Page 107 of Bonded Through Bite

I strain in his direction. I need him… his blood. There’s a part of me that refuses to be satisfied with anything else. An empty hole that becomes more evident when other parts of me receive the nourishment they crave. It shouldn’t work like this, should it? Vampires drink blood—any blood—and thrive. But that’s not how things work for me.

I’m faulty, broken.

Jim snarls at that thought. I ignore him and gulp more blood. Rafael holds his hand over my mouth, not budging even a little bit, no matter how much I drink. Santiago is pressed to my side, his neck bent to offer Rafael easy access.

I can’t say I really mind the picture they are making. But I want Zack too. I want to taste him, feel him sliding down my throat. Thank gods I don’t have an urge to drink from Jim. Or do I?

:What do you need, my mate?

His voice immediately pushes in when I think of his name and I want to growl.

:I. Am. Not. Your. Mate!

He just huffs and keeps poking me, literally, with his nose. When my stomach cramps in hunger, I give in.

:I want—need Zack’s blood. He smells so good and I’m hungry. So, so hungry…

My thoughts drift to Patricia. She doesn’t feel like a breath away from death now. I sense my venom burning in her veins, but it’s softer. Rage flares in me and immediately she shrieks in pain. Her throat is healed enough for her to scream.

Good. I want her to suffer.

:Mate. MATE! Jim roars and nips my leg hard again.

He’s got to ease up on the biting. I might bite back. He chuckles at that and I hear his lion rumble. It sounds excited at the idea, or is it his wolf? The bear? All of them. Fuck, there’re too many things in my head.

All of that distracted me from Patty and now she’s at ease again. Jim demands my attention before I can turn my anger on her again.

:You want the alpha’s blood, my mate?

:Yes. Even the thought of it makes my stomach rumble. Santiago moves my hand to his mouth to bite the vein open again. He licks my blood, then reluctantly moves my arm over Patty’s gaping mouth. More blood pours out of me and heals her.

I can feel every drop moving into her body. The relief my blood gives her. The strength. The bond. She’s mine now. The knowledge flares from deep inside me and I almost choke when an answering flare responds from her.

She is mine; I made her. She’s mine to command, mine to pro—no! I don’t want to protect her! Yet the bonds tug at me. If I tell her to burn, she will. My venom in her veins will hurt her like no other can, but the thought of someone else hurting her makes me see red.

“Samantha!” Thea’s gasp drags my attention to her.

I blink and we lock eyes. It feels like I get sucked into hers and I don’t fight the pull. She’s my best friend, the one person I can always trust. She sighs and releases me from her gaze before turning to talk to someone else, and for the first time, I take in the agitated wolves surrounding us.

“…tear her to pieces…”

“She killed⁠—”

“We need justice!”

Howls full of rage and hurt fill the air.

Well, shit.

Chapter Forty-Six

Zack

I’m listening to the conversation Samantha's friend is having with Grandfather about Patricia—arguing if the pack is entitled to kill her or not—when something shimmers next to me. Gasping, I look at the thing when he changes forms to human.

A tall, muscular man sits on the ground next to me. His green eyes glimmer in contrast to his ginger hair and pale skin. There’s something in him that demands attention and I run my eyes over his face again, counting the golden freckles on his cheeks and nose.

Distracted, I glance over at Grandfather when his tone turns cold. Shit, what did I miss? Samantha’s friend is waving her arms widely and shaking her head. Grandfather frowns and looks at Patricia and then at Samantha.