by Cynthia Eden
“Why you did what?” Carter tried to surge past Lauren.
“No!” Lauren held him tighter. “I’m okay.”
His frantic gaze came back to her. And his gaze dipped to her mouth. She knew her fangs were peeking out behind her lips.
Pain flashed on his face. “Oh, sweetness…”
“I killed her last night,” Lauren explained quickly. “She was stabbing me, and I bit her. I took her blood until she stopped—”
Fury hardened his face. “She looks fucking alive to me.”
“Undead,” Lauren whispered back. “That’s what Natalie is now. Just like me.”
His eyes widened. “You transformed someone?”
Yeah, how about that? “Beginner’s luck?”
If anything, his expression grew darker.
Natalie’s sigh drifted on the night wind. “I know how transformations work, okay? Trust me, I understand plenty about vamps. An exchange is needed for the transformation. I must have gotten some of Lauren’s blood in me during the attack.”
“There was, um, a lot of blood,” Lauren murmured.
The wolf’s fury flashed in his eyes.
“Don’t.” Lauren shook her head. “Don’t attack her. There has been enough of that. When she woke up, the dark magic was gone. She was herself again.”
“Lauren, um, she helped me.” Natalie had crept a little closer.
Lauren winced. She wasn’t so sure helped was the right word, but…whatever. She looked over at Natalie. It wasn’t like the two of them would ever be besties, but she could understand the other woman’s pain. Antoine had been a fucking monster, and Natalie—she’d become a monster herself as she tried to get her vengeance. That was Natalie’s cross to bear. With the dark magic gone, Lauren could see a glimpse of what the other woman had been like…before.
What would Natalie be like in the future? That was going to be Natalie’s choice. She had a month to live the undead life. If she took a life during that time…
Lauren shivered. It’s the Dealer’s choice.
Lauren cocked her head to the side and studied Natalie again, but with a hint of suspicion this time. There was a faint smile on Natalie’s face. A bit of satisfaction?
Had the witch attacked Lauren out of rage or…had the Dealer worked one last deal?
“You wanted him, didn’t you?” Natalie asked her quietly. She gave Lauren a quick, sad smile. “Humans can’t be with werewolves, and a werewolf can’t give up his wolf.” She turned away and began walking into the night. She was humming softly.
Holy shit. Did she play me?
“Wait!” Lauren called out.
Natalie paused. Her head cocked as she looked back and said, “The first night we met, I was wrong to attack you in that alley. But back then, I was so broken inside I barely knew what I was doing.”
Lauren couldn’t believe this. “But last night when you found me in the casino, you knew exactly what you were doing, didn’t you?”
Natalie just shrugged. “You came to me originally because you wanted to be human. In the end, though, that wasn’t really what you wanted most, was it?”
“No. What I wanted most—it was Carter. It will always be Carter.” Truth.
“And now you have him.” Natalie ran her tongue over her fangs. “Though this undead bit was an unexpected development I hadn’t counted on. I really thought I’d just…die. Now, I have to figure out what the hell I’m doing next. Oh, well. Life and death are full of surprises.” She gave a little wave. “Keep the wolves away, would you?” She walked into the night.
Lauren watched her go. Her heart was drumming far too fast. The other werewolves were still there, and she could see the tenseness in their bodies. Carter still had one arm around her, as if he were afraid to let her go. She understood—she never wanted to let him go, either.
“Go back to the gate.” Carter’s sharp order sent the wolves running.
Lauren stayed right in front of him. She almost couldn’t believe it—this was the ending they would have. They could stay together. She wouldn’t have to live without him.
“I’m sorry.” Pain roughened his voice. “I know you didn’t want this.”
“You’re wrong. This…a life with you, it’s exactly what I wanted.” There was a price for that life—she understood that truth. Vampirism. A blood diet. It wasn’t exactly picture perfect, but it was a life she’d take because they would be together.
“I love you,” Carter told her and she actually felt those words slide through her. No one had ever looked at her the way Carter did. No one had ever stared at her with such raw emotion. As if she truly were his world. “I was going to give up my wolf. I would give up everything for you. I want to make you happy, I want to make—”
She rose onto her toes and kissed him. Kissed him deep and passionately. Kissed him with the raw joy that pulsed inside of her.
Was she a monster? No, Lauren didn’t think she was. She thought she was a woman who loved a man—and who was loved in return. They’d make their lives work.
He kissed her back. There was a desperation in his kiss, as if Carter couldn’t quite believe that he had her in his arms. But she’d returned to him. And she wasn’t going to let him go again.
It wasn’t about mating.
It was about the heart. Love.
A love that had been found between a man who was far more than a beast…and a woman who enjoyed a good bite.
The End
###
Want to read another paranormal romance by Cynthia Eden? Check out THE DEVIL IN DISGUISE.
The Devil In Disguise
Don’t make the devil angry…
Luke Thorne loves having one hell of a good time. As the ruler of every dark creature to walk the earth, he certainly has more than a bit of a bad side. He lives for danger and isn’t the type to lose his heart—mostly because he doesn’t have one. Then she walks into his life.
Mina James is seduction in the flesh, a perfect temptation that the devil himself couldn’t pass up. Too late, Luke realizes he’s let a real siren into his life, a woman who is bent on using his dark powers to free herself from hidden enemies. Since Luke isn’t the type of man to be used, he should walk away from her, but…something about Mina draws him close.
Soon he’s realizing that she isn’t who she appears to be. Not dark and cold, but burning red hot. Mina is a woman fighting for her life—and the Lord of the Dark suddenly finds himself in an unlikely role…hero. Luke isn’t going to let her enemies destroy Mina. He will fight heaven and hell to keep her. But in the end, the secrets they both carry may just rip apart a love that should never have been…
There are Bad Things in the world…very, very bad. Are you ready for them?
Start reading THE DEVIL IN DISGUISE now.
A Note From the Author
Thank you so much for taking the time to read MATING BITE. I hope that you enjoyed the story.
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Again, thank you for reading MATING BITE.
Best,
Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
About The Author
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a three-time finalist for the RITA® award. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over eighty novels and novellas.
More Information
CynthiaEden.com
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Other Works
Free Reads
The Wolf Within (Purgatory, Book 1)
Mine To Take (Mine, Book 1)
Bound By Blood (Bound Book 1)
A Bit of Bite
Bite Series
Forbidden Bite (Bite Book 1)
Mating Bite (Bite Book 2)
Bad Things
The Devil In Disguise (Bad Things, Book 1)
On The Prowl (Bad Things, Book 2)
Undead Or Alive (Bad Things, Book 3)
Broken Angel (Bad Things, Book 4)
Heart Of Stone (Bad Things, Book 5)
Tempted By Fate (Bad Things, Book 6)
Blood and Moonlight Series
Bite The Dust (Blood and Moonlight, Book 1)
Better Off Undead (Blood and Moonlight, Book 2)
Bitter Blood (Blood and Moonlight, Book 3)
Purgatory Series
The Wolf Within (Purgatory, Book 1)
Marked By The Vampire (Purgatory, Book 2)
Charming The Beast (Purgatory, Book 3)
Deal with the Devil (Purgatory, Book 4)
The Beasts Inside (Purgatory, Books 1 to 4)
Bound Series
Bound By Blood (Bound Book 1)
Bound In Darkness (Bound Book 2)
Bound In Sin (Bound Book 3)
Bound By The Night (Bound Book 4)
Forever Bound (Bound, Books 1 to 4)
Bound in Death (Bound Book 5)
Did you know that Cynthia Eden also writes romantic suspense? Check out her full book list.