THE DESIRED MATE
                                                                                            CHAPTER TWO  







       Look man I know I should be smarter about this. I just don't know how to tell her. Jane and i have worked together for two years and now time is short. Rafe knew he was running out of time. The Mating moon was on its way and there will be no denying its pull. Every male of his species has to go through with it or risk losing them selves to the wild. The last time he had seen this with his own eyes was when he was just a pup. He watched as a male wolf tore through the skin of the man never again to be human. His father spoke to him of the importance of the mating moon and used what he saw that day to paint a picture of horror. He will never forget the screams he heard  when this man was torn from his people to forever roam the wilds as a beast. A male who doesn't find and mate on the night of the Mating moon will transform but will never be human again. Losing yourself to this has to be the worst thing to ever happen. To become Feral was not an option. Rafe’s 21st birthday was fast and approaching. The time was now but the question was how. Rafe found himself lost in thought and paid no attention to a rambling Sorin who clearly thought he had it all figured out. Sorin was the classic boy next door and also seemed like he didn't have a care in the world. Not really feeling like having advice from a boy who still thought hide and seek was still a thing at 19 years old was the best idea,Rafe just sat and pretended to take him seriously.
       Just tell her and im sure she wouldn't mind being the Queen of the wolf pack. I mean Leann tried so hard for you to take her as a mate. That has to tell you something. The ladies like to be in charge. They like to think there important. When i choose a mate she will be big, busty and full of spirit. Although i will tell you that when I do choose a mate there will be no option of her saying no. Clearly I know best anyways.
      Look Sorin I really don't need to take advice about the ladies from a pup. Thinking sorin was so ridiculous rafe chuckled and continued to think the problem through. Jane is different. Jane is quiet and I'm not sure your approach will work for her. I mean she is brilliant and deep down i know she will be the alpha female this clan needs. Now due to my stupidity we have a rival clan braking at our doors and a possible war to win this territory if i do not claim a mate and take my place as the leader. I guess i should have thought about this a lot sooner but i was acting like a boy in a mans place and if i dont fix this everyone will fall. 
         Rafe lost his father two years ago. It was a deal gone bad. Going into what Rafes father William thought would be negotiations turned into a blood bath. No one even knew the alpha was dead along withe the whole crew until there bodies were found skinned and hung at the end of the territory on pikes for the whole world to see. This night Rafe became the young alpha. A boy became a leader and was expected to know what to do. Rafe stood there in the shadow of his father and was terrified. How was he expected to lead when he couldn't even talk to a girl? Kinda a thing when the tribe depends on the mating ritual of one man and one woman to become the alpha. Rafe stepped forward and grabbed his fathers deceased body he instructed the clan to do the same. Every worrier that had fallen were to be made into a wearable pelts to be worn during battle as were the old costumes. These warriors had been made immortal in a way because the story of William black foot would not fall on deaf ears but to the ears of his people forever. He was a man and rafe felt small in his presence. looking at his father as the skin was prepared he thought of everything his father taught him. The father who showed patience where there should have been anger. The father that fell trying to protect his people. He didn't know how but he swore he would be that man. No one was taking his land or hurting his people. Not while he still lives and breathes.
   He shook of the dark thought of the past and snapped back to the conversation at hand. Sorin had that look he got when he knew when i went to that place. To the place of my fathers last stand. so thinking it was best i changed the subject as fast as i could. You know what maybe i just need to make it clear i like her . I should probably be more direct and just be all hey gril. Ya know... Sorin teared up and started laughing.
   You do that big boy, sorin bellowed I have better things to do than watch my alpha try to be hip with the ladies. See ya geezer..... walking away shaking his head made rafe feel light hearted. Now knowing he was on an even smaller time line rafe decided it was time. Now where would he start? Rafe started on his way home when he realized his home wasn't even fit for a woman at the moment. Thinking back to his mothers house there were defiantly sun flowers. there were soft colors and stone Floors. Now thinking about his house he knew it didn't exactly say welcome to your future wife. Rafes house was not very large. It was a two story two bedroom house gently tucked at the edge of the village. Large  trees hung over a worn yellow roof followed by a cabin look. the exterior was log siding with a huge round window facing a mountain. The house had been his grandmothers, but to her credit had survived the weather. There were no leaks and the fire 2 fire places gave the house a romantic homey glow.
        It would be perfect for his grand mother but fell short where Jane was concerned. What kind of house would she want. How warm did it need to be for her? The only thing he wouldn't move on was how the nursery would look . He alone would do it. Rafe wanted a whole horde of cubs. So planning how his child would be and what kind of nursery he would lay his son in made it easy to design. Rafe was good with kids and often took looking after the cubs a joy and not a chore. Rafe sighed as he stepped on the deck and heard the creek of old wood. knowing the house was OK but not perfect made him want to start fixing the house right but it would have to wait for the morning. For now its time to sleep. Laying in the bed hearing the crickets out side lulled him to sleep as plans to renovate the house took over his dreams.
