Page 1 of Midnight Bond (Wolves of Midnight #5)

brIELLE

I squirmed in my seat, resisting the urge to fan my flushed skin.

It was almost that time of month again, the time I dreaded most in the world.

No, not shark week. This was much, much worse. Something I’d been living with for over a year now.

I was getting better at catching the signs earlier on—the random hot flashes, the agitation and restlessness, the need to be outdoors. Thankfully, the desire for raw meat hadn’t hit yet. Still, I’d take my period any day over this incessant itch under my skin. Hell, I’d take menopause.

Despite the chill in the late November air, I felt another drop of sweat slither down my spine beneath my magenta-colored dress.

I’d thought the symptoms had been warning me of something else at first. I’d nearly jumped out of my chair when the hot flashes had hit, convinced that I’d finally—finally—gone into heat.

My relief had faded a moment later when my body did nothing else but sweat. I’d been around enough female werewolves to know that I’d be doing a lot more than sweating right now if I were in heat. For one, I’d probably be rubbing my lady bits against the plastic chair in hopes of getting off.

The fact that I was at a wedding wouldn’t matter. Orgasms would be the only thing on my mind.

Sadly, I had no such urges. Even when the priest loudly proclaimed for all to hear, “You may now kiss the bride,” the only rush I felt was another hot flash.

As the groom eagerly swept his blushing bride into his arms to kiss her, excited cheers rose into the air. I stood from my seat with the rest of the crowd, fixing my lips into a smile while I clapped.

This was the second wedding I’d attended in the past couple of months.

The first was Griff and Vi’s, and now it was Reid and Desirae’s turn.

Both couples had experienced a whirlwind romance before quickly tying the knot.

Apparently, werewolves didn’t do long engagements.

Once they’d claimed each other, they were as good as married anyway.

Then there was the breeding.

While Reid continued to kiss his mate with heated passion, I peeked at the females on either side of me.

Namely, their bellies. Both were over halfway along in their pregnancies and clearly showing.

My fiery-haired best friend, Nora, was a little rounder, but that was because she’d already done this a couple times.

Three pregnancies in one year, sheesh.

I’d quickly learned that werewolves had a tendency to hump like jackrabbits.

My poor sensitive ears could attest to that—on a daily basis.

It seemed like everyone was mating and having babies these days, and if Reid pursued Desirae with that same passion later on tonight, they would no doubt have a little one in a handful of months too.

A handful, because the werewolf gestational period was around four months.

I still couldn’t wrap my head around that.

The dark-haired female on my other side laughed as her new husband whooped and hollered at the top of his lungs, urging Reid to give his bride a little tongue.

I glanced at Vi and Griff, noting how happy they looked.

Even though Vi had been dating Reid only a few short months ago, there was no lingering animosity or tension between the couples.

Both had found their true mates, and they were equally happy for each other.

Still, it had been a surprise when Reid and Desirae had invited us to their wedding in Maine.

She would soon be initiated into his pack and stand by his side as he became the new alpha in a few months.

Although Midnight Pack and Lunar Falls Pack were now close allies, wolves from different packs didn’t casually intermingle like this very often.

If werewolves could be summed up in one word, it would probably be territorial. Too many dominant males in one location was usually a recipe for disaster, especially if they were unmated.

I glanced to the left again, but my eyes went straight past Nora and her mate to the male quietly standing on the end. The glance was brief. Barely a glance at all. But in that split second, I found his gaze already on me.

The breath stalled in my lungs as his intense blue-gray eyes met mine.

I quickly looked away, hating that my body had reacted so viscerally.

Again. Annoyed, I faced forward and joined Griff in loudly whooping for the newlyweds, hoping no one would notice how strained my voice sounded.

I normally loved attending weddings. Several of my high school and college friends had recently become married, and I was truly happy for them, especially for my best friend who’d literally found her soulmate. But lately, I’d felt . . .

Restless.

For months, I’d blamed the feeling on my recently-acquired werewolf instincts, but as more and more of the people in my life found their happily ever afters, I could no longer deny the real reason for my restless spirit.

I wanted what they had.

