Bitten by Her Mate (An Ironhaven Pack Romance Book 2) Page 3

  God, she didn’t want to die here. Not like this.

  The second set of claws tore into her side, somehow more painful than the first set, and the sticky wet feel of blood coating her shirt made the fabric stick to her stomach. Her eyes flew open, even though no part of her wanted to see Sean’s face as he killed her.

  “Damn it, Sean, you said we were just going to scare her.” Luka’s voice sounded raspy in her ear, almost choked, as if he was trying to fight against something coming out. Or coming up.

  Sean chuckled. “Alpha said to kill any Ironhaven mates. Even the filthy human ones. Especially the filthy human ones. You think just because this one’s not claimed, she gets a free pass?”

  The grip on her arms relaxed, and then released altogether as Luka stepped back.

  “I didn’t sign up for this shit, man. She ain’t a mate, we’d smell it on her. You can’t just go around killing humans, even if they have fucked a wolf. I’m out of here.”

  Sean howled, a chilling, earsplitting sound that made Nichole want to cower down. “You’re a fucking coward of a pup, not even worthy of the Bellemare name. The Alpha will hear about this.” He jerked his claws out of her stomach, tearing even more, and scraped them across her face, not deep, but enough to disfigure her forever if she lived.

  She crumpled, clutching her stomach, afraid that the gouges were deep enough for her insides to spill out.

  Would anyone come looking for her? Would anyone even recognize her if she died?

  She squeezed her eyes shut again, wishing Dominick would somehow know she was hurt. Wishing he’d somehow find her and save her.

  A Bite to Remember

  Dom’s wolf paced angrily as the deputy slowly woke up in Nichole’s bed.

  As he reached for the curvy baker, he knew why the beast was so on edge. She was gone.

  He dressed quickly, searching the house for any sign of Nichole, intent on dragging her back to bed and picking up where they left off the night before.

  But she was gone. And so was the truck and all those tasty treats.

  Pulling out his phone, he did a quick search for farmer’s markets in the area.

  Damn it!

  She had to be back in Bellemare. Back among those savage wolves who left more than bites on their mates.

  Covered in his scent.

  He shifted, not bothering to worry about his clothes or her house, as he broke through the back door and ran for Bellemare.

  He’d fix anything that was broken, replace anything if someone dared to steal from her.

  As long as he hadn’t just gotten her killed.

  Dom ran as fast as his paws would carry him, avoiding the roads as much as possible. When the scent of blood mixed with Nichole’s delectable smell of sugar cookies and cherry Danish hit his nose, Dom let out a pained howl.

  Not that it would do him much good. They were in enemy territory. He was on his own.

  The beast standing over Nichole’s body didn’t deserve the name of wolf.

  Half-shifted, covered in human blood, the man looked more like a horror movie monster than a graceful beast.

  Dom lunged, his wolf fully in control. He didn’t care that it was daylight, or that there was a farmer’s market full of humans less than half a mile away.

  He and his wolf both wanted to see this Bellemare bleed.

  The hard crack of his skull into the wolf-man’s side sent them both flying, but Dom didn’t let the motion stop him from his attack. His claws ripped through the sinewy flesh of his biceps, pinning him as he let his teeth clamp down around the beast’s neck. Dom recognized this one’s scent—he was one of the ones who’d harassed Nichole the day before.

  As the coppery taste of blood flowed freely into Dom’s mouth, he vowed to make sure this wolf would never harass another woman again. Least of all his Nichole.

  The sharp pain of the beast’s claws ripping into his ribs made Dom tense, but it wasn’t enough to get him to let go.

  He’d have to kill Dom, before he’d release his bite.

  Shaking his head, twisting his body, Dom popped the claws free from his sides. His teeth tore deeper into the wolf’s neck.

  He kept biting, ripping, tearing, until the beast gave no further fight.

  Until the body stank of death.

  Dom shifted before he went to Nichole, ignoring the blood that stained his beard, ignoring the ache of his flesh stitching back together slowly, healing the puncture wounds from the wolf’s claws.

