Rayne's Perfect Mate

by McKayla Schutt

  “I’ll think about it.” She climbed into the car and drove off, leaving Zac in the parking lot without another soul around, until he caught a heartbeat a few rows over.

  An engine roared to life in the semi-quiet lot. Zac turned toward a sleek black car seconds before it took off right behind Rayne. Were they hunters? His wolf perked up, ready to shift. The way it weaved through the afternoon traffic set his teeth on edge.

  He stood there debating what he should do. Did he leave Rayne alone and risk her and Annmarie getting hurt? He sniffed the air trying to catch any familiar scents, but he didn’t find a damn thing. Did he go after her and end up jumping the shift? A growl vibrated through his chest. He wanted to give her space, but hunters kept killing parents and taking children. He took a few steps toward the parking lot exit then halted. I don’t know where she’s going or where she freaking lives. He couldn’t shift and track her down because once he arrived he’d be stark naked after shifting back, which would be awkward if she wasn’t in danger. He’d look like a crazy person. He ground his teeth together hating the damn debate raging in his mind.

  A few weeks ago, he had to join the alpha in a hunt to rescue Cora. The pup had lost her family and bonded with the alpha. Fuck it, I’ll shift and if nothing is wrong, I’ll stay in my wolf and run home to get dressed. His beast nodded ready to emerge when a set of footsteps smacked against the ground.

  “Hey!” Drake hollered at Zac breaking his focus. Fuck, something might be wrong if the second visited in person.

  Zac stormed back to his hotel trying to think of someone who might know where Rayne could be as he headed for the office. Her scent lingered in the room, calming him. After so many long years, Jacob had finally left giving him the best opening to swoop in and save the day. She had seemed extra miserable the last few weeks, but Zac had kept his distance long enough. Even with his little fuck up, he wanted to find out if they were mates. I’d make a better mate than Jacob ever would.

  He checked over his contacts as he walked in with Drake by his side. Zac motioned toward his office.

  “What’s going on?” Zac slid back in the office and waved Drake in. His beast paced wanting to get back to Rayne. Zac’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out to find Jennine’s name pop up. Why didn’t I think of Jennine earlier?

  ‘Rayne asked me to go shopping. Said she needed to vent about you. Honestly, what did you do now? ;)’

  He shoved his phone in his pocket with his keys. At least she was safe in the store, so he didn’t need to rush to find Rayne.

  “Did I catch you at a bad time?” He lifted his brow. As a lawyer, Drake didn’t really know how to dress casually, even on a Sunday he wore black slacks and a white button-down shirt.

  “Not too bad. Does the alpha need something?” His wolf paced ready to go see Rayne. He wanted to check her home first as he tapped his fingers on his jeans.

  “No, actually, I need a favor. Can I get one of your suites tonight?” He rubbed his hands together.

  “Where are your kids going?” Zac glanced at Rayne’s desk. I need to make this quick. Drake grinned brightly. When Zac looked back his shoulders tensed up. The man next to him had two young kids running around his house.

  “I convinced Anne to leave them with my parents. She’s been overly stressed with all this hunter shit going on so she barely leaves the house. And the last week, each time I get her to relax to have sex, she hears something outside and freaks out.” Drake shook his head.

  “Damn, that sucks. I don’t know about the suites, but I can see what we have. Your ass is paying though.” Zac pointed at the second in command who chuckled. Everyone knew he didn’t have financial issues.

  “I get the pack discount though, right?”

  “That’s for fucking reservations, not last-minute nights out.” Zac yanked open the door and a small breeze brought Rayne’s scent to his nose. Any second he would go search for her and figure out how to make it up to her.

  “Fine, cheap ass.” He pulled out his black card and shoved it into Zac’s chest in a playful manner. Zac’s phone buzzed, and read Jennine’s new message.

  ‘Looks like you’re not completely in the doghouse but you should come here soon.’

  He shoved his phone in his pocket and hurried Drake to the front desk. A small plan involving flowers and chocolates formed in his head while he set Drake up with a nice room for him and his mate. The sooner he left the hotel the better, he needed to find Rayne and see if they were mates. His wolf perked up. I’m going to find my mate.