I wanted to find my true mate. I wanted a whirlwind romance. I wanted to fall madly in love, get married, and have lots of babies.

I wanted that for myself so badly that it was starting to hurt. And being around so much love and happiness all the time made it harder and harder to pretend that I wasn’t downright miserable. I hadn’t even gone into heat yet.

A lone tear slid down my cheek before I could stop it, and I paused in my clapping to hurriedly brush it away.

Just when I thought no one had noticed, the feeling of being watched heightened my awareness.

I would have ignored the feeling if it weren’t for the fact that I’d felt it countless times before.

Him.

He was watching me.

He was always watching me.

Refusing to look his way again, I kept my gaze firmly glued on the newlyweds who were now making their way down the aisle.

Another wave of heat swept over me, but I continued to clap instead of wipe away the sweat beading my forehead.

Only a few more minutes and I could get some much-needed fresh air.

The wedding was outside, but with the press of bodies all around and love practically oozing from their happy pores, I desperately needed space.

Which was odd for me, even at this time of month.

“You okay?”

I glanced at Nora, surprised to find her aqua blue eyes worriedly fixed on me. As soon as she said the words, her husband’s attention went to me as well. Always the vigilant alpha, he took me in, his dark amber gaze probably seeing far more than I wanted it to.

“Of course,” I quickly reassured, all too aware that a pair of blue-gray eyes were still watching me. “Just a little warm.”

Nora’s brows lifted.

“Not that,” I said, smirking despite my discomfort. “The moon’s just extra bright tonight.”

“Oh,” my best friend exclaimed, glancing up at the evening sky. “Maybe we should—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” I interrupted, waving off her concern. “I’ve got two whole days before I need to wolf out. You know I’m just extra sensitive this time of month.”

Despite my words, I could feel the blue-gray eyes still watching me. Another drop of sweat slid down my spine.

Nora glanced at her dark-haired husband, no doubt sharing a quick telepathic conversation with him. Sure enough, Kolton looked down at her and nodded, as if agreeing with whatever she’d just said.

Smiling at him, she turned back to me and said, “Well, don’t feel the need to push yourself. We’re fine with heading home early. I haven’t been away from Luca and Lillian this long before and already miss them.”

“Yeah, and Vi is feeling horny,” a voice from my right chimed in, followed by a loud “Ooph!” as his wife no doubt elbowed him.

“Griffin Hayes,” she hissed under her breath, but his only response was an unapologetic chuckle.

Normally, I appreciated their banter and often joined in, but I suddenly felt stifled.

The restless itch beneath my skin grew unbearable, and I muttered a quick response before excusing myself.

Thankfully, the other guests were starting to leave their seats as well, so no one thought it odd when I hurried from the scene and out into the starry night.

Well, maybe no one but the male whose eyes were pinned on my back as I left.

The male who’d been watching me for over a year now.

The male who’d helped me transition into a wolf for the first time after I’d almost died.

Who’d cradled my body tenderly and watched over me throughout the entire agonizing process.

Who’d barely spoken to me ever since, let alone touched me.

More heat flushed my face, but this time, it didn’t have anything to do with the wolf stirring inside me, desperate to be let out. The heat was pure hurt. No. Anger.

The emotion was irrational, I knew that. But I couldn’t stop myself from feeling it. From obsessing over it.

We’d lived in the same house for over a year. A year.

But despite my unmated status—and despite the way he constantly watched me . . .

Jagger Montgomery wanted nothing to do with me.

His loss, I told myself for the umpteenth time, expertly navigating the uneven ground in my high heels.

A cool breeze stirred my hair, plastering a few of the wavy honey-brown strands onto my red lipstick.

As I impatiently tugged the strands free, the gold bangles on my wrists loudly clinked together.

This stupid obsession with Midnight Pack’s second in command needed to end and fast. It was clear he wasn’t interested in me.

If he was, he would have pursued me by now.

I’d been pursued plenty of times in my twenty-three years of life.

Boys had taken an interest in me at an early age, drawn to my flamboyant personality.

I’d dated dozens of males. Dozens. Sometimes two at a time.