The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Four

BARTLETT

A deep breath shudders out of me when I see Rose’s BPM lower. If Quinn doesn’t get here soon, I’m just going to do what needs to be done al

“I hope you don’t have a boyfriend, princess,” I warn her, leaning close enough to her ear that I can rest my head on the edge of her pillow. “Not that I’m afraid of a little competition. I just don’t want inundering someone to be the very first thing you see me do.”

God she smells good, I need to order some sunflowers. Then again, what are the odds that she accepts girly gifts like bouquets, or chocolates?

Fuck, B. Just chill the bell out until she’s actually conscious. You never know, maybe she does like girly things!

Watching the elevators with bated breath, I whip out my phone and shoot Quinn a text telling him someone from the Elder Few is on his way here. That should get him moving. Quinn promised to bring me a few things from the bar besides clothes. One of them being whiskey. I can’t imagine what Rose’s parents might think to find me in a pair of sweats that came out of their RV. They’ll probably assume I was naked and sweaty with their daughter prior to the incident, and while that’s okay, I’d rather be wearing something that has enough room for my dick to sway in. The whiskey is key, because when they decide that they do not like me, I’m going to tell them that I own the har in town. Of course, they’ll be even more disappointed and unless I smell like boos, it won’t be nearly as funny.

The EKG monitor beeps steadily on my right and for a few minutes and I watch her heart rate as it begins to fluctuate again. When the number lowers by ten beats per minute, I feel my body tense with fear. That can’t be a good thing right?

Not

I’ve had but one thing on my mind since they took Rose into the operating room and there won’t ever be a more perfect time to do it. knowing how long I will be alone with her, presents me with a difficult decision. Her parents are probably hauling ass in this direction from wherever it is they live and after I mark her she will be permanently tethered to me. For better or worse, as they say. For us shifters, marking is akin to marrying, but with actual physical bonds. Humans don’t feel it as strongly as we do, at least, I don’t think. So, after she’s marked, this can go one of four ways.

One – Her parents arrive and push me out. Keeping me from seeing her and robbing me of the chance to solidify our bond. Then she might decide to go home with her parents and attribute the pain of the mark that she will feel due to our separation, to the lion attack. Meanwhile, I will be in complete agony and live every breath of every day in longing for her.

Two – Her parents think I’m a hero, allow me to see her when she finally wakes (eight or nine hours after the marking), and although I’m confident that our initial connection will stir her interests, I do not know if it will be enough for her to want to stick around. The time that I’ll have with her may not be enough.

Three – After I mark her, I smuggle her out of here while she’s still under and this goes from lion attack to kidnapping real damn quick. A crime I don’t think Rainier or the Doc will be able to save me from.

Four – After I mark her, I watch and wait for her to awaken. Once she does and she’s preparing to be discharged, Rainier places her under arrest for her part in the hunt, but instead of taking her to jail, he brings her to me. Then, I hide away with her until she accepts me as her new reality. Forced proximity and fated love being the double edged sword that pierces her sweet, misguided little heart.

Yup… that last one is definitely my favorite. I think I’ll go with that.

Then again…

feel like a total sociopath when I force Rose to love me.

Five – 1 call Draven before I mark her and get her to sign off on my crazy so I don’t feel

why four and five can’t work, Perhaps not in that

voice cuts through my brainstorming session and my head jerks up

1/3

Two Hundred

I lates

her with something like wonder, seem to the the hushy we get

from his arms.

turns back around and scratches fils head, seemingly confused, “Entre 1 od hem vean sheena toh heater than

I can’t help but Leigh. “Youge an audade, Do you know that?”

dick smile, then says, Tor read though, want the like

I’m

into my clothes right there next to her unctorious body.

allowed a little fresh air Fuck yes. Freedren.

rip away the

the way on and despite that she’s immodate and injured, my

she’s definitely the right girl, but…

finish dressing, I announce, For the record, I still wanted hey even before I found out how many lejers of

wearing ”

it take to get to the tootsie mill center of her

no difference to me

“I saw that. Deaven

walking around the bed to get to

a preliminary interrogation. Paul and Login are posed as nurses, thanks to Rhodes, and will be patrolling the halls. Domonir

The Gherkin’s daddy?”

same. Gryff’s got him locked away at his place until

to tell me that

“What can I say? I have this fantasy of chasing him and his father, Matthew, through the woods in my human form and then shifting into beast right as I catch them. I’m going to make that dream a reality. I want it almost as

I ask,

mine. “I said

down at Ros

venom pumping in with each breath I take. I think it’s her