The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One–Hundred–Forty–Three

RAINIER

Shit! Shit!, shit, shit! When I stepped out of the shower on the yacht, my pants were folded neatly on the bed. At the time, I know Felix must have been the one to place them there and I was actually a little touched that she had even bothered. Never once did it occur to me that she might have searched my pockets. I wonder what she was looking for. Money? Was she planning to leave?

thed be

In truth, she didn’t really seem too thrilled about the job at the bar, not the apartment that came with it. I would have thought sh happier about the opportunity. Not that bartending was a glamorous career, but it was way more respectable than the one she had before we met. I almost felt like I was forcing her into it when I left her at the bar. Fuck. The more I think about it, the uneasier I feel

She didn’t even mention finding the ring, which probably means that she has already written me off. She’s going to leave.

Well… she’s going to try. I’m not going to let her. Tonight during the shift, I’ll be more animal than man, and I may not be entirely connected to the human side of my life. But one thing’s for certain, I will know she is mine when I see her. So if I can just stick to the wooded area closest to the bar, Fcan watch over her through the night. At least I hope.

The problem is, during the forced shift, we as wolves are overcome with a rush of primal instincts. Everything about our human lives will fade into the background and all we will know is the beast on the other side. During a normal shift, we are in complete control of both Identities. We maintain our human nature while in beast form. We know exactly who and what we are. During a forced shift, we simply become wolves. Every human thought and memory falls into the darkness and we spend the entire night racing through the forests. We may go into the shift intent on being present and planning to keep watch over our loved ones, but it never ever happens that way. Not for any of us. At least, not yet. Often times we shift back into ourselves miles from town and end up having to shift back into our wolves to face home. So as much as I hope I’ll be able to stick around and watch Felix, I know it’s not likely to happen.

Maybe nothing has been important enough to me yet. Maybe Felix could be the one thin to bridge the gap for me.

I sigh, my eyes back on the front door as I bite the bullet and take a step inside.

“Angie?” I call out, hoping she’s not still sleeping. I’d hate to have to wake her up to deliver this kind of news,

“Well, look who’s home,” she teases, coming out of the kitchen with a martini in her hands.

It smells like she’s been drinking all night, her breath is literally a hundred proof as she walks up to me, her eyes slightly glazed over.

“You’ve been up all night,” I say flatly, suddenly curious as to what might have motivated her to drink away the night.

Angie is used to me not coming home, and I very rarely am here at night. I have been known to sleep more in my office, or in my SUV, than I ever have in my bed. More or less because she is always in it, but also because I like to be ready for action when I’m needed. So I know right off, Angie’s concern for my whereabouts is not what prompted her latest binge.

“I have,” she giggles, pushing up onto me and attempting to grab my dick.

“Hey! Whoa!” I complain, grabbing her wrist in my hand and steering her toward the sofa. “Settle down for a moment,” I suggest, taking a seat across from her in my arm chair. The one piece of furniture that I might actually miss.

face suddenly pinched with irritation. It’s as if the vodka Gods have just whispered in her ear of what is coming as she begins to shake her head at me. “I knew it. I fucking knew it!” she hisses, tossing back the rest of her drink as she glares out the window. “You

mate cheating. Ironically enough, in the eyes of

a moment, her face growing so red, I can’t tell if she’s angry or just surprised.

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Chapter One–Hundred–Forty–Three.

I say softly, folding my hands in front of me and propping my arms up on my knees so that I can lower my harad wwen ) spevar have something to tell

into a cowl. “Oh yeah? Do you, but? You fucking bestand it you leaving me? You want a divorce? You don’t love me anymore? Tell me, please do. Tell me which of these

were unhappy with me, only for you to insist that I was being paranoid and for you to that I was wrong – tell me

the anger in her dark brown eyes

these things again. “I cheated on you, she says suddenly. A haughty inte smirk forming on her lips. “I met this guy, and he is–she closes her eyes so fucking amazing Her eyes flare back open. He doesn’t keep

ber new,

1 accidentally break out in song and dance and that simply

anger bubbling to the surface before she murs, “You HOPE that’s true? Are you fuckes kidding that I’ve been fucking

feelings or not. Now, I can be as cold and as straightforward as a mortician when I say, “I want a divorce. I’m thing in the moming. Her jaw drops, but she doesn’t move

head in disbelief. “You never loved me! Did you? You’re just as cold–hearted your father!”

care for you. When you were helpless and… lost. Without a soul in the world and

she hissed. “If what?”

different club that Hector decided to visit. “If I didn’t know for sure that there was someone out there for you. Someone who will see everything you do as special and will notice the littlest things about you

would have smiled at that, but no. “That is NOT what you were about to say RAINIER

hope that he is. And just so you know, 1 never cheated on you. Not in the way that you think I did. I was faithful until I was sure it was over. If you’re honest with yourself, I’m sure you’ll find that you never loved me either.” I turn around, leaving the wedding

forgive you!” she screams. Then, her voice Junkers almost menacingly. “Is there someone else?” she asks, and I suddenly have a flashback of Felix

“No. There’s not someone else. But… there is someone.”

love her?” she cries out as 1 step

or else use the hairdryer in the

to get back into my SUV, ripping up the asphalt as

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FTI, NOV 15