       Jane was never one to dream but lately she had dreams of lust. Dreams of howling wolves and the feeling of fear and excitement. A man towered over her. She felt the heavy air surrounding them. Jane got the feeling as though if she didn't take this man to her bed she might never get the chance again. Breathing hard she reached to a shadowed face beckoning him to come out of the darkness and into her light. He grabbed her hand and pulled it to his chest. she thought the motion was sweet but kept him from her. The night was chilly but in his hands she burned hot. The moon was full and the sounds of crickets in the background made this experience even more special some how. She kept her hand there on his chest. His very hard chest she could feel his arousal growing up her thigh and towards wanting need. Tall blades of grass shifted above them as the wind gently traced there bodies. Jane knew she would wake soon. She heard the call of a pained wolf in the background. Jane managed to ask who are you just before she woke. I just don't get it every freaking time. Why even wake up when things were clearly going her way. What the hell. Frustrated again covered in sweat she very grumpily got up to take a shower. 
         His smell though. Jane lazily washed her self remembering the smell from her dreams. The man of her dreams smelled very strongly of sunflowers and vanilla. Musty and strong. His hands rough and callused over her hand. His boy hood pressed to her thigh. His breath desperate yet deliberate. She knew him. She felt like coming home. But why was she scared. I mean she wanted him and he clearly wanted her. Why was a wolf in pain in Howling and why the hell did she keep waking up before even knowing who he was. Nothing ever happened to poor little Jane. nothing at all. A normal life and a shit taste for men. business as usual. Why now and why does everything feel like its changing. at twenty years of life Jane has played it safe and now she just wants to dive into the dark and kiss a man she has no clue is, passionately. Dammit soap seeped in her eyes. clearly thinking about sex and washing was not a good idea she thought. Even though she slept well tired was the Theme of the day and work promised to be brutal under the hands of Rafe McConnell. He has seemed like he was under a lot of pressure. Grumpy all the time practically stomping through the office. Always appearing at the worst time and saying little to nothing about the job at hand. I was the go to girl when it came to putting a good artical out even if it wasn't my actual passion. I majored in creative writing but minored in design. I liked design. it was a simple yet enjoyable hobby. Even though my parents hummed and harred about taking the coarse i took it anyway. Foregoing the family business to pursue my own dreams. In the end I ended up writing for a posh magazine about whats hot and whats not.
          The job offered a 401k and benefits so my parents were satisfied for the moment. The pay was decent enough that paying down the student loans were on track to be paid off early. 60,000.00 was no small number to pay off but if she kept her spending low and stayed in the shitty apartment she lived in it would be paid off in another two years. This is all  the in between she told herself. Her home was small but for now its what she had.  Living room and kitchen combo with a small bathroom and an even smaller bedroom apartment. A few the walls had small cracks in it probably from the old building settling through the years. The plumbing was a nightmare . It became the norm to walk in get ready to shower for the day only to find the water wasn't working. She did like the maintenance man though. Dealing with him reminded her of her grandpa. A fat short stubby man with tons of stories, a mischievous smile and rosy cheeks to finish all that is john. He was simple but that's exactly how she liked it. Simple very uncomplicated.
       Walking to work in a more appropriate attire today following the most recent outfit fail of the century Jane lost herself in the music blaring in her headphones. singing not caring who heard her, she absolutely murdered her favorite songs. Knowing she couldn't sing and hiding that fact was lost on the giggles other people shared with one another while passing by. Jane was convinced that today was going to be a good day. Not like shitting rainbows and glitter good, but something like it would be alright. I mean what could go wrong right? Jane settled on nothing. Clearly yesterday was an absolute fluke and no way was that going to be a problem she absolutely refused to believe it would. Judging the looks on other peoples faces they wouldn't even dare climb that tree today. Rafe was a Beast everyone knew when he put his foot down that it. He scared her though. Maybe it was his deep voice or the way he commanded a room. hmm yeah that's probably it. She refused to see him as the bad guy and sure he was her kinda hot way out of he league. That man was a walking talking sex god and she his unworthy practitioner. Oh the things that man could do with hi..... ahhhh... On the ground again and agin There he was to whiteness her sheer horror.
       Miss. langster do you mind where your going. Brushing coffee off of his expensive suit in a hurry. This is going to stain what do you have to say for yourself? He realized he had bee a bit to rash when he witnessed her busted iPod and slight tears in her eyes. she was a sensitive type and this was no way to get her to like him. changing tactics he simply apologized. I am sorry ive been under a lot of stressed and its not your fault. Besides I'm late for work anyway skipping past the fact that she was as well Rafe helped her to her feet.
      Oh yeah I'm sorry about that Mr. McConnel I should have been more careful. Then maybe my iPod would have survived she muttered under her breath. Anyways is there something you would like me to do that would help?
       With the biggest smile she had ever seen Rafe asked, Would you be willing to help me renovate and decorate my house? Maybe something a woman would like?
       Sure, the words came out before she could say no. He was he boss, Her love interest and now at the sounds of it she was designing a home for another woman one he was going to marry and by the way not Her.
       Great we will go over the details later for now go home relax and i will call you with your new work schedule.  
       He was gone and Jane was left to wonder if shed sold her soul to the devil given the cheesy smile he had plastered on his pretty face.