The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Six GAYLE Did he say... Non? He didn't, right? He couldn't have. My mind has been playing tricks onall day so why wouldn't my ears be too? "I'm sorry," I begin, my voice sounding threaded and rasped. "I thought you said lion." Gios jaw clenches, his chin tipping upward despite that he gazes down at me. "I did," he answers.

My breath hitches, the sound of my heartbeat like a sudden drumming of the death march as it bangs against my chest. "But that's impossible, I reply objectively. "And if it is your idea of a joke, It isn't at all funny. Somewhere in the back of my brain, I am allowed to get excited and the pure, bubbling bliss that threatens to erupt inside ofburns behind my eyes.

is such a thing even done? "I never joke about the law," informsquietly. "The law is what took my Blanca from me." "Draven's mom?" I ask him.

He nods sadly, his jaw going tight. "In the old world, in Italy, the five families ruled - in fact they still do, but now we are much lenient than before- "We I interrupt, thinking of Draven and the sort of regal beauty that she possesses.

He smiles. "Yes. We. My father was Lord Angelo Piccoli and when he sentto America, it was to broaden my knowledge as well as to help hunt a few rogues that had escaped vindication. That had escaped him. Also so that I might familiarize myself with the rest of the world's shifters and learn their weaknesses." Gio's eyes water, the left side of his mouth quirking up as if in remembrance. "I met Bianca on my very last day in Miami. The day I was supposed to leave on a cruise back to Italy." He shakes himself as if fighting against emotions he isn't used to displaying in front of strangers like myself.

"And did you love her immediately?" I ask, turning my gaze away from him to stare down at Cane's perfect features.

"Immediately," he confirms, his eyes a bit wistful. "She w was the most beautiful creature I'd ever laid eyes on. The fact that she was human was disappointing, but not a deal breaker as far as I was concerned. My father, though for him it certainly would be." "Mine too," I whisper, thinking of Adelle.

nods, meeting my gaze empathetically. He goes on, "Bianca used to sell sandwiches at the docks to make a living. Fish sandwiches. So she shouldn't have smelled nearly as delicious as she did when I found her." I laugh with him for a moment before his gaze turns lonely and a faraway look takes over his face. "I stood there and watched her for an hour, just wanting to memorize everything about her. Because at that time, my plan was to go home, convince my father to letaccept her and then return for her, but as the horn and whistle blew to signal that we were boarding, she looked up atand it was like she knot. As if he was aware ofthe entire tId been standing there and knew the moment that hom blared that I might be gone forever." He swallows thickly. "Her green eyes sparkled Jike emeralds the moment our gazes clashed. She offeredher last fish sandwich free of charge and I couldn't help but take it. When our fingers touched it was over. I knew I couldn't leave her there. Not for any reason. So I sent word to my father that I was staying a bit longer to enjoy the beach. In the coming weeks I fell so deeply in love with her that I decided to leave everything else behind. All of it. My lordship, my money, my father..." he shudders, stepping away fromto stare out the window and into the newly fading sun. "I only had a few years with my Bianca before my father sent his assassins after us. I thought could protect her from him. I thought I could protect them both. Draven and her mother. Isabel was Blanca's only surviving family. So I met with a few of my people who were loyal toand nor my father, leaving two of them with Bianca while Sophia and I convinced Isabel to pretend Draven was hers. She and her sister were close back then, both of them were struggling when we met. With the money I paid Isabel, I thought I could ensure Draven would be looked after, even in the event that her mother and I didn't make it." 1/3 21:36 Fri, Nov 15 Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Six "Paid? You paid her aunt?" stiffens, his back going straight. For years. Even after...he trails, going silent for the red mine "After?" I prompt him He turns away from the window to meet my eyes, then walks slowly toward his footsteps brany with lons. "When 1 If her soul. Her I thought it was going to be to share the good news. Isabel would keep her safe for ters that accepted wobes with ha Somewhere free. Where my father's laws couldnt touch us and we might join a pack of thought maybe if I found that place, we could live a new life. A happy on Free from fear and hardship. Somewhere I might actu ssleep at night. But..." he chokes up, clearing his throat before he continues. "I felt her de from ten miles phantom kiss upon my cheek as she left this world. I didnt want to believe it was her, but in my heart I knew that here in this world, alone. Even still, when I returned hto see Blanc body, I had the crazy thought to change bes. The Lords of the five families are always trained in the secrets of Shifter Knowledge. The elders of the Transyhania Count cin and trained i themselves when we were of age, so I knew of all the steps. I knew everything I would have to do. But I also that they'd killed her. Her ghost fucking kissedgoodbye! Still, it was hard forto accept. My men were dead too. When I got thenk, all that remained were my father's assassins and my beautiful Bianca's lifeless body." Glos yes with tears, watering so heavily that they shimmer in the soft light of my room. They wouldn't even lethold her." I don't know when I started crying, but I did. My heart wrenched when I thought of those moments in the jeep, when golden glow. That... energy. The way it wrapped around me, like a warm hag. I felt him... Cone. Was it his ghost? Was the jeep as 1 cried? Then I gasp as I remember the way we almost went flying over the cliff... something was like something took control... or, someone did.

- sining near"He saved us," I whisper and Gio's eyes, now clear and curious, studyintently. "Delilah and me. He took the wheel from my hande back hand kept us on the road. I remember thinking that I was crazy for steering toward the cliff instead of away from it and that we were going to die, but-“- "This cliff had a lot of dirt and rocks?" asks.

I nod, meeting his eyes. "Yes. We were sliding." chuckles silently then smiles down at me, searching my face with the exact sanatomizing eyes that he gifted his daughter. I sure, they differ in color, with Draven's brightening a moss green and Gio's glowing with liquid gold, but the relativity is not in the irises. No. It is in the potent, watchful, stare that pierces armor and assesses your soul. Striking straight through the outer surface of a person's facade and driving toward the edge of intent. As if even now, he is weighing my person. Sizingup to determine whether or not I can be trusted. "When you lose control like that on a dirt road, you are supposed to tum the wheel in the opposite direction of the one you want to go." "That's just wild," I comment, but smile. "It was him. I know it. And a few minutes ago, when Tandora beggedto let him go, because he wasnt getting any better, I heard someone scream "No."

"Most likely it was him, yes." grins. Then he is here. Waiting. glances down at Cane. "It must be your decision. The des marking will determine the change, but, since he lost so much blood beforehand, he will need the blood of a shifter that er his mate transfused into him, before that last marking or his insides will cook." "I-I don't know how to transfuse blood! I've never "I do," says calmly. "You should be able to get a med kit that will have everything I will need at any regular drug store."

Gio's steady, scrutinizing gaze never leaves my face as my jaw drops open and shut-like the mouth of an m animatronic robot. Turning my lace E away from his, my eyes drag slowly away, stretching their focus painfully until they're forced into snapping forward.

My unsteady irises jitter over Cane's newly healed torso, searching for signs of accelerated strength. I think back to the other day, when Delilah and I arrived at the cottage and he was standing there in a thin white towel that did nothing to hide his junk. God, he looked absolutely delicious... I need him. I need my mate and he needs me. He wants this... I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that he does. Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Six "Sooner rather than later, Glo Comments dryly, taking out his phone and tapping away.

"Okay, I'll send someone to the store to-" "Already done, says, pocketing his phone. "A few of my people will be here shortly and drop off the kit. They know what to look for. Now, you need to convince one of yours to be his donor. So who is it going to be?" I smile at him, thinking there is only one lion strong enough to rival Cane's human energy. "My brother. Gryffin." Chapter Comments KKN oh poor Gio