The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred–Sixty–Six

RAINIER

After Demonic finished laying out what sounded to me like a very solid complaint, he turned to Taedora and waited. And… walled.

She shrugged at him, “What do you want me to say? Check the camera buddy. And you will see how lazy I was about protecting Draven. You might see some other stuff too.”

“Yes,” Draven says. “After you’ve watched it, then we’ll put your little theory about my locket to the test, huh? Since, as you said, I’m too emotional to think rationally about it. I obviously don’t have a clue. In fact I probably wouldn’t know the truth, if it was on my finger!”

The girls all laugh hysterically and I’m more confused than ever.

“Baby, that’s not what I said, I just don’t want you to get your hopes up is all,” Domonic says defensively. “I just don’t think you-”

Watch it! Until you do, I don’t want to hear another word.”

“No, Domonic! Watch the fucking tape. Watch

“Baby…he trails off, crouching down in front of her, and messing with his phone.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask if the ladies are dismissed, because 131 be in limbo until I get Felix alone, but that’s when I notice the girls acting strangely.

First, the three females on the couch don’t seem at all alarmed about the wolves Domonic mentioned. None of them seems to care. In

fact, all three are brazenly ignoring him as they make a pretty ridiculous show of examining their nails. They look like mimes, copying one another’s movements as Domonic’s knuckles whiten on his phone in anger. I assume, whatever is on the tape is the cause. Does he realize there’s audio? I don’t hear anything, so I assume he has yet to work it out. Could he be drunk?

T

1 turn my attention back to the girls who are still doing ridiculous shit while they wait for my Alpha’s next move. Even Felix is doing it and that fact makes me smile. She’s getting along with them. Good. Maybe she’ll like it here more if she has friends and she’ll stay. She did seem happy to see me so…

Something twinkles in the light as the ladies raise their left hands, catching my eye.

Domonic growls, standing up. “Who the fuck is this guy?” he asks. That’s not a wolf.”

Everybody ignores him, even me, as I step closer to the couch and watch the next time they raise their hands. There it is! Draven is

wearing a ring. Could it be the ring?

“Is that what I think it is?” I ask and each of the girls smile.

“Finally! Someone who isn’t blind!” Draven says happily. She leapt from the couch, heading my way. That’s why you’re a cop and Domonic

is a fool.”

You mean, he hasn’t-”

She shakes her head, putting her finger to her lips. “I want to see how long it takes him.”

I cringe, wanting to laugh because I know the longer it takes him to notice, the more groveling he’ll have to do. “But how did you get it?” i

mouth the words

She mouths back, “Angle.”

Įtense, shaking my head in anger when I realize that she had it all along and I never even asked her about it. “That bitch.”

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Chapter One Hundred–Sixty–Six

Draven alongs. “Talon’t really blame her for taking it,” she says. “She thought you bought it for one of your ‘whores. If Domonic bought

faf take I. Chee hundred percent. But… there’s something else too. Something I didn’t tell you guys.”

eyes nettem, “Like

one that you met? I hear Domanie asking

than that. It’s Draven’s story to tell. Thedora says to Domonic, chuckling as she heads for the front door. “I have to go check on some things at home! Goose just texted

second, Simba, Damsonic

around with her hand on the door, her eyes withering. “Yes?

a smirk. “Even if he did get

ladiest Felix, tonight is

that

as Domonic heads our way. A moment ago, she

says. “Who was the guy on the tape?”

“You heard what Thedora said. It’s my story to tell and I’m

T

when I notice the bruise on her forehead “What the fuck? I snap, charging for the couch, then jumping over the back of it to sit next

Benjamin?” Draven asks.

I ask distractedly.

Draven smiles. “Benjamin?”

I say, still studying Felix’s

Draven and Domonie say at the s

same time and I nod.

we could call Old Ben during the meeting and find out what went down when we’re all together,” I reply.

says. “Well, I think it’s about time I start attending. In fact, so

with hope that I’m not even sure it’s safe to have. Because the sorrowful look on Felix’s face says it’s not

agrees. “Now will you tell me who the fuck that was outside last

this time,” Draven stage whispers before prancing up the

jumping for the rading to throw himself onto the second floor landing. He

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Hundred Sixty–Six

reach for her hand, hoping to God

of warmth

quiet as

walk hand in hand to the front. That’s when I notice Hector’s car parked

What the fuck

that Caddy doing

miss her touch. drove it here last

going for her head. “Is that what

lip and making me want to kiss

left, I heard a wolf howl

see one, I finish for her and she nods. My heart skips as 1 remember her

she called me her guardian.

that night

saw me, so I tried to sneak back in the bar

to find the bastard and show him what a

starts to cry. “He dragged

drove the car here. So, she must have gotten

w–want to

to hold her right at this moment, but I don’t want

y–you,” she whimpers and

into my chest. Then, when her arms go around

kissing the top of her head. “So, how did you

her head, still crying. We’re both hout in the open, so I lift her into my arms and place her in the front seat of my SUV, then – turn her body to face

fingers. Taking a deep breath to control

of how my dad must have felt after the fire and nmw… I wonder if he imagined her screaming for him. Knowing he had no way to protect her

he went crazy. Because looking at Felix, I realize I am my father’s son, just the loss of self–control I had when she told me to let her go… tells me he and I are more alike than I thought. Devastating pain grips

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