  All he cared about was the slow, strained rise and fall of Nichole’s chest.

  Carefully, he lifted her, carrying her back toward the farmer’s market. He prayed she’d parked close to the trees again, so that he could slip her into the truck without scaring the humans who might not know about wolves.

  She looked so pale, and her beautiful, perfect face was stained with blood, marred by claw marks.

  “Stay with me, Nic. I’m here. I’ll get you to Ethan. He’ll know what to do.” He got situated in the front seat, with Nichole propped up gently against the window, and started the truck. “Don’t die on me, Nic. Please. I need you.”

  The drive back to Ironhaven took too long. He was afraid of every bump, every pothole. Anything that could jostle her and make her wounds worse.

  And his wolf wasn’t any better. The creature’s pacing was relentless, full of fear, anger, and most of all, full of one singular thought. Mine.

  Nichole’s phone was in the cupholder, and Dom quickly dialed Ethan’s phone number, hoping the doctor was in.

  “Doctor Carter.”

  “Thank Gods. Ethan, I’m bringing Nichole in. She was attacked by a wolf.” Dom could hear the shakiness in his own voice. “I need her to be okay.”

  “How far are you? I’ll meet you at the E.R. bay. Tell me what happened.”

  “I don’t know. I…I think it’s my fault.” Dom glanced over at Nichole, his heart in his throat. “I should’ve fucking claimed her. She wouldn’t be this hurt if she could heal.”

  The doctor asked, “Why didn’t you? Is she your mate?”

  Dom scowled. “Would I talk about claiming her if she wasn’t? She’s a human, Ethan. I’ve seen how Merrick and Sierra are treated by the pack. The damn Bellemares did this to her, and she wasn’t even claimed. How can I put her through the bite? How can I make her my mate just to watch her suffer? I don’t want to turn out like Owen. I’d die if I lose her, and I haven’t even really made her mine.” He reached over and brushed her hair back from her wounds as gently as he could. “She’s so fragile, so perfect. I’m not what she needs. Her brother would kill me if I bite her.”

  Ethan was quiet for so long, Dom pulled the phone back to make sure they were still connected.

  “Tell me this, Dom. If she were a wolf, would you care about Paul’s wrath? Would you care what the rest of the pack thought?”

  Dom sighed. “A wolf’s claim is absolute. No one questions the fates when it happens.”

  “So, why are you questioning this mating?”

  Snarling, he pulled into the hospital parking lot. “I’m here. You have to help her, Ethan.”

  “I’ll use everything in my power to heal her. But we both know what the best medicine would be.”

  Dom parked in the emergency bay as Ethan and a couple nurses wheeled out a gurney.

  There was no hiding the fact that he was naked, or that he was covered in blood. At least no one would question whether it was Nichole’s, or someone else’s. Yet.

  Dom was sure that Merrick would have plenty of questions when word got back to the Alpha.

  Watching Ethan wheel her into the E.R. made Dom’s wolf whimper, and his stomach turned. He didn’t want to be apart from her. Even for a second. But he couldn’t leave the truck where ambulances might need to park, and he needed pants.

  Grudgingly, he called Paul once he’d parked.

  “Nichole? What’s up? I thought you were at the farmer’s market. Sold out already?”

  “Uh, it’s me.�
�� Dom hated the cheeriness in Paul’s voice. But then, he didn’t know yet.

  “Dom? Why do you have Nichole’s phone? Where’s my sister?”

  “I need you to get to the hospital. There’s been an accident. And I need you to bring me some clothes.” Dom tried to keep his voice even, but he ached for Nichole. He needed her to be okay.

  “An accident? What the fuck, Dom? You promised she’d be safe.”

  “This wasn’t my fault.” Yes, it was. “She was in fucking Bellemare. I told her not to go there.” He got out of the truck and started pacing, not caring whether anyone saw. His wolf was too on edge for either of them to stay still.

