Their Mate Between

CHAPTER 9.

Ravyn tried her best to avoid her brother as much as she could in a house they both shared. It wasn’t easy. Rion had always been perceptive, especially when it came to her. He noticed every little change, every forced smile, every longer than normal silence. But Ravyn had gotten better at pretending.

At least, that’s what she told herself.

It helped that Calvin came around the next morning, all charm and sunshine, making it easier for her to breathe again. He was grinning from the doorway, one hand shoved into his pocket, the other holding a steaming cup of coffee that wasn’t his.

“I think this job will suit you, sunshine,” he’d said proudly, like a magician revealing his greatest trick. “Your brother owes me one for this.”

Ravyn had laughed, mostly out of relief. She needed something new. Something that didn’t have to do with her mates or the life she left behind haunting her every move. And above all, she wanted out of this house.

A job at a car dealership sounded like it held all the answers to her problems.

Now, sitting behind a counter that smelled faintly of new tires and motor oil, Ravyn began to realize just how strange her new life had become. Three months ago, she could have never imagined herself in a place like this.

A place buzzing with energy, salesmen moving from one shiny vehicle to another, customers pacing, phones ringing.

And right beside her, like a whirlwind in human form, was Willow Corbel.

Willow was sunshine in sneakers—chatty, bright, and effortlessly confident. Her hair was a cascade of honey-blonde waves, and her grin could make even the grumpiest customer smile.

“So, you’re the mysterious new trainee Calvin brought in,” Willow said, spinning her swivel chair halfway toward Ravyn, a mischievous spark in her amber eyes. “He told me you were quiet. I didn’t think he meant witness protection quiet.”

Ravyn chuckled softly. “I’m not that quiet.”

“Oh, you’re that quiet,” Willow teased, resting her chin in her palm. “But don’t worry. Stick with me long enough, and you’ll forget what silence feels like.”

“I can already tell,” Ravyn replied dryly, unable to stop a small smile from tugging her lips.

“See? She smiles! She does have facial expressions!” Willow exclaimed dramatically, drawing a laugh from Ravyn.

“I’m just trying to get used to this.”

“To what? A job?”

Ravyn hesitated. How weird would she sound if she admitted to never working a day in her life before? Unless you counted the extreme duties Alpha Dorian assigned to her at her former pack that always seemed to leave her drained.

“You’re not some spoiled little princess, are you?”

Ravyn stifled a laugh, but it came out anyway. Me? A princess? She almost burst into laughter again. “First time hearing that label used on me.”

Willow smiled, leaning even closer. “I’m surprised. You’re so pretty, you could pass for one.”

The sentence caught her off guard. Ravyn’s cheeks turned red but she stayed silent, focusing on other features Willow possessed. She was one to talk. If anyone looked like royalty here, it’d be Willow. Her skin was fair and looked soft, her smile was amazing, lined with perfect pearly white teeth. Her cat like eyes could seduce any man… or woman.

Ravyn had never met anyone who shined so bright, naturally.

The two of them spent the next few hours going through paperwork, showing cars to potential buyers, and mostly listening to Willow chatter about everything. Her social life, the community meetings, Whisperden gossip, and her ever growing list of bad dates.

By noon, Ravyn’s head was spinning from information overload, but she didn’t mind. She was finally able to feel normal, participating in anything other than her own thoughts.

“Lunch break,” Willow announced, checking her phone. “Oh, and you’re about to meet my favorite person in the entire world.”

Before Ravyn could ask, the glass door jingled open.

In walked a young man about their age. Slim, tall, and entirely too stylish for a car dealership. His dark hair was gelled perfectly, his leather jacket hugged his frame like it had been made for him, and his grin was wicked enough to belong in a movie.

“Miss me, darling?” he asked Willow, his voice smooth and sing-song.

Willow rolled her eyes. “You were literally here yesterday, and every day before that.”

“Too long,” he said dramatically, sliding his sunglasses down his nose to wink at Ravyn. “And who’s this ray of timid sunshine?”

Ravyn blinked, caught off guard. “Ravyn… w-with a ‘y’” she said, shaking his hand when he extended it.

“Ravyn with a ‘y’,” he repeated with a purr, like the word itself held a certain character on his tongue. “Love that. Sounds mysterious. Exotic. Like someone with secrets.”

