Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 48567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48567 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
He doesn’t look up.
“Enjoying my meat, are you?”
“Low blow.”
"So low.” He cackles and then sets his fork down and drinks a glass of wine.
I watch him swallow. I watch everything about him. And then I ask, “Are humans bad to your kind?”
He frowns.
“No? Why?”
"Bite me.”
He starts choking.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Bite me.” I repeat.
“I want you to mate me.”
His wine glass falls from his fingertips and crashes against the floor. His eyes light up like fireworks.
“No.”
“Bite me.”
"Stop saying bite!” He jumps to his feet and starts cleaning up.
“I’m not mating you.”
“Because I’m not good enough?”
“Because!” he roars, slamming his fists against the counter.
“You’re too good! I would never damn you that way, to be with me for an eternity, just the other day you were making plans with Xavier, I’m not going to curse you to only see my face for eternity and why are you laughing right now?”
"An eternity, right?”
"Stop walking toward me.” He warns, holding up both hands like he’s terrified.
“I’m serious Ava, do not do this, you don’t want this, it’s the wine, it’s the mood, the sex, fuck, I don’t know, but I do know I’m trying to protect you.”
I can’t stop myself.
This is right.
I feel it everywhere.
I finally.
Relax.
I breathe.
I don’t need my past.
But I do need him in my future.
He’s still as a statue as I wrap my arms around his neck and wrap my legs around his waist.
“Bite. Me.”
His lips tremble.
“You don’t know what you’re asking.”
I cup his cheeks as his incisors descend.
“Weird, because I thought I was asking for forever with a grumpy werewolf.”
He looks down.
“You won't have a choice if I bite you.”
“Good, then let me choose now.”
His hands tremble as he gently puts me on the breakfast bar.
“You don’t need to choose, you have time, and this isn’t even—“
“—do you want me?” I ask.
“Simple answer yes or no. Do you want me?”
His eyes well with tears.
“I’ve searched for years for my mate, of course I want you, but if it’s not you, the pain will be excruciating. And what we have will be gone. Separated.”
"I’m willing”—I take a deep breath—“I’m willing to bet on you, are you willing to bet on me? The girl who took your virginity.”
“Just had to bring that up.”
"I mean, it’s funny?”
“That I was a near thirty-year-old virgin, thanks, maybe I was just waiting for you?”
I laugh and stare him down.
“I’m serious.”
"I’m serious too. Please, get off of me, don’t make this harder than it already is, to reject you, to leave you, to walk away and not look back.”
"Maybe I want all those things, maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be, all I know is I need your bite and I need it now and I need you to make that move.”
He hesitates. His jaw clenches. He shakes his head.
“You don’t know what you’re asking, this is forever.”
“Good.” I nod, tears in my eyes.
“Good.”
"Forever is…” He turns off the stove and walks over to me, bracing me against the counter. He grips me by the hips and pulls me onto the counter and rests his head against my chest, like he’s hearing my heart, and then he rests his forehead against mine.
“You barely know me.”
"Not true.” A tear slides down my cheek.
“I think I knew you before. I think I was waiting. I think…” I don’t know why I’m so emotional, but I say it anyway, “For when…I see you again.”
His eyes light up.
He freezes completely.
His body is rigid.
And in an instant, he lifts me up into his arms.
“Who told you that phrase?”
"You know it?” I ask.
"It’s…” His eyes search mine.
“Are you, are you her?”
"Are you him?” I challenge.
“Only one way to find out.”
"But.” He hesitates, so I take the lead, I grab him by the neck and pull him down to my mouth.
“Bite. Me.”
"I can’t, I can’t, I—“
I grab him by the back of the neck and pull him down.
“You can. Just feel me, feel it.”
He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath.
“Why aren’t you afraid?”
"Because,” I answer simply.
“I think you’re mine.”
"And if I’m not?”
“Then it’s on me.” I exhale.
“It’s all on me.”
Chapter 29
Claimed By Bite
ELI
I remember nothing other than the forest, touching her fingers and walking away, being put into a different family, but now I’m wondering about the connection I had with her back then and why it’s so strong now.
I’ll die for her.
This moment will never leave my soul.
She’s passed out next to me.
I strip her and wrap her in a fur blanket, then pull her onto the couch and lay there with my mate in my arms.
She’s mine.
Mine.
The fierceness in my own brain is terrifying. I realize now why mates go crazy if the other half dies. I can’t even fathom it. I can’t think about it without wanting to throw more than a desk out of the window.
Maybe I’d just throw myself.
I rub my hands down her face and tuck her hair behind her ears, and then I just watch her breathe.