The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred Seventy–Five

QUINN

As we approached the Lewis and Clark Bridge in Longview, just outside of the Oregon/Washington border, I pulled off the highway. There was a burger joint with an amazing view of the Columbia River just to the left of the off–ramp. I had eaten all day (unless you count the bite or two my brothers and 1 took out of the human last night LOL) and I was usually caught stuffing my face. Mainly with proteins.

I mean sure, as Wolf Shifters, we require an abundant amount, and we naturally tend toward meat, but there are all kinds of foods we can gain sustenance front. However, as wolves, we do gravitate toward animal matter. Each and every one of my brothers loves nothing more than a good steak and lobster dish, but ever since opening up my gym in Port Orchard, I have taken to ingesting large quantities of both plant and animal based foods. Why? Because I have a lot of gym members that are older human women. When The Pack House 24 first opened, they were constantly coming to me for dietary advice. At first, couldn’t really help them because I’m a wolf, and the only alternative to meat that I was ever taught to consume was nuts. But after a month of diving into the world of human nutrition, endeavoring to upgrade my portfolio, so to speak, Hell as much in love with soy as I did with cows,

Today, my gym not only provides the Energy Bar – a before and after cafe for protein shakes and all–natural smoothies, but I’ve added the Fuel Up Counter- a tiny cafeteria style restaurant devoted to serving a variety of plant–based meals. It’s somewhere the older folks can sit and eat before a workout, or grab some takeout for the week ahead. I have my very own little group of Steel Magnolias that absolutely love me andare meet at the Fuel Up for lunch every Sunday,

Luna Lilly used to tell me that I was going to grow up to be the largest in the pack and for a while, I actually thought that meant I was going to be Alpha. So when we all turned ten years old and Domonic and I got into a boxing match over who was going to take the lead, Luna Lilly pulled me aside to have a heart–to–heart.

MINT–FLASHBACK

**Quinn baby, what’s going on?” Luna asked.

I gazed up at her with angry eyes, thinking that she lied to me about who I was going to be. “You said that I was going to be the biggest! That means that I’m going to be Alpha! Why would Domonic be Alpha, if I’m going to be the bigger wolf?”

She grinned at me, ruffling my hair and taking a seat next to me on the bricks. “Becoming the biggest doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be Alpha, sweetheart. An Alpha isn’t built just from muscles and strength. He is chosen by the pack as a leader because of his dominant nature and the strength of his Alpha Energy

I crossed my arms over my chest, gazing up at her with a half smile. “Is that why Domonic never lets the rest of us play football without him? Or basketball either? Whenever it’s just me and Tim or me and Rain playing, he runs out and stops us unless he wants to play too. He is always so bossy!”

She laughed, nodding her head. “Yeah. Probably.” Then she wrapped me up in a hug, kissing my forehead and making me squirm. “You boys are going to be a fearsonse lot. You all have Alpha running through your veins and sometimes, that worries me.”

“Why?” I asked, stupefied.

Her smile wavered. “Because it’s true. Each of you will grow to be very powerful wolves and even stronger men. In most cases, having more than one Alpha born to a pack means the wolves will separate. Either leaving one day to lead their own territories, or taking over another pack without a suitable Alpha male. In worst case scenarios, the males will fight to the death and the last wolf howling will be made Alpha

I would never want to hurt Domonic.” I shrugged, blushing when Luna Lilly quirked an eyebrow in reminder of our fight just then. “Well, mean, not really, hurt him. But nobody’s

chuckled, “I know, and that’s why I need you to make me a

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One Hundred

up my chest, nodding at her solemnly. “Anything Luna

you take over? Stay together. Never separate! You are going to need each other very much one day, and I fear what might happen if

sadness in her eyes. “I promise. But if I forget, will you

sadly, “It might not be me, but somehody will.”

END MINI–FLASHBACK

found out that our mothers were dead, that one conversation came floating back to me and I realized that she knew, Luna Lilly believed something bad was going to happen and did

Just learning of her existence that day in the bar changed everything for me. When Domonic revealed his mate had found him I felt something like instant relief. A heavy weight was

“What she doesn’t like me enough way. She is the only girl that I have ever been nervous talking to. Honestly, her initial impression of me was correct. I have been a bit of a manwhore. You won’t find a single establishment in all of Port Orchard that I haven’t fucked in

all she has to do is frown and I’m instantly replaying the last five minutes in my head and wondering what I might have done to

frowning right now. Shit,

an hour from Clatsop,” she says. “And thirty minutes from my hometown, but okay, I get it. You

know I can hear that, but I’m glad

blushes then lowers her head to say teasingly, “I just ate a little

remember?”

you. My hands lock around the steering wheel and 1 clear my throat, willing away the memory of her wet heat on my fingertips. Oh fuck, I haven’t even washed my hands yet. Traces of her juices are probably

POW

for that,” I promise with a dark

her pupils dilate, her arousal wafts my way and I swear to God it takes everything in me not to pass out from the sudden surge of

is clear. Her sudden confidence is the

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