The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

3/3

The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Thirty-Four

DRAVEN

“What?” | snap. “H-here?!”

Domanie’s arms lock aroundas | begin to struggle, my eyes going straight to the shaded windows, yelp of

fear leaving my mouth.

“Doven,” he couses, trying to get my attention, but my mind is instantly on other things. Like Ase lid Marcus

figure out where I'd gone? And how long do | have before he comes for me?

“Letgo, | hiss, fighting against the bands of muscle wrapped around me. | have to go!”

“Draven,” he snaps, the timbre of his voice rising as he clamps his hands around my face to meet my eyes. “I

need you to listen to me. Please

I shiver, the sight of his handsface causingto whimper. | don’t want in hurt

| know you think you can protect me,” | say, shaking my head. “But you can’t. No ongan.”

“I can,” he insists. “I promise you. Please, relax. | have eyes on him right now. He’s not going ampare in any form

withoutknowing. Please, uy and relax.”

Strangely enough, the statement does soothea bit. Tellingthat I'm at alone this time. Reasoning

somewhat that Dominic isnt the only muscle bound meathead looking out for me. There are eleven others, just

as dedicated. And that’s not counting the lion shifter he was tellingabout.

at the st| don’t consider any of them expendable nor do | want them in danger because of me

“You have eyes on him?” | ask, “What the hell does that mean? You're watching him?

He smiles, gracingwith those devastating dimples of his and forcingto bite my lip

“Gryffin and the rest of his pride are keeping tabs on him for the moment,” he says, nothing my hair back. 1

don’t want you to worry about a thing.

My eyes bulge. The rest of his pride? Are you talking like a-lion pride? Like there are more of them? More ahers?”

lle sights, nodding, his jaw ticking. “Yes. Of course there are. There are shifters all over the world. Many different

kinds.”

living in a world with actual monsters prowling around me? How common is this?”

They're not all monsters,” he growls.

“They are to me!” | snap, lifting myself off of his lap. He doesn’t try and stopthis tand | have to wonder

why. | study him. He appears crestfallen. Like I've said something to hurt him when I've done no such thing. My

gaze narrows, my thoughts taking a dangerous but as | note the clench of his fists, the drop of his eyes.

Reaching for the whiskey bottle, he takes another long drink, choking slightly and wincing in disgust.

| think for a moment of what Quinn said about the wolf that was outside the house the other night. When he

called them guardians and proteger. My body trembles, my muscles quivering with fear. “Are any of them

wolves?” | ask. He gazes atand | note the soft sadness of his eyes, but he doesn’t over my question My heart

clenches with a crushing pain so acute that | almost cry out. “How long have you known about them?”

He strokes his jaw, a slight smile tipping his lips as he stands and heads toward the front door. To blackin?

Maybe. Who know, but the longer 1 stare at him the more | see his silence as an awer in and of itself. Domenic

pulls out his phone and his thumbs go tapping away.

who the fuck is he texting?

“How long have you known about then?” | repeat, gritting my teeth in anger. “Arawer me!”

He finishes his past, then pockets his phone. Raising silver eyes bright with fire my way. “All my life,” he hisses

and | nearly crumple to the ground.

His eyes remindof that enormous wolf's eyes. The red-brown wolf. The one that outside when he was in the

middle of the goddamned night. The one le claimed he didn’t see

1/3

19:49 Wed, Nov 13 D.

Chapter Thirty-Four

No, No, na, The truping out. There's o UNG

Bes wantedto leave since | got here. Wantedon the train and gone. He's file's strong. He... up. Well,

okay, that part isn’t scary. But it is true.

But | love the way he touches met

He can’t be one of them! One of those mensters. Those... beasts, Calil be?

Shit, 1 mandle, on the verge of trans.

He tried to getto leave! He did. My stupid stubborn s just had to stay where | wasn’t welcome.

But there are other people in this town! Sof them have to be human, right?

“Droven,” he interrupts my thoughts. Please, don’t cry. Dont be afraid of me. Please

51%

“Afraid of you?” | whimper, steeling myself for what was coming

Stepping slowly toward me, ises his hands as one would when approaching a frighened animal. An animal... that

might bolt.

But not inval

| am a silly, weak, stupid human girl who apparently never stood a chance of getting away from my stepfather.

You said you have secrets too,” | spit, teeth clenching.

“I do” he whispers, his eyes sparkling as he nears me.

1 hear the backdoor open and shut and | know without looking that it's Quinn or one of his other friends. | realize

right away that Dononic probably texted them to cand help holdhere in case | should try and fee

And willl!

From him?

Fixing my ga on him, | ask “Do you still wantto leave town?”

“Draven?” Quan’s voice sounds behind mf, but I ignore him completely.

“To you?” | ask arain..

Domonic freezes inhis steps, his as falling toward his sides. His gaze lowers

“Because | will,” | say

y smoothly, trying to reason a way out of this. Out of him tellingsomething that I'm not quite ready to hear.

I'll go right now if you'll let

Hits-body goes rigid and his eyes shoot past my shoulder, to Quinn. “Give us a minute, Domonic says and | hear

Quinn truding up the stairs.

When Domone looks at mf, his gray eyes are so filled with sorrow that | have to stop myself from maching for

him

He speaks in a voice desperate with lunging. You can’t leave yet. Not until it's safe

| laugh, Safe. Ha! Is anywhere safe? | screech

Then, before | can blink, he grabs me

into his arms and try fowl

stiff, reiREgANE tobias est | can.

Despite how wonderful feels to be in

his arms. Even The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

2/3

19:49 Wed, Nov 13

Chapter Thirty-Four

though the montent we touch electidity zips through me, creating an ache in my chant. Why are 1 Agliang Jom?

Why?

A minute passes. Then ten. It only takes that long befor the fight goes out of

1. rd. | relax against him, lie isghs, heavily, his bicens closing around my back in

“I don’t understand any of this,” | complain, raising my arms up to place my hands against his chest.

“I know,” he whispers into my hair,

Then makeunderstand!” |

mumble, my lips against his shirt

wetting his chest. The hot whiskey

inside Arey stamach Churhs with

neatly intent. 1 stmke my hands

upward and lift my head to meet his

eyes. Sparkling silver inises that

sometimes swirl with a stretch of

yelles and black. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

The eyes of a wolf.

“Draven,” he whispers, his head dipping down, his gate on my lips. ‘1 would never har you’

| wince, clutching the fabric of his

shirt and kissing Ryne Even as

i Ips taeda his neck and his

chest rumbles with ple The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

| think of hhe never answered my question about whether or not he still wantedto leave town and | say,

“Yes you will

Chapter Comments

Cheryl Melton

I'm truly enjoying your writing! Tysm