Page 96 of Fated to the Wolf Billionaire

Though if my insult was what he wanted—damn Cysernaphus to the nine wintry hells—holding back my repugnance for the idea wasn’t serving the deal. Fiona glanced over at me with a worried frown, probably starting to pick up my tumultuous emotions through our bond, but I smoothed my hand over her back, trying to communicate that it was fine.

A vampire’s bite was intimate,disconcertingfor a male of my dominance, certainly. It wouldalsohurt like a bitch and put me on my ass like I had the flu for more than a week until my wolf could work the residual venom out of my system. But there was no price I wouldn’t pay for my Alpha and my pack’s safety.

“I’m glad to hear you think so.”

Carmine responded to my thought out loud, and I realized I’d let my stone wall slip. He straightened his shirt, a gesture so similar to my own, but it wasn’t until I saw the slow, devastating smile spread across his face, saw his men step closer, that I realized exactly what he was about to say.

“Absolutely fucking not. We’re leaving.”

I had already spun on my heel, turning a surprised Fiona with me, when I saw Darick and Kieran had blocked the exit behind us.

“Ah-ah-ah, Reed. You just thought it yourself. There isnoprice you wouldn’t pay for your Alpha and your pack’s safety. Insult for insult, or there is no deal.”

“You can have anything of mine you want. But not that.”

“Not what? Reed, what’s happening?” Fiona’s whisper was small, clearly meant for my ears only, but Carmine caught it regardless.

“Why don’t we ask your lovely mate? Surely she cares about the pack, now that she’s a bona fide member as of last night. Don’t you, darling?” The way he purred the last word made me want to rip out his throat fordaringto address my mate so intimately.

“Of course, they’re my family.” Her innocent acceptance of my pack, so easily, made my eyes sink closed in anguish. She meant every word, and it was a dagger to my heart.

“Excellent.”

My eyes sprang open, glaring at the overstepping undead leech in front of me. “I said no, Carmine. And unless you want an interspecies incident, you will drop this immediately.”

“I see. So, you won’t allow your mate the choice? She seems independent enough to take issue with losing her voice. I’m surprised she’s okay with letting you speak for her.”

I growled, seeing right through the manipulative son of a bitch. He wanted a taste of her power. He’d had wolves before, I had no doubt. But Fiona? She was special,rare. It was possible he’d never scented another of her kind, whatever it was.

“I speak for myself, and Reed knows it. Just spit it out, whatever it is you’re not saying.” Fiona’s eyes flashed hazel, her powers rising with her frustration.

When Carmine’s nostrils flared, his eyes darkening with his thirst and lust for the power she’d just tapped into, I knew it had gone too far. But there was nothing I could do to stop his words, even as my wolf raged in my chest, demanding to be let free, to defend our mate.

“Why, darling Fiona, I merely want a taste of your blood.”

FORTY-FIVE

Fiona

My mind was reeling, and I could feel Reed’s fury roiling in my chest like a mass of hungry snakes. It was disconcerting, and I was struggling to suss out and control my own emotions while his were screaming so loudly.

“I don’t understand. Why do you want my blood when you could have an entire new club full of people to feed on?”

I could sense the vampire’s residual powers on most of the humans downstairs. I’d noticed it the second we stepped inside. They were all in some kind of lingering fog. They didn’t seem to mind it, frankly, even though the idea of it kind of creeped me out.

Sharing the bites last night with Reed was intimate and special, a sacred vow between us. It wasn’tfood.

Carmine addressed me with a tone that was almost paternal. “Your blood is different, darling. Surely you’re aware of that? You have something unique inside you, and so does your blood. I can have any human I want any time. But you? You’re a rare vintage, even for someone as old as me.”

“If I let you bite me, it won’t hurt our mate bond?”

“No, there is no lasting connection between a vampire and his victim. Not unless you take my blood in return, and I assume you don’t desire that?”

The dark question in those words—as if he’d be perfectly happy to bind me to him eternally if I only said the word—made me shudder. Him bonding to me would absolutely hurt Reed, and I had no interest in that.

“I don’t require a bond from anyone but my mate, thank you.”

“Very well, I can keep the experience temporary.”

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