Bound in Sin (Bound #3)(18)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“Try harder,” Gabe murmured. There was no fear on the vampire’s face or in his eyes. “Come on, let’s see what you can do, alpha. Let’s see if you can fight as hard as you father did.”

His father? What did his–

More laughter from Gabe. Colder than the night that surrounded them. “You thought that you got all the vamps from that attack, huh? Think again, alpha. Think f**king again.” Gabe barred his teeth. “Those vamps attacked because I gave the order. Only they were supposed to have killed your sorry ass that night, too.”

But he hadn’t been at home when his family was so brutally attacked. He’d been out, watching Paige as she worked at a little diner. He’d gone to that diner over and over, eager to catch a glimpse of her. That night, he’d finally asked her out. He’d been so excited when he’d gone back home. She’d said yes! Then he’d found the blood and the bodies waiting on him.

“Jeremiah let me in,” Gabe told him as the vamp circled around Drake. “He knew you’d be the next alpha, and he wasn’t ready to let go of the pack. He let me kill them all…and drink all that shifter blood.”

Because shifter blood was stronger than human blood. Far more powerful.

Jeremiah had fed his own pack to this prick? Why?

“Your bastard alpha was addicted…the same way she wants you to be…to vampire blood.”

He could taste her…The wolf howled within him, desperate to break free and attack.

Drake sucked in a deep breath. Paige was on the ground. Still, like a broken, beautiful doll. “It’s not the blood I’m addicted to,” Drake told Gabe, voice growling. The beast was coming out. The vamp was dying. “It’s her.”

He leapt at the vamp even as the shift burned through him. The vamp would get in a few swipes while he transformed, no way around that, because Drake was weak in those moments when he was locked between man and beast.

But he had to shift. The shift would push the rest of the silver from his body, and the wolf would be stronger than the man.

The wolf would take the vamp’s head.

Gabe was smiling as he lunged toward Drake. The vamp’s fangs were barred and–

“Think f**king again,” Paige shouted, throwing the vamp’s words right back at him. Then gunfire thundered. Once. Twice.

She had picked up one of the other discarded guns. But, unlike the weapon Drake had chosen, her gun still had ammunition. She filled Gabe’s chest with the silver bullets. He stumbled back, screaming and bleeding.

Not a broken doll, not anymore.

Time to die, Gabe.

In his mind, Drake could see his mother’s broken body. His father’s pale face.

The shift was over. The wolf growled and charged the vamp. They fell down in a tangle of limbs and claws. The vampire was biting, tearing into the wolf’s body, and punching with his enhanced strength.

Gabe was too used to pushing around humans. Too used to torturing them.

Wolves weren’t so easy to take down.

“K-killed the alpha…” Gabe gritted out as they fought. “And I’ll kill you, too.” Blood dripped down his chin. “The vamps are taking over this–”

Drake’s teeth locked around the pureblood’s throat.

Paige was standing right behind him. He could smell her sweet scent, hear the ragged gasp of her breaths.

This was it. She’d be free. His parents could rest in peace.

But Gabe was still laughing. “Mine…” Gabe gasped, spitting blood. “She’ll…always be…mine. The vamps…win. We take…Alaska…”

No, he wouldn’t win.

When the wolf’s teeth sank deep, the vamp didn’t speak again.

He just died.

Chapter Eight

It was over.

Paige turned away from the sight of Gabe’s body. She didn’t want to see anymore. She just wanted–

Wolves surrounded her.

Oh, crap, when had they arrived? She hadn’t even noticed them. She’d been so intent on fighting Gabe and helping Drake that she hadn’t been aware of the wolves. They could move so quietly as they prepared for an attack.

A dozen wolves formed a circle around her and Drake. They stood back. Watching, waiting.

Had they heard Gabe’s final taunt? Hell, she knew the wolves weren’t going to let her stay in the pack, so they didn’t have to worry about her taking over their precious territory.

The minute Gabe had transformed her, she’d known that her dream of finding Drake and staying with him–forever–well, it had truly just been a dream.

They might have sex. They might turn to each other in the darkness, but his pack would never accept her.

And she wouldn’t ask him to leave the wolves.

She held up her hands and realized they were stained with blood. Her own. Gabe’s. “Easy…”

The black wolf near her snarled.

Great. Just–

Drake leapt in front of her. He opened his mouth and howled his fury at the pack.

Paige shivered. She hadn’t been afraid when she faced off against Gabe and the vamps. She’d been too pissed. But now, with the wolves circling, hell, yes, she could admit to fear.

These wolves would love to rip and tear her apart. Once they found out the truth about what she’d done, the final secret that she’d kept from them…

They’d want her head, just as she’d wanted Gabe’s.

Drake was shifting back into the form of a man before her. The snap and crunch of his bones filled her ears.

But she didn’t wait around for him to finish shifting. Paige knew an exit time when she saw one. “Don’t worry,” she told the wolves–jeez, it sure looked like they were about to rip her limb from limb. “I’m leaving.”

She had friends waiting for her. Friends who’d helped her reach Alaska. Friends who’d be glad to welcome her back to the vampire world.

We’re not all monsters. She’d learned that. Some vampires were more than just predators. Just as the werewolves were more.

She kept her steps nice and slow. The wolves could probably smell her fear, but a running target–that was prey they’d always instinctively chase. No sense giving them any more reason to want her blood.

“You’re not leaving me.”

Drake’s voice. Guttural. Still more beast than man.

She froze. “The deal’s over.” Not the conversation she wanted to have in front of a wolf pack. “Gabe’s dead.” You’re safe.

He grabbed her hand. Pulled her close. She could smell the metallic scent of the silver hanging in the air. She’d come too close to losing him.