The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Eight BARTLETT I can hear Timmons arguing with that jerk off Matthew while Doc Rhodes and Nurse Patty discuss the Nano Pads at the nurses station. To my relief, Rhodes insists that they're not needed and sends Patty off to make the rounds. As I pace back and forth in front of Rose's bed I start to worry.

What if Rhodes doesn't want to cooperate? It's bad enough he's going to think I'm crazy when I ask him to print up her discharge papers. This is a step above and beyond overlooking the rules. This is flat out breaking the law. I can't ask him to put his career on the line for me, but maybe I can get him to assist without actually signing off on my scheme.

Rainier and Timmons are busy, hut Koda and Dom are out in the parking lot and I suddenly have a crazy idea.

As quickly as I can, I text Koda and Dom telling them what I need them to do. When their only answer is a winky face and thumbs up, I take it to mean that they re on their way in. I listen at the door, smiling to myself when I hear Timmons escorting Matthew back toward the elevators. Good. Perfect Get that fucker out of here. He had to threaten the old man with his handcuffs to get him to comply. Christ, such a nosey old bird At the very stMatthew disappears behind the elevator doors, another set opens up to reveal Koda. Smiling to myself, I watch as he approaches Doc Rhodes to explain that Rose needs to be reassigned to a different floor in order to prevent her family from interfering with her eventual arrest. Rhodes argues for a moment, then picks up the phone and makes a call. With a hefty sigh, Rhodes and Koda head my way. I barely have enough tto toss my ass back down in my seat before they're standing in front of me.

"Bartlett?" Rhodes barely looks up from the chart hes scribbling on. "They're prepping a room on 2088. You can head on down ahead of her and I'll have a small team transport her there shortly." the second floor for Ms. Gruber. Room I nod my head and stretch my arms upward, yawning to appear as exhausted as possible. "Okay, Rhodes. Im gonna go hand get an hour or two of shut-eye. Just callif something happens before I rehim." "Will do," Rhodes says happily.

Meeting Koda's eyes briefly, I exit the room and head toward the elevators, only ducking into the stairwell at the very last minute. Then, I race toward the first floor back exit, sighing with relief when I spot Quinn waiting exactly where he said he would be.

"What happened? Quian asks, confused. "Where's the girl?" "Give it a moment," I say smoothly, my eyes on the parking lot and the security guards rolling by on their golf f carts.

Two minutes pass, then five, then ten. Con Dom, con. The moment I hear the fire alarm go off I face my truck and open the back door, making sure the back seat is completely empty and turning around just in tto see Koda exit with Rose's body slung over his shoulder. He passes her towithout a word and then disappears back into the hospital. With inhuman speed, I jump into the back of my truck with her in my arms, closing both doors in the smovement. Quinn drives off at a slow and normal pace, only Speeding up once we hit the highway back toward Port Orchard "Well, it's official," I say, settling Rose more comfortably on my lap. "Ive lost my damn mind, -Where are you planning to take her?" "My place, I guess is my only answer. My eyes are on Bose as I attempt to rub the chill from her bones. Wearing nothing but a hospital gown, I'm painfully aware that she is totally naked underneath.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Once they notice that she's missing and check the security footage, it won't be jug Rainier who goes looking for her," Quinn points out.

"Koda's supposed to be taking care of the cameras, but you're right. I would feel more comfortable, somewhere else. At least until I know 1/3 Chapter Two Hundred Eight where she and I stand." Quinn nods, steering off the highway and onto the road headed into Port Orchard. "I have an idea. You and Rose can stay at my place until she regains consciousness. There's somewhere I need to be and I have an excitable little humain that I need someone to watch while I'm gone. If he's left with only Timmons to deal with, he might not live past tonight. The guy is obsessed with the existence of shifters and I'm afraid he might do something stupid like ask Timmons to shift so that he can get a piggy back ride." My brow furrows and I chuckle. "Wait a second. Isn't your mate at your place?" Quinn's jaw clenches angrily. "No. She went on a little road trip with Gayle and I plan to make a surprise appearance" "Huh," I reply, thinking it over. "If you're sure you don't mind us sleeping in your bed." Quinn flashes a quick smile. "Just don't fuck her on it and we're all good Just the image is enough to get my dick hard. “I make no promises" Quinn laughs, turning onto his street. I can deposit your car in your driveway to make it look like you're at hand race back on foot to drop off your keys and pick up my car." "Sounds good. But why in the world did your mate leave with Gayle? Didn't Gayle attack her in the river?" He stares atpull into his driveway and that's when I remember. The brother. "I see. So, they went to Idaho." pointedly as we The Quinn nods. "And they already have a few hours of a head start. Not to mention Cane might have given Delilah actual directions to place. All I have to go on is a goddamned cell tower and a fucking ache in my chest that started the moment Timmons toldshe was gone." "And you can't call her because you have her phone, surmise, lifting Rose into my arms and following Quinn around the side of the house then down to his back entrance.

"Exactly," he snaps, sliding open his bedroom door and usheringinside.

I lay Rose down on the empty bed and cover her with the blankets while Quinn heads upstairs to check on his scary human. Removing the medical tape and bandages, I take a long look at her now fully healed wounds. Although we were always taught what our venom does for our mates, it's still a shock to see the proof of it with my very own eyes. Checking her pulse as a precaution, I'm pleased to see her heart rate is strong and steady. Thank God "Okay, I'm off," Quinn says, coming back down the stairs with a note in his hand.

As he heads back out, I stop him. "Quinn!" "Yup?" I met his eyes thoughtfully. "You might not be able to call her when you get there, but you can certainly call Cane

Quinn smiles. "That's right. I'd like to think I would have thought of that on my own but my-file Lilac screws the common sense right out of me.”

"Not on this bed, I hope." My gaze goes straight for Rose, the thought of her sleeping on soiled sheets roiling my gut, "Maybe I should have changed the sheets first." Quinn laughs. The sheets are fine. It's the payou need to steer clear of." "For fuck's sake." "Then again," he says thoughtfully, maybe change the sheets just in case." 2/3 21:28 Fri, Nov 15 Chapter Two Hundred Eight So that's exactly what I do.

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An hour later, I've only just laid on top of the bed, over the blankets and next to Bose when my phone vibrates in my pocket. Doc Rhodes nflashes across the screen and I feel a shiver of unease when I send it lieto straight to voicemail. Not wanting to lie to the many I didn't dare pick it up. With any luck, he'll just think I'm asleep and won't try lick for a while. When it immediately rings again, it's my pulse that needs to be checked. I let this one go to voicemail as well and curse myself when I hear the distant buzz of a couple new helicopters. Probably just a new addition to the search party on the lookout for Gayle. One of my brothers would have shota text if it werethat they were looking for, Right? Right. Of course they would have, I should just close my eyes and get srest. No need to wig out over a phone call and sair traffic. Again my phone buzzes, but this tit's with a text.

Oh Fuck It's from Doc Rhodes.

Is it justor are those choppers getting louder?