The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Eighty

PAUL

It's harder to step away from my door than | want it to be. Every inch gain is a fight, especially when | hear a

dejected whimper escape Anastacia’s lips from beyond the confines of my bedroom walls.

Is she crying?

Maybe... After all, she’s been running for her life since the day her grandmother died without any real tto

grieve, so she might be doing so now.

The image of her in the center of my bed, gazing up atlike she was searching for something to say,

something that might keepat her side a little longer, hasready to turn right back around to give her

exactly what she wishes.

She may need someone tonight.

No. Not someone.

You.

| have to stop. It’s not true. For a

all I know, she could be crying over her recent break up. They were together for more than two years. The

fucking years!!! How many times was he able to slither between her leg Every night, probably. The son-of-a-

bitch. If she was mine. though, it might be more like every few hours... minutes... seconds...

But she isn’t mine. She was his. She even said so.

It's with that realization in mind that I'm finally able to start down the stairs.

“What's on your mind, brother?” Rainier asks, gazing pasttoward the landing and my closed bedroom door.

I hardly hear him as | descend, barely aware of the fact that everyone is talking as the pot stews inside my head.

| mean, what kind of nis Drace anyhow? What exactly did she want from him in the first place? The man

that | saw in the woods is a joke. A zombie. A fluke. There isn’t anything particularly special about him. He's the

Alpha of a pack of dogs. Mutts. Mongrels.

form as he is when he’s shifted. More wiry than he is cut, and leaner than he is Like most hounds, Draco’s just as

skinny in his human fo muscular. Judging by the way Anastacia’s eyes blaze with fire every tshe catches

sight of my bare chest and arms skinny is not what she’s into.

She's b

power and heat and... connection and... fuck! So am I.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

top of h

his head. A crooked smile, if it could

Dark skin, rugged beard, beady black eyes. Twisted black locks that sprout like weeds from the top be called one

at all.

Nothing spectacular there. He is roguishly handsat best.

Like a slumlord or a fucking crack dealer. Or a starving gambler on a winning streak that hasn't left the blackjack

table in days. His features are haggard and sunken in. As if he’s constantly dehydrated. He basically my polar

opposite and probably even has a small cock. There's only one person | know who can confirm or deny that

assumption though, and later tonight, maybe I'll ask her to.

So what drew her to him in the first place, then? Why him? How did he ever grab her attention at all? And then

keep it for two and a half years?

Maybe it's not always about looks, Paul.

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Chapter Two Hundred Eighty

Then what is it about? Fake loar kufikie? An anchola that bore har anek her magic? And what did he plan to do

with

Uh-ph Fuck no, not happening

Running a hand through my hair, I try to redirect my thoughts. The land. should be thinking about right now. Not

the angen tur i det every t| picture Anastacia’s perfect mouth. For the explosion of fury that ricts through

bay Men gove herself to him! To that that that creatures

“Paul, man! What the fuck? Rainier snaps, shaking his head. How you betting

My eyes skate around the room to find everyone's gaze on

Were they talking to me?

| guess so

“Yeah. What's up?

Timmons snickers and | have the sudden urge to knock back a seriously hot. In fact

“Har

be’s a witch, motherfucker. And therefore dangerous. None of

Timmons eyebrows draw together, his lip lifting in a smirk. “None of

am puffing he slimy lips on

his teeth. He marks his lips. “Ipt it. That female

persing with her,” | sad beber | can stop myself

huh? None of us? He gestures to the five of them that

around my living room. “Or none of us? He asks with a chuckle and a hod in my direction.

“Lay off, T.” Rainier snaps, glaring at him. “You've been way too omery lately. What the fuck is your problem

Timmons rolls his eyes. Now here we go. Onery. Did Felix fix you up w

dictionary

Rainier tips him off and | have to laugh. “He has a point. You're so aortalte lately, one has to consider what it is

that you've been

reading.”

“The hounds,” Koda comments, looking bored. “If you guys want... | will go out and handle them all by myself”

“Says

the man with a pup or

on the way,” Timmons reminds. “Why don’t we go handle them while you stand watch?“”

Koda'’s eyes shoot toward the stairs at my back then back to Timmons before he flashes a feral smile.

“So that would be a no, then,” Timmons chuckles. Ill stay then. I'll keep watch here while the five of you”

“Not happening, 1 growl, surprising myself when my fangs shift out.

“Uh-huh...” Rainier murmurs observantly and I'm forced to avoid the question in his

sgaze. “And why not?”

Ignoring his question, | attempt to redirect. “About the hounds, | announce, forcing myself not to turn around

when | hear my bedroom door creak upen. What the fuck is she doing? She’s supposed to be sleeping.

Apparently they're different than regular hounds. These bounds... are shadow hounds.”

“Shadow hounds? Gryffin repeats, his gaze darkening with familiarity.

“You know of them?” | ask, ignoring the soft patter of footsteps as they wander onto the landing. Goddamn it,

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

“Go back to bed, Anastacia!“ | spit through clenched teeth.

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Chapter Two Hundred Eighty

“I don’t answer to you, Paul, sife snaps halfheartedly. The vulnerable tone of her voice reaches out for me,

snatchingby the back of my neck and forcingto turn around.

Even though | knew she was probably crying when | left her, it still shockswhen I'm met with the evidence of

it on her tear stained face. Her watery eyes focus onandalone and the sweet pout of her lips is turned

down in a frown.

Fuck me, baby, don’t cout here looking atlike that.....

Suddenly, it is as silent as a tomb in the house, with every single person in the room looking pasttoward the

second floor.

“I don’t want to be alone right now,” she whispers softly.

Something inside ofcrumbles and snaps. | make a decision. “Fine. | be up there in a minute. Go back to bed.”

The relief that finds her face lightsup from the inside and all thoughts of charmers and witchcraft disappear

for the moment. She nods, smiling atgratefully and spinning in her heels to disappear back into my room.

It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t matter.

All

that matters toright now... is that she feels better. That she feels safe.

With me...

Set guess, you're keeping watch,” Koda whispers making

everyone else in the room laugh.

“No,” | say, heading for the stairs. “Let me

etjust put her to sleep. Then | want to hear everything Gryffin has to say about shadow hounds.”

“It's a lot,” Gryffin calls out and | stop walking to turn around and meet his eyes.

He sighs heavily, shaking his head. “My father met with a few of them in Africa. He toldabout them the last

twe spoke. There is one thing that | know for certain... one thing that I'm sure of his eyes go dark and he

leans forward they should never be killed at night. Not ever,”

Chapter Comments

Visitor

thus is such a lovely story more chapters please