Her Impossible Mate

11- Yes, Sir

...Raine...

My pen taps aggressively off the table as I swing it between my fingers. Lena had just dropped that information as if it was common practice and left for her meeting.

A mate and a girlfriend? I'd never heard of that before. My knowledge of the mate bond is the happily ever after fairytale of love and passion and little wolf pups dancing at your feet. Everything I've ever learned about the process told me it was an all or nothing situation. You fell face-first into destiny or ran for the hills.

Lena having a girlfriend is an intriguing development. I now have so many questions about the whole idea of mates. And many of those questions are entirely inappropriate to ask my new boss, who is also my mate's sister, and never mind the fact that we've just met.

The phone rings at an aggressive volume to break me out of my thoughts. I eye it up nervously. Deep breath...

"Hello, Miss Heroux's office. How can I help?" My heart pounds in my chest with nerves, though thankfully, my professional sounding 'phone voice' has made an unexpected appearance.

"Just checking in on you." Zander's smooth voice causes my chest to tighten. I fight the smile that tugs at my lips, refusing to acknowledge this relatively sweet gesture. I clear my throat and sit a little taller. I am here to play with him.

"Do you phone all your employees like this, Mr Heroux?" I make sure my voice has a seductive lilt to it. This game could get dangerous at any moment. It already feels too easy to lose myself to desire.

"Only the ones I can't get out of my head. So, I have to admit, this is a first for me." I blush and thank my lucky stars no one can see me. I should know better than to fall for his words. The articles I've read about his playboy antics tell me he knows how to woo a woman. It's sticking it out he struggles with. I lost count of the number of pictures plastered through tabloids featuring different women in suggestive poses. So, I'm the flavour of the month, it's not really a significant achievement.

"Did you need something, Sir?" I play it cool, deciding going hot and cold on him is the best way to wind him up. I could swear I heard a throaty rumble through the phone, although it could just be some interference on the line.

"I need to see you to finalise some details. Hours of work, salary and the likes. It would also be good to just know your last name." He's dropped his playful tone now, my hot and cold tactic giving him whiplash as desired. I forgot we really didn't know much about each other. It feels ridiculous that I am here in this position when he doesn't even know my full name.

"Come to my office at 5pm."

"Yes, Sir." That rumble comes through the phone receiver again. The first I could have mistaken, but the second is a distinct animalistic groan.

"See you then. And, Raine?" He pauses, waiting for my 'hmm' to confirm I am listening. "Don't call me Sir unless you really do want me to bend you over my desk." The line goes dead without time for me to respond. Probably for the best as my breath catches in my throat, causing me to make a strained squeak. Heat swells in my core, forcing me to squeeze my thighs shut and tense all of my muscles 'down there'. I close my eyes to pant out some of the pressure, then move to deeper calming breaths to come down from the intense feelings.

He's good. Clearly, he's well practised in these teasing exchanges. Unlucky for me. Or maybe not...

I flick through the pack Lena gave me to try and distract me from Zander. The phone rings occasionally and takes me away from my attempts to access the email address provided. So far, this isn't horrendous. I don't want to get too full of myself, but I think I'm doing alright. Though it's only been a few hours, so I might be getting ahead of myself.

Lena's office door creeps open, her hand slides around the door frame for stability as she pokes her head and shoulders out of her office.

"Raine, have you got a second?" I enjoy her calm voice and relaxed attitude. It's a breath of fresh air from the rollercoaster Zander offers. I nod happily and push myself from the comfy leather chair.

Once in her office, she asks me to sit on the comfy sofas again. The luxury seating in this building is highly satisfying and much more enjoyable than the sticky surfaces I'm used to from my previous job.

"So, Raine, my apologies for this whirlwind morning. You've really just been thrown in here, huh?" Her steely blue eyes watch me intently. Though the icy colour is cold, her eyes show her warmth and genuine interest in how I'm doing.

"Yeah, I guess I have. I'm not really sure what I expected. Zander is..."

"An arrogant asshole?" She cuts me off, and her face breaks into a laugh. I laugh with her. She's not wrong.

"He's something all right." I sigh. Lena has this ability to make me feel instantly comfortable. Whether it's her connection to Zander or the fact she seems to be just my type of person, I feel comfortable around her already. "I really don't know what I'm doing here." I flop my head into my hands and blow out a frustrated groan.

