The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

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The Pack: Rule Number 1 – No Mates

Chapter One Hundred–Sixteen

DRAVEN

Five minutes after I called him, Dart was strolling through the front doors like an avenging angel. His stride was steady and unhurried, his eyes scanning the perimeter through the windows. Ever vigilant up until the point that he realized Taedora and I were baking biscuits in the kitchen. Brows furrowed in confusion, he asks, “What kind of emergency calls for biscuits and gravy?”

I grin, tossing my oven mitts up on the counter as I leap into his arms for a warm welcoming hug. “We’re making breakfast for everyone.”

“Everyone?” Bart asks. “Who is everyone?”

I smile bouncing back on my heels. “Emily, Koda, and you.”

“Emily and Koda? Are you sure they’re going to make it?”

I laugh, my eyes sparkling as I nod toward the driveway and the silver SUV pulling in behind Bart’s truck. “Yup.”

An hour later the five of us are gathered in the living room when I pull out the jewelry box and flip the lid open for all to see. A chorus of gasps and curses follow. Koda tenses, his arms guing so tight around Emily that she yelps.

“When did Domonic give that to you?” Bart asks, reaching forward to take it in his hands.

“This morning,” I say. Just before he left. He told me to keep it until my answer was yes and then… just that 1 should put it on and he would know.” I smile, my eyes watering at the memory. “When I saw what he did to the guestroom – how he made it into a nursery‘–I swallow-“I opened it to put it on and-”

That message was there instead of the ring,” Koda hisses. “Have you asked Domonic about it?”

I shake my head. “No.”

Any particular reason why?” Bart asks.

“You know why,” I say simply.

He and Koda both nod. “Right,” Bait acknowledges. “You don’t want him to send you away again.”

Koda growls, “Excuse me for a minute.” The rest of us watch as Koda settles Emily on the seat next to him and steps out front.

“Where the hell is he going?” Taedora quips, hopping out of her seat to peer out the front door.

“Not far,” Emily says. “He won’t leave me. This is the farthest his been from me since we got back here.”

“He’s on the phone,” Bart says, meeting my gaze. “Calling Rainier.”

“What?” I snap. “Why Rainier? What does he have to do with a

of it

humorlessly. “Aside from the fact that he’s the one who Domonic had retrieve the ring in the

something nags at me, gnawing

he wasn’t entirely happy that I was here. Could he have put that message in the box for me to

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Chapter One Hundred–Sixteen

but maybe the best thing to do is confront him about it and

the room perks up when Roda comes back in the front. His eyes go

bar and the Sheriff Station?

going vivid and catlike as she purrs, “I did. Why

The ring was buried behind the dungeon exit of the Sheriff Station. One of the places we had you lions place the

if there’s no one on the camera but

other person who might have had

meet over

bring it over afterward,” Koda

at him warily. “So you don’t think Rainier had something to

at that,

first glimpse of anger I’ve seen since Emily

way he relaxes once he snuggles

are adorable,” I say with a smile

embarrassed anger I’m used to seeing from Koda, his eyes heat as he draws Emily in closer. She

smile sadly, his ryes focused on the pair of them as they cuddle and I notice for the first time how truly lonely Bart

murte will find you too, Bart. I promise.” I whisper and his

throat. “Thats a nice thought kiddo. But it

to squeeze his hand. “It’s true. I can feel

that wasn’t weird

table and placing it back inside my pocket.

cameras,” I say, pacing back and forth as I stare out

his gaze lowering with a shake of his head.

a deep

coming out so softly they re almost hard

yelp. “Why didn’t

his head, granting me a wan smile.

she is his

someone who was not

no | in unison, their eyes locking

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Hundred Sixteen

is now what

dont know he might that