Raymand
Raymand shoved a hand through his hair and glanced around the meeting room. After four more couples, he didn’t find a place for Cora to live. The next couple wouldn’t arrive for another ten minutes leaving him time to think. Two more would come after them.
He closed his eyes and the memories of the night before flitted into his mind. Cora had jumped around on the chair while waiting for the pork chops to cook. Her bright smile had warmed his heart and part of him enjoyed the idea of having her in his home. Yet giving in now would seem like a weakness, right? His wolf shook his head and rested his head on his paws. The little pup had been growing on him, but if she stayed he had no idea if Maple would be willing to expand the family or not. He didn’t want to ruin the good mood by talking to Maple after dinner. Cora woke up crying which only sent agitation rolling through his body. Even when he came back to the shop he couldn’t bring himself to spoil her day by telling her he still wanted Cora out of his house.
After the short time, Cora had scratched her way into his heart a little at a time. If she didn’t leave soon, he might cave and want to keep her there. It would solve some of the problems. His wolf added.
“Excuse me? Are you the alpha?” A small voice came through his thoughts.
“Yes.” Raymand nodded at the couple weaved into the room. The male stood an inch shorter than the woman when they were standing. “Have a seat.” He waved to the two chairs across from him.
“Thank you.”
“Tell me about yourself.” Raymand tried to listen to the woman’s introductions then jumped right into her problems when it came to having children and how she would be happy to take Cora into their home. Before Raymand opened his mouth, the male leaned in and hissed he wasn’t ready for children which sent up a red flag right there.
“I’m sorry my mate is being stubborn. Of course, we want children.” She elbowed him in the side, but the male only glared at his mate.
“I don’t know if it would work out. I’m sure you’ve heard Cora might still be under the hunter’s radar. I couldn’t put her in your protection and home if both of you aren’t one hundred percent certain.” Raymand glared at the male. The woman seemed all ready to give it a shot, but the male seemed less than happy about the meeting. The couple reminded him of his relationship with Maple.
Cora needed a strong male to keep her safe and this skinny guy didn’t appear to have enough muscle to lift his mate. His wolf rolled his eyes at the comment.
“Come on, I need to get back to work and you have to study for the exam you have tomorrow.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the door leaving Raymand alone with his thoughts again. He scratched off their names on the list and didn’t feel bad about it. The guy wouldn’t be able to fight off a single hunter on his own. He had one more couple, one more chance to be free of the little pup in his life.
He closed his eyes and pictured his mate. Her scent had changed slightly from last night. In two to three days she would be in heat giving them an opportunity to start their family. Images of her belly swelling up made his wolf happy. Then the image changed to Maple holding Cora with her swollen belly. His eyes snapped open and he took in a breath.
Am I really willing to let Cora freaking stay? He ground his teeth together. Ever since she came into his house with tears down her face, he would have jumped at the chance to get her out. Now she had bonded with his new mate, a stubborn woman hell-bent on keeping Cora in his home.
“Hello, alpha.” A male bounced in with his blonde mate close behind. He had more muscle than the last guy which gave him a bit of hope. His wolf growled low at the idea of Cora leaving his home.
“Please have a seat.” Raymand waved a hand toward the chairs.
“Thank you.” He pulled out her seat for her to sit first. She kept her gaze on the table or her mate. The acrid scent of panic filled his nose making him wince.
“Please tell me about yourself.” Raymand found it different that only the male spoke, and the woman just leaned forward to whisper in his ear. He rubbed his mate’s arm with a gentle smile. The woman seemed way too timid to be able to fight off a hunter if one attacked.
Raymand carefully scented the air and glanced at the woman.
“Are you a new wolf?” Raymand asked.
“Yes, alpha. He changed me last week. Why?” She adjusted her hair behind her ear while looking at Raymand’s chest. The guy seemed strong enough to fight but the female would probably end up dying if a hunter attacked them trying to get to Cora. He didn’t want to put them in danger and double Cora’s odds of being taken. His wolf reminded him another couple could die if they take Cora in.
“I don’t think you will have problems having children.” Raymand scrunched up his nose.
“What do you mean?” She looked at her mate. He leaned closer and sniffed the air around her.
“Wait, her scent is changing.” He grabbed her hand and half dragged her out of the room. Raymand scratched his head and crossed out the next set of names. Well, fuck me sideways. He resisted the urge to throw the papers into the air.
“You okay, Raymand?” Drake asked from the door. With every single couple so far falling through, he wanted to shift and run for a few miles to get all the excess anger out of his system.
“Peachy.” Raymand glared at his second in command.
“Well I’m about to make it worse.” Drake scratched the back of his head, he didn’t quite meet his gaze.
“And how could you?” His wolf lifted his head ready for the news.
“Your next couple called to cancel.” Drake nodded toward Anne heading toward the door with another female.
“Why?” Raymand growled. Anne grabbed the woman’s arm and turned them around to bolted the other way.
“They heard about the hunters.” Drake slipped in and closed the door. “I know it’s not my place but are you sure you want to give Cora up?” He studied Raymand like he had some insight into Raymand’s fucking mind. His wolf liked the idea of having Cora at the house and he paused way too long to be a firm no.
“I don’t fucking know anymore. If you asked me before Maple I would have said hell yes.” Raymand wanted to make his mate happy but was this the right way. Plus the unknown of her wanting more kids scared him but he wouldn’t say those words to his second or anyone else alive.
“And now?” Drake raised an eyebrow.
“Maple has bonded with Cora, they are freaking inseparable.” Raymand shook his head. Deep down he knew Cora needed stability, but his house wasn’t a calm place.
“Are you considering this because it will make Maple happy? Because having kids is a big responsibility.” Drake folded his arms. His second may be a few years old but he didn’t know everything about being responsible.
“Like being the fucking alpha isn’t a big responsibility?” Raymand growled.
“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger but they’re a whole other game. Kids give any wolf a run for their money and sanity.” Drake shook his head.
“If I do keep Cora at my house it will because I want her there.” Raymand closed the last file and sighed.
“So that’s the ultimate question then isn’t it?” Drake leaned back and stared toward the window. Tonight, he would listen to Maple’s side about keeping Cora and come to his own decision.
“I’ll see you later.” Raymand left the files with Drake and headed to finish the last of his duties before he had to grab food. If he would be honest with himself, he didn’t know which might be better, to keep Cora or give her another home.