The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Twenty-Five

DOMONIC

Draven is shivering before me, her body quaking with fear.

What the fuck did I do?

I am suddenly alarmingly aware of the hostile stance I have taken with her since finding out from Gryffin that she reeks of a Panther Shifter. All of which stems from misplaced jealousy. Being as the shifter was feline – he had ultimately been much easier for Gryffin to scent. The fact that Draven is my unbonded mate, makes it difficult for me to tap into anything other than her natural aroma. I won’t be able to recognize the carry of another’s sex on her until she and I have bonded. I mean – I would if she’d slept with someone else recently but such was not the case. All I’m getting from her is the pull the need the recognition that she is mine.

The guys may have smelled him on her and had no idea it wasn’t anything but normal. None of us had ever met a panther before. So

none of would have known the scent.

But Gryffin had. He’d known.

So naturally I want to know who the guy is. The smell of another’s sex can only last up to a month – unless of course it is mine. So whomever she was with had to be recent – within the span of a couple weeks.

Once I bond her, my scent and hers will mingle to become one and the same. But until then – all I will get is her.

But she doesn’t know any of this and I just came off as some kind of psychotic overbearing jerk.

Once I bond her? What? Am I going to? No! I can’t!

But fuck if I don’t want to.

Shit!

I really, really want to. But I can’t. That would be selfish since ultimately, she will have to leave.

I reach out for her, trying to soothe her, to bring her back from wherever she’d gone the moment I became such a reckless asshole. She jerks at my touch, her eyes flying open and her lip lifting in disgust.

“Don’t touch me,” she hisses. “Don’t you dare.”

the dismissal I see in her

“Fuck you! How dare you? First you call me a liar! Now you want to touch me? Go to fucking hell!

for her tips and begins counting them. A giant

not looking up at

she isn’t crying anymore.

you doing???” I ask

you what you’ve wanted since I got

door.

1/3

Chapter Twenty–Five

that one moment, the whole of my world seems

if she is!

catch her around the waist, my arms clamping around her as she fights and claws to get free of me. “Let me

whisper, my lips against her ear.

and wiggling before sobbing in frustration then freezing

for you to go. Just stay. Give

“But let me go. I

Fuck that hurt.

onto the sofa, thankful

me was – is that it?” She snaps, spitting each word like a bullet my way.

“I never

chuckles humorlessly. “You

“Fuck. You’re right I

talk about him! I told you to give me some time.

angry now, tapping her foot like a madwoman. But as she stands there, her words begin to sink in. Melting against my questions to produce an answer that has been in front of me from the very moment

dances through me

trapping my face in my

son–of-a-bitch.

drop my hands to look at her, the despair in her breaks me. Her eyes are closed and she is crying again. Her body trembling as silent tears stream down

have I