~

 

The moment that Roland saw Rayner, Dane, and Bowie, coming up the muddy track, he made a beeline right for her. He’d been waiting outside of his cabin for what felt like an eternity for her to come back.

“Rayner — I need you,” Roland said as he rushed up to her, and the sound of Dane’s warning growl stopped him in his tracks. “Seriously?”

“Rephrase that,” Dane grumbled.

“I need you to talk to Maggie — ease her worries — talk her around — be human — be a girl…”

“Okay, you had me there until you mentioned being a girl,” Rayner said with a wide grin.

“Come on, Rayner, take one for the team.” Bowie chuckled as he strolled by the group and toward his cabin.

“Shut up, grumpy bear,” Rayner tossed back on a low growl for the man.

“Better than being a girl,” Bowie chuckled, but he kept his feet pointed toward his cabin and kept on going. There was a new female on clan land, and she was human — he couldn’t risk being outside. “Keep the female away from my cabin,” he tossed back over his shoulder.

“You so much as breathe near my mate…” Roland growled.

“Keep the female away from my cabin.” Bowie shouldn’t have had to repeat himself, not after what has happened between him and Rayner, but he did anyway.

“Rayner, please,” Roland begged as he turned his attention back toward her.

“Yes, to everything but being a girl,” Rayner said and saw the absolute relief that rushed through Roland. She couldn’t help but chuckle.

Men and their wooing.

 

~

~

~

 

Rayner did one better. She sent Roland and Dane to get supplies from her kitchen and stoke up the firepit, while she went to speak to Maggie about being a mate to Roland.

She knew that she could talk to the woman until she was blue in the face, but actions spoke louder than words, and being around Roland was going to be better than anything that Rayner could say to try to alleviate the woman’s fears. Plus, she and Maggie weren’t exactly best girlfriends.

Only Roland could woo his mate, and Rayner could help that along a little by showing moral support, but he needed to step up and win Maggie’s heart the way that Dane had won hers.

Rayner also knew that trying to coax Bowie out of his cabin was like trying to move the mountain that they stood on. He’d have to meet Maggie sooner or later, and once Roland had claimed her, then things should be easier for the bad mood bear.

In truth, Rayner was impressed with how well Bowie was keeping his bear under control lately. They had that pact, they were going to help each other control their beasts, but Rayner felt that Bowie was already a few steps ahead of her – he’d been caging his beast up since the moment that he realized he’d bitten her.

Maggie looked more than relieved to see Rayner when she showed up at the door. She had practically yanked Rayner off her feet as she pulled her into the cabin and slammed the door shut behind them.

Rayner couldn’t help but chuckle. She remembered the first time that she met Dane — the first time that Dane had told her that she was his mate — it had been more than overwhelming.

“A mate!” Maggie shrieked and Rayner’s ears hurt at the sound. “What the hell does that mean? No — I already know what that means — kind of,” Maggie’s words were spilling out of her, and made Rayner smile again.

“Calm down.” Rayner chuckled.

“Is this a laughing matter?” Maggie asked. The hell if she knew — she was still trying to get over kissing Roland. She was sure that her lips were still tingling from those kisses.

“Well, it’s not a crying matter that’s for sure.” Rayner shrugged. Maggie sighed, she went to speak, but couldn’t find the words. Then she tossed up a hand in the air and let it fall back down to her thigh. “Ask me anything,” Rayner added.

“Like what? My brain is numb.” Maggie huffed again.

“Okay, let me try — sexy, right?” Rayner grinned from ear to ear and Maggie narrowed her eyes on her.

“Not the point…”

“Very much the point — think about it.” Rayner wiggled her eyebrows and Maggie’s cheeks flushed with a deep red hue.

“I don’t need to think about it — he kissed me — he’s more than sexy — he’s like that very first taste of chocolate — that very first taste of morning tea, sweet tea…” Maggie was staring off at the wall.

“Tea? What are you nuts?” Rayner chuckled again. “That man is certainly not tea, chocolate, or any other food or beverage that you can think of. That man is sex on a stick — sex on legs — sex up against the wall…”

“I get it. Sex, sex, sex…”

“And not just any sex — good sex — great sex — sexy sex — dirty sex…”

“Would you stop with the sex?” Maggie groaned.

“Oh, trust me, those are words you will not be saying to your mate…”

“And what’s with that? Mate?”

“That’s just what they call it. Think of him as a husband — a sure bet — someone who will never leave you — someone who will always love you, unconditionally — a man who will always be there — would die to protect you — wants babies — will be a great father — although, not perfect, ‘cos bear thing and all — without a doubt, he’s the one for you.” Rayner shrugged.

Maggie frowned as she considered the floorboards between them and every word that Rayner had said to her. Then she slowly raised her eyes to Rayner, narrowed them, and pointed her index finger to the ceiling.

“There has to be a catch.”

“Der — bear — keep up.”

“That’s it?”

“Hey, if you like fur and growling, he’s the one for you — oh wait, he’s the one for you anyway.” Rayner grinned. “We’re having barbecue…”

“You are?” Maggie frowned, she wasn’t really listening to that last part.

“We are,” Rayner said. “Let’s go.”

“Go?” Maggie snapped to attention.

“We’re having barbecue — let’s go,” Rayner repeated and offered Maggie a teasing grin.

“Can’t I just stay in here?”

“Sure, I’ll send Roland back in.”

“On second thoughts — barbecue sounds super.”

“And that’s why females are better than males — because we can change our minds without digging our heels in and feeling as if it’s a victory for the other side.” Rayner chuckled. “And we ask for directions, well, I don’t, but don’t get me sidetracked on that one.”