The Mating Rules

Raelyn’s POV

I’m waiting in my room for Isaac to come and get me, I haven’t seen him since this morning at breakfast, I’m not sure he even came in for lunch. I did peek through the kitchen door a few times looking for him but either he didn’t come in or he was so quick when he ate, that I missed him.

I check my watch for the twentieth time, it’s twelve minutes past seven and I’m wondering if I’ve been stood up. Maybe he changed his mind, or he realised that I was right, we can’t do this . . maybe he’s off with another woman, one he can be with . .

My stomach rolls at the thought of him kissing another she wolf, her touching him as he . . .

A sharp rap on the door snaps me from my thoughts, and I scramble to my feet, pulling open the door to find Isaac on the other side. He looks edible in a pair of dark washed jeans and a button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows showing off muscular forearms.

‘Sorry I’m late, I had something I had to deal with’ he mutters, avoiding my gaze.

I nod, sliding out of my room and locking he door quickly before standing nervously, rubbing one hand up my other arm.

‘So, umm, shall we go?’ I ask uncertainly.

Isaac’s gaze snaps to mine before he nods quickly, ‘yeah, sure’ he agrees stiffly, ‘let’s go.’

We walk down the corridor, and I can’t help but to keep glancing at the man beside me who doesn’t seem to be completely with me. I don’t know what it is, but it feels like a wall has been erected between us. Isaac makes no move to touch me, not reaching for my hand or placing his palm on my back. OK, he has no real reason too, but it still feels odd and I don’t know how to broach the subject with him.

As we head down the stairs and out into the cooler night air, the awkward silence stretches between us.

‘Did you have an idea of where you wanted to go?’ I mumble, desperately trying to come up with something to fill this void that is making me more and more uncomfortable by the minute.

The Beta shrugs, ‘I thought we’d go to a local burger place I know’ he replies, not even looking at me as he fumbles in his pocket for his keys.

As we approach the garages, I slow my pace before halting completely and turning toward the silent man.

‘You know’ I rush out, ‘it’s OK if you’ve changed your mind, we can just forget this whole thing.’

I watch as Isaac frowns slightly, looking up at me as though he’s seeing me for the first time.

‘I thought you wanted to go out somewhere’ he mutters, fidgeting with the keys in his hand, looking some what lost.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I nod, ‘I would love to spend an evening with you Isaac’ I reply, deciding that I’m just going to lay my cards out on the table. ‘But only if you want to do the same, I really don’t want to go and sit in awkward silence in a restaurant where the waitress gives me sympathetic looks whilst you try to eat as quickly as possible so you can get away from me.’

I straighten my shoulders, holding his gaze as I suck in a breath, ‘If you don’t want to spend the evening together, just tell me’ I say loudly, ‘I’m a big girl and I don’t need anyone to take me on a pity date. It’s OK to change your mind or go and do something else because you got a better offer. I swear I’m not going to stalk you or cry in bed over your photo.’

The Beta’s face grows darker as I speak before his hands curl around my arms and he turns me to face him fully.

‘I do not have a better offer waiting for me elsewhere’ he growls, ‘nor is this a pity date. I asked you because I wanted to spend time with you not because I had nothing better to do or from some sense of duty.’

I can feel the sincerity rolling off him which warms me from inside, but I hold onto my annoyance. ‘You have been weird since I opened the door’ I retort, ‘you were late, and though it was only a few minutes, the way you left me the night before . . ‘ I blush slightly but fight the urge to drop my gaze, ‘I thought you’d be on time.’

Isaac huffs out a ragged breath, releasing my arms as he drags his hand through his hair. ‘I told you that I got caught up’ he mutters, ‘I wasn’t late because I wanted to be, a meeting just ran on a little longer than I expected and I had to rush to get ready.’

I nod, ‘but that still doesn’t explain this’ I sigh, waving a hand between us, ‘it’s like you are scared to be around me or something. Is there a rumour going a round the pack that I am unaware of? Do I have cooties according to anyone?’

The snort of laughter that bubbles out of the Beta has the effect I hoped for as his shoulders relax slightly.

‘No you don’t have cooties’ he murmurs, reaching out and cupping my face with his hand, ‘and if you did, I wouldn’t be worried about catching them from you. In fact, I’d say that getting infected would be worth spending time alone with you.’

