The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

hapter One Hundred–Thirteen

DOMONIC

Once I was finally able to ding Koda outside and away from Emily, I sen the infirmary stall home. Cadence included. The rest of us- Bartlett, James, Rainier, Timmons, Andrew, Lief, and Benjamin congregled just outside the building next to our cars.

“If this is about that fucking rule, it can wait. I don’t want to fight right now. I want to be the first person Emily sees when she wakes.”

I shake my head, swallowing my guilt for the moment. I’ll apologize eventually, sure, but right now there are more important things to discuss. “I’ve called a vote, and before I tell you what for I need confirmation.”

“Confirmation?” Koda hisses tiredly. “Of what?”

I tilt my head, doing my best to keep my features steady, impassive. “Of whether or not you’ve decided to keep Emily.”

for real?

He snorts, shaking his head as his eyes narrow at me. “Are you fo

“Just a

answer the question Koda.”

His jaw clenches, his back going ramrod straight. “Yes. Of course I am.

“Are you willing to move your life here? I mean – is this place where you want to be?”

“Are you asking me if I’m willing to leave the pack just to be with her?

That’s not what I’m asking, but I nod anyway, just for kicks.

He glares, a low growl rumbling behind his throat. “If that’s the way it has to be, then fine. I’ll leave the pack.”

So the answer is yes.

You’d give it all up for her?”

Koda nods, the dark blue of his gaze going cold as ice.

“Thank God,” I say, “Because I’ve decided I would do the same. But, neither of us should have to.”

Each of my brothers around us laughs, save for Rainier, who has gone eerily quiet.

“What the fuck does that mean, Dom?” Koda whispers, his muscles tensing. ‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

I nod, “Yup.

Called in a vole e with Paul and the others already. The only one left undecided was you.”

Koda smiles, “And you already knew what my answer would be.”

a pretty good

then? Koda

jaw, my eyes locking with Rainier’s cold brown gaze for a long, heavy

I clench my

wheel of his car and pull out of

grin, “Where is he

1/4

Hundred

To Argie, To

it,” Bartlett remarks. “Give him some time.”

gaze, “So he was the one vote against, huh?

I don’t think his wife for

sighs, glancing around as be shimmer of sunlight begins to shutter behind the mountains. “What are we going to do about this place?”

as I turn toward Benjamin. “I think I have a

DRAVEN

a soft sing song voice

Drool dribbles from my mouth as I come to and

have fallen

and I finally

my lips as I straighten my limbs. For a moment, I simply sit there in my seat, eyes blinking against the light, body wobbling back and forth as I try and make sense of where and who I am. It takes me a full on minute to realize the cute blond pixie standing before me next to the hospital

“Emily?” I yelp.

to nod before I’m rocketting out of my seat to crush her beneath my arms. “We’re not dead right? You’re alive? And we’re both standing here, right?”

as we crash

of a crescent shaped mark near the side of her neck where Koda

alone.

I ask absently, releasing Emily to wander a few steps into the half.

“Who is

cross my arms over my chest, my brow furrowing as I work

came… he wanted to talk to Koda… Koda asked me to watch Emily for a few minutes while they stepped outside. I took a seat in the chair and must have simply passed out. After the last couple of nights that I’ve had, I guess it was to

I ask her.

“I don’t know. A few minutes. When I woke up,

“Koda is going to flip out. He wanted to be here

me, didn’t he?” she chokes out and L–meet her gaze with a

2/4

One Hundred Thirteen

her eyes as the gas and the mom

going to come for me, for he didnt

falling sad. To

for me or not. I cally fold Sanon that to try

over you for hours before I came.

eyes to slide down

raps

want to hear every little thing you have to say about what happened, but I’m through twing in

my neck. “1-1 tried to get tops, but then he