Page 14 of Midnight Bond (Wolves of Midnight #5)

brIELLE

I didn’t know what I was expecting the campsite to look like, but definitely not like this.

The main building was a huge, three-story structure even bigger than the Rivers’ mansion. It was fashioned out of logs, but that was the only rustic thing about it. Behind the structure, I spotted several strategically-spaced private cabins, one of which was mine for the weekend.

Vi had reserved it for me after receiving the go-ahead from her brother, albeit a very reluctant go-ahead.

Before I’d left this morning, Kolton had pulled me aside and given a stern lecture as if I were a teenage girl going to her first co-ed sleepover.

I’d listened intently, agreeing to leave if I at all felt unsafe.

As I took in the breathtaking mountains covered in white that bordered the acres of land dotted with cabins and trees, I pulled out my phone to send an obligatory safe-arrival text to Nora.

Jagger would have found out hours ago that I’d left during his morning run, but I hadn’t received any calls or texts from him.

Not surprising. He never had before, so why would he start now?

Pushing him firmly to the back of my mind, I parked my car in the carefully-shoveled lot that already contained a couple hundred vehicles and got out with my suitcase and purse in hand.

Apparently, I could expect to see a few hundred unmated werewolves from around the world this weekend, but probably more.

There weren’t enough rooms for them all in the main building and cabins, but that was the point.

They came to hook up, so by the end of today, most would be paired up—and many would pair up several times, some in groups greater than two.

The possibilities excited me, and I practically skipped across the parking lot toward the main building. I’d always been a social butterfly and had never shied away from large crowds. The bigger the better, and with the full moon still weeks away, I didn’t have to worry about wolfing out.

When I entered the lobby, I was immediately greeted by several unfamiliar males. Hot ones. From their spots around the open space sporting several lounge areas, they quickly looked me over, most of them with clear interest. I flashed them my dimples and was rewarded with hungry looks.

Yep. This weekend was just what I needed. My self-esteem had taken a nosedive lately, but my time here was sure to rectify that.

After visiting the reception desk to check in, I exited through a side door and followed the path toward my cabin.

Most of the guests were still settling in, and after the long car drive, I wanted to take a leisurely bath before the evening fun began.

I’d glimpsed a huge ballroom beyond the main lobby area where I assumed the guests would be mingling tonight.

If the vibes were anything like the clubs I’d been to when I was human, I’d have no problem hooking up with a guy or two.

I’d never hooked up with more than one at a time before, but if Vi was right about the orgies they had here, I was down for trying something new. My main goal this weekend was to put my troubles behind me and rediscover myself. And if I found a potential mate in the process, all the better.

The cabin reserved for me was both cozy and luxurious, and I had no problems settling in. Several bath salts and perfumes were waiting for me in the bathroom, yet another reminder of why I was here—to engage in a primal mating dance with one goal in mind.

Sex.

I became aroused just thinking about what awaited me in a few hours, and my biological clock ticked double-time.

“Find a mate first, have babies second,” I chastised my reflection in the mirror, even as I pictured my flat belly round with child.

Maybe Vi was right and all this close proximity to eager virile males would push me into heat.

I’d be knocked up in no time, if I was anywhere near as fertile as her and Nora.

Trying to contain my giddiness before I combusted, I sank into the scented bath and allowed the hot water to melt away the tension I’d been carrying in my body for the past few weeks.

Months, actually. The morning runs and training had started to help with the tension, but it had returned tenfold when Jagger had put a sudden end to our sessions.

I hadn’t been completely honest with Nora about how his recent behavior was affecting me. It hurt. Physically hurt that he’d stopped training me for no apparent reason and was obviously trying to distance himself from me.

I replayed our last session in my head for the umpteenth time, torturing myself by recalling every single detail. My fear at being rendered immobile, my victory at breaking free, my concern at the pain he was in, my impulsive act at wiping the blood from his face.

And then it had all gone sideways. He’d stopped me from tumbling backward into the creek. He’d grasped the nape of my neck in a way that had startled me, but not in a bad way. Electricity had shot through me, and I’d become hyper aware of how my body fit against his.

And then he’d looked at my mouth. Hungrily.

I hadn’t imagined it. I know I hadn’t. Countless males had looked at me that way before.

There was no mistaking it.

Jagger had wanted to kiss me.

But then he’d abruptly let go and started to shift. Shift. I’d never seen him act so . . . so untethered. And his voice. It had been half feral and—if I didn’t know any better—filled with fear.

But that didn’t make any sense. Jagger was never afraid, and he certainly didn’t go feral over an almost kiss. Then again, I’d never actually seen him take an interest in females, let alone kiss them.

With a groan, I struggled to push the infuriating male from my thoughts once more so I could focus on the evening before me. At least the males here wouldn’t confuse the hell out of me. Whether they were looking for a mate or just a good time, any interest in me would boil down to the same thing.

Sex.

I was going to have sex tonight. Lots of it. And my hurt feelings over Jagger’s strange behavior weren’t allowed to interfere.

A few hours later, I was primped to perfection and entering the crowded ballroom in a tight black dress. The thin material clung to me like a second skin, dipping dangerously low in front and riding high on my thighs. One inch higher and I’d be flashing the room my matching panties.

But it only took me a few seconds to realize that I was actually overdressed.

Although the large space looked and sounded like a human nightclub with its flashing colorful lights that cut through the darkness and blaring provocative music, that’s where the similarities ended.

