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 those.

saunters toward me. His thick black hair is neatly trimmed as always, his tribal tattoos and

are you doing here, babydoll? Where is my

I say matter of factly. “He was

n the street.”

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Chapter One Hundred–Fifty–Four

irritation. “Well,

did you find us if

why don’t you tell me how it is that you’re holding up in some bar that Hector’s car has been parked

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 guy.”

his eyebrows drawing together. “Just left my property in the parking lot of some club. That’s not good. He’ll definitely be answering for that.

and I use the moment to step back toward the bar the whip around to open the door. Suddenly, I’m shoved from behind and I go slamming into the bar door.

you? That pussy and that ass – they belong to me. And as long

protesting and my head throbbing. Once on my feet, I sway a bit and Antman snatches me by my hair, dragging me

bucks on the side, babydoll. Is that what you’re 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.

turns around, not really surprised when he doesn’t hear me. I

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 if Rainier will look for me

again and I catch my breath. This time… the wolf is much closer. Even Antman freezes in his steps, his body turning

that?” he snaps,

his belt and watching the trees.

a wolf,” I say flatly and he glares.

“Yeah–uh–huh, thank you

he cocks his gun and begins to walk more

afraid and I cover my mouth with both hands to suppress a

of here,” he snaps,