Her Impossible Mate

14- i***t

...Zander...

Lena had warned me; Be patient with Raine. She's delicate. She's vulnerable.

She was wrong. This is nothing delicate about Raine. She's strong. Powerful. She's a fighter. And f*ck that made me want her even more.

The taste of her sweet lips did nothing to quell the desire I felt for her; it only inflamed it. Raine tasted better than I could ever imagine. Like the most delicious dessert, but I could never get enough. And that was just her lips. I wanted to explore every inch of her, taste it all. Most importantly, I cannot wait to devour that sweet honey pot between her legs.

I had to leave before I rushed on and scared her away. She was so responsive to me I thought I wouldn't be able to stop. The scent of her arousal drove my inner beast insane. There were no thoughts, only the primal urge to claim her as mine.

I don't think anyone has ever driven my beast crazed with desire. Rage, yes. But never a lust like this.

A battle of wills raged inside me as I marched swiftly from her building. The beast within desperate to break loose and pounce on his prey. I fought hard to remain in control, straining my muscles and shaking my head to rid me of the chaos inside.

Keeping my cool around her would be near impossible. She was my drug, and I was addicted. I can't help but feel I pushed her into the kiss. My incessant need for her causing me to back her into a corner. Some space might be the best thing for us- for me. I had to rein in my inner animal and think rationally, with my head, not my d**k.

Despite Raine's responsiveness, it would be wrong to push her again. Having the answers for her reservations of the bond and pack life make sense. I will respect her boundaries, even if my beast does not share the same sentiment.

And I have the perfect distraction. Revenge.

Raine didn't disclose the full extent of her abuse, but I saw it in her eyes. She also didn't tell me the name of her pack and where they reside. That won't stop me. Before I even made it back to my apartment, I had my best men on it.

However, the days have ticked by with no news of Raine's pack links. I didn't have much information to go off. The simple answer would be to ask her, but I have avoided her all week.

It's now Friday, and I had hoped to have answers before the weekend. The weekend would leave me too much time on my hands, and the temptation to go over to Raine's apartment and bend her over the kitchen counter might just be too strong. I'd hoped to spend the weekend tearing her old pack apart, revelling in their helpless screams as they beg for the mercy they never offered Raine. Still, I have the rest of the day to receive the answers I need.

The other option is to involve Lena.

I rub my palm over the stubble on my chin, deep in thought. F*ck it. It couldn't hurt. I pick up the receiver and dial Lena's direct line, skipping out on the temptation of Raine's melodic voice. In a few rings, she answers with a calm 'Hello'.

"Has Raine said anything about her pack?" I skip the niceties, no desire to delay this with useless chit chat.

"Uh uh. No. You're messing with this poor girl. Stop it." Her voice is surprising firm, not that of the younger sibling. I sigh heavily in frustration.

"I am not messing with her, Lena. I'm trying to help." Lena pauses on the other end of the line. I raise my eyes to the ceiling and try to stop my frustrations bubbling over at her.

"Then why has she been all mopey these last few days? And why have you not been here to see her?" My heart sinks to hear that Raine has been sad. I've already ruined it by pushing too far too fast. I thought space would help her process our kiss. Although, if this isn't what she wants, why is she still here? Unless the reason for her sulk was the fact that I gave her space? F*ck, women are complicated.

"Hellooo?" Lena's voice snaps me from my thoughts. I clear my throat and sit up to reengage in the conversation.

"Why is she sad?" This sounds so high school. Lena is taking on the role of the mutual friend who runs between us, passing messages. She groans in annoyance at my question.

"You're an i***t, Zan. Do you think she's here because she loves spreadsheets?" Lena's tone is exasperated. "You brought her here, you wanted this, and now you've ghosted!"

"I thought she would want space after..." I trail off, having kept the kiss to myself.

"Alexander James Heroux. If you have humped and dumped this sweet angel, so help me Moon Goddess, I will castrate you myself." Her voice booms down the phone, so much so I have to pull the receiver away from my ear.

"Of course I didn't. It was a kiss. I thought I rushed in, and I didn't want her to panic. I gave her space. Ok?" I feel like I'm speaking to Ma. Lena definitely has a good impression of her with that tone.