Willow groaned. “Ignore Octavian. He’s a jaguar… my best friend. And our sworn enemy,” she joked. “Jaguars love to talk like they’re auditioning for a soap opera.”

Octavian gasped. “Excuse me, I’m a refined conversationalist.” Then, turning back to Ravyn with a grin, “Also, I’m gay. You’ll love me. Plus, how many times do I have to tell you? The way I talk is not—”

“—because of my specie.” He and Willow finished together.

Ravyn blinked again, unsure how to respond and partake in the conversation. But then he winked, and she found herself laughing.

“Subtle,” Willow muttered, handing Octavian a bag of chips.

“Subtle is overrated,” he replied, tossing the bag in the air and catching it.

Lunch with the two of them was chaotic in the best way. Octavian talked with his hands, switching between dramatic stories about his ex-boyfriends and sharp, witty remarks about the people walking by. Willow teased him mercilessly, and Ravyn mostly sat between them, laughing harder than she’d expected she could.

“So, what about you, Miss Mystery?” Octavian asked, sipping his smoothie through a straw with a flair only he could pull off. “Where’d you come from before this dull little town?”

Ravyn hesitated, fingers tightening on her cup. “Um… just moved here. Needed a change.”

Octavian’s brow arched, but he didn’t press. “Ah, a woman of few words and hidden depths. I respect it.”

Willow leaned forward. “Translation: he’s dying to know more but pretending to be classy about it.”

Ravyn smiled faintly. “Well, he’s classy enough to know when not to push.”

Octavian’s grin widened. “Oh, she’s quick. I like her.”

“Don’t worry, Octavian’s harmless,” Willow reassured. “We’re planning to take a trip out of this boring town during the holidays, we’re just trying to weigh our options on where to go.”

Nowhere near Bloodpine pack, that’s for sure. Ravyn bit her tongue from saying.

“By we, she means her.”

“Come on, Tay.” Willow pouted. “We’ve talked about this.”

“Which is why I remember telling you I can’t afford it,” he waved his hand to the side, picking up a fry to munch on. “We don’t all have rich daddies that rule over a town, sweetheart.”

Ravyn’s brows furrowed. “Wait, are you talking about Whisperden?” Octavian’s brow arch gave her the answer she needed. “Willow, is your dad the community head?”

Willow sighed, slouching back into her seat. “Yeah,” she said flatly.

“Wow!” Ravyn exclaimed. “Look who’s calling who a princess. I knew you looked too sophisticated to work here.”

Octavian snorted. “Now there’s a word I never expected in the same sentence as your name.”

“Shut up,” Willow gritted under her teeth.

“Am I missing something? What’s the matter?” Ravyn asked.

Octavian leaned in to whisper. “There just isn’t enough time to explain right now.”

So Ravyn let it go. For now. After all, she had her own secrets. She’d never force anyone to open up if they weren’t ready to.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a comfortable blur. Willow taught her how to handle customer inquiries, and Octavian hung around long enough to make everyone in the dealership laugh at least once. Ravyn found herself genuinely smiling the entire time.

By the time the day ended, Ravyn was exhausted but lighter. Willow walked her to the parking lot, still chatting about her favorite dessert spots, when Octavian popped his head out from behind a car.

“Friday night, karaoke at The Silver Den,” he said, pointing between them. “You’re both coming. No excuses.”

“I don’t sing,” Ravyn said quickly.

“Perfect,” Octavian replied. “Neither do I. That’s what makes it a show.”

Willow laughed. “You can’t say no to him. He’ll just drag you anyway.”

Ravyn smiled, shaking her head. “We’ll see.”

As she sat in the back seat of a taxi that evening, the sunset bleeding across the sky, Ravyn felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time—hope. Maybe this was what she needed. A clean slate. New friends. New memories.

Her phone buzzed. She didn’t look.

Instead, she whispered to herself, “Not tonight.”

But deep down, she knew she couldn’t run from Sebastian—or her past—forever.

Still, for now, she allowed herself this fragile peace, pretending that her world wasn’t built on secrets, pretending that everything was fine.

Until the car came to a stop and the headlights revealed the physique of a male body.

Shit!