  Chapter Three

  Rayne

  “I’ve told you so many times, it’s not like that.” Rayne glared at Jennine while walking down the produce section with colorful mounds of fresh fruits and veggies in bins and baskets. Jennine brown curls bounced around her face, the wolf loved to curl her hair every day but refused to get a perm to save herself some time. Annmarie bounced toward the bananas and grabbed a bunch then ran to the cart. Once they were secure, she dashed off again. Rayne’s wolf changed her normal mate chant to Zac’s our mate followed by imprint now. Then another man will leave us, she internally hissed at her beast.

  “Mommy, can I have some apples?” Annmarie held up a green Granny Smith. Rayne nodded and pulled off a bag from the roller for her to fill.

  “Don’t even. He’s been in your sights since the day you started working there. The only reason you didn’t get close was because of that jackass,” Jennine growled out her anger which earned some raised eyebrows from other customers. Rayne used her wallet to smack her friend’s arm then pointed to her daughter with the same wallet. Taking her friends advice could mean another broken heart.

  “Jacob is the father of my child. I thought he...” Rayne grabbed another bag and placed small oranges inside while Jennine seized a cantaloupe. A wave of cold water washed down Rayne’s nerves, soon she would have a belly larger than a watermelon and tits swollen like the cantaloupe Jennine held.

  They weaved out of the produce and the scent of cinnamon rolls mixed with donuts filled her nose. Her stomach grumbled but she ignored it and headed down the next aisle. Her heart dropped as the diapers filled her view. Soon she would be going through a package a week, maybe two.

  “Oh, good I need to grab tampons. You said you were out too.” Jennine grabbed two boxes but Rayne stopped one of them from falling in.

  “I don’t…” She swallowed hard and met Jennine’s curious blue gaze and her heart fluttered.

  “You’re shitting me. Who knows?” She glanced toward Annmarie running up and down the aisle. Rayne pointed at her chest then Jennine’s, who in turn sniffed the air. “Well fuck me sideways. I should’ve caught it earlier.” She shook her head and put the box back.

  “Don’t you dare say a fucking word.” Rayne resisted the urge to grab a package of newborn diapers. When she was pregnant with Annmarie she had stocked up and didn’t need to buy them till after she turned six months old. But now she really didn’t want to think about the little one growing inside her.

  “You mean like Zac.” She lifted a brow then walked away before Rayne could throw something at her.

  “Come on, Annmarie, next aisle.” Rayne waved her daughter over as she headed toward the next row of products.

  “Mommy, can we have lasagna tonight?” Annmarie bounced up to her.

  “Sure.” When they turned the corner Jennine didn’t wait for her like normal. Instead of searching for her friend she kept going, grabbing what she would need for the next month.

  “Mommy, why is Aunt Jennine holding pickles and ice cream?” Annmarie tipped her head to the side and scrunched up her nose. Rayne’s head snapped up to find what her daughter described with the added bag of chocolate under her arm. Her wolf chuckled at the play on odd cravings.

  “I don’t know, honey. She’s being silly.” Rayne glared at Jennine as she closed the distance. “You bitch,” she hissed as Jennine placed the items in the cart.

  “You’ll thank me later.” Jennine winke
d. “But on a serious note, you need to talk to Zac.” She pointed at Rayne then started to walk away. Rayne grabbed her arm and Jennine met her gaze.

  “And what if you’re wrong?” Her true mate had to be out there somewhere, but she didn’t know if Zac was it. Her stomach tightened at the idea of him not being her mate. After all, he was gorgeous and kind. She shoved the thought out of her mind. Finding her perfect mate could only cause her problems when he left her like Jacob.

  “I’m never wrong about these things. I’ve told you for years Jacob would leave, and look at you today.” Jennine lifted her brow. Her friend had a good fucking point, Jacob had been distancing himself from Rayne and his daughter for years. Maybe I’m not good enough.

  “I wouldn’t even know what to say to him.” Rayne walked down the meat wall and picked up a package of chicken breasts. “Plus, he deserves better than this mess.” She pointed at her belly behind the package and Jennine shook her head. Rayne set the chicken inside the basket.

