The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

After grabbing Hartlett's phone I'd raced off into the woods after him, but when I didn't find him, I'd made my phone call to my brother only to find that I was too late, My parents had him.

The Elder Few had him.

And now... I had to go back.

I didn't even know what to tell Bartlett and there was an ache in my chest that refused to let up.

As I trample back through the woods toward the large house that looms beyond, a voice calls out to me..

"Rose." At the edge of the woods, where the light meets the dark stands Deputy Timmons. I don't know whether to smile or scream as I draw closer to him, so I simply nod.

"It's better this way," he says. "We don't need anymore females around here causing problems, but you have my word. I won't arrest you when you go home." A sob climbs up my throat as I recall my father's words toonly moments ago.

"You are to return hnow. Your fiance is waiting. If you decide not to your brother has agreed to take your place." "What ab-about Bartlett?" I manage to choke out, the mark on my neck pulsing.

Timmons snickers, "C'mon. You didn't want him anyway, did you? He's a wolf. Like me. You're a hunter. You should go hwhere you belong." He strides towardwith a cold clarity in his cinnamon eyes. "You're lucky we're not going to rip you to shreds." My body flinches, fear like I've never known clouding my thoughts for a moment. "Bartlett would never. H-he-" "You're right. Bartlett would never and neither would I. And despite the vow we all made years ago, I don't dislike you, beautiful. Hunter or not. But do you know who is up there right now? At the house? Do you know who just arrived not ten minutes ago?" "Who?" Timmons smiles, but not unkindly which is somehow that much scarier to me. “The lioness that had her jaws clamped around your throat." "Wh-what?" I mumble, stumbling back so swiftly that I nearly land on my ass.

"Timmons!" An authoritative voice bellows from the edge of the woods. What the fuck are you doing?" Timmons grins atas Dom approaches him from behind, his gray eyes softer than they were only an hour ago and eons more friendly than before.

"Nothing Alpha Domonic," Timmons says with a wink. "Just thought sweet little Rose might want to know what awaits her up at the house." Domonic's eyes meet mine for a breadth of a second before falling back on Timmons. "You andneed to have a little chat, Tim. This is 1/3 Chapter Two Hundred Sixty not cool." "And why not?" Timmons replies, still not tearing his gaze from mine. Because you've suddenly changed the rules?" I didn't suddenly change anything," Domonic snarls. "And watch what you say. If Rose was your mate - would you want us to treat her like this?" Timmons rolls his eyes. "Suddenly so friendly... oh that's right. Your mate is here." "Hey!" Domonic suddenly growls, his gray eye flashing and sending a jolt of fear straight up my back. Domonic's fangs slash out, but he's no longer focused on me, nope, instead he shoves Timmons, sending him back toward the house and away from me. "Go on. Take your anger out on someone that deserves it. Go visit our friend in the basement." "Right," Timmons growls back before shooting a gentle look my way. "I didn't mean to scare you, beautiful. But I wasn't lying either." "Tim," Domonic snarls in warning and Timmons turns his back on me, making his way back up to the house. "Was he telling the truth?" I ask because I can't help myself.

"About what?" Domonic asks without looking at me.

"Is she up there? The one that attacked me?" His shoulders stiffen, but I can see the answer in his eyes. "Why don't you go and talk to Bartlett about that, huh?" I shake my head, not wanting to get anywhere near the angry shifter that once had her teeth around my neck. "I'm not going back inside that house. Not so long as she's here.” "She?" Domonic questions.

"Timmons said it was a lioness. Was it? I mean," I say with a bite of lip. “Is it?” Domonic's jaw clenches, his muscles bunching angrily. "Fucking hell," he hisses. "Fine. Have a seat near the docks then. I'll send my mate down to talk to you in a few minutes." "Your mate?" "My Luna. My wife. My mate. Yes. As much as I hate to admit it, she's probably much better at all this than I am." "Why?" I chirp suddenly. "Why do you even care? I'm a hunter, remember? And I just found out that I have to return hor my brother has to take my place. So I have to turn myself in."

"Why do I care?" Domonic says quietly, his eyes falling toward the ground as if he's asking himself the very sthing. "Because you are one of us now, Rose. Whether you want to be or not. My brother marked you as his and I'm not just gonna stand here and let you break his heart. Out of all of us..." he trails off, his eyes lifting to mine once more. "Out of all of us Bartlett probably deserves happiness the most."

I snort. "I doubt I mean all of that to him. He's gorgeous and perfect and..." I close my lose my eyes the memory of him in my arms threatening to choke me. "So, so sweet. He can find a hundred better girls out there to be with. He doesn't need me." Domonic laughs so loudly that it echoes through the trees, throwing the sound back at us almost as they are laughing with him. "You really don't know shit about wolf shifters, do you? Even with all the classes you must have been made to take?" My chin tilts up in resentment. “I've only just started my training and Roman doesn't teach everyone everything about shifters... so no. I don't. Not really.

2/3 Chapter Two Hundred Sixty

Domonic's eyes glint as he steps closer. "Well then here's your first lesson, chick. We don't pick our mates. We know them on sight smell, touch.. but we don't pick them. My heart stutters in my chest for a moment as he steps even closer. "You may be right - there are probably thousands of other girls that Bartlett could choose if he wanted to... but none of them would be you and you are the one he has marked." Chapter Comments