The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Twenty-Three

DRAVEN

Later that night at the bar, the place is packed once again. My bruises have finally healed enough forto

prance around in the tiny Moonlight Lounge crop top Bart has designated as my uniform. The crowd is in full

swing and so am |. Charming the patrons, many of which | hadn't ever seen before for a small town this place is

quite the tourist spot. | have already collected a new pocketful of phone numbers and a fat stack of bills. Truly, |

am loving this job. With the money I've been earning form the tips alone, I'll have a nest egg at the ready in the

next couple of months. Then I'll be able to afford my own place wherever | want to be, | can leave if | need to...

but - do |

want to?

And just with that thought, my eyes fall on Domonic in the back, sat at his usual corner table with three of his

friends.

Before we left for the bar that eveneing, Domonic had introducedto seven of the hottest men God had ever

granted the Earth with. Of course, none of them were as clit pulsing as Domonic, but they were close runner-

ups. He'd said they were all like brothers and had known each of them his entire life. All of them seemed to

respect Domonic as a leader, which | found mildly curious.

When an out of town male in black riding leathers enters the bar, the whole of them seem to pause. Their eyes

go straight for the stranger as he struts up toward the bar.

“Look at you,” he says, grinning at me. “Bartlett finally decided to class up the place, | see.”

| quirk up an eye brow, taking in his strongly domoniant frand golden blond hair. Amber eyes studywith

cool calculation as | wipe down the counter and tap into my charms. “He sure did. What can | get you?”

The stranger bites his lip, “Your number for starters, How much will that cost me?”

I laugh, “That's not on the menu Goldie.”

He chuckles, “Look at that, already coming up with pet names for me. The man stiffens suddenly, his body

tensing. “Domonic.” He says before turning around.

My eyes fift to find Domonic stands behind the dude looking terribly pissed off.

“What are you doing here, Gryffin?”

Gryffin? What a pretty boy nthat is...

The man, Gryffin, chuckled. “Just stopping through mongrel. Where'd you find this pretty young thing?”

Domonic’s eyes go white hot with malice. He steps closer to Gryffin, a slow smile gracing his lips. “She’s none of

your concern. You're not welchere, but you know that, so what do you want?”

Gryffin’s muscles shift beneath his jacket, his body going rigid. “We need to talk.”

Domonic crosses his arms over his chest, his gaze falling onthen wandering back toward Gryffin. “I can’t

imagine why.”

Gryffin, turns around, putting his back to Domonic as he shootsa panty dropping smile. “Can | get two shots

of Patron?”

My eyes meet Domonic’s who seems to know | am asking for permission to serve the guy. He nods and | answer,

“Sure thing Goldie. Coming right up.”

“His nis Gryffin,” Domonic growls out as | pour the drinks. “Don’t get friendly with this pussy.”

Pussy? Oh shit, thems fightin‘ words.

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Chapter Twenty-Three

My eyes widen at Gryffin's slightly amused wink. He giggles, swallowing his drinks whole. “Thanks baby doll. He

turns to face Domonic. “Outside?”

Domonic nods then proceeds to follow Gryffin out of the bar - Logan and Grant right beind them.

“Who is that guy?” | ask Bart as he joinsfrom the kitchen.

Bart shakes his head, “Bad news kiddo. He's not someone you should be talking to. He and Domonic have a bad

history.”

“Really?” | question. “How bad?”

Bart shrugs, “You'll have to ask him. The bottom line is - his kind don’t normally cin here and seeing that he

did - something must be up. Whatever that something is cannot be good.”

“His kind?” I'chirp, serving another customer and collecting, yet another phone number. “What do you mean his

kind?”

Bart sighs, his eyes shooting back and forth. “He’s a little different than us. Just... trust me.”

My eyes narrow as | watch Bart walk back into the kitchen.

This placec is getting stranger and stranger and | don’t mean the men.

Domonic

Outside in the crisp cool air and surrounding fog, the three of us follow Gryffin to the curb where his bike is

parked. “I'd tell you not to drink and drive - but | couldn't care less if you killed youself, so | won t A quick glance

around tellsthat he ccompletely alone. Gryffin had ridden here unaccompanied - a dangerous thing to

do when riding into hostile territory. That in and of itself was cause to worry. Taking a deep whiff of the air, is

enough to confirm it. This asshole was the only Lion Shifter within miles.

Gryffin smirks, his amber eyes lighting with amusement as he straddles his ride. “That woman in there she’s

yours isn’t she?”

| clench my teeth, my body tensing as | fight the change true anger always brings forth. “I'm not going to tell

you again - she’s none of

your concern.”

Gryffin smiles, “I could tell you again that we had nothing to do with that night - but | know it wouldn't matter.”

He lifts his helmet onto his lap. “You should learn to hide it better.”

As much as | want to condemn his words - he is right. | do need to hide it better. All anyone ever needs to do is

simply approach Draven and my blood heats to near boiling. “What the fuck do you want Gryffin? Why are you

here.”

He gazes around, seemingly casing the landscape. “Last night - our villa was breached.”

“We weren't there-" | start to say, stopping when he holds up his hand.

“Have you noticed any strange smells around here? Any scents that you do not recognize?”

My blood freezes and my eyes must have revealed the truth in them because he nods.

*Something is here. Something different.” He puts his helmet on. “I know we aren't allies Dom. We haven't been

for a long time, but for this - maybe we should be.

“What is it?” | hiss.

“I'm not sure,” Gryffin admits, rubbing his jaw. “But from what | can tell they're feline. But not a lions.”

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Chapter Twenty-Three

“They?” My body tenses, my mind going back to yesterday and the danger Draven was in.

Something new? A different shifter? The out of state plates...

Gryffin studies me. “Lets just call a truce for now. You know until we figure this out.”

Grant laughs, “Does that mean you're gonna stop breaking into our bar?

Ta “

Gryffin jolts. “Your bar? Why the fuck

would any of us [FE] fo prestind

, K

{o pap Youd it twisted

0 . ,

hounddog. Lions don't sneak The

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the latest chapter there!

around like that.”

“What does?” | inquire smoothly.

Gryffin sighs heavily, as if something

a . “

has been weghing on his soul. “A lone

o )

predator the kind that doesn't travel

with others. Except! tink his She

does, The type 5 shifter with no

: ”

alliance — no respect.” He turns the

key on the ignition and starts his bike

« )

up. “Someone who's ca long

way for something he wants very

badly. Enough to enter a den full of

. . . "

lions just to sniff around.” The

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the latest chapter there!

“Enough with the suspense Gryff - what kind of cat are you talking about?”

« RET . q

A panther.” His eyes lock with mine.

« »

A panther.” Then, plex theengine

peo hibeforéhe ibs out onto the

: “ BH

street, he adds, “And his The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

scent is all over your woman.”