The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

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The Pack: Rule Number 1 – No Mates

Chapter One Hundred–Twelve

DOMONIC

Rainier, Lief, and I are gathered in front in the parking lot of the Town Hall. Bartlett, James, Andrew, and Timmons have all gone to Draven’s house to get some much needed rest. I would like us to be on our way to Timber tomorrow, but as things are right now, I don’t think that’s going to happen.

“So what do you want to do?” I ask Rainier from the front seat of my Humter.

Rainier shakes his head, his dark eyes going flat. He refused to escort Thomas into the dungeon. Refused to even look at the man. The council had to step in and take charge. “They can do whatever they want with that bastard. I have nothing to say to him.” His gaze lifts to mine. “Unless, you want the kill. I’d be happy to relinquish it,”

I shake my head, studying the barely concealed rage behind his eyes. I do want the kill. Of course I do. But there’s too much of a chance that Rainier will hate me for it if I do it. No… the kill has to be his. “I can’t kill your father Rainier. I want to, you better believe I do. But you’re my brother. I won’t do that to you if you can’t do it yourself.”

His eyes twinkle with something like relief. He wants to die, anyway. He has for a long time. I’ll be damned if I grant him peace after everything he’s done..”

With a heavy sigh, I nod my head in retreat. I should ask Draven what she thinks. Maybe her decision is the only one that trilly matters. She is the one he kidnapped after all. Even if he didn’t really hurt her. And… something tells me she might have some insight that we don’t have. Maybe she’ll have a better suggestion as to what should be done with him.

“Emily’s dying.” Rainier says. “Koda hasn’t left her side since we found her.”

My hands clamp tight around my steering wheel at that news, Jesus Christ. I can only imagine what Koda is feeling right now. The image of Draven–weak and immobile – back in that cave, flashes before my eyes and I send up a prayer of thanks that she was unharmed. I was lucky to have reached her in time. Not only yesterday, but when Leo had her on that boat as well. The thought of Koda losing Emily before, he’s even accepted her as his mate burns into my chest. Guilt slamming into me from all sides.

This is my fault. All of it. If I had listened to my brother when I first found Draven and simply changed the rules and accepted her… this might not be happening right now. All my stupid attempts to keep her safe have ended with her in danger. Now is the time for all that to

stop.

“How do you know she is dying?” I ask,

Rainier sallows thickly, simply shaking his head. “You’ll have to see her for yourself. She’s covered in black veins, Jason bit her numerous times. Like… he wanted to make sure we had to watch her die.”

“And what are we going to do if she does die?” Lief interjects. “I don’t think I want to know what Kods will be like if she does.”

I grit my teeth, closing my eyes as I remember how angry he was with me when I sent Draven away. He wanted Emily. I could tell. Even though he refused to admit it, I could see he was only following my lead, despite that he didn’t agree with me.

“Let’s get to the infirmary and see what we can do to help.”

“Here,” Rainier says, handing me

e a small velvet box.

The ring Lasked him to retrieve for me from Port Orchard. I smile, “Thank you. I hope I get to use it.”

st still hanging on to that goddamned rule!”

better

chuckle sadly, “No. I’m not But if Emily dies…”

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Chapter One Hundred–Twelve

off there is to say.

DRAVEN

She screams.

of pain so bone deep it’s as if her soul is mourning the death of her body and I drop to my knews in fear. Her eyes fly open, bulging out of their sockets as she wilthes and shudders beneath Koda grip. To my surprise, he doesn’t let her go. Instead, be bites her again and again, and

free. Swallowing the rock lodged in my throat I struggle to my feet to gaze down into her eyes. They’re dark, bloodshot and unseeing. Like the eyes of a vampire or a

Have I made

I whisper, as Benjamin rushes to my side, shoving me

shouts and Koda releases her neck to peer into her

shifting to Koda’s. For a moment, I see something there. Longing and love and a sadness so devastating that I’m grateful when she closes her eyes again. Then, her shuddering stops and

whips out a stethoscope, checking her heartbeat as I begin to cry.She’s not wheezing anymore. She’s not moving at all. Benjamin flinches, stepping away from

Koda screeches, “What is it?”

heart is slowing. She’s not

Koda snaps, his dark blue eyes meeting

my tears. “I’m so sorry, 1–I

I whisper, closing

hands reaching beneath her head to lift her neck toward the light. “Look! Look there!

pinkened and healing. The veins that wore webbed, stretching like black ink fingers over her body

Something is happening!

eyes narrowed as he stepped up to check her heart rate again. He shakes his head, “I dont know. Her heart is still slowing and she

the way to take her hand in my own. It might be my imagination, or maybe even wishful

into her neck and taking her into his arms. He whispers, “Please be okay, please

of us to yelp and step back, but then it begins to rise and fall gently as if she’s simply asleep.

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Chapter One Hundred–Twelve.

I stand back. Each of us

“WM!!???” | 1

when Benjamin finally

draws back.

still very weak. We’ll have to wait and see if she awakens, but by the look of things,

his knees, his breath coming out in a gust of

us to do is wait for her to wake up,” Benjamin says. “She might not, you know.

him my sweetest smile as I shove a hand over his mouth. One glance at Roda tell me he wasn’t listening anyway – Thank God. His eyes are glued to Emily. “Let’s take a walk,

should stay nearby. To monitor her

“That’s fine. Well stay nearby, but

privacy. Okay?

Okay, slys.