The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

DRAVEN

A low and deadly groud climbs about the room. A seund so deep and temifying I fought for a moment, who the enemy is. I gasp as Leo freezes above me, his eyes flashing, yellow and Mark then veining into a mlor I’ve only seen in the eyes of a panther, I whimper, struggling once again as he turns.

A dark black wolf stands in the doorway, his lips down back, fangs glaring in the light. One look into the wolf a blue eyes and I know it must be a Thank God

Leo leaps into the win and I scream as claws scratch me with the movement. It all poses in a blur–Les trying to change mid–fight as he spins to face Roda and koda mapping his jaws in invitation.

That’s when I notice Koda is not alone. There’s another woll on my left side one that must have crept in while Leo was on top of me. It leaps at Less back. This wolf is red brown and incredibly familiar.

He is the wolf I saw outside of Domonic’s house some nights and he is larger than any animal I’ve ever seen up close. Even larger than Marcus‘ panther.

He a D

know this in the depth of my soul and I swallow back a sob as Leu is caught off guard by Domonic’s jaws closing over the back of his neck. Blood sprays, hitting me in the face, as Leo’s body is thrown to the flour on the left side of the bed. He is still mid–shift and now he is bleeding A gaping wound pours from his neck. Blood soaks the floor around him as he shudders. Laughing, somewhat angrily he attempts to shit but fails. The two wolves gather around him, circling him slowly, growling and snapping their teeth as they do. It’s a sight that brings my legs up beneath me and my back against the headboard. My arms are bent at an uncomfortable angle, but I don’t feel it. I’m mesmerized and I can’t look away.

The wolves are

are just so be

so beautiful.

They talk around Leo with predatory grace and for once, Leo has the good sense to be scared.

He is parting, his body trembling as his eyes attempt to track the wolves. But I see it in his eyes. He knows the fight is over and I almost smile,

“My father will-” Leo starts to say, but he never gets to finish.

Domonics wolf charges forward, tearing into Leo’s face and his words are swallowed in a flurry of sharp teeth Koda leaps in at the front and rips open Lebowels with his claws. Digging him out with his paws. Pieces of flesh and organ splatter the oor in a circle, growing wider and wider as the seconds tick by. The room is a chorus of sharks and growls as the wolves tear him apart and I watch with gruesome fascination, unable to turn my head from the execution in front of me. It feel like it takes forever, but I know it has only been moments by the time Leo is naught in a fountain of blood. Not an ounce of flesh is left of who he was. The last thing I see is Domonic’s teeth go around what must be Leo’s throat before he snaps his jaws tight and an eerie crack reverberates through the room, Leos mangled head rolling off his neck.

black out

DOMONIC

I decide to give the camiones of the ocean a retreat. I doubt they often get to taste panther. It is still pouring

is sleeping inside. I unbound her wrists and cleaned her up while God we got here in time. Had we been even a minute

we werent. So I choose

tightened with rage each and every time I looked at her face. Thank

let it capsize at sea. By the time we get back to the island, reinforcements should be there with another bost. We’ll take care of the ghiblem while the storm is still healthy and let the chips fall where they may. There’s a very minimal chance that Draven might get upset when she finds out, but cely because the vessel is named after her mother. And if that is the case, I have a solation. 11 just buy her a different poe, name that one after her mom, and be done with it. Despite what I know about who Draven’s mother was before she died. Im not going to sour Draven’s memory of her mother by telling her what Marcus said I would only become another one of those things that she would have to survive. Let the woman’s treachery die with her husband. Because the

tell

1/3

Chapter Fifty–Seven

not saying

until after the Full Moon going to ask

like you’re breaking the rules

am. I’ve already broken so many I’ve lost count. “This is the lake.”

“After all this. You’re still going

first time I see something that looks like panic in his not the time to explore it. “You know I am.” I sigh. Thave to. I

indof? Something is going on with him. But now’s felt today, ever

“So you plan to watch over her

Tve already bought her a condo in Miami and set up an account for her there as well. I figure she can finally

be that easy for you?” He laughs. “Do you remember the way it was for our dads? The pain they felt without-

snap. “But they were bonded. Draven and I are not. It shouldn’t be as painful. And

cabin entrance Koda’s voice calls out to

we could find the arsonist

shoulder at him when I speak “What if we coul!?

would you consider letting her