Betraying the Pack by Eve Langlais

sorry, Bailey, but you leave
me no choice.”
    That sounded ominous even if
she didn’t understand what their entire byplay meant. She renewed her
struggles, but Wyatt came to stand in front of her. His added strength kept her
still while Gavin used one hand to brush the hair from her nape. The hand over
her mouth still muffled her, and she thought about biting it, anything to help
free the frantic mumbles of her trapped scream.
    Warm lips touched her skin at
the back of her shoulder, a soft caress that even amidst the turmoil triggered
an answering response in her body.
    “I will make this up to you,
from this day forth, for the rest of our lives. Believe me when I say, one day
you’ll understand what I’m doing and thank me for it.”
    A shiver went down her spine at
his odd pronouncement. Before she could ponder it further, Gavin opened his
mouth wide on her skin, the tip of his longue laving her, and then . . . he bit
her hard enough to break skin.
    Bailey screeched at the sudden
pain of it, and it was reflex for her to chomp down on the hand over her mouth.
She bit a little too hard and punctured his skin, not that he flinched or moved
away. On the contrary, he emitted a growl and sucked more intently at her neck
while the coppery taste of his blood filled her mouth.
    Appalled, she tried to stem the
flow of blood with her tongue, but the fluid, with no place to go, filled her
mouth. She panicked as the realization struck that she had to swallow or she’d
choke on his blood.
    Grossed out, but the need for
survival stronger, she gulped Gavin’s blood down, her eyes screwed tight. And at
the first gulp, lightning hit.
     

     
    Blood to blood.
Soul to soul. Gavin felt the connection forge between them, an almost tangible
link that would join him to Bailey until death parted them. Even given the
circumstances, the power behind it awed him.
    Most matings
occurred during sex, and Gavin could easily see why given the rigidness of his
cock. The urge to bury himself inside of her, claiming her with his body, and
not just his soul, rode him hard. As he licked the spot he’d bitten, he
couldn’t help rubbing himself against her backside. Shock swept through him
when she gyrated back against him with a moan. Despite her reluctance to trust,
she obviously felt the same pull. Of
course she does. She’s my mate.
    His mate. And he’d
yet to even kiss her.
    Not for long.
    He let his hand
slide from her mouth, ready to return it if she screamed, but instead, she
sighed as he turned her in his arms. She came willingly, her eyes glazed with
wonder, and when he fitted his mouth to hers, the world around them disappeared
until only she remained. His new reason for being, his woman, his mate.
    Slanting his mouth
eagerly over hers, he took what she offered and demanded more. Clutched tightly
to him, she felt so right, her plush frame a perfect complement to his
hardness. He lifted her off the ground so she wouldn’t have to crane, and she
mewled in need, clutching at his shoulders, a sound that rose in intensity when
he ground himself against her hidden core.
    A throat cleared.
“Um, I hate to interrupt, but we need to leave.”
    Reluctance made him
want to ignore his friend’s words, but his new duty to his mate took precedence.
Her safety was more important than his lust.
    Gavin tore his lips
from hers and allowed himself a moment to stare down at her upturned face. “So
beautiful,” he murmured, seeing her kiss-swollen lips, flushed cheeks, and bright
eyes. “Come, my darling. We will continue this elsewhere.”
    “Wha-What just
happened?” she asked, a crease marring her brow. “What did you just do to me?”
    “He claimed you. He
can explain what that means later. For now, let’s get out of here before those
rogues return and force us to fight.” Wyatt’s words broke the sensual spell, but
did nothing to dispel the confusion on her face.
    “Rogues? I don’t—”
    It seemed natural
to hush her with a kiss, to which