The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

apter Seventy-Eight

DOMONIC

On the way out of town, Koda and | decide to stop at the boy so that I can throw alle shade Bartlett's way before

we leave. The place is a fatle begier might than it has been the entier month that Draven has been gone, int sti

nothing compared to what it was when she was hese. She really did have a way with the customers. They were

drawn to her in a was that was destinbing beker, but none only serves as a reminder of hose special she is. The

moment | see Bartlett, | notice he is on the phone and looking ridiculously happy, | freeze, mrhing back into the

shadowed hallway and hoping he hasn't yet meiend my presence. The music in here is toes lead forto hear

the voice of the person he’s talking to, but | can hear him just fine.

“I could try and head over there after closing, but | have in he back before moming He says solemnly. “So maybe

it’s best if | wait until next week. That way | can pet someone to take meet and stay a couple of days.”

Does he have a més adient?

I chuckle

to myself. Its about the got laid. Maybe if the bastand has something dip into he can stay out of everyone

else’s business.

“Really He says into the phone and my muscles tense. Gabriel? What? | don’t think you should be hanging out

with him, kiddo. He's a bit of a womanizer”

Gabriel? As in THE GABRIEL? The one whose father tried to challenge my dad for his position as Alpha all those

years ago?

Could Bartlett be on the phone with Druven right now

Calm yourself Dumani, it probably but what you think. But who else does he call kiddo

we'll see.

Backing out of the bar before he can notice| jog back to my hummer and dive back behind the wheel.

“What'd be say? Roda asks.

p down the alley behind a few businesses so that Bartlett does see my car as we leave, “Nothing Idn’t speak to

him

| creep

Koda chuckles, “Okay. Not even gonna ask.”

| groan, turning toward the highway. “You remember David? The wannabe Alpha that challenged my dad about

seven years ago?”

Koda nods, saying nothing as he gazes out the window into the fallen sun.

“What was his son’s nagain? Gabriel, wasn’t it?”

‘I think it was ‘Yes.’

“That's what | thought,” | say, turning onto State Highways Sixteen and pushing my speed to weil above ninety.

For most, traveling at this speed is dangerous, but not for shifters. Not only because we heal faster and better,

but because our eyesight is a lot stronger. | have to wonder, with Gryffin not being able to shift, have his other

senses been affected? | should have asked him. Because if those things at least, are still intact, then theres a

strong possibility that his lion may return without help. Or maybe, he just needs proper motivation. It's been my

mind a lot lately. | feel partially responsible. After all, he would never have been in any danger If he wasn't trying

to help keep Draven safe. Shot if you see a State Trooper, | joke.

Koda chuckles. Once we get into Canada, that may beca very real problem if you don’t slow down.”

“Right,” Lager. “Just trying to cut down on as much drive tas | can.”

“How did you find out where they were?”

| grin with a shake of my head. “Gryllin cto seetoday. He says Taedora’s been making weekly trips out

to Vancouve alone.”

Koda shorts, “Christ. That doesnt mean anything.”

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Chapter Seventy-Eight

| rub my chest, noting that for the tthat the ache has begun to subside. Almens if, it knows | am on the right

track, | mirk at him. “What does your heart tell you?”

He glares at the dash, booking away from the scenery to take inventory of what he’s eling. A look of satisfaction

wishes over his face as he smiles. “Onward Holmes. | think you may be onto somethine”

I lagh, flooring the accelerator and upping our speed to a hundred and ten.

DRAVEN

Staring down at the pregnancy test a wave of love engulfs me, chasing away the aching in my chest and the

nervous thumping of my heart.

Fix pregnant.

ly and I'm going to be a mydomonic, you asshole! Why did you have to be such a fucking pussy and chase me

away

There's a little life inside my belly i from you? Why?!

“Chances are he wouldn't want it anyway.” | say to myself, tossing the box in the trash and staring at myself in

the bathroom mirror. It was only important that he fack me, not keep me. Dann hies. God knows what he might

say about my having his baby. Who knows.

This confirms it. Domonk hed to me, back in Port Orchard. Dotsonic said Margo was his mate. And even though

Adam toldthe moment | got here, that Domenic had to have-saying Domonic wouldn't have markedif it

were true | wasn’t bully sure | believed him until now. But why elke that? Just to keep? AGAIN? A thinks thats

why he did it. A noble excuse for his only son, | guess. Adam thinks Domonic was terrified of my being so close to

where his mother was killed, that he pushedaway to prevent my meder. He says when his wife and the other

were killed, Damselc and the rest of them cup with a set of rules. Kule number one? No mates. Not for any

of them. What kind of self depriving shit is that?

| pose there is something redeeming about Domonicast wantingsadeur Mom, Domonic? Really? That's pretty

far to send someone you want to be able to rescue. The idiot. I'm sure that’s why Bart sent us here. At least he

had the right idea This would have been the ideal spot for a safe haven and | have to wonder why he didn’t

choose it. Then again, I've learned way more about the pest from Adam than | ever did from the boys in Port

Orchard. Maybe Domonic wanted his secrets to remain locked behind closed lips.

