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.”

had a pretty good idea.”

then? Koda

gaze for a long, heavy moment.

I clench my

behind the wheel of his car and pull out of

his grin, “Where is he going?”

1/4

Hundred Thirteen

sigh, shaking my wad. To Argie, To Port

it,” Bartlett remarks. “Give

my gaze, “So he was the one vote against, huh? Why? I thought he

I don’t think his wife for an had anything to

sighs, glancing around as be shimmer of sunlight begins to shutter behind the mountains. “What are we going to

toward Benjamin. “I think I have a plan

DRAVEN

a soft sing song voice

feels smashed against cool plastic and my arms are curled around my head shading my eyes. Drool dribbles from

have fallen

and I

slap 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 on

“Emily?” I yelp.

of my seat to crush her beneath my arms. “We’re not

giggles, her tiny body folding into mine as we crash the bed into

focus as I take in her muddy clothes 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 be found and 1 suddenly feel like breaking out in a

alone.

ask absently, releasing Emily to wander a few

“Who is everyone?”

furrowing as I work to remember what happened just before I

took a seat in the chair and must

awake?” I

minutes. When I woke up, you were the only one here.

snicker, “Koda is going to flip out. He wanted to

tears. “He saved me, didn’t he?” she chokes out and L–meet her gaze with a smile. “After

2/4

Hundred Thirteen

as the gas and the

was going to come

eyes falling sad. To

going to look for me or not. I cally fold Sanon that to try and scare him.”

over you for hours before I came. He

spes her eyes to slide down her chank “Restart

raps

bug. “Come on, I want to hear every little thing you have to say about what happened, but I’m through twing in this

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