Page 88 of Bound

A strangled laugh escapes him, a mix of a cry and happiness as a huge smile splits his face.

“You’re mine,” he whispers, half in shock and half excited. “Look at Hunter,” he tells me urgently, turning my face toward his twin. And when my eyes connect with Hunter, that same mate bond clicks into place, making me whimper at its strength. It doesn't hurt, but it’s like a small jolt of electricity firing through every cell of my body, leaving my body almost aching from the power of two mate bonds clicking in place so quickly.

“Mate,” Hunter whispers as he moves his hand to my face. Bain’s arms tighten around me, and I can feel his worry, because it’s mine as well. It doesn’t seem possible for Maddox, Chase, and Hunter to all be my mates. There’s no way all five of them could be mine, is there?

“Don’t let go!” Chase yells, using his free hand to hold Hunter’s against me.

“Let me see her,” Gage says, sounding desperate as his hand moves up my back and he steps around my side.

The twins shuffle to the side, careful not to stop touching me as I continue to stare into Hunter’s eyes, not believing it to be true, but praying it is. His eyes move from my eyes to my nose to my cheeks as if he’s studying me. I realize it’s the first time he’s seen my human face. Do I feel like astranger to him? Having the twins' eyes on me so intently makes me feel a little shy, and my cheeks start to heat.

“Red?” My gaze whips to the side, where Gage stares at me with wide eyes. The second they connect with mine, another whimper escapes me, and my back arches, both from the power overload and the relief.

“Mate,” he whispers, his face filling with a joy I’ve never seen on him before. “My beautiful mate.”

“Gorgeous,” Chase whispers as my eyes move back to him. The three sets of eyes on me, along with the new power from four mate bonds, is too much, and I duck my face into Bain’s neck, letting out a small whimper. Chase moves his hand around my head to the back of my shoulder, beneath my hair.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Hunter asks gently.

I cling to Bain a little harder, unable to pinpoint my rampant emotions. The bonds make my body feel extra sensitive and on edge. My mind bounces between happiness and fear.

Please, Goddess. Give me just one more.

I’ve never wanted anything so badly in my entire life. I didn’t think it would be possible to be fated to more than one of them, and now that I know I have four, I’m dying for the last connection to be there. The not knowing is clawing at my heart, but the fear of it not being there has me hiding my face even further against Bain’s neck.

“Red,” Maddox whispers from behind me as he strokes my lower back. “You need to look at Bain.” I shake my head and squeeze tighter.

“Sweetheart, you both need to know, and whatever happens, know we won’t keep you from each other, bond or not.”

My grip relaxes a fraction. If Bain isn’t my fated mate, the others would still let us be together? My heart lurches in mychest, filling with love for my alpha who cares so much for his packmate and me that he wouldn’t come between us.

Bain kisses the side of my head before whispering, “Nothing will keep us apart, angel. I promise.” I lick my lips and take a deep breath, knowing I have to get this over with, and that either way, we will work this out together.

“Come on now, let me see those beautiful eyes of yours,” Bain whispers.

Slowly, I pull away from his neck and lift my head.

His pale blue eyes meet mine, and I gasp, my body tensing as my final bond clicks into place. His hand moves up to cup my cheek as his eyes glaze over and he tries to blink back tears.

“Mine,” he whispers, his eyes darting all over my face. “My perfect little mate.”

“Pretty girl?” Chase whispers in question, making me glance at him over Bain’s shoulder. “What’s your name?”

The question is ridiculous. I’ve known them for almost six weeks, and they don’t even know my name.

I swallow, my throat dry, then open my mouth and whisper, “Cherry.” My voice comes out a little raspy and sounds foreign in my ears, but the smile that he gives me makes me forget all of that.

“Cherry,” he whispers. “It’s perfect.”

A pained grunt leaves me as my body starts to tingle, as if a low current of electricity is running under my skin.

“What’s wrong?” Maddox asks in concern as I press my face against Bain’s shoulder.

“Hurts,” I grit out as the pain starts to increase.

“What hurts?” Gage asks in alarm.

“Everything,” I whisper right before the pain grows so strong I fear I might be dying.

A burst of light suddenly explodes from me as I scream in pain. I glimpse everyone being thrown backward into the waterand walls of the cave as Bain holds me tighter and yells, “I’ve got you!”

The pain is excruciating, different from anything I’ve ever felt before, as if my body isn’t made to hold the power of five mate bonds.

As it starts to fade, darkness presses in, and my body grows numb, and for the first time in over a decade, I fear that this death may be my last.