The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Eighty–Three

ANASTACIA

Taul? What is going on? Why is he in here?” With a whimper, I stumble back into the wall. Paul’s head snaps around, his eyes flashing gold and circling the blue when he spies me on the landing. “You don’t know what you have done!” I cry, shaking.

“Anastacia,” Paul shouts. “Get back in the room!”

If Jarl is inside, it’s only a matter of time before Draco’s magic crawls through the walls and finds me. I should have done something to make certain this place was guarded before I fell asleep. Why didn’t I place wards around the house? And cast a sleeping spell on the grounds?

I am an idiot.

“Get him out of here! I screech. “Please!!!”

Fuck! I have to hide.

How did that fuck even get in here?

Why did the shifters not stop him?

With a deep breath, I scramble back into Paul’s room and linger haplessly next to the bed, pacing like an agitated prisoner. I don’t want to leave here. I don’t want to leave Paul. But Draco’s poison is in his house and now it’s only a matter of time before Draco’s shadow seeks

me out.

A voice like a whisper, floats between my ears, “Hell try to suck your will Into his, the way he did before… you must be bonded to stop him

from it

That thought comes out of nowhere and I clutch my chest, gazing up at the ceiling as if I can see through it into heaven.

Gran, is that you?

Attempting to block out everything else I can hear, I focus on my heartbeat until the sounds fade away.

Gran? I call out with my mind. Gran are you there?

I wait… nothing happens.

Gran, what do you mean I need to be bonded? Bonded how? To what? Grat?!

“Bonded?” Paul’s voice cuts through my meditation so loudly I startle. “Anastacia? Who are you talking to? Your grandmother?”

Spinning around, my eyes jolt upward in shock, “1-1 wasn’t speaking, I whisper, stuttering.

heard me! He

is

of love, pure and warm, surrounds me for a second, and before can stop myself, I jump into his arms.

at the tips of my fingers. Everything around us fades away hs he watches me, his eyes narrowing, pupils batting back and forth as he searches my gaze for only heaven knows what. The flex of his

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Two Hundred Eighty–Three

cotton of my shirt, just below Paul’s deliciously prominent pectorals, Wetness glazes my sex. my core pulsing between my thighs.

he’s so

he commands halfheartedly, pulling me closer

down from his shoulders and stretch over the smooth skin of his powerfully built chest. “Why?” I hum, with a bite of my lip, my eyes heating as they draw over the chiseled lines draped in slightly

feel things. J don’t like it,” he snaps with

You mean… you don’t like me.” My body is instantly cold with the sting of rejection. “And I’m not trying to charm you!” I snap. “I am not! I haven’t! Not even one time have I tried! And

te doing

steps closer once again. He glares down at me. “You were trying” His eyes dart around in annoyance. “You’re

back as if he’s slapped me. “Doing it? Doing what? What the

“I don’t like it.” He spins around the room, waving

in the blue devil are

space, watching the untethered magic as he plucks and

mist shit! He

around you

say? Purple mist

turning in a circle and seeing nothing but my magic. I suppose it does look a

with disbelief. “You know that I can. The same way I can see the purple in your eyes. I am a wolf

but you shouldn’t be able to see it.

why it couldn’t move through him

he’s my mate! The Gifted cannot cast ir mates. It’s against the rules of the universe. Because he is my true mate, my magic will not affect him. It cannot touch him. Cannot harm him nor

whispering again, saying Just tell him baby. Tell him

hurt into rage. I was never good at listening anyhow. I’ve always been much better at fucking up my life than accepting sound

Paul! Think what you want. But tell me this,” I snarl, getting up in his face. “With all six of you down there? How did

growls, his eyes scorching with hot anger. Staring down at me, a muscle ticks

that I can almost hear it crack against

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Hundred Eighty–Threo

would protect me I cry out,

“You spoke

so you called it. You said that we should wash him in

I

deep inside