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 really is my

surrounds me for a second, and before can stop myself, I

me, his eyes narrowing, pupils batting back and forth as he searches my gaze for only heaven knows what. The flex of his muscles are like bands of molten steel as his arms close around me, drawing me forward

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Two Hundred Eighty–Three

ruigainst the cotton of my shirt, just below Paul’s deliciously prominent pectorals, Wetness glazes my

he’s so perfect.

elongating. “Stop this,” he commands halfheartedly, pulling me

smooth skin of his powerfully built chest. “Why?” I hum, with a bite of

things. J don’t like it,” he snaps with an angry growl before stepping back and releasing me 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

te doing

he steps closer once again. He glares down at me. “You were

me. “Doing it? Doing what? What the fuck are you talking about, Paul?”

He spins around the room, waving his arms in the air

in the blue devil are you doing? Dancing?”

scatter around the the space, watching the untethered magic as

mist

around you

he say? Purple mist

circle and seeing nothing but my magic. I suppose it

can see the purple in your eyes. I am a wolf

you

it couldn’t move

he is my true mate, my magic will not affect him. It cannot touch him. Cannot harm him nor compel him. It is just the way of

hear my grandmama’s whispering again, saying Just tell him baby. Tell

the moment, deciding to turn my hurt into rage. I was never good at listening anyhow. I’ve always been much better at

But tell me this,” I snarl, getting up in his face. “With all six of you down

get inside, Paul growls, his eyes scorching with hot anger. Staring down at me, a muscle ticks in his jaw. “We caught him and

up toward his face so quickly that I can almost hear it crack against his skin, but I don’t because it never makes it. He snatches my wrist right before I can make contact and I want to scream at

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Two Hundred

I cry out, tearfully. “Why

“You spoke

You said that we should wash him in the ocean water at dawn. So

I

Somewhere deep