Page 19 of Love Bites Hard

“Is our mate bond business, or pleasure?”

He didn’t answer, stopping as we reached a door that led out into the forest. Silently, he set me down on my feet.

Guess he’d listened to my comment about making people think I was unwilling after all.

“Which is it?”I asked mentally, brushing my mind up against his.

The man physically shuddered. “You can’t do that.”

“Why not? I’m your mate, aren’t I?”

He growled.

I flashed him a smile before striding through the door in front of us.

The gathering was utter chaos.

Wolveseverywhere.

Monstrous bonfire.

Howls and cheers with every new item of Curt’s that was tossed in the fire.

I noticed a few people on the edges of the gathering, watching closely for anyone who looked angry that Curtis’s things were going up in flames.

Porter led me to a seat outside the bonfire the moment we joined the group. The bastard pulled me onto his lap, his arm around my waist in an iron grip.

I didn’t bother trying to get free.

Something told me it was another public claiming thing.

And as much as he was a bastard, he was a gorgeous bastard. His chest felt great against my back. His erection beneath my ass made me a little proud, too.

His nose or lips brushed my shoulder frequently. I wasn’t sure whether he was doing that for show, or just because he wanted to. Maybe some of both.

We’d only been sitting down for a short while when the first shifter woman came up to me with a gift bag in her hands. Shewas smiling brightly, and I couldn’t help but notice the thick, dark bruises around her throat.

I tried to sit up straighter, to get off Porter’s lap a little, but his arm didn’t budge when I pushed against it.

“Hi, Alpha,” she said, her gaze fixed on me. She didn’t spare a single glance for Porter. “Curtis forced me to keep his bed warm, and it was—” she choked on the words, her eyes brimming with tears and her smile faltering. “I heard from the vampires that you traded your freedom for Curtis’s death. Thank you. And welcome to the Mistwood Pack.” She wiped a few tears off her face and put the gift bag on my lap.

Unwilling to let her cry alone after going through what must’ve been literal hell, I took her hand, pulling her toward me. Kim had made it clear that wolves needed touch the way sirens did, and I never would’ve let my sisters go without a hug in a moment like that.

She threw her arms around me, ignoring the bastard underneath me, and I hugged her tightly. “Don’t thank me. I did it for selfish reasons.”

She laughed tearily. “Your selfishness saved my life, so accept the thank you.”

“I guess you’re welcome, then. What’s your name?”

“Nora.” She stepped back, staying where she was as I opened the gift.

My eyes widened “Are these gourmet chocolates?” I pulled one out, my lips parting when I saw that it was peppermint flavored. “You’re my new favorite werewolf.”

She smiled. “Just let me know when you run out. I have a friend with connections.”

“Chocolate connections? Can I mate with you instead?” I teased.

Her teary laugh made me grin, even though the joke made Porter’s arm tighten around my waist. I was literally sitting on his lap, so he could suck it up.

---