The Pack: Rule Number 1- No Mates
Chapter Eighty–Two
DOMONIC
“Hello Domenic, Gabriel drills free his seat in the conference room. His absence of smile and arrogant attitude tell me he is just the same as he always was. A
prick
“Its Alpha Domonic, to you,” I tell him as 1 take a seat across from blat on one side the long table. I don’t miss the low growl and tensing of his macles as he glares at me through narrowed eyes. I throw him a wink and a grin just to plas him off a bit more and turn my attention to my father at the head of the table. There are fifteen men in this room. One too many if you ask me. “I thought you mid this was a council meeting. Does that mean that Gabriel is also a member of your council?TM
“Nice to see you boys haven’t changed,” Roda’s father, Darryl, who is seated to my iller’s left, chuckles, nodding at his son from across the room. “Hello Koda, glad to see you son. You’ve grown.” He clears his throat, “But I am a little confused as to what you are doing here. Am I to understand that you are the Beta now, and not Pwar
Paul’s dad, Chase, goes rigid. Koda says nothing, but I can feel the heat coming off of him as he sits next to me. He and I both ignore the question. Back home we stretch the power pretty equally between the twelve of us. Unless of course, they don agree with what I want to do, then I usually pull rank.
“Can we get this started already?” I ask “I have business 1 need to attend to. Someone. I’d like to see.”
Garbiel laughs, standing to relinquish his seat to Paul’s father Chase. “I have somewhere to be. Please excuse me, gentleman. I’ll see you at the ceremony.”
Ceremony? Oh fuck I hope not
Now, hold on just a minute, Gabriel, my dad says. “Should I take this to mean that you are withdrawing your bid for Alpha?
My body tenses, my eyes snapping toward Gabriel who is suddenly visibly uncomfortable. The leshit. I mean I don’t want to be Alpha here, but I certainly dont want him to be. He’s weak and manipulative. A piece of filthy shit. If it were up to him all the humans would be slaves. Including the ones bom to shifters. I grin at him as he makes his way toward the exit. “Is that right? Gabe wants a fight? Nah Can’t be
Gabriel glares at me as he straightens his tie. “Withdrawing. For now,” he hisses. “Provided that Damonic chooses to stay in power here and nor in Port Orchard.”
I can’t help but shoot to my feet. “Where I go and what I do are none of your goddamn business. Let me know if I need to make that clear to you later,”
He chuckled, “And what? Brawl with me out in the city streets? We don’t do things the way around here Domanic. Things have changed
“They can change the fuck back too, I growl, shaking my father’s arm off of me as huges me to sit down.
“You’re are excused Gabriel,” Darryl says, getting up to lock the door behind the Ettle fuck.
“Jesus,” I snap, taking a seat. “No matter where that focker goes, he’s an asshole. Not sure how much of an asset he can be as an ambassador.”
My dad snickers. “You’re right, and that pretty much brings us to the purpose of this meeting
“I’m not moving up here, I say softly Meeting each pair of eyes around the table individually. “The twelve of us are not finished in Port Orchard -Not by a long shot,”
“I see,” Chase says from the opposite corner of the room. “It’s been five years already, Domahic. Don’t you think your mother would want you to let it go? To move on with your life?”
grit my teeth so that I don’t reach over and strangle Paul’s father, “She probably would. You’re right. But I chuckle-“I can’t. An… I won’t. I’m going to find him and dept care if it takes me my entire life”
“Well how about this then my dad chimes in, tapping his closed fist gently over the table. “You make monthly visits here. Solidify your position as Alpha. Because I’ve got to tell you“-he sight “Gabrielis gunning for it. And so are a couple of others,
“Well I didn’t ask to be your Alpha.” I grin. So what the fuck do I care?”
“Your mate is here,” my dad reinds me. “She is a human taking sanctuary here. She under my protection for now. Your protection. But if someone else becomes Alpha”
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Chapter Eighty–Two
Then I take her somewhere else.
My dad laughs, finally sitting back in his chair wi jan arrogant glint in his eye. “I dont think I have to tell you how stubborn that girl is. She may not want to
I roll my eyes, clenching my fists in my lap as I glare at him. Then I’ll make her leave
She would be safer here,” my dad bites out.
He’s right. I now he is. But I miss her and I want her back. Then I take her hope, hirk to Port Orchard.”
His chin hardens and I see somet
sadness swirl in the depths of his eyes. Dr. Have they gotten that close already? “T
I have to leave that up to her.
I sigh heavily, knowing for myself that Draven is going to be hard to conviner. She told me so out on my driveway that day. I can still hear her voice, I will never forge you for this. Not to mention, I might resent my dad for moving on with his life, but something inside of me enjoys hearing the way he talks about Draven. A if she’s the daughter he never had.
Maybe she misses me to. Maybe that will be enough to get her to listen to me. I almost brought the goddamn ring with me. But then the sight made her more angry after seeing one on Margo’s finger.
Fucking Margo. What a fantastic idea that had been. I am so fucked.
What ceremony was Gabriel speaking of? I ask warily.
La ring might have
Bartlett’s father, Mike, clears his throat, drawing my attention. Er well- it’s for you We arranged an assembly for the entire pack to witness their Alpha accepting his te
I swear to God. Will tradition never die
“Really,” I chuckle. “I guess marking her wasn’t enough.”
My dad shifts in his seat, whipping out a cigarette and lighting up right here. The thing is, Domonic, a couple of the other wolves have expressed interest in her.”
“What?” I snap, gripping the armrests on each side of my chair. I kill them. “But she marked,” I posl.
not happy with yo
In fact – the word
My dad nods, attempting to placate me with the raise of his hand. Understood. However – when the first arrived, she was not around here is – the was nonning from you.”
“I fail to understand how that would make her fair game.”
“Is that how this pack got so big? Koda asks, speaking up for the first time. “By taking on mates that didn’t belong to them?
The collective quiet that falls around the room has me baffled, “What the fuck?” I qup. “You can be serious.”
“Calm down,” Chase says, leaning forward. “It isnt like that. Not exactly. But whenever there is a rejected female, she is considered available for another to take Especially if she has been previously marked and survived the venom.”
My body begins to tense, my fangs aching to be released. The fury that I am feeling that moment cannot be described. War the fuck did even tell these people? I didn’t reject her. She is not wanted.”
Koda shakes his head, meeting my eyes. “What about the gel she came with? Emily Has someone expressed interest in her as well?”
Darryl’s head snaps to attention, his eyes locking on his son. “No. She is unmarked and would be of no use to any male shifter looking to procreate.” He shrugs “Besides around here the is considered
“Enough!” My father fairly shouts his warning at Darryl “We’re going off topic. He turns to me. I will not force Draven to see you.” I shoot up from my seat and am about to leave when his voice stops me, “But it is the law for the Alpha to approve all unmarked females taking sanctuary here and, well, Draven and Emily aren’t exactly separated. Aran official act, of course!
1 smile for the first time. A full sale, one I know that Draven would love. ‘Great. This point me in the direction of this human so I can grant permission for her
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The Pack: Rule Number 1- No Mates