Everyone I've met in this town as well as Pail back in Port Orchard have said a male shifter can only reproduce

with his mate. According to the experts”, a female shifter can get pregnant by anyour. Therefore, women rule.

Haha fellas, we win again. As it is, | might fuck with Domanie’s head a little bit, Give him a call and tell him I'm

pregnant with Gabriel's baby, just to be a bitch. He deserves it. That's the truth

But, when | picture the child in my womb being bom, | don’t see myself alone. | see him. Demonic. | envision him

at my side for the entire birth, then | picture him holding our child in his arms when it's done. But... it's just a

daydream. What happens when the fool decides its too risky forto be wandering around breathing The Tree?

Will he lockaway? Build a fireproof jail just for me?

The more | yearn for Domonics arms around me, the more my resolve seems to be crumbling. Even now, alone in

this restroom, | am playing with the idea of calling him just to hear him say hello. Who knows, maybe the answer

to what I should do about this will ctowith the sound of his voice.

| called Bart earlier. | didn’t tell him about the pregnancy, but God | wanted to. He promised to be here next

week, so | suppose. I'll have to wait. | can tell him and Taedora at the stime. Adam has already agreed to

keep this between us. He says it might be best if no one around here knows | am carrying the Alpha’s child. At

least until the Alpha shows up. According to him, the knowledge might create a surge in the struggle for power

among the younger wolves and the Elder Council 1 don’t see how that would be, but I'm new to all this shit.

Everyone I've met so far has been exceedingly polite to me. But then again, | haven't met many people. In the

past month Emily and | have mainly kept to ourselves. We only ever leave the college to walk along the path

through the forest, or do a little fishing at the river. Gabriel has accompanied us almost every time.

The only scary part about living here was the night of the last full moon. When all of the men shifted and were

gone for the entire night. It was like a ghost towns. All that were left here were women, and truth be told, the

gals here luven’t been the fiendliest

A knock on the bathroom door shakesout of my reverie.

“Y-yes?” | call out, washing my hands and tucking the positive test strip safely away in the cupboard.

“I await the word of the princess?” Adam teases through the walls

Sighing. | spin around and open the door to meet the excitement of Adam's gaze. | tell he’s trying to look

careless, but the hope is there, practically shimmering

in the gray of his inses. | give him a barely perceptible nod and the grin he rewardswith warmsto my

boes.

knew it, he whispers, wiggling his head back and forth ke he just won at a hand of cards

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Chapter Seventy-Eight

“Yeah, | kisow,” | remarked, glancing found the room for Em. “Where is she?"

He chuckles. “I may have suggested that she toss out her perfand take a nice log shower.”

“Nice! | say, walking him toward the front door.

‘ . a .

Inod, ‘I will cby in the morning.

) q

It's probably best if you stay home

q , q

for awhile. Tu don't want to get sick

somewhere in townoby teen

apdhloM this thing out of the water.

, g

And don't forget, if anyone asks,

f p

Emily had a false alarm. They won't

question it, after all, she is unmarked

and she is also the one who was

seen at the store purchasing the

” .

test.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Right.” | agree, frowning a bit at his mention of her being humarked. ‘Is being bed such a big deal around

here?”

. ‘ . )

He shakes his head. ‘Not if you're

q . )

family. A female born of a shifter's

mate can stay HY Ro oust

AN without a €percussions.

But amateless hunan, living among

o an)

shifters — well- it's only a matter of

q , q

tbefore she’s considered he

f “ ”

clears his throat-“loose.” The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Loose?” | nearly shriek. “Emily is not loose!”

I

He shrugs, “Well, when the two of you

first arrived, the feline scent on her

: )

was really quite strana) kioW she's

© ;

npt {qode, ghd you know she's not.

) : . : p

But I'd be lying if said there hasn't

been talk of her being a lady of

” .

besser morals.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

“Well its bullshit! Rumors! Who's saying that? I'll have Gabriel set them straight!”

Adams gaze narrows apologetically, “Just whom do you think started such talk, my djur?”

“What?“/1 gasp, not fully comprehending what he’s trying to say. “Who?”

Adam laughs, shaking his head. “Gabriel did. That's who,”

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