She was standing in the Alpha’s home.

Her mate’s home.

Alone.

Her pulse quickened, but she didn’t lower her head. She didn’t feel the need like she did with so many other dominants, and that had to be due to who Gideon was to her…or at least who he could be.

Goddess she hoped she wasn’t making the wrong choice.

“I take it you heard that the elders have forced my hand.”

“They didn’t give you a choice really,” she answered, not liking the way he wouldn’t look at her.

He snorted then lifted her chin with his knuckle. She sucked in a breath, the heat of his touch intoxicating. His gaze me hers, and her wolf howled.

Mate.

“It’s either mate a woman who means nothing more to me than being a member of a Pack or a woman I don’t know. Not much of a choice, anyway.”

She didn’t flinch, but damned if she wanted to. “You need a mate, and it seems fate has provided you one. I’m here so you don’t have to go against your wolf.”

There. That sounded better than please, take me and never let me go.

He brought up his other hand and brushed his thumb against her cheek. “Mating isn’t for the faint of heart, little wolf.”

She didn’t pull back, nor did she move into his hold. “And you would know, how?”

His mouth twitched. “Touché. You’re willing to give up everything you know to mate an Alpha, a man you’ve hardly spoken to. A man who is at least a hundred years older.”

She swallowed hard but didn’t move her gaze from his. “I’m willing to follow my fate and trust in the moon goddess.” Again, she prayed that she wasn’t making a mistake.

“You don’t know me. You don’t love me. I don’t love you.”

She didn’t flinch, but it was close. “No, there’s no love, and frankly, I don’t even know if I like you. How can I when I’ve only seen you from afar? But in order for you to fully protect your Pack, you need a mate. Why hurt yourself and your Pack worse by mating someone you can’t form a true bond with? Witch magic isn’t the same as wolf magic. A bond formed from something outside the goddess won’t help you the way a true bond will.”

He nodded, his thumb still brushing her skin. Did he know how much his touch soothed her and made her ache all at the same time? Her body heated, yet she was scared to do anything more right then.

His voice lowered, and she pressed her lips together as he spoke. “You’re a submissive, Brie. How are you going to be able to protect the Pack if you can’t fight for it?”

Her hands once again fisted at her sides, but she didn’t growl. “You, above all people, know the value of a submissive in a Pack. I don’t need to make another bleed to show my worth. I can fight if I need to, but I can also show the compassion and soothing that are required to make a Pack healthy.”

He nodded, this time his thumb brushing against her lip. It took everything in her not to lick the tip and suck it into her mouth.

“The Pack might not accept you. Are you ready to deal with that? I will never treat you like you aren’t wanted because that’s not the kind of man I am, but I cannot force the Pack to love you. If I do that, you lose all credibility.”

“I get it. I’ll have to fight—in any way I can—for my position.”

He let out a breath then ran a hand down her arm. “Your family is going to kill me.”

She shook her head, her heart warming again. She was already becoming addicted to his touch and it had only been a few short moments. It had to be the mating urge and hopefully this…ache would tone down eventually. “No, they won’t. They’ve all been through their own issues with mating. Ours will just be a little different.”

He closed his eyes and pulled away. Her heart ached, and she felt cold at the loss. “I can’t let the elders think they have control over me. It’s too dangerous out there for our Pack to be fighting within itself.”

“Then mate with me and let me help you with that burden.”

“I’m not good with sharing.”

She took a step toward him and placed her hand on his chest. His heart beat against her palm, and she licked her lips. The fact that he didn’t pull away spoke volumes. Or at least that’s what she told herself.

“I’ll be your mate, Gideon Brentwood. I’ll do my best to be the mate you need, the mate the Pack needs.”

“I hope you don’t regret this, little wolf.”

She shook her head. “I can’t regret it. If I did, then it’s not a choice worth making.”

With that, she stood on her tiptoes and brought her lips to his. He stiffened for a moment then wrapped one arm around her waist and placed a hand on the back of her head.

She gasped then parted her lips, letting his tongue tangle with hers. He growled, nipping at her lips, taking control of the kiss. Her shoulders melted, her body sinking into his. He tasted of spice, power, and a future she couldn’t see.

When he pulled back, they were both breathless, and she could feel the hard ridge of his cock against her belly.

At least his body wanted her.

His heart, though, would be another matter.

He cupped her face and studied her. “I suppose that sealed the deal,” he said, his voice a deep rasp.

She swallowed hard, his taste burned forever on her tongue. “I suppose it did.”

Her fate was locked with his, entwined around a promise and an uncertainty.

She only prayed she hadn’t made the biggest mistake of her life. Because no matter how much the idea of a Pack despising her scared her, it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.

No, the fact that she didn’t have Gideon’s heart was the one thing that could break her.

And when he pulled away again to catch his breath, she had a feeling she’d be broken long before she could figure out the next step. Some things were out of her control, and those were the ones that hurt the worst.

Or at least that’s what she feared.

For more Bites by Carrie Ann Ryan, visit her at

If you loved this Bite, read Tattered Loyalties on or on iBooks