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

unanimous then? Koda

brown gaze for a long, heavy moment.

I clench my

away to climb behind the wheel of his car and

grin, “Where is he going?”

1/4

One Hundred Thirteen

wad. To

get mer it,” Bartlett remarks. “Give

was the one vote against,

shrug. He does, I don’t think his wife for an had

shutter behind the

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

DRAVEN

sing song voice chimes through my ears.

head shading my eyes. Drool dribbles from my mouth as I

I must have fallen asleep.

and I finally jolt

my mouth, wiping the drool from 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

“Emily?” I yelp.

out of my seat to crush her beneath my arms. “We’re not dead right? You’re alive?

mine as we crash the bed into the

and the golden tan of her skin. My eyes go straight for her throat, for the bare trace of a crescent shaped mark near the side of her neck where Koda bit her hours ago. There are no black veins anywhere to

alone.

ask absently, releasing Emily to

shrugs. “Who is everyone?”

as I work to remember what happened just before I

asked me to watch Emily for a few minutes while they stepped outside. I took a seat in the chair

awake?” I ask her.

When I woke up, you were

to flip out. He wanted

“He saved me, didn’t he?” she chokes out

2/4

One Hundred

as the gas and the mom in pair

come for me,

falling

me or not. I cally fold Sanon that to try

over you for hours before I came. He was so afraid he

spes her eyes to slide down her chank “Restart

raps

thing you have

to stop them sherges into my neck. “1-1 tried to get tops, but then he bit met And he left me in that place I thought I was