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.

me! He heard….

really is my true mate.

of love, pure and warm, surrounds me for a second, and before can stop myself, I

blaze ignites between us. Electric connection crackling 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 muscles are like bands of molten steel as his arms

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Two Hundred Eighty–Three

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

so

this,” he commands halfheartedly, pulling me closer despite his plea

chest. “Why?” I hum, with a bite of my lip, my

with an angry growl before stepping back and releasing me with obvious

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

te doing

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

me. “Doing it? Doing what? What the fuck are you talking

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

the blue devil are

around the the space, watching the untethered magic as he plucks

purple mist shit! He

you whenever you’re casting.”

he say? Purple mist

seeing nothing but my magic. I

me with disbelief. “You know that I can. The same way I can see the purple in your eyes. I am a wolf shifter. Our eyesight is better than

be true, Pretty Paul, but you shouldn’t be able to see it.

it couldn’t move through him

to keep the door closed. It’s because 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 compel him. It is just the way

grandmama’s whispering again, saying Just tell him baby. Tell him how it is.

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

getting up in his face. “With all six of you down there? How did that fucker get inside? Ituh? Do you have any idea what

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

crack against his skin, but I don’t because it never makes it. He snatches

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would protect me I cry

“You spoke

their taint or so you called it. You said that we should wash him in the ocean water at dawn. So when we heard of the root, I sent someone out to snatch him

I

I think. Somewhere deep inside of me, I