The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Four QUINN "So tell me," I say when we've both calmed down a little. I'm finally in control again, the raging desire for Delilah's smouthi ononly hanked by having her tiny hand in mine. "Why are you afraid for him? your heather?" I chance a look at her, keeping my eyes on hers, careful not to allow my gaze to wander toward her lips. Should I look at her mouth again so soon after having the pleasure of it on my shaft, 111 be in danger of pulling over again and something tellsshe might not be so intoif I do. There's so much worry in her eyes. So much feat..... I just warl in take it all away. I'm dying for her to know how much she means toand how I won't let anything but her ever again. But it's tho soon for that. I don't want to scare her away..

"He's an idiot," she says so suddenly that I have to laugh. "But he's my brother and I love him. Ever since my dad died, we've only had each LINE ID other to lean on." "Your dad died? Im sorry to hear that, Lilac," I say with genuine concern. "You must have loved him very much." She snickers, "Yeah. I did. We both did." larch an eyebrow. "Why is that funny?" I can't help but ask.

She chuckles, "Because my dad's the entire reason my brother is the way he is." She sighs heavily. "He brought him up around people who disgust me. Their very way of life... disgusts me." "What way is that?" I ask, slightly wary of what I'm about to hear. I already know she's involved with poachers. Her brother... Charlie.... whoever that fucker might be.

She stiffens, her hand going tense in my grip. She ignores my question asking one of her own instead, "Why do you callLilac? told you my name. But still you callLilac. Who was she? A girlfriend?" I've I shake my head and she rips her hand from mine. A disappointed growl erupts from my chest before I reach over and unclip her seatbelt, tugging her into the middle and reclipping her next towith the hidden buckle she had no idea was there. I nearly purr in satisfaction as her face lights with a giddy sort of shock.

"I like you close to me," I say quietly. As close as I can get you." see, she br breathes, biting her lip and I suppress a groan at the sight.

"You are the only Lilac," I say flatly. "And I call you that, because that's what you smell like to me. Like... lillacs," "Really?" she asks, licking her lips. "Lilacs?" She sniffs herself. "I don't smell lilacs." 1 laugh, I can't help it. "Of c course, you don't. But trust me, it's all over you. And... it drivescrazy." My eyes are on the road now, but I can feel her staring atwhen she says, "Maximus." grin, liking her nicknforalthough I have no idea why. "Care to explain that one? So long as you're not going to tellI smell like a guy you once knew." She laughs and the sound sparkles across me, making slide my hand over the top of her thigh, possessively.

“Maximus as in gluteus maximus,” she says. “It was the first of your she cuts off, coughing. "The first of your really deliciously sculpted muscles that I saw when you saved me. Your gluteus maximus muscles are probably the best I've ever seen," "My ass?" I chortle, loving the neven more now than I already did. And what do you mean, probatily?" I snap.

1/3 Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Four I feel her hand stroke over mind in her lap. "Okay... not probably. More he definitely. In fact... she whispers, her mouth coming close to my car in what seems like a surge of confidence. All your muscles are the best I've ever seen.

I shiver, my dick going from half to whole that quickly, I groan deep imiile my throat, squeezing her thigh tightly in my hand. "I can't wait to get you back to my place where I can worship you." She stillens again and I notice right away that she has lost her smile. dont know it if Ill be going back there. I have my brother to take care of and he..." she shakes her head, seeming to lose her words.

I want to tell her right then that I will do whatever it takes to protect him too. Even though I know how hard it will be. Even if I can't exactly see how I will do it. Not just yet. But there must be a way and I will find t "We don't even have a place to stay right now," she admits tearfully. And even though I don't agree with what he's been doing - I know he thinks he's doing it for us. To take care of us. It's all he knows. It's all my dad ever taught him to do. And now..." "You're talking about poaching, arent you?" It's not really a question, but she nods just the same. I push back all my initial anger at the prospect - reminding myself that she is human and so is her brother. I brace myself for whatever truth I might hear next. "And how do you feel about poaching, Delilah? Have you ever- "No!" she snaps. "Never! I would never hurt an animal! Not ever! In fact, just last night I freed a wolf from one of my brother's traps!" she shouts defensively. And I was scared to death when I did it! But I just couldn't bear the thought of my brother coming back to kill the beautiful animal. My wollie. I thought the damn thing was going to killat first," she admits. "But..." I can't get the stupid grin off my face when I hear her callwolfie. I was the one with blood on my paw last night I was the one she freed. I now it. "But?" 1 prompt her, suddenly aware of exactly why I cback from the full moon shift feeling so empty. I met my mate last night in my full wolf form and had to leave her. How fucking weird is that? How sad! "But," she says, throwingan odd look. "He didn't." "He?" I ask She laughs, "It was definitely a he. We got up close and personal. I know It was a male. Like I said, I thought he was going to kill me, but at the very last second, he lickedinstead. It was all kinds of weird.

Don't laugh at her, don't do it Up close and personal, huh? She has no idea she had that very swolf down her throat a few moments "So your brother," I say, changing the subject, "does he actually like killing animals? I mean, how many have he caught?"

She shakes her head, then shrugs. "None by himself. My dad's only been gone two years. He only decided to start poaching about six months ago when he lost his job as a mechanic. Who knows how he really feels about it. But my dad, you see.. he was way into it. He was part of a secret society of poachers and everything. A group of disgusting men that make their entire living off of the capture and murder of endangered animals. He got rich doing it. I hated that part about my life. Hated that all our money cfrom his ties to that place, Hut when he died everything changed for the worse. My mother took off with half of what he left. The other half is in a trust forand my brother that we can't even touch for the next two years. And my mother is even trying to get her hands on that'

"Your mother sounds like a complete bitch," I hiss, thinking of how I can't wait until I can share all that I have until I with this wom woman. She'll never have to struggle again. Fuck her mother and that dirty money "She definitely is one," Delilah confesses somewhat sadly and I stroke a soothing hand over her leg.

I'm breathing carefully now. Trying to digest all that she's just said and at I the strealizing... I might need my brothers' help for this. A secret society of ponchers? Fucking hell I ask in as careless a voice as I can m age, "Endangered species. Is that all that they're after? "Isn't that enough?" she spits.

mean... supposedly they go after... other gtoo. But it's ridiculous what they hunt and I'd feel stupid 2/3 Chapter One Hundred-Seventy-Four even mentioning it." I swallow the lump in my throat and say, "What other game, Delilah?" "I don't want to say. I'll feel like an idiot." "Just try me," I coax her. "I swear, I won't think any less of you. Just to She groans, covering her face in her hands. They're crazy! Insane, rom members, and their sons." She adds softly, Shifters. These men... they