The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Twenty–Seven

TRIGGER WARNING: “The following chapter includes thoughts of suicide and depictions of traumatic loss,

AUTHOR’S NOTE; All I can say is just try and hang on. It should be w

DRAVEN

“Oh my God!” I say into the phone. “That’s so sad.” My heart clenches in any chest as I imagine what I would feel if Domonic suddenly wasn’t there anymore. What would I do if I couldn’t touch him, or kiss him, or fight with him ever again? What would I wout for myself? I’d probably want to die, but Em pregnant so… Ed have to carry on. Fuck, that’s depressingg

“Yeah, I know, The murmurs on the other end. “They’re on their way back not We’re going to host a ceremony for him like we would for shifter, which is super surprising given that he’s human. Er was human. Gryffin says he’s never seen a braver guy in his life and he would have been proud to have him join our pride. Human and all,”

“Poor Gayle,” I whisper, a few tears escaping to trickle down my cheeks, Im in the living room of the packhouse staring out at the choppy sea and when I start to turn away, I see Gio in the reflection of the glass standing behind me. God, he is so damn silent when he moves. He appears to be waiting politely for me to finish my conversation and my es catch on movement along the wharf where Adam is preparing to head back to the mainland. He wants a word with this Rogue Hunter They’re bringing in too.

“I really wish you could be here now though. They re about to be here any minute and I’m going to need all the help I can get with Gayle. She’s going to be… inconsolable.”

“Maybe I can be,” I say softly, ignoring the shake of Gio’s head behind me. Catching his eye, I say, “Alam is about to head to Port Orchard and if I can convince a certain superhero of yours to come along and protect me, maybe it will be okay.”

Gio smirks, lifting a brow

a brow as I turn around to face hind

“That’s right! Gio’s there! That would be awesome! Can he hear me? Tudora squawks into the phone,

Gio nods, rolling his eyes. “He sure can,” I say.

“Hey Big Dog!” Taedora shouts, and I have to pull the phone away from ear so that she doesn’t burst an eardrum. “Please! Please! Please go with her so that she can help me with Gayle! That girl is like four different lionesses rolled into one on a good day, so on a bad day…” she lets the sentence hang.

Glo studies me carefully. “Do you truly want to go to this… to her?” Gigasks,

I nod, throwing in a dramatically hopeful smile that feels strangely nostalgic. Gio laughs openly. “Some things never change, eh? I never could say no to that face.”

“Yes!” Tae and I speak at the same time.

“That settles it, then, I say into the phone. Ill be there in an hour or Then I hung up.

“I want to go too!” Ryder’s voice chimes in when he stumbles down the stairs, his eyes hopeful. “Emily told me Koda won’t be here tonight because they caught the person who started the fire and I want to go too! I want to see her again!”

I shake my head at him. “That would be a very bad idea. First of all, Kodi would kill me. Laina or not. Besides baby I cut off, something Ryder said snagging my attention. What do you mean, see her again, Ryder? just because they caught the person, doesn’t mean you’ll get to see your mom again, I add gently.

To my utter surprise, Ryder rolls his eyes and scuffs. “I know that! Duh!m not stupid. I mean I want to see her again! The lady that Marted the fire.”

4/4

Chapter Two Hundred Twenty–Seven

My brow furrows. That’s right, Ryder was only five years old when his mother died. So he wasn’t with the rest of them when they were in the middle of their forced shift. He would have been in the house. He should’ve been dead!

was a man that started the fire,” I supply, watching

a lady. She saved me, I was asleep inside the house and when I woke up, she was holding me. She told me she was sorry about my mother and that the fire was only meant for one. Then she put me down and disappeared. I never got to thank her

I ask him,

The

when I was little, but no one would listen.

fighting or crying or yelling at one another. Then, we left and I didn’t see

fucking God. Seriously??? Oh

GAYLE

is quiet. The air is heavy. If you asked me how long we’ve been on the road, I couldn’t tell you, but I know we’ve already passed into Washington from Idaho. Delilah is driving, despite Quinn’s protests, but just barely. Neither one of us seems able to focus on much at the moment. Quinn and Gryffin are behind us in the Escalade, with Roman tied up and subdued in the trunk. I don’t know how they’re keeping him under. I suspect Gryffin must be consistently delivering him fresh doses of the tranquilizer, because shifters are affected when shot with enough of a dosage, but we don’t stay down long. They’re probably going nuts behind us because the jeep is practically at a crawl and

everything

lifeless body lie there

Oh God!

Damn it

the new drops fall I attempt to swallow back a sob, not wanting to see Delilah

just a ferocious and unrelenting as it was the moment I stumbled toward Cane and cried out to him. When I jostled him and he didn’t wake up. Every single sound in the room disappeared and although I was aware of Delilah screaming and crying in Quinn’s arms, I couldn’t hear her. Then when Gryffin’s eyes filled with tears and he spoke to me, I couldn’t hear him either. I listened to Cane’s chest and I couldn’t and a heartbeat, placed my fingers at his throat

at them. Shouting

Cane wasn’t gone! He couldn’t be..

just found him.

found me

would feel

that

over despite their protests, ripped off the back of

Two Hundred Twenty–Seven

was how cold my fangi

any orgasmic plbourne from

true.

feel

I refused toge in pumped Cane

backseat of the jeep

for a few motrett’s atheneed. When

다

of the jeep to head back into the house

from emptying my venom

be?” I’d shouted after busting through the front doors to find the bring when Gryffin followed me inside. “Please screamed. Tell me

Gryden h

deposited

witch my

fucking loving him said

with grid. Then

ther