The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred-Forty-Two

RAINIER

As the shower pours over me, | resign myself to the reality of what I not about to step into. There isn’t even a

sliver of a doubt in my mind that Angle is going to go ballistic when I tell her | want a divorce. She more than

aware that | haven't been happy, and on more than one occasion she’s accusedof wanting a divorce. The

kicker is, each and every tshe said it, | denied that it was true. Because at the time, it wasn’t. | didn’t want a

divorce, | didn’t not want one either, but that fact was irrelevant at the time. | simply did not care at all.

We had sex quite a bit in the beginning of our relationship as well as at the start of our marriage. It wasn’t until

all this crazy shit started happening and Draven first arrived, that | truly began to neglect my husbandly duties

of boinking her at least once a week. I'm not even really sure why it changed at that time, but it did. Maybe it

was seeing Domonic so fucking obsessed with a female and so completely desperate to hide it. Or maybe it was

the fact that deep down, | knew something was up with him. | knew he was being uncharacteristically cruel when

he insisted that Draven was an outsider and had no business planting her feet here. We could all see it. Maybe

somewhere in the middle of his useless attempt to stick to our dumb rules, | realized things were about to

change. Perhaps, | subconsciously began to separate myself from Angie.

| still have not asked her about Draven’s ring. And why not? Because something insideis afraid that she did

it, | believe that she may have found it in my things, thought it was a gift for my non-existent lover, and then

taken it out of spite. But | have no proof. The guilt that | feel on a daily basis, for knowing | would never love her

and manying her anyway, rideslike a mule in the desert on most days.

But it is tfor that to stop. Angie is a grown woman and should be free to find someone to love her and

cherish her in a way that | never will. And should that logic fail when | tell her, I've also decided to sign over my

house. Despite that it was mine before married. She can have it all. The furniture, the cars in the garage, even

the money in our joint bank account. Shit, 111 even agree ridiculous alimony payment, if it will somehow help

her swallow the pill I'm about to feed her.

But | already know, my quick visit hto break the news will be anything but. | won't be getting out of there

unscathed for sure.

When | step out of the shower and waltz back into the bedroom, | find it empty. Frowning to myself, | pull on my

clothes from yesterday and venture into the living room in search of Felix. When | finally see her, something

crushes into my heart. My chest begins to ache in the oddest way and a sudden sadness washes overthat |

cannot explain. | take a moment to study her as she gazes absently out the window and at first, nothing seems

to be wrong. She looks normal enough. She’s dressed, her hair is brushed, and her face is freshly washed. But

there's something missing and it isn’t until she actually looks atthat | see what it is.

“You're finished,” she supplies, grantingthe bare minimum of a smile. “I guess we'll be heading back now,

right?”

Her eyes. The bright, vivid teal irises that light up everyt| see her are dulled. There's not even the slightest

hint of warmth in them at all and I'm immediately conflicted. | let my desire for her get the better ofte. |

shouldn't have started having sex with her while she was still asleep. | fucked up.

“Sweetheart,” | begin, and the sudden flare of pain | see in her gaze nearly kills me. “If | offended you this

morning when L...” | close my eyes for a second in an attempt to find the courage to say the words, “orced

myself on you while you were still sleeping-"

Her incredulous snort cutoff and | found myself even more confused than before. “Stop it Rainier. You n

never forcedto do anything,” she reassures me, her eyes going cold and distant. “I enjoyed every single

thing that we did together. It was all wonderful. Too wonderful,” she insists, before gazing back out the window.

“Perfect,” she whispers.

| cocked my head at her, still acutely aware that there was something weighing on her heart. | took a seat next

to her, frowning when her -body instantly stillened next to me. “Felix,” | whispered, too afraid to touch her but

needing to all the same. “What is it? What's wrong?”

She smiles, taking a deep breath before turning her eyes on mine. “Nothing. Not a thing. Just a little nervous

about meeting your friend at the bar | guess.

She’s lying. Tim not sure how | know, but I do. “If you think that I just plan to dump you there and never return, |

promise that’s not how it

“Uh-huh,” she says, glancing down to stare at her lap. “I know you'll return. They always do, at least once.”

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Chapter One Hundred-Forty-Two

“What the fuck does that mean? | snap. “For the record, | am nothing any they you've ever had.”

