The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

The Pack: Rule Number 1 – No Mates

Chapter Sixty–Nine

DRAVEN

“You dont have to stay at the bar Dr, Phal says when we pull into the lot behind the Moonlight Lounge “You can stay with me if you want to

I glance back at Ennily, “Can you take my stuff inside Em? 11l be there in just a moment,”

She nods, her eves sympathetic. “Sure”

I watch her as she exits the car and drag my things into the back entrance. Then I turn to Paid and plaster a grateful smile onto my face, despite the anger I’m feeling deep down in my bones. That’s okay Paul. I’d rather not

He pulls in a sharp breath, nodding like that was the answer be expected. Tunderstand that you’re hurting right now and I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. Penah, I still haven’t met my mate, but I cant insagine what it would feel like to be rejected by her.”

My brow furrows, “According to Domenic, I’m not his mate. Margo is.”

| chackles, staring out at the street beyond the bat. “You know that’s bullshit, right?”

“Margo Paul ch

Despite my strongest attempt to portray myself as a caneless bitch, his words bring fresh tears to my eyes. “Is it?” I whimper,

He tims to me with a smirk. “Hell yeah it is.” He sighs, Tm net supposed to butt into his business. After all, he is the Alpha of the pack and my best friend. But know him better than anybody does and I promise you this – you are his mate.”

do you know that? I screech. Tell me or I’ll never speak to you again.”

He shrugs. “It was pretty obvious to me right from the start. The insane jealousy, the possessiveness. He marked you!”

1 giggle, throwing my head back against the seat. “He literally and You are just so hitch that I marked. That is what he told me, so I wouldn t call that proof.”

Paulshakes his head knowingly. “That’s because you don’t know shit about shifters

mates.

“So tell m me then. What do I not know? I glare at him, paying acute

be attention to his next words,

“First of all, wolves don’t mark just anybody.” He glances at me, his gaze serious. “He might have acted like we do, but I swear to you, we don’t. For wolf shifters, mates are sacred. They are a once in a hfetime thing. We’re not like lions that have been known to have more than one mate- and God knows why that happens. In fact, most shifters only ever have one.” He smiles. And we can’t mark just anybody, because our venom is specifically designed to bond us to our partner, making their bodies strong enough to bear our children. Marking just anyone would get them killed. The venom would serve as a poison for them. They would die.”

have babies with

help but ask this- “So you mean to tell

only reproduce with our mates that we have marked, yes. At

would he do this? Why would he want me to leave? I don’t get it. I

he’s doing it.

best? Really? There is definitely something they aren’t telling me, but I’m done trying to figure out what it is. “Well,” I snipe. Unlike wolves, humans

pipe and snake

doing anything you know you will regret. Just give him some time

his fucking bed and my mind refuses to forgive it. There’s no reason in the world that one could give me that would

1/3

Chapter Sixty–Nine

bar hot so

look Bart gives me is so full of pity that I want to curl up and die right there on the spot. I adore Bart, I do, but I’ve already decided that I’m going

just

the fuck on. The only thing left for me here is a whole

of heartache.

seat Draven,” Bart says. “I have an offer for you that might make you

the booth anyway, clasping my hands in front of me to keep them from trembling

bar wings open and I know who it is just

decked out in his fall sheriff uniform. It occurs to me that this is the first time Emily is seeing him since Boding out that he’s a wolf and I study her for any trace of fear, but all I see there is admiration.

Emily and for the first

the rigns are there, I mean if the few things that I do know about mates is accurate. Could she be his? And if

to talk to Bart?

duty, I just came by to make sure the two of you had somewhere to

I turn to Emily. “I told you from now on where

and I notice Kodas body tense. “Of course I am,” she

not true. You could work here at the bar and stay here in the apartment upstairs. Like Draven did before…” He cuts off, leaving

being the key word. The now being a different one. Like asshole. Or liar. Maybe even marwhore. That’s

meets my eyes, holding my gaze with her mouth set in a firm line.

back the

‘Suit yourself. I’m glad you’re both okay” Then he tums around and leaves as quickly as

bad as his

trying to control my suddenly trembling voice. “I appreciate you. Out of everyone that I met since I got off the train, I trust you the most. So I’m not going to ask you what

Draven, I-

off. “No. I get it.

blah blah blah, you have no control. Whatever. I no longer give

send you to Miami,”