"You dumbass. How can you be such a ladies man but so sh*t with women." I grumble to myself, her chastising tone annoying me slightly. "The girl's head pops up to the elevator every time it opens, clearly waiting for you. She eats lunch at her desk because you've brought her into a wolf den and abandoned her. You know that the pack hate new blood, and I can't do a damn thing about it because you haven't said if you want people to know about her or not. It's honestly a miracle she turned up today. You better fix this." I hold my breath through her rant and blow it out in defeat once she stops. I had no idea. I've never done this before. I want more than my typical hook up with Raine. And if that's going to happen, I'm going to have to up my game.

"I'll fix it." My voice is strong, as is my determination to win over Raine.

"Good." Lena matches my tone, clearly still pissed off that I'm such an i***t. "Oh, and Raine said her pack is some backwater, off-grid pack of mongrels. If that helps?" The information catches me off guard, my face twisting in confusion.

"She's not from a pureblood family?" I hear how ridiculous it sounds as I say it. She can't be my mate if she's not a pureblood wolf. There hasn't been a recorded case of mates outside the pure lines in centuries. But this pull to her is unmistakable.

"That's what she said. Weird, right?" Weird is one word for it. Impossible is another.

This information narrows my search slightly; an off-grid pack with no pure ties, an Alpha named Jared, and it's close enough for Raine to escape on foot. Surely that will help the search slightly.

"Thanks." I hang up abruptly, her words of objection coming through as I slam the phone down.

I lean back into my chair and stare straight ahead, contemplating what Lena had said. So much to take in from such a short conversation. I drum my fingers rhythmically on my desk, mulling over how to move forward. So far, the pack have seen minimal contact between Raine and I. Enough to throw around rumours but not enough for confirmation of something significant. They need to know she is important to me without rushing to announce anything too serious and binding, like the mate bond.

I slam my palm on the desk and stand sharply. My plan forms in my head as I march towards the door. Passing Elijah, he only raises his head then his eyebrows, knowing I have no reason to be heading out at this moment. I continue my purposeful stride towards the elevator. People peek up from their desks while some have to move quickly out of my way on my purposeful stomp.

Alone in the elevator, I take calming breaths as I feel the bond heightening on my approach to Raine. The doors ping open, and heads turn in intrigue as I exit.

I walk through the calm environment of Lena's floor. She has the opposite effect on people to me. The environment down here is easy going and relaxed.

I see Raine sitting meekly at her desk. Her demeanour is sad, just as Lena had said. Guilt swells in my chest at the thought that it's my fault. Whether it was the fact that the kiss happened in the first place or that I had ignored her since, I did this to her.

I reach her desk, and her head twists to me in surprise. There is a hint of a smile before she switches quickly to a deep and scathing frown.

"Come with me." I say it calmly but with no room for debate. Her eyebrow raising in annoyance tells me this is the wrong approach. "Please?" I try to sound in control, but it sounds like I'm begging. Hell, I'd beg for her any day. She watches me intently, pulling her delicious bottom lip into her mouth in thought. I don't think she knows how even something as small as sucking her lip sets a fire inside me. I draw in a ragged breath fighting back the beast who wants to pounce.

Finally, she sighs heavily and stands. We walk side by side to the elevator under the wondering gazes of those who should be busy at work. As we enter the confined space in silence, the tension in the air is thick. This is where the plan kicks in.

Just after pressing the button for my floor, as the doors start to close, but still enough for people to see, I place my hands on either side of her face and pull her into me. Our lips collide again, just as perfectly as I remember. This kiss is slow to build but has all the intensity of the last. I feel the rumble of a moan vibrate against my lips, and I have to fight back a smile. She wants this. She's missed this.

My tongue swipes for permission to enter her mouth, and she obliges instantly. Again we swirl together in the perfect battle for dominance. The deepening of the kiss makes my heart thump ferociously and causes blood flow to travel south. Her hands grab at the lapels of my suit jacket, pulling our bodies together so that she feels her effect in my pants. She melts into me further, a groan of approval at the pressure of my pleasure pushing into her hip.

The ping of the elevator signals our arrival on my floor, though I refuse to slow or let go until I know the doors are opening. People needed to see.

There are some barely audible gasps coming from the work floor. The hive of activity has almost stopped as Raine and I finally break apart.

