The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred–Fifty–Four

RAINIER

My ears twitch in the soft breeze that floats between the trees. While following the ridgeline and the trail of the intruding wolves, WE scented something even more disturbing. Humans that bear fire from their arms. Our Alpha sent us to investigate and one of us was almost caught. We were just about to converge on the shooters when we heard his Gamma cry of warning. Circling back for him, we found him freed by a human fentale. Her aura was much different than the shooters and so we left her to head away from the danger. Even though our brother didn’t want to leave her, he did. But I was watching him as we ran together, and I could sense his mind wandering back to her. Perhaps he feared for her safety. After all, she did free him. Something humans rarely do when it might mean their own skin.

Now, we are racing through the hills behind the city. Howling as we run toward the beaches where yet another foreign wolf’s scent seemed to permeate. Will will track this wolf as far as we can and then return to the shooters. It is our duty to protect these hills and forests. As well as the creatures that live within. They caught something. We heard it. A lioness cried out into the dark. It sounded like they shot her and although we knew she was probably dead, that didn’t mean the humans could be allowed to leave after such a crime.

No. We would find them and we would tear them apart.

Something in the breeze catches my attention. A smell so sweet I stutter my steps and veer left, away from my pack, I can’t explain what’s just come over me, or why I suddenly have to find the source of the sweetness. Images flash through my mind as I descend the hillside, causing me to growl in frustration at the unwelcome thoughts. There is something down there that I wanted. Something I’d forgotten until that smell found its way into the wind. But now, as I’m remembering, a face flashes before my eyes and I let loose with a how to signal that I’ve changed course. My human is down there somewhere. My… mate.

-FELIX

Oh no! No! Hector?

As inconspicuous as I can, I tiptoe back toward the har entrance. I make it almost the entire way before the crunch of gravel behind me

freezes me on the spot.

“Hello Felix,” a cold voice sounds at my back and my entire body shudders.

I keep walking at first, thinking that he hasn’t seen my face and that if I can just get back inside everything might be okay. I can pretend that I m not Felix and he can fucken leave. I’m close, just a couple feet left to go and I’ll be safely hidden behind that heavy metal door.

“I know it’s you,” he says calmly. Td know that ass anywhere. Turn around.”

Fuck. I have to do it. I have to turn around. If I don’t… who knows what he might do.

“Antman,” I say calmly, not wanting him to see how just the sight of him frightens me.

He’s bigger than the others Hector and his friends. I’ve always tried my best to steer clear of him and it wasn’t too hard to do because he was always busy. Antman isn’t the same kind of threat that Hector is. Both are pretty awful in their own right, but Antman is altogether worse. He’s not a gang leader like Hector, not exactly. Antman is the one they go to, to settle disputes between rival neighborhoods. His word is law in some parts of Southern California and the only people who know about him are the people who run his underground

Hector is one of

as always, his tribal tattoos and muscles on full display beneath a crisp white tank top. Doesn’t he ever get cold? Maybe not, considering

doing here, babydoll? Where is

of factly. “He was arrested for a shooting

n the street.”

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Chapter One Hundred–Fifty–Four

irritation. “Well,

racking my brain for an excuse to get back upstairs and call Draven. “How did you find us if Hector didn’t call you?” I ask, slowly taking a step backward while he’s facing

secret,” he snaps. And while we’re an secrets- why don’t you tell me how it is that you’re holding up in some bar that Hector’s car has been parked behind for three days. Is this where he was arrested?” he

head, not liking where his mind is going. “No! Don’t be ridiculous. I wasn’t even here when he was arrested. He ditched me outside of the club after one of his bullets grazed my shoulder. I was taken to the hospital with some other

“Just left my property in the parking lot of some club. That’s not good. He’ll

behind and I go slamming into the bar door. The air is knocked from my lungs as Antman’s heavy body crashes into

into the ground. Antman leans over the and spits, “You fucking cunt. You think you can just do whatever you want? Did you forget that I own you? That pussy and that ass – they belong to me. And as long as you’re able to fuck, I will sell you. When your tits finally drop, and your sweet little cunt runs dry- that is when I will set you free. The way you behave between now and then will decide whether you leave my shackles with a fat severance check or

snatches me by my hair, dragging me

doing up in that bar? Huh? Have you been fucking the owner of that place? I shake my head no and he snickers. “I’m not rupid bitch. After we get Hector, I’ll bring you back down here and we’ll take what he owes me out of whatever’s inside. Now get in.”

really surprised when he doesn’t hear me. I didn’t say it for

its light still on glowing warm against the night, I say goodbye. For a minute there, I had chance to have everything I wanted. In the back of my mind, I wonder

I catch my breath. This time… the wolf is much closer. Even Antman freezes in his

the fuck was that?”

from his belt

like a wolf,” I say flatly

“Yeah–uh–huh, thank you

walk more slowly toward the driver’s side

afraid and I cover my mouth

just get the fuck out of here,” he snaps, noticing my amusement.