The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

The Pack: Rule Number 1 – No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Ninety–One

ANASTACIA

I’d never seen wolves fight before. I know now that it is one of the scariest things one might ever bear witness to.

When Paul shifted in midair it was more than a little shocking. At least it was for me. No one else seemed too surprised by it. I hadn’t even noticed until that moment that Koda was slowly inching closer to the two sifters as they argued. He must have seen it coming. I guess they all did.

Rainier and Paul spun out of the cabin and into the glass like a ball of fur and fury. I couldn’t even tell which wolf was which. They were entangled in a tornado or growls and snarls. Tails flipping, bodies tumbling, and crashing onto the deck.

“Oh my Goddess!” I scream, as they go careening into the railing.

A quick glance around tells me that Koda was inching toward me not them. He’s now standing in front of me like some damn bodyguard, looking bored to tears.

“Calm down, sweetheart,” Timmons laughs, sauntering up next to me. “They’re bound to fall into the ocean and when they do, they’ll stop. That water is freezing.”

I glare at him, as a wolf’s whine fills the air, signaling that one of them is hurt. “Seriously? Either you stop them, or I will!”

“How?” Cane asks, from across the room. His baby blue eyes light up with curiosity and he steps forward. “With magic? I don’t think it’ll work. Paul’s too pissed off.”

Is that a challenge lion shifter?

My fingers begin to tingle, my eyes heating as I focus on the ball of fur spinning out of control on the deck. Willing my heart rate to calm, to slow, I push out my energy in waves. Reaching for the pair of idiots spiraling into madness just fifteen feet away from me. As my magic floats over Timmons, his face changes, as does Gryffin’s, then Koda’s, then Cane’s. Their expressions turn softer, almost pliant as they whirl to face me. They’ve been soothed by my reach, but unfortunately, Paul has not.

Fuck. That’s right. My true mate cannot be influenced by my magic.

Shit.

“Whoa…” Timmons says suddenly, “I can totally feel that.” He smiles at me, his eyes going dark.

“Yeah, Gryffin agrees, falling onto the armchair on top of the shattered glass. “Kind of peaceful, aren’t you?” he asks me.

Rolling my eyes, I stomp my foot and curse. “Fuck. I forgot, Paul cannot be affected by my charges.”

“Your charges?” Koda clips out, his smile wavering and slow. What are those?”

“My energies,” I snip out. “In the same way I cannot charm mated beings into falling for me, I cannot influence my true mate in any way.”

True mate?” Koda mumbles. “So you and Paul-”

“Are mates,” Gryffin says, finishing his question and answering it in the same breath.

“Wait a minute, Timmons spouts. “So you can force unmated beings to fall in love with you?”

Not exactly, I explain swiftly, hedging past Koda and closer to the action. “It’s not actual love, just surface attraction really. Like tricking the eye to see me and only me. Mate bonds protect over matters of the heart.”

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A, that mate shit is crazy. A witch mate… don’t know if that’s a good thing or a

Rainier as my power crests over him. I nearly panic when he falls still beneath Paul’s weight, my fear for him a new, yet powerful, thing. In the deep of my heart, I know that Paul doesn’t truly want to hurt him, but if I don’t get Paul’s attention now, he undoubtedly will. Pushing

STOP!”

but the animal in him shudders, whining with confusion when Rainier

so tired?” Raising his hands in a gesture of surrender, he notices the blood and bite marks that track up his forearms. “Am I bleeding? Holy shit,

joint,”

literally have one in my squad car,” Timmons tells him. “Trust me, this

Mmmkayyyy…

and is still flashing his fangs in anger. “Paul, I call out. His heavy white head turns toward me, his wolf features gentling

No, no! This package is not for you, madame. My dick is spoken for, my penis betrothed to another. Stand back!” He scrambles up onto

for Pete’s

of giggles and my mouth curves upward, unable to completely wash them out. Turning my attention back to Paul, I kneel in front of him, my cotton covered knees crunching on broken glass. The downy softness of his blond fur caresses my cheek as he dips

his wolf is

you said about me before. I don’t

glass on the deck. Laughter bubbles in my throat when I realize he doesn’t want me to cut myself. That he wants

arms around his thick neck. “I’ll get up if

back yet?”

happen to you,

the fuck? Really?” Cane giggles. “What

to talk about anything. “My dad disappeared and took my little brother

me to move with the shadow hounds out there. They’ll be looking for somewhere to rest. Somewhere dark where they can avoid the high sun at noon,” I toss out,

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“How

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to come back to me first, Leaning in closer, to whisper in Paul’s ear, “You promised to taste

head swivels in his direction, a snarl on his lips.

aiming a glare at

doubt to comment further on my innuendo, but Koda slaps a hand

raise an eyebrow. “Are you really going to leave me all alone with

with the potential to piss Paul off more than it can calm him,

snap of bones later, Paul is completely naked in front of me, his dick jutting out like the arm of destiny. The damn thing is so big that I’m momentarily starstruck. “Goddess is good,” I

his eyes wide and his chest heaving as he stares at

him, with a bite of my lip. “Nah. You’re fine just like

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