The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

3/4 The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates Chapter Two Hundred Fifty-Two CANE 0 You're a lion shifter now Cane.

That is what she said...right? I shift my body in her direction, my brows furrowing as she watchesHer saucy confidence falters for a moment as her nerves begins to take over, Golden brown eyes darken, losing a bit of their spark as I remain mute, still at a loss for words. When her face falls a bit, a quivering frown turning her lips, I finally reach out for her, but she doesn't see me.

Gayle's eyes clamp shut. "I would have asked you if you wantedto first, but-her voice breaks, tears pouring from the shimmering bronze of her closed eyelids-"you weren't'healing. Y-you-you...I th-thought you were dead, she finishes with a harsh whisper, just as her chest begins to quake and her breaths start to cand go in rapid procession. The saddest little whimper escapes her lips as she begins to convulse and sob violently. She's hyperventilating. Fuck.

I leap toward her, startling a little when my small exertion of force shootsthe entire eight feet. Launching straight for the wall, I throw my weight backward a little to slow myself then I dip downward, scooping her into my arms and against my body. She moans againstlike a small child, curling her face into my throat and clawing the muscles of my chest each ther body shudders.

Cradling her as close as I can in the rigid branches of my arms, I murmur, “Hush Kitty Cat. It's over now." But she doesn't quiet, instead she begins to shake even harder. Her cries cin stronger and the sound of her agony takesright back to that moment when I realized she couldn't hear me. When I watched her kneel overand scream. The memory of it pushes in from all sides and I hate myself in for putting her through it. I hate that I allowed my ego to rule my actions. Wanting to prove to her that I was strong enough to be her mate, I completely missed what was truly important and...we nearly lost each other. That fact barrels over me, fear gnawing at my chest once again.

When it happened...when I began to realize that my spirit had left my body and that I would never have any more than that one patheticly short moment of intimacy with her, not only did it destroy me, but it filledwith insurmountable anger. I couldn't believe how stupid I'd been. It shouldn't have mattered towhether or not Roman lived or died. All that should have mattered was securing life with my beautiful new love.

"Enough baby, stop. Please stop. You're breaking my heart. I'm having to fight for control as it is not to cry myself. I still can't believe that I'm able to touch you. That I can feel you again." A turbulent tremble of pain riots into my heart and I bite down on my lip, a sob of relief escapingas I soak her in.

"I'm s-sorry," Gayle breathes, shuddering as her shaking begins to slow. I'm so sorry, Cane. Maybe I shouldn't have, b-but y-you h-have to understand I-I wanted you here! I Wanted you with m-me! I don't c-care if I had to t-turn you into skunk. I s-still would have done it. So please, don't be mad at me. P-Please." Mad at you? Is this girl crazy? As her sobs climb back upward as she belts out, "G-showedwhat to do. He knew what was h-happening to your body. H-he said I was lucky b-because you must have ch-chosen to stick around, He said that was why you were s-still...um...well...fresh..." I have to chuckle at that as I climb back into the bed with her in my arms and pull the covers over the both of us. "Fresh, huh?" She whimpers, biting back on another sob as she shivers against me. I couldn't let you g-go. Everyone tried to t- tellthat you were gone, but I refused to believe it. But Cane," she moans, “I was sooo afraid that they were right. I was so, so, afraid. 1-1 d-didn't plan to ever stop biting you. They were going to give you an honored send off. A shifter's ceremony - my brother and the wolves said they'd never met anyone braver than you.

1/3 Chapter Two Hundred Fifty-Two Despite the morbid topic and the shiver of relief that went throughknowing that I didn't have to wake up six feet underground, or even worse - burned to ash my chest warmed. I'd gained her brother's respect after all.

"I had a plan. I knew that the rangers were still looking forin the woods because I attacked that hunter-" "When you attacked, which hunter? Wait a minute, when was this?" "It was before Lilah and I headed to Roman's. The rangers plan to shooton sight, she mumbles distractedly. "But that's not important- "Oh no? It's not?" I murmur sarcastically, smirking at her sexy ass and noticing how beautiful she looks with her tear stained cheeks barely scrubbed with a flush of pink. "I disagree." She grantsa small, almost shy smile before continuing on, almost anxiously, “Like I was saying - I knew that once my brother took you away fromthat I...I“-she pauses to take a deep breath-"I would lose it and that I wouldn't be able to say goodbye to you." She swallows thickly and I reach out with one hand to swipe the lone tear from her cheek. "So...the moment that they took you away, I planned to shift and head straight for them." My throat constricts with pain as I realize what she's saying. "What? No...baby-" Her golden eyes flash brightly and she glares up at me. "Yes...yes, Cane. I wasn't gonna let you leave me," she whimpers, turning away as a fresh bout of tears cascaded from her eyes.

"I know," I choke out. “And I understand, baby." Hating that I'd said that, I clench my jaw, my eyes filling with moisture as she turns back towardin shock.

"Y-you do?" she whispers.

"Of course I do, I swear, my eyes going heavy as I shift my body over hers. "What the fuck do you think I'm doing here? I refused to leave you. I was determined to wait it out. To sit on the sidelines of your life until the day you passed over and could cback to me. I wasn't going anywhere without you. Especially after all the ways I messed up. "You didn't mess up, Cane. You were brave. You were strong and-"

"No Kitty Cat - I was stupid!" I snap with a violent shake of my head. “I just...I needed you to feel safe with me. I wanted you to know that I could mistake I should have..it I protect you, so I insisted that I would take care of Roman. But...it was an gone with you. When you beggedto leave with you, to let it go...I should have listened. Instead...I almost killed us both, but I would have waited for you baby. I would have wandered this earth watching over you for the rest of your life, loving you from the other side, hugging you in your sleep and never being able to truly touch you." I chuckle, dipping my head down into her hair as a tear escapes my eyes. "I'm so fucking glad that you broughtback. Now? All I want to do...is touch you."

She trembles beneathand my body jerks again when feet her hand I close over the front of my jeans. "I love you, Cane."" "I love you too, Kitty Cat." "Cane?" "Yes baby?" I whisper, turning my face so that my mouth caresses her ear.

"I'm going to need you to touch me. Now..."