  “I’m on my way. Where are you?”

  Dom described where in the parking lot he and the truck waited, and then went back to his pacing, fighting the urge to run into the hospital. He wasn’t sure if he’d go as a wolf or a man at this point. Or something in between, like the monster who attacked her.

  Paul pulled up in Nichole’s red VW Bug and parked in the empty spot next to the truck.

  “What the fuck happened?” He tossed clothes at Dom. “Tell me that blood’s not Nichole’s.”

  “Not most of it. Some of it’s mine. Most of it’s the fucking wolf who attacked her.” Dom snarled as he got dressed, the rage still fresh. “Fucker ripped into her like she was a scratching post.”

  Paul’s hands balled into fists, but Dom wasn’t sure if he was angry at him, or the Bellemares. “Take me to my sister.”

  “Paul, there’s something else you should know.” Dom looked down, feeling sheepish for even wanting to say it, but he couldn’t keep silent. Not when Ethan’s face as he took Nichole into the E.R. said very plainly that being claimed might be the only way to save her.

  “Fuck. You mated her, didn’t you?”

  “She’s not claimed, but I can’t deny that she’s mine. She kissed me, man. I never would’ve… I didn’t mean…”

  Paul swung out, landing an upper cut into Dom’s gut. “Damn it, Dom. You swore to me. Is this why she got attacked? Because you fucking mated her?”

  “I don’t know what made the wolf attack her, but I doubt it helped. I should’ve claimed her. I should’ve kept her safe.”

  Paul let out a grumble that almost sounded wolfish. But he lowered his fists. “Can the claiming help her now?”

  Dom shrugged. “It should. My bite should help her heal. But it would change her.”

  “Save my damn sister. And if you ever let her get hurt like this again, I’ll fucking kill you with my bare hands.”

  Dom smiled softly. “You’re not going to fight me on this?”

  “Not if it’ll save my sister. Nichole’s the only family I have left. I don’t want to lose her to a damn wolf. If I have to, I guess you’re the best choice.” Paul sighed. “You love her?”

  “More than I think I ever let myself admit. She’s everything I ever wanted.” Picturing Nichole like she was the day before, naked and pliable in his arms, as hungry for him as he was for her, a grin broke out on his face. “And no matter how much she fights, these farmer’s market trips are over. I’m going to take care of her. Give her everything. I know I don’t make a lot at the sheriff’s office, but…”

  “Yeah, yeah, your family’s loaded. You own the best hotel in town.” Paul rolled his eyes. “I’m not worried about her having money. I just want her to be safe,” he pointed at Dom pointedly, “and fucking happy.” His face paled. “I can’t lose her.”

  “I can’t either.” Dom clapped his friend on the shoulder. “I guess this makes you and me brothers?”

  “Haven’t we always been?” Paul nudged Dom toward the hospital doors. “Call me when it’s over. When she’s claimed, and healing.”

  “You got it.” Dom turned and ran into the hospital, determined to make sure Nichole wasn’t just safe, but that she thrived with him as her mate.

  He didn’t wait for a nurse to point him in the right direction. His wolf knew Nichole’s scent, and all the packs in New York couldn’t keep him from his mate now.

  Ethan stopped him in the hall outside her room.

  “If you’re not here to do what you need to do, tell me now, so I can get her into surgery and hopefully save her.”

  “She needs her mate. I need my mate.” Dom stared down the doctor’s blue eyes, waiting to see if he’d stop him.

  “It’ll be painful for her.”

  “She’s already in pain. Don’t stop me now, Ethan.”

  He stepped aside, pushing the door open. “I’ll keep anyone else from coming in, but I won’t be able to do that forever.”

  Dom nodded as he brushed past.

  Nichole looked so fragile in the hospital bed. She was still pale, and all the beeping machines and stark-white bandages made him want to hunt down every Bellemare and rip the whole pack to shreds for causing her pain.

  The soft sound of her groaning, “Dom…” caught him off guard, and he charged to her side.