“That's for sure,” she agrees with a sad smile as her eyes water.

“Sweetheart,” | start. “I really wish | had tto solve this puzzle you've surrounded yourself with this morning,

but I honestly don’t. | have responsibilities that | cannot neglect any longer. Not to mention in unavoidable

engagement that starts the moment the sun goes down tonight. So as much as | wish | could sit were and figure

out how and what fucked up your morning glow, we simply have to leave.”

y mouth down on hers, Forcing her lips open when she tries Reaching out with both my hands, | turned her face

to mine, and slammed my to resist, | plunge my tongue in her mouth. After a moment, she finally gives in,

kissingback with so much aggression that | moan into her mouth. When | pull away, her eyes are still closed,

but | know don’t have any more tto waste and | head for the helm to drive us back.

Once we've docked, and are piled into my SUV, | text Bartlett to be ready and head to the bar. | had actually

spoken to him about it before I ran it past Felix, in hopes that she would agree to try it out.

It was still pretty early in the morning, and the stroots were mostly bare. It wasn’t until we pulled in behind the

bar t had Hector’s car towed from the property. The damn thing was still parked there, California plates and all.

“Hector’s car is here, Felix says in a frightened voice. “Was he released? Or do you think he made bail?”

| shake my head at her. “No. | can completely and totally assure you that Hector is nowhere around.”

“What do you mean? He's still in jail, right? You have him locked up, don’t you?”

that | realized | never

“His car is here because | arrested him here, | simply forgot to have it in pounded,” | inform her, taking her

trembling hand in mine. “I'l have it dealt with today. | promise. You'll see, there's no need for you to worry.”

She nods, not looking entirely convinced and we enter the bar through the back door.

shootsa knowing look. “Nice to meet you, Felix. I'm

The moment Bartlett lays eyes on her, his gaze widens in appreciation and he shoots Bartlett

“Hello,” she says so sweetly that | can’t help but smile stupidly her way,

Bartlett notices right away and begins to laugh, fixing his eyes on Felix as he asks, “Do you believe in karma,

Felix?”

She nods without so much as a second of hesitation. “I absolutely do,” she informs.

too,” he says, sendinga glance my way. “I think Rainier does too. He hasn't always, but | believe he

does now.”

“Okay,” she laughs good-naturedly, completely oblivious to the fact that he’s trying to givea hard time.

“Have you had breakfast yet, Felix?” Bartlett asks and she shakes her head no. “Great Care to joinfor sgave?

| was just about to make

“Sounds great,” she says

“I have a few things to take care of,” | say carefully, bracing myself for the inevitable sadness of Felix’s gaze.

“But I'll be back by lunchtto help you get settled in.”

“That's not necessary,” she says so coldly that even Bartlett grimaces. “You've done more than most people

would have done, and I'm extremely grateful. You don’t have to feel obligated to keep checking in I'm a grown

woman and | will be fine on my own.”

| meet Bartlett's eyes and

be

excuses himself to head into the kitchen and start making their breakfast.

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Chapter One Hundred-Forty-Two

« som . . 5

Felix,” I whisper, reaching down to lift

her chin and force her to look at me.

The hope in here PEO barely there,

i It isngsible. th ught | made

yself clear to you last night. | want

you. And | mean one hundred

percent, without a doubt, nobody else

will do — type The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

of want you.”

“Only me?” she whispers, closing her eyes.

“Only you,” | promise. “And I'll prove it to you. | swear it.”

She nods, blinking back tears as she smiles my way.

“I'll be back,” | say, backing away from her slowly and watching as she turns her back onto face the bar.

As | head for my c¢

out

my car, | whip my phone and text

Bartlett to keep an extra special eye

on her and nota lesheriedve under

AE He sendsa

thumbs up and an eyeroll and | finally

find the strength to leave. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

The moment | get home, | jump out

of the car and reach into my back

pocket for my wedding ring. My brow

2 8, 8 pl]

furrows as | realize it isn't there. |

know exactly where keep @, ath

apdigvely @nl ffamove iit and... it

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isn't there. Then, just for the fuck of it,

| check the my front pockets. | find it

tucked safely in the tiny little stash

pocket of my jeans. A pocket that |

have never used, not ever, not even

once in my life. And it is at that very

moment that every little cryptic thing

that Felix said tothis morning

starts to make sense. The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!