Page 22 of Forced Bonds

My gaze found Benjamin’s. He was standing to the side, staring at the scene in front of him with wide eyes as Salizar brushed blood off a dagger, dirtying his pants but he didn’t seem to even mind. He strode over to where Benjamin stood and hauled him into a passionate kiss that left me shaking with fury. My wolf was on the forefront as we pounced, attacking the vampire for even daring to touch our mate. I didn’t even care what the outcome would be. I’d already lost Benjamin forever, and it was just my luck that when I realized how badly I actually wanted him, it would be too late. Because seeing my mate kiss another man was finally what made me want to claim him. I couldn’t care less about heirs. All I wanted was Benjamin.

But I was too late.

The vampire moved around me, taunting me, and I hated it. Hated him! My wolf was snarling at me to claim Benjamin, to claim, claim, claim. It didn’t seem to understand that it was too late for us. My werewolf was pushing to take over, to let him deal with this, but I needed to stay in control so I pushed him back.

Then I was knocked over and snarled at what I thought would be Salizar’s smug face. Instead, Benjamin was on top of my wolf, glaring with all the hatred he had for me.

Claim! Claim! Claim!

“Benji!” Salizar yelled, “Get away!”

With nothing to lose, I sank my fangs in his unmarked side, giving him the mating bite even though I knew it wouldn’t take. At least I’d gotten the chance to bite my mate before I was killed by his vampire.

But that wasn’t what happened. Instead, I blacked out, right there on the ground, the last thing I saw was Benjamin’s wide eyes as they met mine. Then darkness.

“Feisty,” someone purred close to my right. I tried to sit up but my whole body was on fire. I felt like I would die if I didn’t get… something. But what?

The sound of someone getting slapped came next. “Don’t call me that! What do we do, Zar?!”

Benjamin.

Mate.

The knowledge came forth then. He was my mate! It worked! I sat up, only now realizing I was in my human form and very naked.

“Why are you naked?” I rasped, eyeing the vampire with a touch of admiration. He was hot and I wasn’t about to act like he wasn’t.

Salizar grinned widely as he prowled toward the bed, his cock swinging casually between his legs.

“Because, my wolf, you need me to take care of you.”

I must’ve blinked too many times because the room started to whiten. “What?”

Benjamin pushed the vampire to the side, glaring at us both. “You claimed me and thus, you claimed Salizar as well, you dumbass! Now I’m stuck with both of you, and you’re about to become a whimpering mess if you don’t get Salizar’s cock in you. Hope you like to bottom, by the way.”

“B-bottom?” I asked, now suddenly both afraid and horny beyond belief.

Salizar licked his fangs. “This will be fun. And don’t worry,” he purred, crawling over my body. “I’ll only make it hurt a little bit. You did treat my bonded horribly. But now that you’re mine, I’ll take care of you.”

Take care of you…

His words rang true in my fucking soul. This vampire that I was somehow bonded to would care for me. I felt the honesty of his words. I wasn’t about to cry now in front of my bonded and my mate, but damn how I wanted to cry. How long had I wished to be loved? To be taken care of? I was the alpha of the pack. I was the one who protected, the one who took care of others. I’d never even dared to wish for someone who would allow me to be the one that got protected and loved.

My thoughts, even though I tried to mask them, must’ve shown somehow because Salizar’s gaze softened. “I’ll take care of you, my wolf. But you still need to be punished for what you did to Benji.”

Benjamin stomped closer to the bed, his face furious. “What he did?! You both claimed me without my consent! Who are you to punish him for something? Who’s gonna punish you, huh?!”

The vampire seemed to think this over, then nodded. “You can spank me once I’m done with the alpha.”

Benjamin spluttered. “Spank you?! I will not!”

The vampire shrugged. “Your loss.”

Then I had warm lips pressed against mine and all else fell away. I was confused about everything, but right now I allowed myself to just feel as I let the vampire do whatever he wanted with me. Happy to have an excuse for submitting for once in my life.

“I’ll just… um…” Benjamin said, sounding so unsure it hurt. I’d messed up, but he was mine; as was this vampire with the wickedly impressive tongue.

“Stay,” I rasped once my mouth was freed. “Please.” I wasn’t above begging. I had a lot to apologize for, but it felt wrong doing this without Benjamin here with us.