The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred

DELILAH

I must be crazy. Absolutely, positively nuts. I just let the lion that was going to attack me in the creek, waltz through the patio doors and into the bedroom.

The tion that was a naked woman not two minutes ago.

The naked woman that, for whatever reason, almost had me for a snack teen hours ago.

I watched her change into the creature of my nightmares and said Tey why not let her in? Let’s show her how brave you are!” What the fuck? Am I certihably insane?

She says she’s here to see me, but what if she’s not? Why would she be? What business can she possibly have with me? Aside from the, hey, sorry we got interrupted before I could end your life kind of unfinished business?

Maybe she really is here to see Quinn and she is Drying

is trick me.

Maybe, she’s into him, or they have a history, or… maybe he simply fucks her from time to time. That could be why they were both in the creek this morning. Technically, yesterday morning since it’s after two a.m., but who really gives a damn about that part? It’s not important.

at me with an almost cavalier grin. As if

What is important, is that she hasn’t changed back into a human yet. Why not? Why is she staring at

he won the game?:

Oh Delilah, if you were just going to fuck yourself you could

you could have at least taken a

little longer in doing

doing it. Drag out your pleasure til the end, diht

Without even realizing what I’m doing, I start backing away from her. Heading toward the stairs one tiny little backward and barefoot step

at a time.

She snarls, her head swiveling in my direction and I swear in that moment she glares at me.

“Aww fuck,” I hiss as her muscles gather and bunch the way they did when she was perched on that boulder. She’s going to pounce on me!

Who’s the dumbass now, Det? Huh? That’s right. You are. And no can of sug was injured in the making of this murder.

A rumbling reverberates behind her chest and she springs into the air with a growl. It’s almost as if she does it in slow motion too, because / should be running, or dodging or… dying! But I’m not, nope. I’m standing here watching a large gold cat clear the ten feet of space between us, and all the while I’m wondering how angry Quinn’s going to be when my blood seeps into the plush white carpet. Will it be ruined? Does he know that a half cup of steaming water and three tablespoons of dawn dish soap are all that he needs to get the blood out? Wish I could tell him. Too bad I don’t have time to. When I get to heaven and God asks me what I learned here on earth, all I’m going to be able to say is – I learned the Animal Planet experts are wrong. It’s not Fight or Flight after all. It’s Fight, Flight, or Freeze. Because the only thing I seem to be able to move is my fucken jaw as it stretches toward the ground in absolute horror.

I’m going to die.

As the sound of her roar reaches me, I’m pretty su

a bit. And just as her long, lithe body is about to tumble directly into my chest, her face suddenly morphs into that of an evil Quinn concubine and her roar fizzles

onto the floor in a naked heap. Rolling and

o her stomach.

as I stand here with my jaw still open

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Chapter Two Hundred

your face. Well, actually, still there, so you can if

cry happy tears

couldn’t resist. I could see you overthinking and… well…

and tapping my foot angrily, I think I may have just

but no… not in that way.” She shakes her head, scrunching her nose at me. “I’m only naked because I have to be. Not because 1 wanted to seduce you, or… comert you, or whatever. I can assure you, I may be a pussy, but mine

know where

certainly raised her to be

If not conceited.

understand,” I tell her. “And lucky for us, I’m one hundred percent behind

gore.”

gore?” she

a pair of sweats and a sweater. At least I was, until I suddenly had the urge to

like the saucy little lioness she is. “Ahhh! Okay! Phew,” she chuckles, taking the plain black sweat suit I offer

me the wrong way, but what choice do I have? If she remains naked, then every time I look at her she’s going to

room and swiped something

need those back,” I say offhandedly

Missus Quinn, she

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. “Right. Well… I didn’t know who you were and Quinn… he… um…

okay, really,” she says. “I totally understand. He’s your mate. It’s natural for you to feel

for the first

didn’t feel that

forward and offering me her hand. She stands at least a few inches taller

our fingers entwine briefly. Gesturing to hurry up and get out of here before Quinn gets

Jaw on the floor. Frozen

closet, she says, “You should get some pants on too. We need

navy blue sweatpants. “I’m sorry, but… Why are we leaving, again? I must missed

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Chapter Two Hundred

my face. I put them on, but only

an hour since I last saw him and there’s no telling where he could be here

say as she starts to drag me toward the back patio dons. First of all front In the ocean at night! Second, where the fuck are

barefoor human and

was hoping to get out of here first and explain later, but I suppose

say with mock gratitude. Thanks so much for understanding

before she speaks, “When I attacked you this

ey you were

“The hunters?”