The Pack: Rule Number 1- No Mates
Chapter One Hundred–Forty–Seven.
RAINIER
The twelve of us are in the middle of the woods. Naked as the day we were born as we watched the sun go down. Koda stood next to me, a sly smirk on his face as he watched me.
“Are you getting frisky on me man?” I ask. “You’re eyeing my ment like you’ve been dying for a little more attention than you’ve been getting at home.”
He cracks up, catching the attention of a few of the other guys standing around us. “Nals. Nothing like that. I guess I’m just wondering when you’re gonna let the rest of us in on what’s got you all pink with flavor this fine afternoon. You’re positively glowing Sheriff.”
ur mate. You didn’t
I smile, thinking of the beautiful girl I left at the bar. “You know what? think I liked you better before you found your talk out of your ass as much back then.”
“Say what you will, Koda replies. My mate tells me everything.” He meets my eyes. “Everything.
Domonic walks up to us, his eyes meeting mine suspiciously. The word is you and Draven have been talking quite a bit lately,” he says softly, his eyes on the last rays of the drying sun. “Any particular reason why?”
I flinchy, knowing I should tell him about Felix. Sooner rather than later. She tell you that?”
He laughs. “Nah. And I didn’t ask her. Didn’t have to. I pay the bill. I know every little thing that phone of hers does.”
“Not creepy at all. Does she know you keep tabs on her?” I ask
Only when I remind her,” Domonic says. “It doesn’t matter, Rain. I’m happy you’re finally accepting her as your Luna.”
“I never had a problem accepting her,” I say truthfully. “That was you.”
“Touche, Domonic says softly. Then, as darkness descends he addresses the group. “Careful out there tonight. We need to stick together There have been traps found in the woods. Timmons and I cleared most of them today, but there could still be some we missed. Should one of you step into one, you know what to do.”
As the moonlight shines down upon us behind the drift of clouds, my sin begins to prickle. I feel my fangs elongate. “Something I should tell you all before we hit these hills,” I say loudly, and every head turns my direction. “I found my mate two days ago.” A chorus of gasps follow my statement. Everyone, with the exception of Koda looking shocked. “And I marked her this morning”
“I’ll be damned,” Domonic says with a grin, but that’s the last thing anyone says before the twelve of us are no longer men.
Instead we are wolves and we are racing through the hills. Following our Alpha’s lead through the brush. The farther we get from town the more something begins to nip at my senses. Something I am leaving behind… something I can’t quite recollect. But even that thought is forgotten as an unfamiliar scent wafts out of trees and the twelve of us scatter in a vee formation. Growling and snarling as we pick up speed. There are foreign canines somewhere nearby. In our territory! Too close to our den. We will find them. They are close. Too close.
DRAVEN
After a quick shower I am dressed and ready to head to the bar with Taedora. She should be ready too, but I send her a quick text anyway to make sure.
ME-
You ready madame lioness?
1/4
08:47 Fri, Nov 15
Chapter One Hundred–Forty–Seven
TAE-
Just let me tie up my boots and I’ll be over. I’m drinking it up tonight, y
ME-
Probably. I’m pretty
sure when Felix wakes up, she’s gonna need a few, Chi. So sad I cant join you.
TAE-
my bike?
? Of my
Are we taking the Alphamobile?
ME
Let’s take the hummer.
TAE-
Deal. Be there in a few, boo.
My plan to cook an early dinner using Bart’s kitchen and let the girls get drunk using Bart’s liquor, is in full effect as I grab Domonics and head for the front door. Before I’m even completely down the stain, the doorbell rings and I’m rolling my eyes.
Really, Tae? Im saying as I swing the front door open. “That was quicker than 1- The words are sucked from my throat as I stand there staring at the one person I never thought I would see again.
My heart begins to thump erratically and I’m not even sure if I’m breathing as I meet the sparkling gold gaze of the man standing on my porch. My head goes swimming and my mouth falls open in shock. Suddenly I am three years old again. Chasing after him as my balloon floats away. I can feel myself shaking my head, feel my eyes welling with tears as I stare at him. He looks almost exactly as he did nineteen years ago. Even down to the expensive three piece suit.
I’m barely aware of Taedora snarling as she races toward him to attack, She’s moving so quickly I dont even have time to stop her before she’s on him. But that’s not what has me reeling in shock. It’s him. Before she’d even close enough to be a threat, his arm shoots out, he snatches her by the throat, lifting her off the ground.
“Is this kitten yours, my darling?” he says in a voice from another time, & voice that I should have no recollection of, yet I do.
Tandora is gurgling, attempting to shift but for some reason, she’s unable to,
“Put her down!” I plea, my eyes meeting Taedora s
He smiles, glancing at Taedora. “I suggest you mind your manner kitten, Do not attack me again.”
He drops her and she falls to the ground gasping for breath. “You know him?” she gasps from the ground, working to gather her breath. You know this… wolf?”
“Wolf?” I snap, my eyes confused. “This is not a wolf,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. I turn my eyes back to his. This man is Gio. This man is my father.”
He smiles sadly. “Glad to see you haven’t forgotten
me,
darling,
Taedoras eyes widen and she scrambles to her feet. “Your father is a Shifter?” she hisses.
I shake my head in confusion, “N–no,” I turn my gaze to his. “He’s a coward is what he is.”
Chapter One Hundred Forty–Seven
“He’s a shifter, Taedora repeats, widening her stance. “A wolf shifter.”
Again I shake my head at her, declling to ignore her ramblings for the moment and focus on the man I haven’t known since I was a todkllet. “You’re the one whis seat the locket. What do you want? Why dee you here?”
His eyes twinkle, “I have missed you so. You are with child, yes?”
My throat closes, blocking my words as I watch his eyes shilft colors from gold to black then gold again. Like… Domonic’s do… How the hell does he know that? What the hell is going on?
“We have much to discuss, my darling. So much. Might I come Inside?”
1 shake
my head. “No. I have nothing to say to you. And we’re on our way out. I don’t have time for you. Why don’t you come back in say
I don’t know – another nineteen years!”
I don’t for one minute expect you to forgive me for abandoning you,” he says sadly, reaching out for me.
“I know you are angry, I don’t for one
myself back out of reach. Abandoning me and my mother. Or have you forgotten her?”
He shakes his head, closing his eyes briefly, “I have never forgotten your mother, I never would. Nor have I forgotten you.”
“Could have fooled me,” I say y waspishly, stepping out and locking the front door behind me.
Taedora snarls at him, “How are you not shifted? You are a wolf. I can smell you. She can’t, but I can.”
gesture for her to follow me as I step toward the hummer, thinking something must be wrong with her Shifter instincts for her to think be’s a wolf. But we can discuss this later.
He ignores her, following behind me. “Please Draven. There is much you need to know. Much I have to tell you.”
“Save it,” I snap, tossing Taedora the keys as climbing into the car.
“You are a Luna, just as I always know you would be. Just as you were born to be,” he says and I hold out my hand for Taedora to stop before she starts the car.
How the fuck? What is he talking about?
I meet my father’s eyes and he smiles, having finally caught my attention. “As I said. There is much you don’t know about where you came from. About… who and what… you really are.”
“He’s a shifter. A wolf,” Taedora whispers next to me
recognize.”
“But there’s something different about him. Something in his scent that I do not
“He can’t be!” I snap at her. “He would have been forced to shift! Right? If he is a shifter that would mean that I am a daughter of a-”
“Shifter,” my father supplies from outside of the car. “And not just any shifter, Draven. I am an Alpha and you… you are an Alpha’s daughter”
