The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred–Forty–Four

FELIX

Having breakfast with Rainier’s friend Bartlett was strangely uplifting. When Rainier first left me there to go take care of something which I’m sure was French for go home to my wife – I nearly broke down in tears. All the strength that I’d gathered for myself on the yacht after my private meltdown, was completely spent with just the ride over. Having to sit next to him, talk to him, pretend there was nothing wrong for him, even after I’d already said my silent goodbye to him, took every bit of strength in me. Everything I had left in my mental reservoir was depleted. I felt beat down. Weak. Worthless and altogether stupid. So the moment Rainier disappeared out the back door of that bar, my bravado completely crumpled.

Bartlett, the incredibly sensitive soul that he is, noticed right off. It started with a few concerned looks my way as we sat down to enjoy the heaping amount of food he’d made. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, crispy golden fried hash browns, biscuits with gravy, fruit – you get the picture. My eyes damn near popped right out of my head when be brought it all out.

I’d said, “I appreciate your cooking all this, but… um… I don’t know if I be able to finish must of it.”

He’d laughed heartily and said, “Well that’s okay, because I don’t expect you to. I only made this much because I didn’t know what you

liked. So just eat what you can, and that will be fine.”

I’d attempted to smile back as cheerfully as I could, but I must not have done a very good job because he’d commented on it.

There’s no need for you to pretend with me, Felix. You don’t have to keep hiding behind that phony smile. I can tell you’re struggling with something. I won’t pry,” he said.

The next smile I’d given him was different. It was honestly charming and incredibly sad at the same time. And as my face fell and I’d drawn in a deep breath Id whined, “I’m an idiot.”

on between you two, but knowing Rain as well as I do I could probably take a guess. Rain is a complicated guy. Always has been. He’s made certain… adjustments to his life in order to protect himself. Adjustments that I’m

I’d asked. “Like

ago, I don’t think he ever imagined opening it up again. He’s not the type to lose control, or share his feelings. He’s not the one to do anything frivolous either, or half–hearted. Whenever he does something, be it bring me a new and beautiful bartender or make

that

Doing so never makes you a fool. The fool is the one who doesn’t take that

I’d quoted and my eyes had filled with tears. “So then I suppose I should be grateful in just having met him. A lot of people

seem like a very intuitive person. I’m sure you and Rain have only just met, right?” he’d asked,

the least bit embarrassed for how damb I probably sounded. “A couple of days ago. But… just like some people never meet, I guess some people only get

now, Don’t go assuming things so soon,” Bartlett had said stemnly. “Rainier is not much of a liar. Marybe you didn’t ask the right question. Or maybe he misunderstood the

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One Hundred Forty

I’d answered

answer to explain himself. Try and give him the benefit of the doubt. If you really and truly believe he is the one, and I think that you do, why in the

to answer him, but he held up his

“But everyone makes mistakes, Felix. A lot of times it’s when they’re trying to do

they’re scared to death of losing them. Trust me. It happens more often than not. Just

wait until tomorrow because tonight the bar would be closed. Then he left me alone to stew in my new space. So I took the time to shower and change back into the