Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 129268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“Mine.” Devin licks the deep marks on my neck. Devin’s hot tongue soothes the claiming bite. The intensity subsides as the cool wind caresses my exposed skin. “Mine.”
“Yours. I’m yours.” I say the words quickly as I try to catch my breath. His long, warm exhale against my skin causes goosebumps to flow down my shoulders as he licks his mark again and then nuzzles into the crook of my neck. His strong arms pull my feverish body into his muscular chest.
“I love you, Devin.” My eyes refuse to open as I nestle into his embrace and sigh with contentment. I am his mate. Feeling overwhelmed with the emotion consuming my every thought, I leave kisses on his chest, his neck—every inch of him. I don’t know how it’s possible to feel this kind of love so quickly, so assuredly.
“I love you, Grace.” Hearing the tender words spoken in his deep voice has my heart swelling in my chest. My limbs continue to tremble as he holds me tighter.
A small smile pulls at my lips until the heat in my veins slowly returns, demanding attention. I struggle not to pull away from my mate, my Alpha.
The sensation tightens my throat with a fire that’s unsettling.
“It feels like I’m choking.” I murmur the words, writhing in his grasp. He doesn’t react except to pull me closer to him. As if he didn’t hear at all.
I need air. I need this burning to stop. Every inch of my body feels superheated, growing hotter and hotter with every passing second. Fear latches on to me as I push away from Devin. The cold ground calls to me, promising me respite from the unrelenting heat. His arms tighten rather than loosen and I struggle against him. “I’m too hot.” I can barely push out the words. The feeling of my breath against my face is too much. It’s too hot. My hands shake, and my muscles tighten all at once. I try to push away again, but a dizziness overwhelms my body. Anxiousness washes over me. I’m not okay. Something’s wrong. Something’s very wrong.
“Shh, sweetheart. It’ll be over in a minute. I’ve got you.” His words are a soothing balm, and paired with his dominance, I’m able to settle for a moment. It’s a much-needed reprieve. Devin rubs soothing circles on my back as he licks his mark. His touch calms me and his tongue soothes the burn. I manage to take one deep breath, and then another. The burning slowly wanes, starting at my neck and cooling in small waves down my body. The cold sweat that’s left makes me feel even more tired. I lie limp in his arms, knowing I’m safe. Knowing he can comfort me and heal my pain.
It’s only then my racing heart seems to steady and beat in tandem with his.
“Why?” I don’t have the strength for more words, but I know he won’t need any more. He’ll tell me what I need to know.
“The essence of my wolf is claiming you. It will scent you as my mate.” Devin gently pulls away from me to look into my eyes and I whimper from the loss of his calming touch. “Everyone will know you are mine. Only mine. Forever.”
With his hand around my throat, he lowers his lips to mine and kisses them lightly. Before he says the word, I feel it, I hear it even, just a moment before. “Mine.”
Exhausted, I lie in his arms, feeling the heat turn to warmth as my body slowly comes down from the high and adapts to the effects of his mark. My eyes close as he kisses my hair, murmuring words of love and devotion.
At the sound of a sob, my brow furrows and I pick up my head, immediately on alert. Lizzie? Brushing Devin aside, I whip around to my right to find her somewhere in the dark. “Lizzie?” I whisper as I try to creep from Devin’s lap. His stubble gently scratches the shell of my ear as he shakes his head.
“It’s not her, sweetheart.” His voice carries a hint of anguish. Oddly, I feel it. That worry, that knowing concern, in a way, is present deep in the pit of my soul. I glance up at him and then follow his gaze to the gap in the tree line where we entered the clearing. Off to the left I make out the tall form of Veronica. She’s alone and another sob rips through her as my eyes focus in the dark. She’s hunched on the ground and crying. I scan the area for Vince, but he’s nowhere to be found.
“He left her?” First disbelief, then anger runs through me, awakening my senses and energizing my limbs. How could he leave his mate crying? She must be in pain! The very thought she’s suffering from his bite, from that unbearable heat, has me nearly in tears. How could he leave her alone to suffer?