Right away, my senses were overwhelmed by the pheromones heavy in the air.

But that wasn’t the only scent. Sweat, arousal, and cum equally filled my nose, and one look around the room explained why.

Most of the guests were naked. Butt naked. And although many of them were in the room’s center dancing and grinding against each other, an equal number were humping like rabbits around the perimeter.

In plain sight.

I gawked at the giant orgy like a creeper, my mouth slightly askew. “You’re most definitely not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” I whispered to myself, struggling to swallow when I heard more than one guest reach climax with a lusty groan.

Despite my extroverted nature, I almost chickened out.

Almost ran back to my cabin with my tail between my legs to pack my bags and jet out of this kinky sex fest. I was all for sexual exploration, but this was way out of my comfort zone.

As yet another guest screamed in pleasure, I started to turn around.

But before I could make my escape, I bumped into a solid wall of muscle.

“Whoa, easy there,” a male voice said, grabbing my arm as I stumbled.

“Sorry,” I sheepishly replied and glanced up at the handsome, brown-eyed male.

“Brielle?” he said, and I blinked at him in surprise.

“Theo, right? We met at Reid and Desirae’s wedding a few weeks ago.”

“Yeah, yeah. Fancy meeting you here,” he said, flashing me a megawatt grin, one that slipped a moment later as he glanced around and added, “Is your bodyguard with you?”

“Bodyguard? Oh! You mean Jagger.” I laughed a bit awkwardly. “No, he isn’t here. Sorry about that, by the way. I would have gone home with you that night, but . . .”

When I finished with an apologetic shrug, his smile returned in full force. “So, you’re here alone?”

“Yep.”

“Me too. Maybe we can keep each other company.”

Which was code for sex, of course.

Returning his smile, I nodded and replied, “I’d like that.”

All the invitation he needed. Grabbing my hand, he led me toward the dance floor writhing with sweaty bodies. Some of them were scantily clad, but most wore nothing. Theo was bare chested but at least had pants on. Probably not for long, though.

As we joined the throng and started swaying to the beat, he immediately slipped behind me and pulled my body flush against his. I allowed the hold, raising my hands to pull his head closer, a clear invitation that I was open for more.

Not wasting a second, he lowered his head to kiss my bare shoulder—in the exact same spot where Jagger had nipped it a few weeks ago. The memory immediately crowded into my thoughts, and when Theo slid one of his hands up to cup my breast through my dress, I imagined Jagger’s hand there instead.

What the hell?

Shocked that my brain had so readily gone there, I tried to push his image away. But as Theo started kneading the flesh, I couldn’t stop picturing Jagger in his place. Within seconds, warmth pooled between my legs. Not in reaction to Theo, but at the mere thought of Jagger touching me like this.

To my great annoyance, a breathy moan escaped my lips.

The eager male behind me reacted by sliding his hand inside my dress to play with my hardened nipple.

Pleasure zinged through me and settled low in my belly, making me arch against him.

As my backside pushed into his hard arousal, he groaned and rocked against me.

I closed my eyes, my mind made up that the frustrating male who kept pushing me away was the one now grinding against me. More pleasure spiked through me, and when he slid his free hand under the hem of my dress to touch me through my underwear, he found me already drenched with arousal.

Groaning again, he rubbed my clit and nipple in tandem, continuing to grind against me as he did.

My body became one huge bundle of oversensitive nerves, beyond giddy that the mysterious male who’d used his hands to train and protect me was now using them to pleasure me.

Completely forgetting the audience around us, I gave in to the high and opened my legs a little wider.

He immediately took advantage and pushed aside my underwear to touch my bare clit.

I bucked against his fingers, whimpering his name as I felt my climax start to build.

“Interesting,” he chuckled against my bare shoulder.

“I’m not used to females thinking about other males while I pleasure them, but it’s actually kind of hot.

He’s second in command to the largest pack in America, after all.

If you want to pretend I’m him while I penetrate you, I can work with that. ”

At that, my eyes popped open, along with the delusional bubble I’d wrapped myself in.

Still rubbing my clit, Theo released my nipple so he could pull his dick from his pants.

Realizing what he was about to do as he hiked up the back of my dress, sudden unease filled me, along with a stinging slap of reality.

I didn’t want this. Rather, I didn’t want this with Theo, a perfect stranger who didn’t know a thing about me. I didn’t even know his last name.

That wouldn’t have bothered me in the past, but as he prepared to stick his dick inside me, I suddenly couldn’t stand the thought of being intimate with him.

Not like this. Not right now. Not ever.

“Theo,” I said, beginning to pull away.

“It’s okay, baby,” he crooned in my ear, gripping me tightly between my legs to anchor me in place. “I’ll make all your fantasies come true.”

A cry left me, my pleasure quickly morphing into fear as he positioned himself at my entrance and tried to jam his cock inside. I froze for a moment, paralyzed by my fear, then remembered my training. Lowering my arms, I swiftly jabbed an elbow into his gut.

Just as a surprised “Ooph!” left him, an earth-shattering roar cleaved the air.

It cut through the moans and screams and pounding music, settling deep into my bones.

Something inside me, an awareness I didn’t know I possessed, immediately recognized the sound.

I twisted around to find a tall figure dressed entirely in black standing in the ballroom’s entrance, and all the blood swiftly drained from my face.

Jagger. It was Jagger.

He was seething mad, his eyes a scary bright red.

And they were locked on the male still holding me against him.