  “Bullshit. He’s your…” Jennine stopped as Annmarie placed a box of cereal in the cart then ran off again. “He’s your mate. You know it, and so does he.”

  “He’s my boss.” Rayne tried to push the thought of being touched by Zac from her head. Her wolf grinned and placed images of him naked in her mind. Oh, for fuck sakes! Rayne shoved back her hair trying to come up with a better excuse.

  “And your wolf doesn’t care.” Jennine giggled and walked away leaving Rayne alone for a moment with her wolf and her naughty thoughts. Her libido spiked and the need to have someone satisfy her grew stronger.

  “Rayne?” Zac’s voice sounded to her right and she found him with a basket of flowers and milk chocolates. Oh crap, he’s trying to butter me up. His black locks stuck up in odd spots, but he still held a sexier-than-sin appearance. She licked her lower lip trying to think of something to say. Her nerves tingled as her skin begged to be touched by him.

  “What are you doing here?” She gulped down the need in her belly.

  “Jennine’s been texting me.” He waved toward the dairy area where Jennine stood.

  “Snitch,” Jennine called out near the milk then she grabbed Annmarie’s hand and walked her to the canned soups. Rayne glanced at the white roses with hints of lilac filling her nose.

  “I’m sorry for jumping down your throat about Annmarie. I haven’t been able to explain why her father would leave.” Rayne swallowed. She didn’t know how to explain to her daughter that men weren’t reliable. Two other men had walked away from Rayne, what was to stop someone as attractive as Zac from running to another pack?

  “I didn’t mean to overstep. But I have a feeling I’m about to again.” He took a few steps toward her and his scent filled her nose.

  “How is that?” Rayne gripped the cart tighter than normal and the metal caved under her fingers.

  “Because I don’t think I can resist touching you anymore.” Zac inched closer and Rayne’s breath hitched. Mate! Mate! her wolf chanted again. Rayne didn’t know if she had the willpower to back away.

  “How about you come over for dinner and we can talk.” Rayne nibbled on her lower lip. Her heart raced in her chest and every cell in her body screamed to fling herself into his arms. Yet she forced herself to stay put. The cold air from the cooler hit her ass and back but she didn’t move. No, maybe I should slip away.

  He stared her down and a wave of heat washed over her from head to toe. Her heart slammed in her chest as he parked his cart next to hers. After walking around the cart, Zac leaned in so close she felt his hot breath tickle her face. Yet he still didn’t touch her.

  “What are you scared of?” His calm voice sent a shiver right to her core.

  “Getting hurt again. If you’re not the one, I can’t go through the whole, we can make it work thing only to get crushed again.” Rayne pushed away the tears threatening to spill down her face. The pain when she realized Jacob would never come back still burned in her chest. A woman’s voice calling for a price check interrupted the music, then created a moment of silence.

  “I would never hurt you, Rayne.” He gripped her cart, his hands millimeters away from her fingers. So close and yet so far away. I should walk away!

  “And Jacob said the same thing when we didn’t imprint.” A lone tear slipped down her face and before it hit her nose he swiped it away. The gentle touch was followed by a small current of electricity. He really is my mate! Her wolf bounced around like a kid in a candy store.

  “I knew it!” Jennine yelled through the store but Rayne ignored her.

  “I’ll come over for dinner. Expect me at seven, unless you eat earlier.” He pushed back some of her hair, his scent filled her nose. A rush of heat rolled down her spine.

  “Seven’s great but don’t you-” she started but he pressed his finger over her lips. She wanted to kiss him, with him so close she could and yet she resisted.

  “Tonight.” He turned around and walked away leaving Rayne an emotional mess. I finally found my mate and I’m pregnant with my ex’s child. Ugh, he deserves better. Rayne shoved her hand through her hair and found her baby girl holding an open candy wrapper.

  “Don’t worry, I paid for it already.” Jennine smiled. “So, I have a feeling someone’s going to have a good night.” She winked. Her heart raced at the idea of being under him.

