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!

started the fire,” I supply,

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

to my feet and I ask him, “Have you

The

“I tried once when I was

at one another. Then, we left and I didn’t see Koda anymore. I tried to tell my dad

God.

GAYLE

don’t know how they’re keeping him under. I suspect Gryffin

after everything she witnessed.

lifeless body lie there peaceful and still. Drenched in his own blood.

Oh God!

Damn it

of pain to my chest. As the new drops fall I attempt to swallow back a sob, not wanting to see Delilah crumple again the way she did when

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 and I couldn’t find a pulse. Even though Quinn told me he was gone,

yelling at them. Soaring at them. Shouting that

gone! He couldn’t

just

found

were gone, right? My body would feel it, right? And mine

be that cruel! Could it? No! Of course

I flipped him over despite their protests, ripped off the back

Hundred Twenty–Seven

I noticed was

put any orgasmic plbourne

true. I

did feel

that, I refused toge in pumped Cane so far

of the

out for a few motrett’s atheneed. When

다

panicked, screaming in agony and jumping out of the jeep to head back into the house

from emptying my venom

front doors to find the bring

Gryden h

deposited

it witch

not fucking loving him

body shook with

ther