His eyes darken with desire that heats my entire body, and it takes every bit of willpower within me not to grab his shirt and haul him down to me so I can smash my lips to his.

Smiling softly, he drops his hand and laces our fingers together, ‘lets go’ he says huskily, ‘I promised to feed you and I don’t know about you, but I skipped dinner at the pack house ready for tonight so I’m starving.’

I nod, letting him lead me the last few steps to the garage door that opens to reveal his car.

Walking me to the passenger side, he opens my door, helping me in and then taking the time to pull my seatbelt over my body, clipping it into the housing before pulling back and shutting the door.

Sliding in on his own side, he gives me a wink as he starts the engine, ‘I hope you are hungry’ he murmurs, ‘because this place demands empty plates.’

My stomach growls at his words, and we goth laugh as I press my hand over my dress in embarrassment.

‘I’ll take that as a yes’ he answers himself, smiling widely as we pull out of the garage and head down the long driveway toward the border.

Out past the guards, we’re soon following the road toward the town as the radio plays soft rock. As the lights of the distant shops and houses twinkle ahead of us, Isaac takes a turn to the right, driving us along a less populated road that becomes more bumpy and uneven the longer we travel.

‘OK, you seem like a nice guy, but I’m starting to get creepy stalker guy going to murder me and dump my body vibes’ I joke after ten minutes of nothing but darkness around us.

I can only just make out the Beta’s silhouette in the dark cab but I’m pretty sure he’s smirking.

‘How do you know I’m not?’ he asks in his best imitation of a creepy voice before his hand suddenly wraps around my knee making me scream in terror.

‘You a*s!’ I growl, swatting his hand as he laughs loudly, returning his hand to the steering wheel just as the faint glow of lights finally appear ahead of us between the thick trees that surround us.

Five minutes later and we pull up outside of a wooden building with a wrap around porch. Rocking chairs and a few tables are placed out front, a few of which are occupied by older people enjoying meals. A few are playing cards over a beer and as we roll to a stop next to a beat up truck, I open my door slightly to hear the country music coming from inside.

Hurrying around the truck, Isaac opens my door fully, helping me out before wrapping an arm around me and guiding me toward the old style restaurant.

Pulling open the door, I soak in the rustic décor as men in jeans and crisp white button up shirts hurry through the tables with drinks and plates piled high with food.

‘Sit anywhere, I’ll be right over’ a voice calls from our left and I just catch a glimpse of a tall, plump woman in a black skirt and white shirt by the cash register before Isaac ushers me toward a booth by the window.

Sliding into my seat, I watch Isaac sit across from me, his knees pressing against mine in the small space as he reaches for the menu and hands it to me.

‘Pick what you want’ he says, ‘but I really recommend Bob’s special, he’s a genius when it comes to burgers’ the Beta says, not bothering to take his own menu.

‘You come here often then?’ I ask curiously as I open the laminated menu and run my gaze over the brightly printed pictures of different burgers.

‘OK guys, sorry about that, I’m Shannon, here to please and pleased to be here. What drinks are y’all wanting this evening?’

I’m a little startled by the woman’s boisterous personality but Isaac seems to take it in his stride, smiling at Shannon as he orders his drink.

‘I’ll take a root beer float please’ he says eagerly, the waitress nodding as she jots it down on her pad.

‘And you sugar?’ she asks, turning to me.

‘Yeah, what he said’ I squeak, not actually sure what the hell I’m ordering but not wanting to hold the waitress up on such a busy night.

‘I like it, now food? Or do y’all need a few minutes?’ Shannon asks.

Isaac raises an eyebrow at me and I quickly shake my head, ‘I’ll have what you are having’ I say quickly.

Isaac grins before turning back to the waitress, ‘we’ll have bob’s special, hold the onions, extra bacon’ he tells her.

Shannon’s smile widens, ‘oooo he’s going to love you two! I can’t wait to tell him! Coming right up sugars, and one of the boys will be over with your drinks soon enough.’

I turn to Isaac as she hurries away, ‘do I even want to know what is in this Bob’s special?’ I ask.

Isaac laughs, his eyes twinkling, ‘it would be easier to list what isn’t in it’ he replies.

‘Don’t you like onions?’ I question, remembering his changes.

The Beta winks at me, ‘I do’ he admits, ‘but I don’t want to give you any reason to stay away from me later . . ‘

And there goes my lady parts as my mind goes over all the different ways that this evening could end.