  “I didn’t tell him about this.” She pointed to her belly and her libido crashed. He deserved a hell of a lot better than her and her mess. Jennine grabbed his cart and pulled out the flowers. The receipt for both items was tucked in the wrapper at the top. As if everything wasn’t already working against her, she just had to be pregnant. She didn’t blame her unborn child but ughness. Just what I fucking need right now! They had three days to either complete the bond or lose their wolves forever.

  Chapter Four

  Zac

  Zac wanted to freaking leap in the air when he finally imprinted with Rayne, but he managed to keep his composure. As he drove toward her house, his wolf bounded around, ready to complete the bond with Rayne tonight. His wolf pushed images of taking her in the shower and then on the bed.

  “Slow down there. She might need some time.” Zac, of course, didn’t want to wait any more than his wolf, but she had been hurt. Forcing the issue might make her run.

  He turned the corner and found a sleek black car sitting in front of Rayne’s house. His wolf perked up not liking the similarities to the car from the hotel. The weight of a dozen bulls settled on his chest. Zac scanned the rest of the road, but he had only been on this street once before. Nothing else seemed suspicious, but that car put him on edge.

  Before he fully made the conscious choice, he hit the gas and pulled into her driveway next to her car. His wolf calmed slightly when he caught Rayne and Annmarie’s steady heartbeats inside their home. The one-story house had all the lights on making the lawn glow even with the sun still above the horizon. Rayne called out to her daughter bringing Zac an added sense of peace.

  “Shit. Someone else is here,” a male voice sounded followed by shuffling. His wolf lurched forward but Zac kept him in place.

  “We didn’t plan for another. The guy left last night,” another male voice reached his ears as Zac yanked the handle and shoved the door open. The plastic almost broke under his grip. He jumped out and faced the car. The doors were open with both males hanging out of the car like rats about to strike.

  “He’s bigger than the other wolf,” the first guy stuttered as he met Zac’s gaze. A silver necklace with the ugly crooked cross hunter symbol swung from the mirror. His heart lept in his throat, they seemed to be here for Rayne. His beast itched to shift as Zac clenched his fists. He inhaled deeply, catching their citrusy, almost sour, scents. He was the best damn tracker in the whole fucking pack and he would defend Rayne by kicking their asses. Zac dashed for the car.

  “Go!” the second guy with a black cap on yelled, and hints of fear laced the air as he slipped into the driver’s seat. He inched closer, but
they were already back in their black car. One male with shaggy blonde and green hair-half hidden under a baseball cap- hit the driver in the chest and yelled for him drive. The tires squealed before the vehicle lurched forward and down the road. Fucking damn it, I should’ve shifted! His wolf nodded in agreement without hesitation. He lurched forward ready to give chase when Rayne’s lilac scent hit his lungs making him freeze. The urge to charge after them and rip out their throats surged through his soul. But he stayed to keep Rayne safe.

  “What’s going on out here?” Rayne walked out with a hand on her hip. Zac met her curious gaze but he needed her to go inside and lock all the damn doors. The need to keep her safe burned stronger than any emotion he’d ever experienced.

  “Get inside,” Zac growled low, he didn’t know if others were out there waiting for the right time to gain entry. Annmarie’s heart still beat along like nothing was wrong which put him at ease. His wolf shoved forward again to get out. Damn it, we have to stay put!

  “Excuse you?” Rayne’s unhappy tone grated on his nerves. He glanced down the road as the car squealed to the left. Zac ground his teeth together as he bolted toward his mate. He grabbed Rayne’s hand and pulled her into the house before she managed to complain or say more. After turning the lock on the old wood door, he faced her.

  “You shouldn’t leave Annmarie alone. Don’t you remember hunters are taking children?” Zac motioned toward the front door. He might have chased them off tonight but the fuckers were damn determined to get pups and no one in the pack knew why. After Cora was saved the pack learned the pups taken were at least alive.

  “She’s in her room playing.” Rayne waved her hand toward the hallway. Zac followed Annmarie’s scent. Rayne sighed heavily before following him. He could still hear a heart beating down the hall but he didn’t want to completely trust his ears when it came to her safety.