The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Four AUTHOR'S NOTE: It has cto my attention that I have made a mistake In Chapter 17. 1 Introduced Timmons as the fire chief and Lief as a Sheriff's Deputy. MY BADDD... Lief is the Fire Chief and Timmons is the Deputy. Forgive me... but there are a lot of chapters and as I have never been one to take notes I simply got confused. I am going to ask my editor to fix this, but as she is extremely busy, I'm not sure when she wilt. Also! I would love it if you guys would tellwhose mate you would like to meet next in the comments section! Thank your DRAVEN Standing on the docks waiting for Glo, I begin to get nervous, I told him five o'clock and it is now fifteen til. I mean, sure, he's not late yet, but somewhere inside of me, I think I'm afraid he won't show up. It's almost like being transported back in time. Back to when I was a little girl and waiting for him to chome. The feeling is not pleasant.

"Are you going to watch the traffic all day?" Emily says behind me.

"Not all da all day," I quip. "Just until he gets here." She laughs, coming up behindto squeeze my shoulders reassuringly. "He'll be here, Draven." y shoulder. "I hope I sigh, closing my eyes and placing a hand over hers on my "What are you guys doing out here?!" Ryder's little voice sounds from the yacht. "Felix is mixing margaritas already! And I need you to tell her Lean have alcohol in mine, because I want to see what the big deal is!" Emily explodes into fits of laughter. "Not happening bud" You're not old enough yet. But if you're good, I might let you have a sip of Felix's just to taste how horrible it is.

"Fine," Ryder grumbles, disappearing back inside.

"Not drinking tonight, huh?" Lask, my eyes falling open to study my friend. "Any particular reason why not?" ath and heat "Maybe.

She smiles at me, her face burning with red My mouth falls open in shock. "No way!" She grins, her pretty pixie face tilting upward happily. "I haven't gotten sick yet, but Koda says my scent has changed and my period is a few days late." I can hardly contain my joy in hearing this and wrap her in a bone crushing hug. That would be so awesome! Our kids will be best friends!" they will be! Emily coos, her eyes falling over my shoulder to the parking lot behind me. She smirks and juts her chin upward saying.

Took Drave I inhale sharply, the sound of expensive shoes clacking on the concrete behind me.

I take it.

1. I'm on tthen." A strange sense of longing falls overat that moment and tears fill my eyes, but I shake the emotional response from my system before I turn around. It won't do for him to know how happy I am right now. He doesn't deserve that yet. At least... I don't think he does.

Making sure that my locket is still hidden behind my sweater, I smile and turn around. “You are!" Then I flinch in surprise. He's not alone. There are three others with him. Two men and one woman. All of them dressed impeccably, all of them in expensive suits. Of the three additional newcomers, its the woman that captures my attention.

1/4 Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Four of a woman who spends increa her xáve, confirming my suspicions that I runt Has Itak, sondering where and when few her before I shake it off for the moment and eye the rest of Bios companions war silent bodyguards. Their eyes are covered with pitch black shades, yet The men are toting maple of cases and wear the sof on sense them onstantly ornning the the My team will be joining us, says, sauntering toward me. Don't wry, if there isn't adepte space for them, they can camp de They'll be spending most of their toutdoors anyway as it is their to protect me, he poses, then adde, and yo Hill 1 gasp as I suddenly recall where I remember the woman from. 1 gaze at her in wonder.

chased away" At her lack of confusion, I shake myself, remembering habet want my actual mother. However, for nineteen believed that she was, so that was going to take sgetting used to mean that label chased away" "| She nods, and I can sweat her eyes are wet with emotion. "Correct. I was your bodyguard slash nanny for a time. My na Again, I gasp as a nickninfiltrates my memory and I say, "Zia Sophila She smiles. "Yes. That's what you used to call me. Although is not my brother- Not by blood," interrupts her.

not by blood," she agrees. "You were very close to1. e. You calledZib. It means, You're a shifter," I say, somehow knowing that I speak the truth. "You used to change in front ofand let· ride your back" She grins, shrugging when Glo sends her a sharp look. "What? She loved it!" "But-" I snap, confused, "you're a woman! I thought female shifters weren't able to shift into their wolves" She chuckles, “Is that what your American mate has led you to believe?" smiles, his eyes lighting up with mystery. "Sophia is a full-blooded Northern Gray. So naturally she can shift. Just another of the many perks of our bloodline." His eyes go dark. "Of... your bloodline." I shake off the hidden meaning behind his words and the nostalgia that threatens to overwhelm me, grateful for Emily holdingup as my legs threaten to buckle. I say offhandedly, "There are plenty of rooms in the packhouse. You should all be very comfortable there." "Who are those guys?" Ryder exclaims, leaping off the yacht and forgoing the ladder dangerously.

"Ryder!" Emily warns.

1. s. "Be careful!" But Ryder ignores her, walking up to with something like stars in his eyes.

smiles. "He is fearless by nature, Glo observes. "Nothing wrong with that. Hello little woll, my nis Piccoli I am Draven's-" ""Friend!" I say, stopping him from saying father, though I don't exactly know why. Ignoring the sudden hurt in his gaze and the guilt that suddenly drowns my heart, I say, “Let's get this show on the road, shall we? I promised to get there before nightfall." "Yes," agrees, his voice somewhat sad. "We have much to discuss." 2/4 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Four As I turn around i Supbla Shisper, Thon, Gill cand y I'm not sure that I will DELILAH "Quinn!" I screech, as he falls into my lap. For a moment I'm afraid www going to crash, but thats when relive that he shifte car into park right before he passed t My heart is thumping with fear as I study him. A sepse of fost so acute and so dedining comes coverand pain lanes through my heart No! No, not He cant die! I can't lose hist Suddenly I know it's true. That if I lose him, if this practical stranger dies, I will never again.

"What's wrong with him? Charlie shouts, hopping up from the backseat. He was shot, wasn't he? I nod, tears filling my eyes as I shake Quinn's body. "Please! Please wake up!” I slap him in the face, “Wake up!" To my surprise, his eyelids flutter, but they don't open. Yet, he speaks, Duch, Lilac. Why'd you hit me? "I have to get you ou to the hospital okay? kay? Just hold on," I cry, grabbing my phone.

That seems to get his attention. "No!" he yells, snatching my phone from my hands and sitting up un with a groan "No..."