The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Eighty–Two

PAUL

Downstairs with my brothers, I keep one eye on the open door of my bedroom and my ears piqued to listen. There was no need to share what Anastacis had just done and said, everyone on the first floor had heightened senses and each and every one of them heard her themselves.

“Crazy fucken shit, Timmons hisses. “So saltwater, eh?” He turns toward Gryffin. “Your daddy tell you that too?

Gryffin’s jaw clenches and he shakes his head, no. “What he did tell me, was that a shadow hound killed in the night under a blackened space will kill the beast, but release his shadowed soul. Then that soul will grab the first natural creature of likeness, presumably a dog- or hound, and take that life instead. Apparently shadowed souls can room freely in the dark.”

“Shit, Timmons curses.

1 ask, “Take that life instead? Meaning what exactly?”

Gryffin’s head jerks in my direction. “Meaning he will transfer his soul to another hound. A natural. And that natural will become a shadow hound shifter. My father said shadow hounds in daylight can be killed, but only under a full sun. Only when the sun is directly above it will the shadowed soul be banished.”

“Well that’s not good,” Rainier gripes. “I mean, fuck. That makes them pretty fucking”

“Indestructible?” Gryffin supplies. “Yeah, I know.”

“I wo

wonder if they’re aware of that trait, says Cane thoughtfully. “When the three of you went after them in the woods, they all looked pretty different to me. As if they weren’t even of the same litter. They might not even know what their shadow capabilities are. The real question is… do they become shadow, or are they born shadow?”

“You’re right,” 1 agree, just as the scratching on the rooftop s

more about that.”

rooftop starts up again. Raising My eyes heavenward, I say, “I need to talk to Anastacia

“Unfortunately, that’s not something my father shared with me,” Gryffin complains. “If I’d known we were about to meet some, I might have asked.”

“Well what’s stopping you from doing so now?” I ask..

Gryffin grants me an apologetic smile. “Selfish desire. I don’t want that asshole coming home with his whores and if I’m suddenly Interested in sta ow hounds, he’ll know there’s a reason for it and might decide to find out what that is. He’s been bothering me about taking on a few chosen females. Females that he hand–picked for me himself.”

in Africa? Is he lioness hunting for your

you,” Gryffin says with a

and his three course wedding, I attempt to steer the conversation back toward the hounds.“So to bind one in saltwater and wash it of its taint probably means…….” I trail of£

shadow from its soul, Koda inserts with a grin. Two

the bastard afterward,” Rainier

Koda hisses, “Exactly.”

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Two Hundred

focus on Cane and Gryffin. “So get up there and grab us a

Bring him in

that fucker to the goddamnedd beach

my–Anastacia. I want to make that fucker bleed and have him tell me everything he and his kin planned to do to her. Then… I’ll have him apologize and beg her forgiveness. And then I will

CANE

step out the backdoor and the slide of the deadbolt behind us seems to echo in the woods. The pair of us are naked and despite the frost in the air, I’m not even a little bit cold. Another perk af becoming a shifter I suppose. When Gayle and I parted ways

and Goose with him, but Gryffin and I both knew I needed the practice, so we declined. Now, she’s pissed at me. She didn’t even kiss me goodbye. My beautiful savior who mourned my death, refused to even look

vow with myself, never to leave her like that

my kitty cat. I need to

smashing good time,

my eyes lasering through the eerie midnight mist in search of movement

And there It

pick out four unshifted males high up in the trees. They’re just far enough away that they can see the roof of Paul’s house. Just as we expected… they appear to be waiting for something. They want the girl left defenseless. Or… they are testing our strengths. Suddenly, this gives me pause, but as we already have a plan in place, I don’t speak on

what they know when they are dead.

pass by in a blur.

even

prepared for the beast that I will shift into.

the base of a particularly all evergreen. One they should never have taken the time to climb, because….. now…

that I cannot

ANASTACIA

sleep and for a moment I’m completely confused. A quick glance around reminds me of where I am, of whose home I am in, and for a second I

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