Page 36 of Bite

“Sorry to interrupt,” Dair says.

River scans over them, eyes snagging on their hands. “It’s no trouble,” he says, while Sutton grumbles under his breath. “What can I do for you?”

Dair’s free hand rubs the back of his neck, looking nearly bashful. “Well, Raine and I have some news,” he says.

River’s eyebrows draw together in confusion, but before anyone can ask what’s going on, Raine pulls aside the collar of her jacket, revealing the pink bite mark that I left on her neck.

Although her eyes are tired, her smile is genuine as Dair announces to the assembly that he’s bonded Raine. The resulting silence is loud, but then Soline stands, a huge grin stretching her face as she rushes to Raine and wraps her in a hug, telling her how happy she is.

I stand frozen. This is what I wanted, what I was willing to beg for, but now that I have to face the reality head-on, I fucking hate it. Dair is so proud, so assured in telling them that he’s bonded my scent-match, and the worst part is, it’s genuine. This isn’t an act. He is publicly claiming her the way I have never allowed myself to do, and he’s so fucking happy about it I want to be sick.

River is shocked, staring at his sister. “Wait,” he breathes. “What do you mean? How did this happen?”

Soline cackles while Josef shakes Dair’s hand and pats Raine affectionately on the shoulder. “Do I need to explain how mate bites work, Alpha?” she asks.

River sputters, pink rising on his cheeks. “No, of course not. I’m just surprised, is all.”

“You’re not going to believe it,” Raine says. Her eyes flick from River’s to mine so that when she shatters me, she’s looking me dead in the eyes. “When I first met Dair, I knew there was something about him, but when he found me yesterday after the Biter breach, we realized that the feelings between us are because we are scent-matches.”

My heart stops beating as pain lances through my chest. I stumble a step backward, as if I’ve been physically hit. My scent leeches from me without permission, burnt with anger, disappointment, and pain. A roaring voice inside of me demands I make this right, to tell everyone that the bite is mine, that Raine is mine.

Say it now, my alpha roars.

“Scent-matches?” River gasps. His mind must be reeling, trying to determine how to use this, how to weave this into his grand plans.

It’s Rosalina who speaks up, voice full of carefully constructed neutrality. “Well, it seems that this solves the problem of whether or not our communities are committed enough to each other to trust in an alliance, yes?”

Sutton is turning nearly purple with rage, but he doesn’t speak. Everyone looks at River, waiting to see what he’ll say, but my eyes stay trained on Raine, on her hand tucked in Dair’s, on the light flush of her cheeks, and the obscene way my bite peeks out of the collar of her jacket.

When River speaks, his voice is full of emotion. “Congratulations, sister. A scent-match? This is more than I could have ever asked for you.” I watch, full of enraged resentment, as he stands, shakes Dair’s hand, and affectionately hugs Raine.

He would have never reacted this way if I’d told him the truth. If I were standing where Dair is now, everything would have fallen apart, and we’d already be kicked out the gate with only a pack of supplies to our names.

“I’ll admit, this is really shocking, but I am truly happy for you,” he says. “Now our communities are bonded in blood.”

“I also bring news that Aspen and Koda have agreed to stay here and assist with rebuilding,” Dair says.

Soline exclaims, “Oh, that’s excellent!”

“With our bond still new, we would like to leave tomorrow. The sooner Raine can see her new home and begin preparing our nest, the better,” Dair says, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. “Tore, Raine, and I will be leaving at first light.”

“Okay, let’s take a final vote,” River suggests.

Soline smiles as she asks, “All in favor of the alliance?”

Everyone but Sutton agrees, and just like that River has gotten everything he’s ever wanted. An alliance with the west, a promise to get his hands on secret research he needs, his sister mated off and away from his home, and finally, me.

I walk out the door without a word while the continued sounds of celebration bite at my heels.

[ 23 ]

DAIR

Grand Prairie Compound

Days Since Last Attack: 1

After dropping Raine off at our guest cabin with instructions for her to rest, I begin preparations.