Pack Rules

GIANNA

I immediately turned back to the direction his voice had come from. And there he was, his eyes set in a glare that was directed at Bryant.

“What are you doing here?” I asked harshly, with a frown. 

Do the guards perhaps just let anyone in? How did he get in?

He turned his head in my direction, his grimace changing into a smile I knew was definitely not sincere. I mean, I was with him for a long while. Long enough to know that right now, although he was smiling, he was most definitely not happy.

I said I wouldn’t let myself be affected by him, but I unconsciously found myself growing uncomfortable as little thoughts of self-doubt started entering my head.

“Of course I'm here to my mate, silly. Why else would I be here?”

“Ex mate. You rejected me. You always seem to forget that.”

“You’re really becoming a nuisance.” Bryant said with a sigh.

“What the heck are you on about?” Marco barked, voiced laced with venom.

Bryant stepped forward till he was standing right in front of Marco. All signs of the previous warmth, gone from his face. “She's not your mate. At least not anymore. She's your ex mate, remember? From what I heard, you rejected her and left her for dead. Which she just confirmed.”

I felt a sharp pang in my chest as Bryant's words cut deep, but I couldn't deny it. It brought back horrible memories but it also served as a harsh reminder - one that made me remember why I closed my heart in the first place.

“Who are you to interject between us? I already apologized for what I did back then. It was just an accident on my part, right Gianna? Outsiders like him would never understand what we shared.” 

Marco looked towards me after spewing such garbage. He seemed to think that I would immediately come to his defense. He thought wrong.

I scoffed. “He's right about everything he said, Marco. You rejected and cut ties with me when I needed you the most. That means it's over between us. The sooner you understand that and leave, the better it is for both of us.”

“Bullshit” Marco roared and I jumped, taking a step back.

There it was. His true colors were showing. Bryant immediately growled as he stepped in front of me. 

“Shit! I'm sorry. I was just annoyed. I didn't mean to raise my voice. You know how much we shared. I love you, Gianna.”

If I was the same Gianna before the whole kidnapping fiasco, I might have forgiven him and run right into his arms at those words. But I’ve learned my lesson already.

I grabbed at Bryant's sleeve and pulled, bringing his attention back to me. I signaled him to step aside as I wanted to fight my own battles. He hesitated for a bit but eventually moved. I liked that he respected me enough to listen.

I step forward. “I don't love you, though. We're over. I want you to leave.”

My heart skidded frantically in my chest as I let out those three short yet heavy sentences. It wasn’t so easy to let go of the love I used to have, but it just had to be done.

I expected a lot of things from Marco after that - him lashing out like he used to or literally anything else.

What I didn't expect was for him to close the distance between us and draw me into his arms, wrapping his arm around my waist.

I gasped in surprise which soon turned to panic when I realized that my traitorous body had begun to grow hot from the proximity. My wolf even started to stir up a bit.

Before I could dwell on it, I found myself being yanked back by Bryant who looked extremely pissed.

“Bastard! How dare you touch her?” He barked looking ready to throw hands.

Seeing how the situation was rapidly escalating, I immediately grabbed his arm as I tried to hold him back.

Marco, the ever arrogant prick chose that time to speak up. His lips arched up in a devious smirk and I had to admit that he looked good.

 “Why? Does it perhaps irk you that even though in theory we're - what did you call it again? Oh, ex mates! She obviously still wants me. I mean, look at her. From her short breaths to her parted lips to her glazed eyes. It all screams, she wants me.”

“Shut up!” I was utterly mortified.

He turned back to me. “Gianna baby, there's no need to feel ashamed about your wants. I know you want me.”

Arrogant Bastard! That was what I wanted to scream at him but I kept shut as I was embarrassed that he was right, even though it was a little bit.

I can't believe I still felt something for him after how he fucked me over. I blame the mate bond - severed or not.

He focused on a now seething yet silent Bryant. “That's right. You have no right to intervene between us so just keep quiet.”

“Is that so? Then what about me? Do I have a right to intervene, seeing as this is my home and pack?”

We all turned towards the door at the sound of Enzo's voice.

I couldn't tell when he got back, and how much he heard, but seeing the pack member beside him, it was safe to assume that she had witnessed our confrontation and immediately went to call Enzo.

Thank the heavens.

“You!” Marco gritted out clearly irritated.

“Yeah me. The Alpha of this pack, and the owner of this house. The same person that is asking you to get the fuck out. There is only one reason you gained entry here. You must have Alpha compelled my guards, and that is against the rules. You know that. I can demand retribution from you, or seek your punishment.”

I could almost hear the wheels turning in Marco's head as he contemplated whether to go off at Enzo or leave. He knew he was already in trouble for breaking a rule, but he seemed not to care too much about the consequences.

“Alpha Enzo, I'm aware that this is your house but I have every right to be here.”

Enzo scoffed, his expression grim. “Is that so? Then please enlighten me as to why.”

“Well, from what I heard about your pack, you have a rule about an unmated wolf that sounded very interesting to me.”

My brow raised in confusion as I looked back at my brother who looked like he had eaten a pile of dung. Even Bryant looked annoyed.

What was Marco on about??

“It says that if a female is unclaimed and unmated, her suitors have the right to approach her without the interference of the Alpha of her pack, as long as he doesn't harm the female in any way.”

What?

He continued. “ On the same note of pack laws, a general rule is that a suitor can also challenge another suitor in order to prove his dominance in front of the female he is wooing.”

“ What nonsense are you saying??” I immediately spoke up seeing as the matter was already escalating to a ridiculous height.

“Enzo, tell him that he is being ridiculous. I mean what age are we in? He's talking about fighting for me as if I'm an object.”

“I hate to say this Gia but he's right. As a potential suitor, he has the right to challenge another suitor either to the death or to submission. That’s one of the rules that no one has been able to change. The first rule was made by me to prevent Alphas meddling too much in their pack matings like in old times.”

I gasped at him, looking at his face for any sort of hint that he was joking. I found none.

“Then I don't want that. I can refuse right? I don't want anyone fighting for me like I'm a trophy.” I was near hysterical at this point.

He shook his head. “That is not how it works. Only the one challenged can agree or disagree.”

Enzo then turned to a beaming Marco. “So what do you want now? Do you want to challenge me? I'm all down for it. It's time I teach you why I'm the Alpha of my pack”

Marco raised both hands in surrender. I knew he was up to something before it even left his mouth. I've known him for way too long that I liked to admit.

“You can be rest assured that I'm not stupid to challenge you. At least not in your own pack. Instead..” He trailed off turning to face Bryant who had remained quiet besides me all this while. “I, Marco of the Riverside pack, challenge Bryant of the forestland, to a duel.”

I heaved a sigh in relief after hearing that. Bryant was too calm and rational to accept such a challenge. There was no reason to worry.

I waited for his rejection but I was mortified when he opened his mouth and said instead. “I accept your duel.”