Raine looks up at me, her hands still clutching at my suit. Her lips are swollen with the passion of our heated tangle and pulled into a sly smirk. That is until she realises most of the eyes of the office are on us. Her mouth drops slightly as a heavy blush creeps up from her neck. I pull her hand into mine and walk through the crowds of staring people. She trots at my side and keeps her head down. I give her hand a squeeze, and she twists up to look at me in confusion. I offer a wink, and she breaks a small smile.

Eyes follow us until we disappear behind my office doors. Now they know Raine is important. I might be a ladies man, but I keep business and pleasure separate. Even with Eva, and the secretaries, I kept it behind closed doors. Kissing Raine out in the open sent a signal that she was different. She is special.

Once tucked safely behind closed doors, Raines soft and shy exterior fades.

"You jerk!" She shoves at my shoulder. More forcefully than I expected of her. Though it only evokes a chuckle from me. She strikes again, a few pushes and light punches landing on my shoulder.

"You can't kiss me like that like it's nothing! Everyone saw us!" I catch the next hit before it lands and push her back into the door. She lands with a soft thud and a glare of annoyance.

"Exactly." My voice has turned hungry with the aftermath of another delectable kiss. Her frown deepens, and her lips purse. F*ck, those plush lips would look perfect wrapped around my-

"What game are you playing here, Zander." Her face relaxes from irritation to sadness, her eyes searching mine for answers.

I hang my head, almost resting it on hers.

"I thought I scared you. I thought-" I glace up to see her doe eyes fixed on me. "I thought I forced you to take a step you didn't want." We sigh together. Her hand reaches up to caress the side of my face and return my gaze to hers. Though it's a small gesture, the touch feels intimate. On a level of intimacy I'd never allowed with others.

"You're an idiot." Her words don't match her soft touch, and her face is tipped in an accusatory way. My brow quirks in surprise. "If you think how I responded to you was that of someone who was forced, you are dumber than you look. And, I would have you on your ass if you ever pushed your luck with me." I burst out a laugh at her comment, and she pushes me backwards, putting space between us.

"Hey! I could take you." Her arms fold tightly across her chest, her face showing her confidence. I chuckle again and nod sarcastically. The playfulness subsides, and her gaze falls.

"I uh-- I do think we should maybe get to know each other before we uh-- go any further?" I smile at her sudden awkwardness. Raine truly is an enigma. She is bold and confident but has an endearing shyness to her. The thought of knowing more of her made me feel all warm and fuzzy, a first for me.

"I think that's a good idea." We stand for a minute, just smiling at each other like lovestruck teens. I feel how she is changing my attitude towards relationships and love. While the bond might push us together, I think there is more to this connection. I find her absolutely captivating. Every moment we spend together only makes me crave ten more moments just like it. She is perfect for me in every way. I have never felt desire like it. The outward attraction and desire to claim her body is obvious. But under that, I just want to be around her. To learn every little detail of what makes her, her.

Raine breaks eye contact first and looks back to the office doors. She looks back at me with a grimace.

"I don't want to go out there just now." She chuckles.

"Yeah... I didn't really think about the aftermath of that." I rub at my neck awkwardly. I am an i***t sometimes. "But at least now they know how important you are to me. That might ease any tension." I shrug, and she beams back at me.

"You can hang out here for a bit." She nods enthusiastically at the suggestion. Just as I gesture to come and sit at my desk, an abrupt knock interrupts. I groan at the ill-timed disruption. I call out, figuring it's just Elijah needing a signature.

The door creaks open as Raine moves to my side to clear the entrance. It is Elijah, with an annoyed twist to his face. I see why as I notice the figure behind him.

Arthur Blackwood. Thankfully, there is no sign of the persistent Eva. I sense Raine shrink beside me as Arthur brushes past an apologetic Elijah.

Arthur strides boldly into my office without waiting for an invitation. My brows deepen in anger at the unnecessary interruption. It is clear that Arthur does not want to come to an agreement about the packs, so why waste time, especially my time with Raine.

"Alexander." He entends out his hand for mine. I reluctantly shake his hand, my grip a little firm. He smirks and transfers his gaze over to Raine.

His eyes roam shamelessly from her toes all the way to her eyes. Raine stands stronger, possibly feeling safe at my side. Arthurs wrinkled face breaks into a sickening grin.

"I almost didn't recognise you in clothes. Nyx, is it?"