The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

The Pack: Rule Number 1 – No Mates

Chapter Three Hundred

ANASTACIA

The interior of the shop was all dark wood and corners of candlelight. Entire shelves devoted to different elements stood in every corner of the room. Candles and herbs, crystals and scrying bowls, books that looked too new to be of any use and jewelry that claimed to bring luck and love. These are all things that drench the space, clogging it and washing it of any true magic. None of it feels real. It is all simple… artificial. The man behind the high glass counter looks as if he would rather be anywhere else but here, and judging by the way he keeps looking at the clock on the wall, it appears it will be a very long day for him.

I am just about to give up what I originally thought was going to be a fantastic find when I feel it… an energy that thrums from beyond a beaded hallway. My eyes fix on the dark space beyond, my breath coming in quick gasps as Paul finally enters the store at my back. He had allowed me to enter on my own, claiming he didn’t want anything to do with any of it, but now here he is. As if he could sense my apprehension. As if he could feel my plight.

“What is it, beautiful?” he whispers, dipping down close to my ear. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s…” I start toward the beaded doorway only to be stopped by the cashier.

“That room is private!” he says quickly, hardly looking up from his phone.

I feel it when Paul tenses at my back, so I’m only half surprised when he speaks to the shopkeeper like they are old friends. “Kyle?” Paul

says.

The shopkeeper flinches, finally looking up from his device and studying Paul for a cool minute before a half smile breaks out across his

handsome features.

“Paul?” the man, Kyle, says.

“Dude! Long time no see. How are you?”

Kyle shrugs, his brow furrowing, despair clouding his energy in such a way that speaks of tremendous grief. “Oh you know. I’ve been

better.” Kyle clears his throat. “What the fuck are you doing here? I never pegged you for a Wiccan.”

Paul chortles, laughing heartily until I jab him in the ribs. “Uh,” he coughs. “Not me. My girl. She’s into this shhhh–stuff.”

“Very cute save Pretty Paul,” I tease him, raising an eyebrow.

girl… huh… that is the second time you’ve gone and said it. Better watch out or

he eyes the scented candles up front, right next to Kyle. “Are

friend of mine owns this spot and I promised I’d help her out by watching the place for

sense a lie in his words. Not all of them, but there is some sort of untruth in what he claims.

How peculiar.

see Paul gathering two armfuls of golden brown candles. What the devil? Is this the entire

eyes flicking briefly toward the beaded

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Chapter Three Hundred

lie. A complete one this

Huh.

something a bit more authentic so… nice meeting you.” Without another word I stomp toward the door angrily, only to be

not what I’m looking for. The one’s that

his phone in his pocket. “Who the fuck-”

stopping Kyle with a look. “Hey, hey, hey,

to Paul and checking out his selections for the first time. Honeysuckle, Milk and Honey, Honeybun, Sugared Honey, Vanilla Caramel and Honey… What in the actual fuck? “Paul…” I say, batting my lashes up at him. “I’m concerned. That’s about two hundred dollars in candles, baby, and you hate

a second and his muscles flex deliciously. With a lick of his lips, his eyes

see his cheeks redden with

swear to God if we weren’t in the middle of a fucking store I’d yank down his pants and ride him into the underworld right here and right now. “Because,” he states, his eyes going heavy with lust, “they might be the only kind I like. And…” he sighs, fishing

• Oh? Really?

of my cheek so I don’t erupt in a girlish giggle, I face Kyle who looks utterly amused

teeth, throwing me a helpless look. “Only…

piqued. When I say my next words, I push out my energy, asking him with my magic instead of with

he answers reluctantly, “My sister selects them herself. Based on something she

go on, still coaxing him, still fishing for anything I can about the actual owner of

she be Gifted? That would be

to Kyle and then back again like he knows exactly what I’ve just done.

that’s right, I forgot. Paul can see my magic

Damn it.

the look he gives him is cold and hard with disbelief. “And what do you mean, your sister selects them, Kyle? As