Page 81 of Bonded Through Bite

“No, he’s not,” Santiago says. He moves closer and mashes Samantha between us so she has no space to move. He brackets her throat and neck and squeezes until Samantha’s eyes roll in her head.

Unconscious. He fucking knocked her out.

“What the fuck, San?” I roar, but he doesn’t pay me any mind and keeps the pressure on Samantha’s neck.

“She pleaded with us to knock her out, Rafael. Breathe and get those protective instincts under control.”

“I—”

“Do you honestly think I would hurt her? Really hurt her?”

I take several deep breaths and try to clear my head. “No.”

“And would the alpha just lounge over there if he thought I was hurting her?”

“Fucking wolves,” I mutter, ignoring San’s question.

“Right back at you, vamp,” the alpha replies. “Now, get your asses moving and get her back inside.”

I gather Samantha’s limp body in my arms, while Santiago makes sure she stays blacked out. Grim lines form at the corner of his mouth. That, more than anything, snaps my head back into the game and gets me moving.

There are things Santiago doesn’t like to talk about, things that he has done. For once, I’m grateful for his past and the skills he learned. I couldn’t keep Samantha unconscious without hurting her, while Santiago certainly can.

I rush her back inside and the alpha is immediately hovering. I want to snarl at him until I realize he’s trying to scent her.

“Fuck,” he mutters and inhales again. “I hoped it was just a lingering effect, but I can smell another scent mixed with hers now that I’m looking for it. It’s very faint, almost hiding, but it’s there.”

“What does it mean, shifter-wise?” Santiago, ever calm, asks and adds pressure to Samantha’s throat when she begins to stir.

“I’m not sure. Nothing about this is normal, shifter-wise.”

“She said he was speaking to her before flipping out. Somehow the thing is affecting her?” I sink into our bond, looking for clues, but she repels me. Even unconscious, she’s fighting to get away. Or something is forcing her to fight. My mind is whirring, sorting through options and possibilities, and none of them are good.

“She should have stayed immobile from your first order, yet it barely held her in place,” Santiago muses and strokes a hand over her hair.

“I heard her begging you to knock her out. Any idea why?” The alpha sits down and winces from pain.

“Not really. Haven’t ever come across a changeling who can resist their maker’s compulsion. We need to know what is going on,” I say and sit beside the alpha. “You can hold her legs. Santiago, you make sure she doesn’t tear into any of us.”

I hate that we need to restrain her like this, but it’s better than tying her up. It doesn’t take long for Samantha to stir again and when her eyes fly open, the look in them is terrified.

“Shh, sweetheart. We’ve got you.” I try to comfort her, but I’m not sure it’s working.

“Not letting you go anywhere,” the alpha promises. Santiago just strokes her neck and throat and that, more than anything, seems to reassure her. Her mouth gapes, fangs peeking, but she’s resisting the hunger. Almost inaudible whimpers fill the air and tear into me.

“I’m not his mate.” She gasps. “I’m not.”

I freeze. So does everyone else. She says the words like she expects us to contradict her, and her eyes are pleading.

“Please, tell me I’m not,” she whispers brokenly.

“Fuck no.” The wolf seems to struggle against turning on the spot. Her eyes turn to him and there’s something unspoken shared in that glance. “I’ll kill him before I let him take you.”

“So—”

“No,” I spit the word out, trying to untangle my feelings. Rage and disbelief rise to the surface. She’s mine. Every facet of civility unravels when I think of some filthy thing laying claim to her.

“I—I don’t know if I can resist…” Samantha trails off, strain evident in her eyes. “He’s calling… me.”