Page 74 of Bonded Through Bite

“Only pack business,” Olivia says.

“So the thing in the woods,” I begin just as Samantha shudders in my arms. Her eyes fly open, but they are empty. She whimpers, a sound that rakes my insides, and both vampires lurch closer. Reluctantly, I let Moretti take her from my arms. Olivia blessedly keeps her mouth shut and doesn’t intervene.

“Do you feel anything?” Santiago asks me while he supports her head. “You are the only one who has had her blood.”

“No…” I try to focus. There’s a bond, but it’s so faint and frail that nothing comes through. “I get nothing from her,” I murmur.

Samantha blinks, but her gaze remains vacant. Without hesitation, Moretti claws open his own throat and lifts her to the wound. Yet, she doesn’t drink, only whimpers in pain. I try to get to my feet, but Santiago steps in my way.

“She can’t drink from you,” he mutters quietly. I’m not sure if Olivia and Jere heard him, but it’s clear he doesn’t want them to know. “Trouble on top of trouble,” he then grinds out and for a moment, his cool exterior drops.

“No, no, no,” Samantha whispers and tries to claw her own throat. “It’s… the calling…” She pants the words, twisting in Moretti’s arms.

“Sweetheart, what is it?” he asks while Santiago holds her hands, keeping her from tearing her own skin.

“Th-thing,” she whispers and then jerks so hard, they almost drop her. “Get it out of me! Get it out!”

Her sudden shouts are pained and frantic. “Get it… out of me. Please. Get it out.” Tears stream down her face and I’ve never felt so helpless. “Please.” The last plea is faint, but she manages to tear one hand free and rake a long, ugly wound down her neck.

The smell of rot and putrid blood fills the air.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Santiago

The blood that oozes from Samantha’s neck has dark speckles and it smells corrupted. Horrified, I stare, not really comprehending what’s happening. Rafael springs into action and lays Samantha on the floor. She’s silent now, eyes blank and mouth slack.

“The wound,” Rafael growls. “She said the thing wounded her. It has poisoned her blood.”

“What?” I ask like an idiot, not following.

“Snap out of it,” he roars. “You need to drain her, as dry as you can.”

Drain her. Everything in me recoils at the thought. I can’t—I won’t hurt her. Sluggishly, my brain processes the things Rafael doesn’t say. He can’t do it. His blood needs to stay pure so she can feed after. And she will, a lot. Most likely she will drain him and he can’t feed from me to replenish after I take that foul blood.

“Someone needs to catch me up.” Zack looks at us.

“She can only tolerate Rafael’s blood,” I snap, no longer caring about the other two wolves. I will hold them down for Rafael to drink from if need be.

“What are you talking about?” Zack kneels on the floor next to her head, ignoring his leg.

“We don’t have time for this,” Rafael says, his voice cold, detached. “Santiago, you need to get a grip and drink.”

I know he’s right. The only way to help her is to clear the blood. I’m old and strong enough to deal with whatever is poisoning her. Probably. She certainly isn’t. Still, the impulse to turn away is hard to combat.

“San, please.”

I lean over and sink my fangs into her throat. Her blood tastes ghastly, really like drinking from a corpse. After gagging, I keep drinking. It takes an effort to pull her blood out; it’s thick sludge and I bite her harder.

If I ever get my hands on that beast, I’m going to tear it to pieces. Drinking from Samantha should have been something perfect, a moment to treasure. Instead, I’m battling to save her, choking on her blood.

Heavens only know if this will bond her to me. There’s not much of her left in the blood, I can barely taste her. She’s pale, dark circles under her eyes turning more prominent as I draw from her. Too young to lose blood like this, her cheekbones sharpen and collarbones poke out. Hell, Rafael’s blood better restore her.

“Can she survive draining like that?” Zack asks, but I don’t lift my head. If I stop now, I won’t be able to continue. I have to drain her in one go. And then go vomit this blood down the drain. I can already feel the poison worming into my system.

“She has to,” Rafael says, still sounding colder than ice.

“Are you able to feed her enough?” Damn, the wolf is persistent.