HIS FATHER, MY MATE.

Matthias blinked as her words sunk in, his gaze was unreadable as he glanced down at his clasped hands. She bit her lips. The truth was, she'd thought about that night in the past days more times than she was supposed to.

If she closed her eyes she could still feel the way he moved deep inside her, the way his knot had stretched her wide. And she felt ashamed. This man was her ex mate's father, and she sat across from him, getting wet for him.

Matthias cleared his throat. "I know it was a mistake." He said, "But if anyone is to apologize, it should be me. You were drunk, and vulnerable, and I took advantage of you. If I'd known it was you, I would have put a stop to it."

Her teeth sunk into her lower lip, and she fiddled with the hem of his shirt. It smelled like him, and his scent was so overpowering, she was almost dizzy with the force of her want.

"I don't regret it." She blurted.

Matthias went deadly still. She shut her eyes tight, unable to bear the look of disgust, or pity that would be in his gaze. "What?" His voice was choked.

Raine shot to her feet, shaking her head. "I think I'll just leave. I'm so sorry."

"No, Raine hold up." He reached out, stopping her before she could go far. "Please. Don't go."

She stopped, her chest heaving as she breathed fast. Matthias’s grip was a band around her arm, and her wolf whined with the need to get closer, climb into his lap, nuzzle his neck and beg him to scent mark her.

“Raine,” her name was soft on his lips. He put a finger under her chin and she let him drag her gaze up to him. “Look at me. You have nothing to be ashamed of. But, you can’t mean that.”

“I do.” She shook her head, already feeling herself tremble in the knees. “It’s all a mess. I thought you were Ronan and I… I feel like the worst kind of slag.” She sniffed. “I don’t know if it’s because of my wolf, or if I’m just horrible. But I don’t regret it.”

Their gaze met and held, and Raine was unable to stop herself from swaying closer. The pull between them seemed to intensify with each moment they stood staring into each other’s eyes. And then, like some switch had been flipped, Matthias placed both hands on her face, and dragged her close to him, slamming his lips down on her.

Raine staggered back, her eyes going wide with shock. “Alpha…” she gasped, putting a hand on her lips.

Matthias stepped back as well, his chest heaving with the effort it took not to lunge at her again. “I’m sorry,” he said, voice strained. “I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t know what came over me.”

It must have been his wolf, as desperate for her touch as hers was for his. Raine dropped her gaze from his stormy ones, her voice soft when she spoke again. “I should leave. I’m sorry.”

She turned, headed for the door, but Matthias stopped her again. “You can leave this pack house, but I don’t want you sleeping outside the borders. You’re a member of the pack too.”

Raine shook her head, “I’m not. I was banished. I’m a disgrace.”

“Banished by who?” He growled, reaching up to cup her face, He towered over her, and Raine had to strain her neck to look up at him. “Certainly not me, and I hold all the authority here.”

“The pack members.” She mumbled, glancing away. “Alpha Silas was there as well. If Ronan finds me back here, I don’t think I’ll be able to face him.”

“Raine, I don’t know what exactly happened between you both, but you have to believe me when I tell you that Ronan has to get to me first before he can hurt you.” Matthias shut his eyes tight like a man in pain. “What they did to you, behind my back, I can’t even begin to apologize. I pride myself on protecting every member of my pack, but I have failed you.”

“No, Alpha, you didn’t.” Unable to help herself, Raine reached up and cupped his face too, feeling the coarse points of his greying beard against her palm. She reached up on her toes, leaning into him. “There was nothing you could have done.”

In the space between them, the tension crackled. Their wolves called for each other, yearning and aching. Raine could feel Matthias’s want through the bond, she was sure he could feel hers as well. Her breathing stuttered as his gaze dropped to her lips, and Raine parted them instinctively, waiting for him to make the first move.

He drew close, and closer still, until his breath was ghosting against her mouth. Raine shut her eyes tight, titling her head back. An offering to him, she waited for him to take it.

Somewhere in the house, a door slammed shut. And before Raine could even register the sound for what it was, Matthias was gone, standing half way across the room, his chest heaving as they both snapped their head up. A figure stood in the door way, golden eyes sharp and unreadable as they scanned from one end of the room to the other.

Ronan stepped forward, eyes burning as a sneer pulled his lips from his teeth.

“Dad, what the fuck is going on?” He snarled, turning to growl at Raine. “And why is she back here?”