do with these human made machines though, they don’t seem to lift a lot of weight.

Standing up from the bicep curler, I pull off my shirt that is soaked, using a corner to wipe my eyes as I head toward the free weights in the corner and pick up the heaviest one. Taking a seat on the edge of a bench, I rest my elbow on my knee and start to curl my arm slowly, lifting and lowering the weight with ease.

I’m completely engrossed in what I’m doing so the soft yet audible whimper from behind me causes me to yelp as I drop the weight directly on to mv foot.

“Son of a b***h!’ I roar, grabbing my sneaker covered foot as pain throbs through my toes.

‘Oh Goddess, I am so sorry!’ comes Raelyn’s voice and I turn to replace her standing by the door, a pile of freshly laundered towels in her arms. She’s staring at me and I realise that yet again, I’m half dressed in front of the

woman.

Throwing her armful onto the shelf, she hurries over to me, bending down beside me as she reaches for my laces and pulls gently.

‘I swear, I thought the place was empty’ she babbles, tugging at my sneaker to remove it and I just sit there staring at her, not quite believing that she’s in front of me again.,

“Oh Goddess, you need to see the doctor’ she’s muttering and I look down at my foot to see it’s already got a nasty purple bruise on it. I’m faintly surprised as the appearance of this woman had completely pushed the pain from my mind.

‘I’m fine’ I reply, going to stand up and grimacing as pain shoots through my foot.

‘No you are not’ she huffs, pushing me back down, and I try not to notice how my skin tingles from her hands against my sweat covered skin.

She doesn’t seems to realise that she’s touching my bare body as her eyes become hooded and her breathing hitches as she drops her gaze to my chest, studying each grove of my eight pack, her fingers tracing the lines lightly with her fingertips.

‘Raelyn?’ I call out uncertainly, drawing her out of whatever trance she was in.

‘Uhh, yeah, um, right, Doctor!’ she stammers, whipping her hands away from my skin as though I burned her and stumbles to her feet, backing up a few

paces.

I sigh, she’s not wrong, I probably need the Doc to have a look, and make sure my bones are aligned properly so that Indigo can heal me. Hopefully, it’s a clean break as my wolf will have it fixed within a few hours and we can still do our run later.

I push off the bench, keeping the injured foot off the ground, and wobble precariously, my arms windmilling as Raelyn rushes back to me and wraps her arms around my waist steadying me

‘Woah!’ she growls, ‘be careful, you’ll fall over and do even more damage.’

I grimace, nodding, ‘I don’t think I can walk there on my own’ I admit gruffly, hating to show weakness of an sort.

Raelyn rolls her eyes as she grabs my arm with her hand not holding me up and pulls it around her shoulder, supporting me as she starts to move toward the door.

“Come on’ she grits out when I don’t immediately move, ‘I’ll help you.?

I shake my head, trying to disentangle myself from her despite my body’s reluctance to move away from the woman

‘I’ll hurt you’ I reply stubbornly, and I really will, my weight alone would crush her if I fell on her.

Those mesmerising green eyes turn upward toward me and I see that same spark of defiance that intrigued me this morning.

‘Are you calling me weak? ‘she demands, ‘I’ll have you know that I carry huge stacks of plates every single meal time, and they don’t have the ability to take any of their weight. I am more than capable of helping you to the clinic, now move.

Deciding that arguing will not only be futile but could also end with me needing to sleep with one eye open if I’m reading the body language of this she wolf right, I sensibly decide to shut my mouth and start to hop slowly toward the door, trying not to lean too hard on my helper as she walks slowly beside me.