The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred–Forty–Two

RAINIER

As the shower pours over me, I resign myself to the reality of what I not about to step into. There isn’t even a sliver of a doubt in my mind that Angle is going to go ballistic when I tell her I want a divorce. She more than aware that I haven’t been happy, and on more than one occasion she’s accused me of wanting a divorce. The kicker is, each and every time she said it, I denied that it was true. Because at the time, it wasn’t. I didn’t want a divorce, I didn’t not want one either, but that fact was irrelevant at the time. I simply did not care at all.

We had sex quite a bit in the beginning of our relationship as well as at the start of our marriage. It wasn’t until all this crazy shit started happening and Draven first arrived, that I truly began to neglect my husbandly duties of boinking her at least once a week. I’m not even really sure why it changed at that time, but it did. Maybe it was seeing Domonic so fucking obsessed with a female and so completely desperate to hide it. Or maybe it was the fact that deep down, I knew something was up with him. I knew he was being uncharacteristically cruel when he insisted that Draven was an outsider and had no business planting her feet here. We could all see it. Maybe somewhere in the middle of his useless attempt to stick to our dumb rules, I realized things were about to change. Perhaps, I subconsciously began to separate myself from Angie.

I still have not asked her about Draven’s ring. And why not? Because something inside me is afraid that she did it, I believe that she may have found it in my things, thought it was a gift for my non–existent lover, and then taken it out of spite. But I have no proof. The guilt that I feel on a daily basis, for knowing I would never love her and manying her anyway, rides me like a mule in the desert on most days.

But it is time for that to stop. Angie is a grown woman and should be free to find someone to love her and cherish her in a way that I never will. And should that logic fail when I tell her, I’ve also decided to sign over my house. Despite that it was mine before married. She can have it all. The furniture, the cars in the garage, even the money in our joint bank account. Shit, 111 even agree ridiculous alimony payment, if it will somehow help her swallow the pill I’m about to feed her.

But I already know, my quick visit home to break the news will be anything but. I won’t be getting out of there unscathed for sure.

When I step out of the shower and waltz back into the bedroom, I find it empty. Frowning to myself, I pull on my clothes from yesterday and venture into the living room in search of Felix. When I finally see her, something crushes into my heart. My chest begins to ache in the oddest way and a sudden sadness washes over me that I cannot explain. I take a moment to study her as she gazes absently out the window and at first, nothing seems to be wrong. She looks normal enough. She’s dressed, her hair is brushed, and her face is freshly washed. But there’s something missing and it isn’t until she actually looks at me that I see what it is.

“You’re finished,” she supplies, granting me the bare minimum of a smile. “I guess we’ll be heading back now, right?”

Her eyes. The bright, vivid teal irises that light up everytime I see her are dulled. There’s not even the slightest hint of warmth in them at all and I’m immediately conflicted. I let my desire for her get the better ofte. I shouldn’t have started having sex with her while she was still asleep. I fucked up.

“Sweetheart,” I begin, and the sudden flare of pain I see in her gaze nearly kills me. “If I offended you this morning when L…” I close my eyes for a second in an attempt to find the courage to say the words, “orced myself on you while you were still sleeping-”

Her incredulous snort cut me off and I found myself even more confused than before. “Stop it Rainier. You n

never forced me to do anything,” she reassures me, her eyes going cold and distant. “I enjoyed every single thing that we did together. It was all wonderful. Too wonderful,” she insists, before gazing back out the window. “Perfect,” she whispers.

I cocked my head at her, still acutely aware that there was something weighing on her heart. I took a seat next to her, frowning when her -body instantly stillened next to me. “Felix,” I whispered, too afraid to touch her but needing to all the same. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

She smiles, taking a deep breath before turning her eyes on mine. “Nothing. Not a thing. Just a little nervous about meeting your friend at the bar I guess.

She’s lying. Tim not sure how I know, but I do. “If you think that I just plan to dump you there and never return, I promise that’s not how it

“Uh–huh,” she says, glancing down to stare at her lap. “I know you’ll return. They always do, at least once.”

1/3

Chapter One Hundred–Forty–Two

that mean? I snap. “For the record, I am nothing any

a sad smile

responsibilities that I cannot neglect any longer. Not to mention in unavoidable engagement that starts the moment the sun goes down tonight. So as much as I

in, kissing me back with so much aggression that I moan into her mouth. When I pull away, her eyes are still closed, but I know don’t have any more time to waste and I head for the helm to

the bar. I had actually spoken to him about it before I ran it past Felix, in hopes that

were mostly bare. It wasn’t until we pulled in behind the bar t had Hector’s car towed from the

frightened voice. “Was he released? Or

“No. I can completely and totally assure you that

you mean? He’s still in jail, right? You have him locked

I realized

arrested him here, I simply forgot to have it in pounded,” I inform her, taking her trembling hand in mine. “I’l have

not looking entirely convinced and we enter the bar through the back door.

a knowing look. “Nice

her, his gaze widens in appreciation and he

can’t help but smile stupidly

on Felix as he asks, “Do you

second of hesitation. “I absolutely do,”

glance my way. “I think Rainier does too. He hasn’t always, but I believe he does now.”

completely oblivious to the fact that

no. “Great Care to join me for sgave? I was just about to

she says

for the inevitable sadness of Felix’s gaze. “But I’ll be back by

“You’ve done more than most people would have done, and I’m extremely grateful. You don’t have to

meet Bartlett’s eyes and

be