The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Twenty–Six

CANE

There’s this moment that passes when you’re about to die. An instant of complete clarity. It is almost as if there is a layer of fog lifted

the colors seem brighter. Detalls are more acute and so are intentions. In fact, right then, when you realize whe

you know there is any way around it, you move toward it without fear, For that half a second, time stretches, the

acceptance lakes over. You brain says, Chi, so das in it then. This is low? And, you

Drun it

to get the bullets. Or Griffin.

1 knew better, I never should have taken my eyes off of him. I should have sent Quinn to get

There was never any y way they were going to watch over him the way I would, because they are not human. They can heal

1, however, cannot,

Gayle.

I should have listened to her when she asked me to go with them. I should have said, “Fuck this asshole. Let him come for me and the spent as much time as I could noticing every single one of Gayle’s smiles in the way that she apparently noticed mine.

Now… I’ll never know them. Those precious couple of hours with her in roy arms is all i will ever get.

dry didn’t 1997

I mean… why

Why was I so obsessed with playing the hero?

But I know what the answer is. Of course I do.

safe with me. I wanted her to see me as someone who could protect her. To know that just because I was human and weaker than her in some ways, that I had plenty

have been plenty of time for heroics if I’d just conceded to

begged me. And what do

and

a worthless, selfish hastard just to be one of those stupid, arrogant, pricks – and

she will ever know me for. That’s all she’ll remember of me.

Pain.

sorry Kitty Cat

Goddamn it

shool

1/3

Hundred Twenty–Six

I felt it and it felt so good. I wanted it. Wanted

get what you get. At least you got to see

the real reason he kept talking so much shit. He wanted one of us to lose our temper and attack him so he’d

bleeding out from his abdomen attracts my attention and

in the shed is still smoking in my hand when look over at him, at Roman. His big orange–brown eyes are angry as he watches me,

than a majestic wolf.

2

See you on the other

size of my forearm and as deep as my whole hand, along my torso, I play back

ground, I heard it. The snap, crackle, and pop of bones shitting into something otherworldly. By the time I was able to lift my chin, Roman was already half wolf and his fully shifted paw was flying toward my mid–section. It is safe to say that a wolf’s claws are pretty goddamned sharp. I never even felt the blow. But it knocked me back about a dozen feet, and I was

did it. That’s when I shot him.

of my sleeve and into my hand easily, then I simply took aim and emptied the chamber into his stomach. At that point, I no

me, panic more than evident in his tone.

on up above me like some frightened mother hen as he surveys my injuries. For a moment, he looks around like a

then back again. Quinn meets my eyes, then

feral glare and give him the middle finger. “Give this to my dad, will you?” I say, because I’m pretty sure there is a special hell for people like him and my Pops. “I can’t be sure, but I’m betting you and I are headed

blood in my mouth. Frowning, 1 picture Cayle’s face when

Gryffiny disappears into my

blanket.