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.”

my heart clenching at the dismissal I see in her eyes.

call me a liar! Now you want to touch me? Go to fucking hell!

into her pocket for her tips and begins counting them. A giant cloud of

glares at her money, not looking

at least she

doing???” I ask again.

wanted since I got off the

door.

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Chapter Twenty–Five

whole of my world seems

if

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

my lips against her ear.

again, writhing and wiggling

at night and there’s nowhere else for you to go. Just stay. Give me a minute please. Just listen to

she hisses. “But let me go. I don’t

Fuck that hurt.

power. I drop my arms and tumble back onto the sofa, thankful that she doesn’t flee. She turns

last person that fucked me was – is that it?” She snaps, spitting each word like a bullet my way. “Is that what’s got

protest. “I

humorlessly. “You

my eyes. “Fuck. You’re right I shouldn’t have-

She interrupts. “I said I wasn’t ready to talk about him! I told you to give me some time. But no – you had to push

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

dances through me at

trapping my face in my hands. “Fuck.”

son–of-a-bitch.

in her breaks me. Her eyes are closed and she is crying again. Her body trembling as

have I