The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred–Seventy–Two

DOMONIC

“So,” Paul begins, “You’re thinking that if we spend more time in our well forms that maybe we can alter the effects of the forced shift?”

I nod. “Yes, exactly. But it has to be at night. When the nannn is in its wading phases.”

“When its giving power,” Rainier comments. “That makes a weird amouch of sense.”

“It does, doesn’t it,” I say with a grin, watching the girls and Bartlett talk to Goal behind the counter. “We hardly ever run as a pack anymore. And even when we did, we did it because we were forced to by our fathers,”

“Even then, it was before sun down,” Paul adds, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. As if he’s lost in an old memory. “Those were the days, man. Remember?”

“Haha!” Lief says. “Yess! They were!”

Grant guffaws, sitting back to take a deep drink of the beer in his hand You mean, when we used to break off from our training route and scare all the human campers?”

“Yup, Paul chuckles. “What the hell did you think I was talking about? Surely not the few times we followed the rules and stuck to the

woods.”

I turn back to Rainier. “I don’t think Felix should stay here above the bar anymore.”

“I agree,” Rainier states. That’s why I just booked one of Old Bob’s beach houses just down the street from Quinn’s place. She and I will stay there until I find a place.”

“Where the fuck is Quinn, anyway?” I ask, glancing around in confusion “He was here just a few minutes ago. He needs to hear this! We all need to be up to date.” I glare at Timmons. “Where the fuck is he?”

Timmons shakes his head, a sneer on his lips. “You know how he gets. He found a new piece of pussy and left it back at our place. He probably went home to hang her a few times before tossing her out. He knows I won’t let her stay more than one night.”

“You won’t let her?” P

Paul snorts. “It’s his house. How would you stop her?

Blackjack, Timmons says with a snarl. “She was with

“What?” I meet Timmons‘ eyes as the entire table goes silent. Even Goose is listening now as he approaches our table. “He brought a poacher back to his

“Yup. Why do you think I was so pissed at him this moming when we both came in? Why do your think we

don’t know, fucker. Lover’s spat, maybe? Or some other ride me I’m your roommate, ridiculous shit!” I growl. “I didn’t think, asshole. I didn’t care!

Timmons. “You’re talking about the redhead that Gayle attacked this morning? The one you came and told me about?

was only trying to keep the rest of us safe by keeping the body count down. On account of what happened last night, to homeboy in the parking lot and what Old Bob saw. But he brought her back to the house instead and when I hit him up about it, he said

1/3

One Hundred Seventy Two

“The girl want peretuity a threat,

walet dressed to bunt, nor was the with the

Gayle attack berse of

to

for some payback, the girl was the only one of the left. The men www gee. And you knew her Gayle and Griffin are about catching all prachers. They want to end them on this Barth just as badly at gras prys want to find the arsonist from five years ago.” He

says plainly “She’s committed a crime just by not reporting her companions. You call it turning a blind eye – I call

about it, Riotte? Draven snaps at Rainier with more animosity than anyone seemed to expect coming from her sweet lips. “Arrest her? Are you

in defense of my brother, reaching for her hand as

has me snapping my lips shut so quickly that I’m actually a little embarrassed. “I don’t understand? Is that what you were about to say? That / don’t understand what it feels like to be hunted? Or chased? Or rejected when I finally find the someone

You’re my mate, and yes, the way I handled finding you was wrong,” I admit, trying to catch her eye, but failing. “But this girl isn’t anybody’s mate. She’s not one of us! She’s one of them. Other than that, she’s just a bitch on a list of different bitches

she gazes around at all of us and one by one my brothers‘ heads dip a little in shame. Even Goose looks a bit sheepish. Right then I finally see it – the Alpha Wolf in her that I

back and forth between me, Rainier, and Koda. “You’re so sure about that, are you? Really? Because obviously Quinn must bring bitches as you called them back to his house all the time.” Her

1. me. “He act

he clears his throat, “Uh… no.

1. looks

Timmons gaze

curious finger under her chin in a picture of mock innocence. “How strange then, that he would choose a poacher female as the first. I

Her implication riding each of us differently as we slowly try to accept

out here,”

Alpha like that, I’d