2/3
The Pack: Rule Number 1 – No Mates
Chapter Eighty–One
DOMONIC
“Are we really going to do this?” Koda asks once we are seated in my hummer and clicked out of the lodge. Bridgette wasn’t there. She had apparently gone home and thank God for that. The few times that I’d seen her since my father’s visit last night, she’d done little more than hit on me at every turn.
“I don’t know,” say. Thinking back to the conversation I had with my father the night before. “We’re at least going to play along for a bit. I need to make it clear that Draven isn’t to be counted.
“Courted?” Koda chuckles.
I shrug. “His words, not mine. My dad told me that Gabriel had been pushing for a change in power over the last year and the arrival of Draven has only spumed him on. The bastard met Draven on the train. According to my dad Gabriel was returning from a trip to California as an ambassador of sorts. Of course, I shared the recent trouble we’ve had in town and expressed my suspicions of what Gabe was really doing there. But my dad confirmed that Gabriel is their contact between north and south territories. Apparently the new wolves that joined this chapter of the Red Wolf Pack came from the Timber Wolf pack of northern California. They were outcasts. Pack members who were exiled but did not accept the position of moque. The trines had been silly enough for my father and his council to deem forgivable
My dad was not happy to hear that the killer was still around. The message on the wall of the dungeon was a pretty obvious calling cand.
“I still can’t believe that he named you Alpha. And absent all this time? What the hell Koda chortles. Then, his gaze turns serious as I pull out of the lodge parking lot and onto the backroad behind the building. “I thought we were here to take the ghs back, not take over another territory.”
I grimace, not wanting to say much more about that. 3ty dad told me that Draven is going to be difficult to convince to leave. That plus he and she have bonded over this past month. Not going to lie, the thought had me smiling. My father seemed to have a light about his eyes that went out years ago and I knew without asking what had put it there. Draven. It may be safer for them here, Koda. At least until we handle things in Port Orchard”
ing kidding me.”
“You’ve got to be fucking
“Think about it. They’re not far away, They’re protected by a large number of wolves side eye him as we cruise toward a bridge at the edge of Crown Mountain “Have you thought about whether or not you’re going to mark Emilly?”
He grits his teeth, shaking his head. “And be in as much pain as you were in when we leave without them? No thanks.”
I can tell he’s pissed. He really hoped we were here to take the girls back and truthfully, it was what I planned to do at first. Until I heard all my dad had to say about his place. They have guards that patrol the town all day and all night. They’ve never been attacked by any outside force. There are mated wolves that he and breed in this place without worrying over whether or not someone is out to get them. In fe years, he and the rest of our pack had built a safe and prosperous town. If our pack in Port Orchard had operated like this years ago? We may not have lost anyone.
As we approach the giant wall and wrought iron gate of the Village Du Loup Rouge, we are greeted by a young wolf armed with a sniper rifle and an expiece. “Think about it this way,” I say, lowering my voice as I roll down my window. “You get to see your brother without sneaking around.”
“Alpha Domonic,” the young wolf says. “A pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Abraham. You can call me Abe. We’ve been expecting you
I nod, not saying anything before rolling my window back up. Alpha Domonic. Not sure that like the formal address. Traditionally, this is how an Alpha is greeted. But in Port Orchard, we go by our own set of rules.
Abe signals someone beyond the gate and the damn thing open to allow us through
I wonder how they would feel if they knew your Beta is at home with absolutely no knowledge of where we fe right now Koda comments.
“Teaditionalists,” I say with a shrug.
Despite the early hour thir marketplace is alive with activity. These are at least twenty park members lining the streets on each side. Each of them stopping in their tracks to grek at us as we pass through toward town hall
“Do you think they know? Koda grumbles as we park
The guard did,” is all I say before I kill the engine and step out of the wide.
1/3
Chapter Eighty–One
DRAVEN
Domonic could be here somewhere. I mean – Emily’s right. I have absolutely no pain and my nausea even seems to have withered out in the last few minutes. I wonder, my senses have been much stronger in the last few days. Might I actually be able to scent his presence if I stepped outside? The possibility is not enough to urge me outdoors. Because, as much as I have longed for his arms around me, I still can’t shake the pain of his fies from my heart. The fact that he put a goddamned diamond ring on that blond Barbie knock off, then threw me out while she lounged about in her underwear – is not something I’m ready to forgive
The need to punish him is still too great. And if I see him if he’s close enough to touch? If he’s right there in front of me and I get to look into his beautiful gray eves? Or if I hear his sexy voice and see his adorable dimples? I might crumble. I will be putty in his hands. And perrt Jos lets not forget his muscles… there’s not much of a chance that he left those in Port Orchard. Dann bin
I’m not ready! I dont think I’m strong mough yet! Maybe I can refuse to see him? The meaway. Maybe he’s here for some other reason. Or maybe he’s not here at all and
Just then, my phone rings. Adam.
“Hey,” I say into the phone, only slightly breathless.
Adamspeaks in a hushed voice. “Our Alpha has arrived. Finally,”
gain, wait a minute. Who says he’s here for me anyway? I mean he did send going some really backward wishful thinking?
I know I fucking knew it. I clutch the phone in a death grip then place it on speaker as I join Emily in the kitchen. She gives me a curious look when I place my phone down on the counter before her. “Domonic?” I quip, ignoring the shock in Emily’s eyes and the bacon on her plate.
“Yes. He’s just arrived. Our meeting is set to start any minute. Just wanted to give you a head’s up.”
Don tell him about…” I cut off my subconscious mind protecting me from the super bearing of wolf shifters. “Please,” I say,
He sigh heavily and a slight commotion is heard on his end of the line. “When he sees you, he will know,” he whispers.
Fuck I was afraid of that. I’m still not hip to all the rules of shifters, but somewhere deep inside me I had a hunch that a male would know if his female mate was pregnant. Then I won’t see him.”
““Deaven,” he starts, and I can almost see him shaking his head in disappointment. Taware that he hurt you and by no meani him, but you need closure. Unless you plan to reject him outright, you need-”
I interrupt. “I can do that? Like – reject him?
11 force you to have to leave with,
“Of cours.”
If I did, what exactly would that mean?”
“You would be in agonizing pain and being as that you’re already marked, and pregnant, the act might kill you.” He whispers, “It might kill him as well. At the very least, it will feel like you are dying every day for as long as you live. Much like I have been feeling until your arrival.“
This shit is so strange, I sw
“But what would it mean?”
“We don’t have time to discuss this area of wolf history right at the moment. Not to mention, rejection of a marked female has only been recorded once that I know of, and a very long time ago.” He groans. “In fact I should not have mentioned it.”
“Is he alone?” Emily chimes in T… Koda-”
“Roda is here as well. Adam states softly. “They’re in the parking lot. We don’t have much time to talk.” He sighs. Prepare yourself Draven. Text me when you have decided whether to see him not” He pauses, speaking to one of the others quietly before getting back on the phone. But, be forewarned. Whatever you decide, he is Alpha here and if he wants to see you, you cannot stop him.”
Fuck Fuck. De