"I sense we're not talking about not knowing how to do the job..." Her tone is soft, and her eyes shine with sympathy. Feeling at ease around her, I let my body sink deep into the lavish sofa cushions and wrap my arms around my stomach for comfort.

"Look, I know he's my brother, but I have a strong belief that no one should be forced into things they don't want." She leans forward, her demeanour still calm and compassionate. I breathe deeply again. I feel like I'm in the therapist's office again. She has a way of making me want to open up. I don't like it.

"I saw your face when I told you about Bella." I shuffle awkwardly. I thought I had been good at hiding it. Apparently not. "It's ok. I know it can be a surprise to some people, but I'm not shy. A mate bond didn't change who I love. It couldn't force me into a partnership I didn't want. Don't get me wrong, Luca is my soulmate. I love him. But it's purely platonic. Even a mate bond doesn't alter the fundamentals of who I am."

Well, f*ck. My mouth hangs open slightly in the shock of Lena's story. I thought she was cool before, now I find her brave and inspirational. One thing I know from our kind is that they are unforgiving. Traditions are sacred, and any deviation from the expected is met with strong criticism. I can only imagine her choosing Bella over her destined mate put her in an incredibly unpleasant situation with stuffy traditionalists.

I realise I've been silent for a while, my mouth hanging agape. Lena remains composed, allowing me to process the information.

"I didn't know we had that choice." My voice is small in the large room. Lena is patient and smiles reassuringly over at me.

"We always have a choice, Raine. Didn't they teach you about the mate bond at your pack?" She leans back again, getting herself settled into a comfortable position.

"They didn't have to. None of us should have a mate. We're all mutts." I avoid her gaze at the admission of my lineage. I didn't know what response this would get. Even Zander doesn't know. I've never interacted with pureblood wolves before. But my pack had drilled it into me that it was very much an 'us' versus 'them' situation. Her eyebrows fold into a deep frown to mimic Zander's.

"That's not possible." She shakes her head slightly in disbelief, her frown deepening even further.

"It's true." I shrug, not sure what else I can say. I'm a mutt. A mongrel. A mix of everything but pureblood. Lena softens her expression, returning to her typical poised attitude.

"Well, whatever the case may be, I think it's important you know a bit more about the origins of the mate bond to help you understand your predicament." She sits up tall, her eyebrows raising pointedly at me. I nod gently to signal for her to continue.

"Ok. So. The mate bond originated all the way back to the first turned. The seven original tribes were blessed - or cursed, depending on your view - by the Mood Goddess. To guarantee the continuation of her new creation, the Moon Goddess recognised the need to keep breeding within our own kind. The Moon Goddess assigned everyone a destined mate to stop inbreeding amongst the small group of wolves available. She ensured that the imitation of the feeling of love brought the intendeds together, ensuring their happiness while furthering our species. As we have evolved over the last millennium, we have moved past that concern. The mate bond lingers within purebloods because that was a part of our original design. But it's just biology that has been romanticised over the last million years." I swallow hard, taking in the information Lena is providing. She takes a breath before she continues.

"While I can admit that Luca and I share a deep connection, lust was never a part of that. He is my best friend, my biggest support and my true love. But I love him like family. That hum that reverberates around your chest is the presence of the bond. That sense of commitment and need to ensure safety is the bond. But I'll be honest with you, Raine, in my experience, attraction and desire were never present. I saw how you and Zander acted around each other... You might want to consider that any desire you feel towards my brother is separate from destiny and entirely your own feelings." She finishes and sits back in her chair. Once again, my mouth is agape. My stomach churns at her words. It closes and opens a few times as words fail me. I try to resist the shallow breaths that threaten to take over, instead breathing slow to fill my lungs. This information is slightly overwhelming and could change any reluctance I have towards any feelings for Zander. I wanted to run away and ignore the bond because it was forced. These revelations left much for me to think over.

"B-but how do I know what's me and what's the bond?" My voice is a whisper, a little shake ripples through my words.

"I guess you have to trust your head and your heart. Don't give up an opportunity for happiness because you're stubborn. Trust me. Been there, done that and got the t-shirt." She chuckles to herself though her eyes have a shadow of sadness to them. She zones out momentarily, maybe reliving her regret.

I decide it's time for me to return to my desk. Partly for some distraction and partly just to process what Lena has said. As I stand, she returns to the room, her eyes a little misty. She looks up at me and sighs heavily.

"Thank you. I should, uh, get back to work." She nods and stands to face me.

