The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

The Pack: Rule Number 1 – No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Ninety–Two

ANASTACIA

The shoreline was quiet when we docked at the wharf, the fog of the morning fizzled out in the bright of the winter sun. Paul assured me it wouldn’t last long if at all, and I was determined not to waste even a speckle of sunlight.

Riding back to Paul’s house in the back of Rainier’s SUV, I say calmly, “I’m going to need a few things. What kinds of shops do you guys have around here? Any candle shops or… gift shops of any kind? That maybe… oh I don’t know… specialize in the Occult or the Metaphysical?” Paul tenses next to me, grinding his jaw and Rainier nearly steers off the road, filling me with a strange sort of apprehension. “I’m going to need candles and-”

“No candles,” Paul snaps immediately. “I don’t light candles in my home.

Well, that’s disappointing. I’m more than definitely going to need to.

“Why not?” I ask gently, stoking my finger over the delicious tendons of his forearm as I do.

He gaze falls toward my hand, then, after a moment, to my face. “I hate them.”

“Oh,” I reply. “Well unhate them. Because I need to set wards around your place if I’m going to be staying there, and I’m going to need a

bit more than table salt when I do.”

No,” he snaps. “They’re a fire hazard.”

They’re a fire hazard? What?

“They’re a fire hazard if you’re careless with them, sure. But I never am and I need-”

“NO!” Paul yells, his voice booming. “You don’t need wards. You have me.”

My gaze narrows, fury heating me from my fingers to my toes. “I want candles. I want assurances. Isi’t your house a newer model?”

“Yeah. So?”

“So I’m sure you have a sprinkler system set up for fire prevention. Don’t you?”

“Yes,” he hisses, sighing heavily. “So what?”

“So I need candles,” I spit, crossing my arms and scooting toward the other end of the back seat.

“Well, you’re not going to light any in my house,” Paul says simply, glaring at the spot on the leather that I just vacated.

“Fine,” I growl. Sitting up a little closer to the cage behind Rainier’s head, I request, “Can you drop me at a motel, please?”

Rainier chuckles, his dark eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. “I’m taking you to Paul’s. You’re his mate. You belong with him.”

“Well I’m not–staying with him,” I snap. “And if you take me there, that just make it more dangerous for me when I leave on foot.”

What the fuck are you talking about?” Paul grumbles. You are staying with me.”

“I’m not. Not without my candles.”

“The fuck if you’re not,” Paul growls.

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Number 1 –

Hundred

ANASTACIA

the fog of the morning fizzled out in the bright of the winter sun. Paul assured me

back of Rainier’s SUV, I say calmly, “I’m going to need a few things. What kinds of shops do you guys have around here? Any candle shops or… gift shops of any kind? That maybe… oh I don’t know… specialize in the Occult or the Metaphysical? Paul tenses next to me, grinding his

don’t light candles in

than definitely going

I ask gently, stoking my finger over the delicious tendons of his forearm

hand, then, after a moment, to my face.

set wards around your place if I’m going to be staying there,

he snaps. “They’re a fire

a fire hazard? What?

fire hazard if you’re careless with them, sure, But I never am and I need-”

booming. “You don’t

narrows, fury heating me from my fingers to my toes. “I want candles. I want assurances. Isa’t your

“Yeah. So?”

I’m sure you have a sprinkler system set

hisses, sighing

need candles,” I spit, crossing my arms and scooting toward the other end of

light any in my house,” Paul says simply, glaring at the spot on the leather that I just vacated.

little closer to the cage behind Rainier’s head, I request,

rearview mirror. “I’m taking you to Paul’s. You’re his mate. You belong with him.”

with him,” I snap. “And if you take me there, that just make it more dangerous for me when

Paul grumbles. “You are staying with me.”

not. Not without my candles.”

if you’re not,”

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Nov 25

Two Hundred Ninety–Two

out the window as the familiar houses that mark his neighborhood start to

quieting down once we pull into Paul’s driveway behind his jeep. James is standing in the front doorway when we roll to a stop, a look of absolute boredom on his face. Unfortunately, we are in a police vehicle, so I literally have to wait for Rainier to let

hand

arms wrapped so tightly around myself that

warns as Rainier opens

I reply. “I’m leaving.”

not,” he

“I am.”

wolf and I will

of wild dogs for a week, shifter. I wouldn’t be so sure of

no? I’m willing to bet you used your magic on them, and as you’ve pointed out already, your magic doesn’t work on me,” he smiles. “So. Yeah. I’ll

Fuck. He’s right.

this – I am going to have my candles or I am going to run the very first chance I

Paul’s eyes

entire time you’re here. So that you can’t run. In fact, you’ll be lucky

turned on!

Be

honey from my core, I can feel it as it coats my slit and my pussy pulses to try and keep

eyes flash with a wicked golden light. His aquamarine gaze drops over me in a slow perusal as he admonishes, “Oh yeah, you’re definitely staying here. With me. I’ll tie you up if

a

me into his arms before I can blink and lifts me from the confines of the vehicle. I could try to fight him, but why bother? I’m not going to win. He’s infinitely stronger than I am, and my magic isn’t worth squat as far as he’s concerned. Besides, the

he is asking me