I moaned as his pace quickened, my nails digging into his shoulders. I couldn’t stop myself from bucking against him, desperate for more.

He reached between us, finding my clit and circling it with his thumb. “I caught you. You’re mine, Whitney, and my prize is that pretty neck of yours. Let me bite you.”

God, I wanted it too, although I couldn’t bring myself to give voice to it. It had been so long since I’d felt the touch of a man, and the mating magic had taken away all my doubts. I knew there would be consequences, but right then, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that Julian made me feel things I hadn’t known were possible.

My wolf howled inside me, begging to be claimed. The animal part of me wanted it just as badly as the human one did. It was as if the magic of the bond was pushing me toward him.

“Say yes,” he growled, biting lightly at my neck, teasing me with his teeth.

“Fuck,” I hissed, rolling my hips into his. My mind was hazy, but I knew this was a huge decision. One that I wouldn’t be able to take back.

Julian’s teeth scraped against my skin, making me shudder. “Say it. Tell me you’re mine.”

“Y-yes,” I said, my voice trembling.

Julian pulled back, looking down at me, a smile on his face. “Say the words, Whitney. Say you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” I whispered, closing my eyes.

The moment the words left my mouth, I felt a sharp pain in my neck as Julian’s teeth broke the skin. I cried out as sensation flooded into my body, the bite burning like fire. My vision blurred as the bond formed between us, and I could feel his pleasure in my own body as he marked me.

He was claiming me as his mate, and I was helpless to stop it.

I was helpless to stop him from doing anything to me, I realized with a jolt. The magic of the bond was so strong that I couldn’t fight against him, even if I wanted to. It was a terrible, awful power, one that I’d never wanted to experience, but there I was.

Bound to the enemy.

Julian lifted his head, licking my blood from his lips, and I gasped as the burning in my neck subsided and the bond solidified. It was like a heavy weight pressing down on me, an invisible chain that connected me to him.

I could feel him in the back of my mind, his emotions mixing with my own. Rage, desire, pride, and smug satisfaction. His emotions were so strong that it made me dizzy.

“How do you feel?” he asked, reaching down to stroke my hair.

“I hate you,” I whispered, even as I moved with him, taking his slow thrusts and meeting each one. “I hate you.”

“You’re my mate.” Julian’s hand cupped my face, tilting it up so I would meet his gaze. His hips never stopped working, and I could feel myself climbing the peak with each movement. “And you’re not going anywhere, no matter what you think you’re feeling right now. You’re mine, Whitney Gray, and nothing can change that.”

“Shut up,” I hissed

His eyes hardened, but his thumb brushed across my lower lip, and the gesture sent a shudder through me. “Make me.”

I couldn’t help myself. I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips against his, my tongue sliding between his teeth. He groaned against my mouth, one hand wrapping around my wrists, pinning them down while the other went back to slowly run circles around my clit with his thumb.

I was so damn close.

“Julian,” I whispered, wrapping my legs around him like a snake.

He gave a low laugh, his teeth scraping against my neck. “Yes, Sweetheart?”

“I’m going to…”

“I know,” he murmured, his lips trailing up my neck. “I can feel it. Come for me. Come on, Love, let me hear you scream my name.”

I could feel my climax building, and I arched against him, my hips bucking as he drove me over the edge. My breath caught in my throat as I cried out, my body shuddering as waves of pleasure rolled over me.

Julian growled, his fingers digging into my hips as he slammed into me, his pace quickening as he chased his own release. I gasped as his teeth sank into my shoulder, my nails dragging down his back as another wave of pleasure crashed over me.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he moaned, his voice low and raspy. “You’re mine, Whitney. Mine.”