"I meant what I said. You always have a choice. Just choose wisely. You deserve happiness. And so does he." She smiles warmly, and I smile back. With a small nod of thanks, I turn and exit her office.

The afternoon ticks by slower than I hoped. Lena's words weigh heavily on my mind. That is not the story I heard of the mate bond. The whispers at my pack had talked about the purebloods being favoured by the Mood Goddess. Because of this, they were gifted the perfect companion. It had never sounded all that appealing to me. I've never appreciated being told what to do. But Lena speaking about her experience was fascinating. A mate bond didn't have the power to overrule her true desires of who she loved. It didn't force her into anything.

I check the clock to see it nearing 5 pm. I assume Zander likes punctuality, so I start to gather my things. Lena had left an hour or so ago for a dinner meeting with potential investors. Her expertise is in finance. I'm dreading the day she requires a spreadsheet from me.

With my desk tidy, I make my way to the elevator. The floor is generally quieter, although many people are working on. I can feel the eyes of several as I walk through the rows of desks and workspaces. This floor has an overall calm, no doubt encouraged by Lena's laid back nature. While the stares felt less judgmental here, people stared all the same. Reaching the sanctuary of the elevator, I quickly press the button to the top floor, and the doors close with a ping.

Working under Zander has allowed the bond the dance gently within me all day. The beat gently rises as the elevator ascends. The doors open to reveal the hive of activity I had seen previously. Again it seemed quieter as we were nearing the end of the day, but the increased stress levels were pronounced.

Judgemental eyes fell on me as I strut boldly through the bustling workers. I'm sure I catch some whispers at my presence, but I hold my head high and walk towards Zander's office.

I reach the desk of a man who I assume does my job but for Zander. He sits at a desk set up similarly to mine though his is a mass of papers and folders. He speaks in hurried and hushed tones on the phone and raises a finger to me, indicating he will be one minute. I check my watch. 4.55pm.

As I'm waiting, the door of Zander's office slowly opens. My heart jumps, excited by the prospect of seeing him again. How pathetic, huh? It is not Zander who exits, but instead a tall and absolutely gorgeous redhead. I recognise her immediately. She is the woman who was at the club the night that Zander and I first met. She had looked at me with such disdain that night, and she continues that look today. She pauses just outside the office door as her eyes scan down me disapprovingly. I wonder if she recognises me or if she looks at everyone with such disgust. I smile, trying to encourage some positive energy. She only offers an almost villainous smirk in return.

She sashays confidently over to me, her hips swaying wildly. She reaches up to the corner of her mouth and wipes something away. Her eyes twinkle mischievously, and I can't help but think she is trying to rattle me.

She now stands before me in all her glory, her wicked grin making me nauseous.

"Hello again. You're the clumsy girl from the club, right?" Her tone is sharp and causes a chill in my spine. Her slight dig at me is annoying but I stop myself from biting back.

"Yes. I'm Raine." She scoffs at my name and swings her fiery locks behind her shoulder.

"Well, Raine. What brings you here?" Her voice itself is enough to give me nightmares. The thought of hearing that shrill voice every day made me uneasy.

"Zan- Mr Heroux offered me a job." Her eyebrow quirks at my slip of his name. Her lips purse, and her nostrils flare. I take it she's not happy with me or my presence. Time to really wind her up.

"I'm sorry, you are?" I smile brightly, though I'm sure we both know it's just a jab at her. Of course, I know who she is. Evangeline Blackwood was featured in several compromising poses with Zander in those trashy tabloids. Rumours of a real romance were plastered under their snaps together, most of which were drunken photos in clubs. Perhaps she was just a fling, but her presence here unnerved me. And her disapproving glare did nothing to calm my suspicions.

"Miss Blackwood. I work closely with Zan. I'm sure we'll see a lot more of each other." The way she says 'closely' makes my stomach knot tightly. Her tone insinuates there is still something more to their relationship. My calm exterior almost falters, but I hold firm. I extend a hand professionally, maintaining a friendly smile. She breathes deeply in annoyance but extends her hand into mine.

"So nice to see you again." My voice is sickly sweet and clearly false. She gives a quick smile, snatches her hand back and walks towards the elevator. I blow out a relieved sigh at her departure.

I glance back to Zander's assistant just as he puts the phone receiver down. He appears to be friendly in the face as he stands to greet me.

He gestures his hand towards the imposing doors of Zander's office.

"Mr Heroux will see you now."