Page 11 of Catching Their Mate

Her gaze assesses me before moving to the passed-out figure of Raleigh in the back seat. Shaking her head, she chuckles.

“Peyton, this is Iris,” Sayer introduces us. “She’s the hunter in town we were trying to find.”

Her gaze snaps to mine as a frown slashes across her forehead. “She is also…”

“Yes,” Sayer cuts her off.

“Go to the newly built house on the east side of the compound. It was furnished a couple of days ago.” She is speaking a mile a minute. “I will have Talon bring you guys some food.”

“What about Caine?” Sayer asks, staring at the house in front of us.

“Let me deal with my mate,” she says before turning to me. “Did you do that?” Her chin lifts in the direction of Raleigh’s prone form.

“Um, yes,” I say softly.

She laughs shaking her head. “Have fun with that.”

She raps her knuckles on the roof of the truck before disappearing back into the house.

Chapter Ten

Sayer

I never considered the fact that Raleigh and I were living like overgrown children with Keela and Godrick to be an issue. I didn’t think farther than being able to claim our mate. Where would we live? Would she want her own home? What if we had a baby? We couldn’t keep living with our pseudo-adoptive parents. We needed to go out on our own eventually.

Pulling up to the little home that was only recently built on this side of the compound, I can’t help but steal glances at my—atour—mate. I know this house hasn’t been assigned yet and there isn’t currently anyone in the pack with a need for a home, so maybe we could stay here. Permanently.

Raleigh, Iris, and me.

But that’s just a simple fantasy and something I need to get over. Caine is going to lose his shit once Peyton tells him the truth. I know I told Iris I would keep her safe and I meant every word, but the reality is, she is probably going to end up dead. My grip on the steering wheel tightens at the thought of her in pain.

Shutting down the engine, I take a few deep breaths and get myself under control before facing Iris.

“Wait in the truck. I need to get Raleigh inside first. And then we should have a talk.”

“You trust me to wait here?” she asks in surprise.

“I trust a hunter to know better than to go waltzing through a wolf-shifter compound by herself.”

“Fine. I’ll wait.”

I watch her fold her arms, her breasts pressed higher by the action, straining against the shirt she has on. I want to rent the material from her skin and bare her to me but that isn’t in the cards.

Getting out of the truck I open the back door and pull my brother out. Throwing him over my shoulder in a fireman’s carry, I quickly climb the four steps to the porch before opening the door and walking in. The layout is the same as most of the houses. Lounge, open-plan kitchen and dining area, two bathrooms, and three bedrooms. Most people add as their families continue to grow but I think our house will remain as it is. Empty and never becoming a true home. My chest aches as I lay Raleigh down on a bed in one of the rooms. I’m not sure how either of us is going to take losing our mate but I do know it isn’t going to be easy.

Closing the door behind me, I make my way back to Iris. I was worried she might try to take off, but she is exactly where I left her. I make a “come here” gesture with my index finger, and after watching her glare for a moment, turn and walk into the house. I know she will follow me. I mean, I can’t see her sitting there in the open, waiting to be seen by another pack member. I can smell the fear radiating off her.

“I’m in the kitchen,” I call out when I hear her footsteps on the porch. “Close the door, will you?”

Another unhappy huff leaves her at being told what to do but she complies all the same. What other choice does she have after all? It takes her a moment to make it to the kitchen, but she doesn’t step into the room, instead standing on the threshold like a lost little girl.

“Sit down.” I gesture to the island while filling the kettle with water. “I’ll make us some tea and then we can have a nice chat.”

“A chat about what?” she asks taking a seat and glaring at me.

“Well, for starters, I need to know what you’ve communicated to your father.”

“I’m not going to tell you anything.” She grits her teeth.

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