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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Pack: Rule Number 1

Two Hundred

ANASTACIA

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

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-”

“I don’t light

than definitely going to need

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

after a moment, to

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.”

“They’re a fire

a fire

careless with them, sure, But I never am and I need-”

Paul yells, his voice booming. “You don’t

fingers to my toes. “I want candles. I

“Yeah. So?”

sure you have a sprinkler system set up

sighing heavily. “So

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

simply, glaring at the spot on the leather

the cage behind Rainier’s

mine in the rearview mirror. “I’m taking you

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

the fuck are you talking about?” Paul grumbles. “You are

Not without

if you’re

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Mon, Nov 25

Two Hundred Ninety–Two

window as the familiar houses that mark his neighborhood start

explodes into laughter, only 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

hand out for me to

my arms wrapped so tightly around myself that my hails start to

Rainier opens

I reply. “I’m

not,” he chuckles.

“I am.”

try, but I’m a wolf and I

ran from a pack of wild dogs for a week, shifter. I wouldn’t be so

used your magic on them, and as you’ve pointed out already, your

Fuck. He’s right.

“But understand this – I am going to have my candles

Paul’s eyes

“Then I guess I better keep you underneath me the entire time you’re here. So that you can’t run.

get turned on! Not right

pissed! Be pissed!

me then pours like honey from my core, I can feel it

Paul’s 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

a

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 way his arms curl beneath me, the way his biceps flex against my back… all of it weakens my resolve. Making

he is asking me

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