  “I’m so sorry, Nic. I’ll make it better. I promise.” He nuzzled her gently, careful of the bandages. “You’re so strong. Just fight a little longer.”

  He let his teeth shift, extending out, sharpening. Just before he bit her shoulder, he took her hand and pressed a soft kiss to the spot he intended to mark.

  Nichole squeezed his fingers gently, and Dom took that as her approval. He bit as softly as he could, not wanting to cause her any more suffering, but it didn’t stop her from letting out a pained whimper.

  As soon as he tasted her blood and he knew the claiming was complete, he backed off, pressing more soft kisses to the wound. He hated that he caused her more pain, that she was hurting because of him.

  Dom lost track of the hours, sitting by her bedside, waiting, watching.

  Nichole laid so still, he worried that there was something wrong, that the bite didn’t take, that she wasn’t claimed, that somehow, he’d managed to fuck it up.

  He prayed to every god he could think of, promising her everything, if she would just wake up. If she would be okay.

  When she reached up and cupped his cheek, he almost howled for joy.

  “Dominick.”

  “I’m here, my mate. I’m never going anywhere again.” He leaned into her palm, cherishing her touch.

  “Mate?” She stared at him, her pouty, kissable mouth hanging open.

  Dom just nodded. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted to do with her. He wanted to cover her with his bites, leave his mark everywhere.

  But right now, all he wanted to do was see her beautiful face again.

  He didn’t dare touch the gauze without Ethan’s supervision though.

  “We should call your doctor in.”

  She nodded but shifted to sit up. “Are you sure…? You didn’t claim me.”

  “I was a fucking idiot. You’ve always been mine, Nic. It just took time for my head to catch up with my wolf. With my heart.”

  “What if I’m scarred? What if I’m broken?”

  “You are the most perfect woman I’ve ever known. If you wear battle scars, they’re just proof of your fighting spirit. Of your wolf nature.” He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “You’ll always be beautiful, Nic. No matter what. And you’ll always be mine.” He skimmed his thumb over the moon-shaped marks on her shoulder, the sign of his family. One larger crescent moon, with a smaller, full moon nestled inside. “My mate. Wearing my bite, forever.”

  Wet spots formed on her bandages, the result of tears falling.

  “Are those happy or sad tears?”

  “So, so happy.” She tugged him close, capturing his mouth for another kiss, another soul-searing lip-lock that Dom felt like warmth spreading through his whole body.

  And his wolf settled, certain, even without the bandages removed, that she was their perfect mate.

  Epilogue

  Ethan

  Ethan had seen the power a claiming bite could have. But even he couldn’t have expected the full recovery that D
ominick’s bite had on Nichole.

  Sending them home, watching another brother in his pack find his mate, made Ethan’s wolf whimper for a mate of his own.

  He was afraid to even see his own sister in case he could spread the curse beyond pack borders.

  The doctor had seen too many mates taken, too many male wolves suffer at the hand of the Bellemare pack. The Ironhaven pack needed to heal and rebuild, and he would be there to do whatever he could.

  Ethan doubted he’d ever find a mate.

  He didn’t want one.

  He wouldn’t risk kissing anyone to find her.

  But Fate, it seems, always finds a way.

  Ethan’s story, Saved by Her Mate, is available! Get it here!

  For more Foxy Reads by Piper Fox and the exclusive inside scoop, join my newsletter now and get a free Ironhaven Pack Romance book, Mated in Secret! Get it now!

  Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book and I would love it if you would consider leaving a review!

  Also by Piper Fox

  Ironhaven Pack Romance Series

  The Alpha’s Mate

  Bitten by Her Mate

  Saved by Her Mate

  Mated to the Beast

  Kidnapped by Her Mate

  Mated to the Savage Wolf

  About the Author

  Piper Fox writes steamy paranormal romances for sassy, strong-willed women and the sexy, alpha men who love them.

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  Copyright © 2020 by Piper Fox

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