Page 55 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

“If you don’t complete the bond…” Roman says as he swallows hard. “I don’t know if you’re going to survive this. And then I will never forgive myself if we lose you.”

Their hands against me are trembling. And dread tears through me as the desperate pull toward Roman grows stronger with every heartbeat, drowning everything else out.

“Wait, Lucy’s here?” Wolf blurts out, cutting through the room. “Nobody said⁠—”

I force my head to turn, meeting his startled gaze. He crosses the room in seconds, leaning over toward me beside Roman. Horror flashes across his face as he studies me. “Fuck,” he breathes. “What happened to you, songbird?”

“She has to bite Roman. Now,” Grayson states with urgency in his voice. “They left the bond open too long. It’s tearing her apart.” Hearing the words reminds me that I screwed up.

Roman nods once, his jaw locked so tightly I think it might crack. He cups my face between his hands, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks with heartbreaking gentleness. “Lucy.” His voice is barely above a whisper. “Are you ready to bite me? To finish this and close the bond… to tie us together for real?”

No going back.

The words settle somewhere deep inside me. My body arches toward him once more. Every cell inside me is reaching for him, begging for the hurt to end.

“I…” My voice catches before breaking free in a desperate sob. “I’ll do it.” I clutch at his arms, barely able to think through the agony consuming me. “Please… make it stop.” Another shudder racks my body. “I want it… I want you…” My breathing comes in ragged gasps.

Instantly, the three of them help me sit up, Grayson’s arm at my back, Roman steadying my shoulder, and Wolf’s hand holding mine. The whole time, I’m moaning because I’m unsure what’s worse—the pain threading through me from my arm, or the savage hunger deep in my belly demanding an Alpha.

I roll onto my side, and Roman’s already there, kneeling beside the bed, bare-chested. I breathe him in, unable to get enough. My hands find the hard planes of his chest, desire sinking its claws into me deeper than before.

I lean closer until my lips meet the warmth of his skin. He’s burning beneath my mouth, and I kiss his chest helplessly, unable to stop. One of his hands cradles the back of my head, holding me gently against him. Grayson’s behind me, steadying me, while Wolf stays close enough that I’m surrounded by them all.

“That’s it,” Grayson growls softly behind me. “Take what’s yours, little bird. He’s not going anywhere.”

I trail my mouth higher, over the steady beat of Roman’s heart, and somewhere beneath the haze, a frightened part of me whispers, This is it. Once I do this, we’re bound. There’s no undoing it. No taking it back. This man will be mine forever… and I’ve only known him for less than a week.

But that frightened voice is fading.

The rest of me is drowning, shaking, aching, consumed by a need so overwhelming that I barely hold on to a single thought. And despite everything and how impossible it is, I adore him.

God help me, I already do.

I set my teeth against his skin, over the heavy muscle above his heart, and clamp down. His skin is hot beneath my lips, the steady beat of his heart pulsing against me, and for one precious second, I’m convinced I can do it.

Then another wave crashes through me.

My body betrays me, chasing the warmth of him instead of the bite. I force myself to focus, to remember why I’m doing this, but the fire within me keeps dragging me away, turning every breath into want instead of purpose. I bear down harder, my jaw beginning to ache. His skin dents beneath my teeth but refuses to give—no break, no blood. Only the taste of salt and the relentless thud of his heartbeat against my mouth.

He doesn’t make a sound but holds me close.

I try again, and this time his hands slide down my back. A helpless moan shudders out of me, and my teeth slip free. Every time I get close, my body drags me into the heat, my thoughts scattering the instant he touches me. I can’t hold on to both. I can’t.

“I’m sorry.” I pull back, leaving nothing but a red mark on his chest. Tears burn behind my eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you, and I can’t… I can’t focus. I’m…”

“You won’t hurt me.” Roman’s voice is rough with emotion. “I can take it, gorgeous. Whatever you need.”

“That’s not it.” I press my forehead against his shoulder, and as my breasts brush his bare chest, we both shudder. “I’m trying.” My words fracture between savage breaths. “I know…” I shake my head, another sob catching in my throat. “Every time I get close, it… it takes me somewhere else.”

My fingers clutch helplessly at his sides.

“I’m so turned on I can’t think.” The admission tears out of me, and I’m beyond blushing. “Everything hurts, and it’s all… all mixed together. The bond, the fire inside me.” My breathing breaks. “I can’t separate them or do both at once.”

I force myself to glance up at him, stripped of every ounce of pride.

Tears spill over as I tremble against him.

“Fuck me,” Wolf breathes.