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.”

1/4

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,

about? The one that you met? I hear Domanie asking in

front door. “I have to go check on some things at home! Goose just texted me and said that Gayle tried to attack one of the

a second, Simba, Damsonic protests,

hand on the

with a smirk. “Even if

tonight is Mucho Margaritas at

that

Felix as Domonic heads our way. A moment ago, she was a bundle of confidence, and now she looks unsure. Nervous

says. “Who was the guy on the

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

T

when I notice the bruise on her forehead “What the

Benjamin?” Draven asks.

I ask

Draven smiles. “Benjamin?”

Right,” I say, still studying Felix’s wound. “My dad. He

Domonie say

same time and

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

huh?” Draven says. “Well, I think it’s about time I start attending. In fact, so should Emily.

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

you tell me who the fuck that was outside

you play the audio this time,” Draven stage whispers before prancing up the stairs toward their

onto the second floor landing.

2/4

Hundred Sixty–Six

her hand, hoping to God she takes it.

warmth travel spiny

quiet

That’s when I notice Hector’s car parked

What the fuck

Caddy doing

immediately miss her touch. drove it here last night after

eyes going for her head. “Is that what happened to

her lip and making

Talora left, I heard a wolf howl and I went

finish for her and she nods. My heart skips as 1 remember her craning her neck to

she called me her

me that night

didn’t think he saw me, so I tried to sneak back in the

now. Wanting more than anything to find the bastard and show him what a

as she starts to cry. “He dragged me to

anger rising in me, but then I realize. She drove the car here. So, she must

w–want to go,”

I don’t want to trish having her push me away. So, I simply nod.

she whimpers and I melt.

into my chest. Then, when her arms

calmly, kissing the top of her head. “So, how

hout in the open, so I lift her into my arms and place her in the front seat of my SUV, then – turn

tears have stopped flowing, and I wipe the rest with my fingers. Taking a deep breath to control my temper, I wait for her to speak. Really, I’m dying to smash

my mother, I never stopped to think of how my dad must have felt after the fire and nmw… I wonder if he imagined her screaming for him. Knowing he had

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 me when I picture Felix in my mother’s place and I have to shake the insagy away before 1 drop to my knees in agony.

3/4