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The Pack: Rule Number 1 – No Mates
Chapter Two Hundred Forty–Four
ROSE
“Th–the same one?” I stammer, my heart pounding erratically for a completely different reason now. Jumping to my feet and gazing outside, I see trees on a rocky shore, much like the scene from my dream and I begin to feel lightheaded. “Oh my God…”
Bartlett is staring at me oddly and I realize for the first time how difficult it is to read his features because of his beard. The mark on my neck pulses for a moment and my hand goes up automatically to rub at it. I’d almost forgotten about all the questions I needed to ask. Questions about how long I was in a coma and what happened with my injuries.
“What are you afraid of, Rose? Do you have a problem with wolves?” Bartlett asks, his voice somewhat strained.
My eyes find his and I rub the mark again when another wolf’s cry wrenches the air. “I–I don’t know,” I answer honestly. Then I study him, thinking of the things he said to me before we kissed. At the time they didn’t strike me as any more than passionate, but… I suppose some of it was a little odd.
‘Even before I caught your scent and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were mine… I wanted you.
A strange thing to say if you think about it. Very strange actually. Reminds me of something we were taught by Elder Roman during training, but I can’t remember what it was.
Almost as if he can feel my confusion and my fear, he steps forward and tips my chin up with his finger. He says softly, “I told you would protect you, didn’t I?”
His touch and the sincerity of his eyes it does something to me. Warms me from the inside out. But even so… I don’t want to camp somewhere there are wolves roaming around. “Are we staying on the yacht?” I ask.
A muscle in his jaw ticks and he licks his lips, his gaze going hot for a moment before he says, ‘No. My brothers and I have a house on this island.”
“You have a house on an island of wolves?‘ I squawk. “How many brothers do you have?”
He chuckles, ‘Yes, we have a house here and they’re not really my brothers – but then again, they are.”
“How many?”
“There are twelve of us,” he says softly.
Jesus. That’s a lot of brothers that aren’t really brothers.
“Are they here?” I ask, instantly feeling self–conscious. What if they don’t like me?
He cocks an eyebrow, his face souring a bit. “Why? Are you interested in them?”
My back straightens, my brow furrowing, “What? No! Why would you even ask that? I’ve never even met them!”
Actually, you have. You just don’t realize it yet.”
I’m okay what does that mean? “Oh. Well, no, I’m not interested in anybody.” When did I meet them? Since knowing Bartlett I don’t think I’ve seen twelve people, let alone met them.
“Nobody, huh? Well that’s disappointing,” he replies, pretending to be crestfallen.
My face beats as 1 gaze up at him, thinking of all that we were doing a few minutes ago. I can’t help the stupid smile that stretches actress
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Chapter Two Hundred Forty–Four
my face. “Except for… well, you know…” I roll my eyes.
“No. I don’t know. Who?”
“You!” I snap, feeling stupid and lowering my head so that my hair hide my face,
He laughs. “I just wanted to hear you say it.” He studies me as if trying to figure something out, then shakes his head. I hope you don’t mind sharing a room with me.”
My voice comes out high pitched and squeaky, “Will we be sharing a bed too? Guuuhhh! Did I have to sound so scared? Geez
“Is that a problem?”
“No! No! Absolutely not. I–I’ve just never um… you know, slept with… um… a–a man before.” Cool your panties, Rose. You don’t want to look like a child. I bite my lip nervously, thinking that all of my confidence from before must have evaporated with the moment.
He smiles, dragging a thumb upward to pluck my lip away from my teeth. “You have no idea what it does to me, when you do that, be says huskily as he begins dragging his thumb back and forth over my bottom lip. “I guess I can sleep on the floor if you want me to, but I’d much rather be next to you.” His eyes are dark, the blue of the irises practically gone. “I want to finish what we started. But if you’re not ready, then I’ll understand.” He releases my lip, staring at me like he wants to eat me.
My clit pulses, responding mindlessly to the insinuation in Bartlett’s words. “I want to be with you,” I whisper, stepping closer to him when another howl echoes beyond the water. My body tenses and I reach out to grab his arms as I gaze out the window. His muscles are hard, flexing beneath my fingers and drawing my eyes toward them for the thousandth time. “Are there a lot of wolves? Like… we will see them?”
He gazes down at my hands, his jaw going tight. “Don’t be afraid of them,” he says. “It’s like I said – I’ll protect you.”
“Do you have a gun? Or a rifle? If you do I can-”
“No! What the fuck for?” he snaps, yelling. His burst of sudden anger has me stumbling back and away from him, my body trembling as 1 finally realize the man is a literal stranger. When he sees my reaction, his face is instantly contrite and he runs a hand through his curls as if exasperated. “I’m sorry, Rose. I didn’t mean to yell at you. It’s just…”
I shake my head, looking away as tears fill my eyes. My father loses his temper like that. A lot. I’ve always hated it. It scares me to death. When he finally gets his hands on me… after what we’ve done… Ted and Tommy and me and the rest… I might not be able to walk for a while he’s going to beat me so badly. Thoughts of my father remind me of the predicament I’m in and I can’t prevent the tears from falling now, when I could have before.
“Rose?” Bartlett’s voice sounds behind a sea of tears. “Princess, don’t cry. Please…” He steps up to me, but I raise my hands warding him
off. “Rose, I’m sorry!”
But I shake my head, burying my face in my hands for a moment so I can readjust myself. I don’t know you! What the hell am I even doing
here?
