The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Five Author's Note: Just a little formal statement that it is NEVER safe to dried speeds of 120 mph., QUINN "Lilac?" I gasp as Delilah's face slackens and she tumbles forward in thook. "Oh shit." "I knew it! I knew you were one of them. You're a lion too, aren't you? that why you're with D? Were you hunting for us because were hunting for you? Oh my God this is just crazy!" Charlie's jibberish; wiggles in my ears like an unwanted insect trying to scurry into my brain. "You're smooth man, smooth. I really thought you wanted my Delilah for something, but you were using her to get to us." hot pissesoff.

Now that "Shut the fuck up Charlie. And I mean shut the fuck up now or III toss you out and leave you on the side of the road," I grow out. In his frightened eyes in my rear-view mirror. "First letsay this, she is not your Delilah. She is my lilac. Normally I would knock the breath right from your lungs for even thinking she was yours, but seeing as how you've had somewhat of a traumatic experience today, and you are very confused, I'm going to let it slide. However, understand this - I never used her for anything. She is mine. Mine. And I will be keeping her." "W-what?" He gasps.

"She's my mate you little fucktard. She might not know it yet, but she will soon enough. So do the both of us a favor and keep your idiot prouth shut so I don't sever your head like I've been wanting to from the very moment I say your hands in hers at the diner." Then I peer down at my girl and pet her head as it rests on my lap. "Now, be a good little Charlie and reach inside her first aid kit for ssmelling salts please.

"Y-yes sir," he says obediently and in the next moment I'm breaking a pack of salts open and my Lilac is coming back to life right in front of me. Pity, really, I liked having her head resting on my cock.

"What the hell?" She says drowsily, wrinkling her nose at the burn from the salts.

I toss the packet out the window, put the car back in drive and grit against the pain of the healing my back is doing as we head back out on the highway, "Buckle up kids," I say, smirking at the crazy look my Lilac is giving"We have a ways to go." Despite that at she's still g gawking at me, she does as told and I race along. Not entirely sure if I sh giving me, I try for a smile.

I should be worried or not about the look shes "Are you staring ator my muscles?" I ask, swerving around a few cars at speeds of one hundred and twenty miles an hour.

She doesn't answerand I can't allow that to worryat the moment, but it does. Fuck. What if hunters. What if it makes her sick to her stomach when she finds out what well and truly am? if I disgust her? She grew up around I decided to flat out ask. Why? I don't know. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, or maybe I just can't stand the suspense. "Do I disgust you, now? Is that why you're not saying anything?" "Disgust me?" She repeats, her voice sounding far off and distant.

I glance at her, noting the strange glaze of her eyes as she watches me, but not knowing what it means. She didnt say no. Damn her. “Lilac... please," I plead, my voice coming out much softer than I intended. I can hear it in myself, the sadness, the fear that I might not get the kind of mate that my brothers were lucky enough to find. "You're a..." she clams up, grimacing before she finishes her sentence, and at that moment, I think that it's true. That I disgust her. "You really are a shifter?" She asks. "Shifters are... real?" 1/3 Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Five "Yes," I say quietly. Then I brace myself for disappointment and chance to reach for her hand.

At first, the letstake it and I release a sigh of relief, but then the tenses, dropping my hand in her lap and all my worry comes trampling back. "So when you foundin the woods this morning. you really were talking to that lion, weren 1 you?" "Yes he was!" Charlie interrupts. "I told you D! I told you! 1- 'Charlie!" I snap in warning "Right. Sorry," he exclaims. But I can still see him bubbling with excitement in the backseat.

What a fucking mess. How am I going to explain having him with us when he get to Port Orchard? "I wasn't talking to her, Lilac. I was protecting you," I promise, squeezing her fingers in mine. "But yes, in a way, I guess you could say I was communicating with her." "So... you're a lion," she says cautiously and when I look at her I can see the little wheels in her head turning and I do not like the direction they are headed. "So you were in the woods looking for-" "The hunters," I answer her. "Not for you. And no. I'm not a lion shifter" I tell her, almost afraid to admit to what I am "You're not?" she questions, and the relief that I see on her face grantsat least a little calm. Then what are you?" I take a deep breath, keeping my eyes on the road as we we take the exit for the freeway toward Seattle. It might be best if I show you.

"Bullshit. I want to know," she says.

"And you will, I promise. But I want to show you first. Please, just let ro." I meet her eyes, pouring as much as I can into them before 1 clasp my hand around hers and tug her toward the middle seat. “Do you trust me, Lilac?" I ask.

Her eyes water as she stares atand my heart breaks for a second when I think she might say no. "That depends," she says. Then she asks in a choked voice, "Are you going to hurt my brother?" My eyes flare wide and for a moment I can't believe I never thought of the possibility of what might happen to Cane if he's caught by my brothers. Or worse, by Goose or Gryllin "Shit," I hiss, and I don't answer her before I dial Domonic and once again let the call play over the loudspeaker. "Where the fuck are you?" He answers in way of greeting. "We're all here in Blackjack waiting." Delilah trembles next toand I slip my hand over her thigh to give it a squeeze. “I'm en route, but hey, I'm gonna have to ask you for a little favor and I'm pretty sure it's not one you're going to want to give. But before you givean answer, just know, if you don't agree to it, I'll have to go over your head and bring it to someone with more power than you." Domonic

ic starts laughing and despite myself I crack a smile, because he knows exactly who mean you are so pushing it, Quinn, you motherfucker. What is it? What's the favor?" "Is there anyone else around?"

Domonic sighs and I hear quick footsteps and then the unmistakable hen the sound of this car door slamming. "Not anymore, what's up?" oting the complete quiet in the car.

"The hunters that went after Gayle last night," I begin, noting

The ones that were with your little redhead... uh-huh. What about them? Did you find out who they were to her, or what?" 2/3 Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Five 1 swallow, ignoring the sharp inke of breath from Dedah and the way her salehe kau has had a change of heart otheri bei brother:: Well that's too fucking bad fe her them, int 17 Domonic says and onto her and shake my end as Domenic goes on. "Unless it She is," 1 suv, looking fill om at Delilah to gauge that I'm likely the only one that "She's my mate.

save her brother