Free The Power Of The Bite by Lisa Oliver Page B

went down with him and aside from my mate, you’re the closest friend I have. Seeing you wasting away, not knowing what was wrong or how to help, it fucked with me man, you have to know that.”
    “I know, and for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. But I knew the moment I saw Dax that he was mine. I tried to keep away, without letting you guys know anything was wrong. When we finally did get up close and personal, well…it was fucking fireworks as you’d expect.”
    “I can imagine.”
    “Right up until last night I believed Dax made a mistake in claiming me, that it was an accident. He tells me now it wasn’t, but who knows. What I do know,” and Zane looked Broz squarely in the eyes as he spoke, “is that prior to last night, if the only way my mate could become the Alpha he was meant to be, was for me to be dead, then that was the price I was prepared to pay. That was my decision and I hope you can respect that.”
    “Tell me you don’t feel that way anymore, and it’s forgotten,” Broz promised.
    “I can’t feel that way anymore,” Zane let out a short laugh. “The stupid man begged me to claim him in return. I could hardly refuse when it’s something I’ve wanted for three fucking months. Now, it’s a death sentence for both of us if I don’t get my shit together. But with what’s gone down today, it’s going to be a hell of a mission keeping him safe.”
    “You’re not on your own anymore though, and believe me, my friend, that counts for a hell of a lot.”
    As Zane followed his friend back into the house, he had to agree.
    /~/~/~/~/
    Dax was edgy. His cock was hard, his balls felt like they were going to burst and he was having a hard time keeping a sensible thought in his head. He appreciated that the vampires were supportive, lord knows he was appreciative. Zane would need all the backup he could get over the next few days and Dax was grateful that his mate had kick-ass friends. But come on. He was a mated wolf shifter. He’d been mated three whole months and in that time he’d only had sex with Zane eleven times. Eleven! A healthy shifter could do that in three days and still be up for more.  And he was so up for it, the freaking thing hurt. 
    Seeing Zane head outside, Dax’s first instinct was to follow him, but Broz frowned at him and shook his head, standing up and going after the blond vampire himself. Figuring Broz probably did know more about what Zane might need than he did, Dax sat back down and continued talking to the others about heading into his club later that night. He desperately wanted to talk to Cole and find out what the fuck his friend was thinking, challenging the Alpha like that. Yes, Dax had planned on making the man his second, but when it was all said and done, Cole was a beta wolf, not an Alpha. Any challenge idea was doomed from the start, and Dax couldn’t work out what Cole was playing at.
    There was a part of Dax that wanted to take Zane out as well, show the man off. They were mates, so it was a perfectly normal reaction. But he knew how superior the hangers on around him thought they were in comparison to anyone of a different species. He hated the attitude, but he’d grown up with it. He wondered how those same people would react when he walked in with Zane on his arm, and six vampires as a pseudo type of guard. It was the uncertainty of not knowing the type of reaction they would get, that was making it all the more important for his wolf to reclaim the man he was bound to.
    So when Zane walked back into the kitchen, smiling at something Broz had said, Dax made what he called an executive decision.
    “Okay, guys,” he said, standing up and clapping his hands. “We’ve talked this to death, but the bottom line is that Zane and I will be going to the club tonight. It’s my place of business, my job if you like. I have every right to be there, and I want my mate by my side. It could be risky for Zane, so if you want to come along, awesome.  Meet us