The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred–Fifty–Nine

RAINIER

I reached the woods behind the Sheriff Station much faster than I anticipated. Out of the twelve of us, Koda and Domonic are the fastest, with Quinn and me falling in line somewhere just behind. But this morning, it’s almost as if I flew through the trees. Everything I passed bled into a whir of colors, and each step forward felt lighter and lighter. Strangely enough, I’m not even winded and I’m just about positive I could run another hundred miles without even breaking a sweat. My entire body feels alive with movement in a way that it never has before. Almost as if my wolf has become stronger somehow. My muscles feel stretched, not worn, and a sudden rush of energy washes over me as 1 shift back into my human form. What the hell has come over une? Did I eat the wrong mushroom last night? Or maybe the right one?

Shaking it off, I study the dried blood that covers my chest and ribs, counting six different circular marks where the coagulation is thickest. I was definitely shot last night, that much is clear. But by who? One of the hunters? For some reason, I don’t think so. Hunters don’t normally pop off six rounds on one animal and the bullets that made these marks came from a handgun, not a rifle. A Glock most likely, or maybe a Beretta.

Then of course there is the blood that all twelve of us are splattered with. The blood of a human male from what I can scent, but not one that I recognize. Maybe that is who shot me? The sad truth is, we might never find out whose blood we are wearing. Such has been the way of the Full Moon Shift for as long as I can remember. It can be torturous sometimes… not knowing where you were or what you may have done. But for the most part, we don’t usually come out of the shift painted in pints of A positive.

Satisfied that the woods are clear of intruders, I dip behind the outer will of the dungeon exit, throwing on my sweatpants and t–shirt that I had stowed just inside. I should wash off the blood before I head out of here, but I’m way too eager to get to Felix. With a sigh, I head straight for my SUV that’s parked out in front of the station and for the first time since the sun rose, I start to feel nervous.

Hopping into the driver’s seat, my heart jolts as I remember that Angie went to the bar last night. Fucking hell. God only knows what that bitch might have said to her! Here I was betting that Angie would bow out gracefully. Thinking that she was too proud to do anything that might seem desperate. But why would she risk following me to the bar after I left her at the house? And why in fuck didn’t I notice her tailing me? I don’t think that Angie would do anything to humiliate herself, but I do think she would do more than a little to sabotage me.

SHIL

Thope

pe Felix re

good at showing them either… But yesterday, when Felix told me I needed to let her go, I think I may have exhibited more than a few. At the very least, my temporary lapse of sanity made it obvious that I love… that I care deeply for her. Okay, shut

still sitting here?!” I hiss at myself, starting the car. Felix probaby already thinks I’m a fucking basket case, and my sitting out here to argue with myself isn’t doing me any favors. Then again, she might just think I’m a desperate lovesick idiot who cheats on his wife.Or else… she thinks I’m a werewolf. Or both. I whined at her like a fucking child! Like a lost damin puppy. Which in truth, is kind of what I felt like. And to think, when I first met her I totally thought I could handle sending her away.

parking lot when

the fire I’ve just lit under my ass to get myself out of here sputtering

a man get dragged into the woods by about a dozen super–sized wolves. He wanted to organize a search party and go looking for the dude, but I told him he

splattering of blood that’s visible along my collar bone and I’m cursing myself for not taking the time to bathe in the stream that runs behind the buildings. God–fucking–dammit Aha… wolves. Twelve

amusement. “No worries, Rain, After the call, me and Dirk went out to investigate. We didn’t find much of the guy, but what we did find made its way into the sound. Even the Glock he was carrying,

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Chapter One Hundred–Fifty–Nine

clear to

see, this is why we love it here. The people are all either blissfully

for the gun, 11l get

says before