Chapter 2 The Mate That Wasn't Mine

Amber

"Amber, get in the bathroom. Now." Rayne hissed, his voice barely above a whisper, his tone sharp and commanding.

"What?" I whispered back, frozen in place as panic surged through me. Reed's knocking on the door grew louder, more insistent.

Rayne cursed under his breath and grabbed my arm, practically shoving me toward the bathroom. "Just go. Now!"

I stumbled into the small, dimly lit bathroom, clutching the edge of the sink to keep myself upright. The door clicked shut behind me, and I heard the muffled sound of Rayne throwing on his clothes as Reed's voice carried through the door.

"Rayne? Open up! What the hell are you doing in there?"

"Give me a second," Rayne called back, his tone strained but even.

My heart raced as I leaned against the wall, every muscle in my body tense. My hands trembled, and I pressed them against my stomach, trying to will myself to calm down.

The door creaked open, and I held my breath as Rayne finally let Reed in.

"Finally," Reed said, his voice muffled through the bathroom door. "I've been knocking forever. What are you even doing in here? And where did you go last night? You practically disappeared on me."

"I needed a moment," Rayne said smoothly, his tone calm but firm. "The guys pulled me away for drinks and after the party last night, my head's been killing me. This was the only quiet spot I could find this morning."

Reed let out a soft laugh, tinged with concern. "Yeah, Brittany's parties are chaos. I swear someone spiked the punch. My head's pounding like crazy."

I pressed my ear closer to the door, holding my breath as their conversation continued. Relief washed over me when Reed didn't push Rayne any further.

Thank the goddess Betas can't smell pheromones, I thought. Reed couldn't sense my scent clinging to Rayne or the bond between us. If he'd been an Alpha, the entire room would've reeked of me and Rayne, and no excuse in the world could've saved us.

"You're looking a little pale," Rayne said softly, his voice taking on a warm, affectionate tone. "Let me drive you home. You need to rest."

Reed chuckled, the sound light but laced with teasing. "Rest? Babe, I don't need rest. You know what I need?"

My breath hitched as I slowly and methodically cracked the bathroom door open just slightly, ensuring not to make a sound. Through the crack, I could see Reed step closer to Rayne, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

He wrapped his arms around Rayne's neck, pulling their bodies flush together. "I need you," Reed whispered, his voice dipping low and suggestive. "You always know how to make me feel better. Just give me what I need, and I promise I'll feel good as new."

There was no mistaking the meaning in his words, the way his hands trailed up Rayne's back and his lips hovered near Rayne's ear. He wanted sex, and he wasn't being subtle about it.

A low growl rumbled in my chest before I could stop it, and I clamped my hand over my mouth in horror. My wolf snarled possessively, her voice echoing in my mind. Mine. He's ours. Get him away from him. Now.

I bit down hard on my lip, forcing my wolf back into submission. Not now. Not like this.

Rayne placed his hands gently on Reed's waist, his touch gentle but firm as he leaned back just slightly. "Reed," he said softly, his voice steady and full of warmth, "you know I'd do anything for you. But right now, you need to take care of yourself. Let me take you home, make sure you eat something, and I'll give you the hangover meds myself."

Reed pouted, leaning into Rayne's touch. "You're too good to me, you know that? What did I do to deserve such a sweet boyfriend?"

Rayne didn't reply, but I saw the flicker of guilt in his eyes before he quickly masked it with a soft smile.

Reed smiled up at Rayne, his brown eyes filled with love and adoration. Then he pulled Rayne down into a kiss, and my stomach twisted painfully.

It wasn't a simple kiss. It was intense, consuming, and so full of passion it was unbearable to watch. Reed's hands threaded through Rayne's blonde hair, tugging him closer as their mouths moved together in perfect sync. The kiss was hungry, demanding, and filled with an intimacy that spoke of years of love and trust.

Rayne's hands slid down to Reed's waist, pulling him flush against his body. His fingers gripped Reed's hips tightly as if he couldn't bear to let go. Their kiss deepened, and a soft, breathy sound escaped Reed's lips as Rayne tilted his head, angling for more.

It was raw and unfiltered, a display of a love so deep that it felt like a physical blow. My chest ached as I watched, tears welling in my eyes until they blurred my vision.

Before, I wouldn't have cared. But now, with the bond tying me to Rayne, the sight of him showing this kind of affection to someone else felt like my heart was being ripped apart piece by piece.

The tears spilled over, hot and silent as they rolled down my cheeks. I pressed a hand to the mark on my neck, its pulsing thrum mocking me.

When they finally pulled away, Reed rested his forehead against Rayne's and smiled softly. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world."

Rayne's smile was faint, his jaw tight, but he nodded. "Come on. Let's get you home."

Reed let Rayne guide him out of the room, and the door clicked shut behind them.

I stayed frozen in place for a long moment, my legs refusing to move. Finally, I stepped out of the bathroom, my knees buckling as I crumpled to the floor.

The tears came harder now, sobs shaking my chest as I pressed my hands to my face. My life had never been easy, but I had never expected it to get this complicated.