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I could picture her lying across my bed, her gorgeous hair spread out around her, her hands on my chest, her thighs pressing into my sides as I buried myself as deep inside her as possible. I imagined nuzzling into her neck as she pressed her nails into my back, begging me for more and more. I wondered if her lips would taste as sweet as they did in my dreams—if her keening cries would drive me as wild.
I pressed my free hand flat to the shower wall, growling low as my climax rumbled through me. I stood there for so long, shuddering in the wake of my orgasm, that the water temperature began to cool. I shivered, quickly finished up my shower, and then turned off the water.
I knew I had gotten too attached to Bryn, which didn’t bode well for my plan. In seventeen days, she would be going back to the Kings. Though her stay would be brief—no more than a few hours—my wolf snarled at the thought of her being anywhere near that abusive fucker. But what choice did I have? The terms had been set, and now the future of my pack was at stake.
Still, I felt sick to my stomach at the thought of sending Bryn back into that hell. It would be better for me if I could send Bryn somewhere far, far away. That way, she wouldn’t be in danger from Redwolf, and I wouldn’t feel tempted to visit her or find some excuse to see her. She was going to ruin me if I wasn’t careful.
20
BRYN
“You know, there’s a bonfire tonight,” Tavi began. She and I were outside in the garden. Tavi was helping me get rid of the last of the stubborn weeds that had continued to grow along the perimeter of the garden.
I paused my weeding to run the back of my forearm across my sweaty forehead. “So?”
Though the Kings’ pack lived for any opportunity to celebrate, get drunk, and light large piles of sticks on fire, I had never been invited to attend. It was the same with other wolf ceremonies. I wasn’t pack, so I’d never known what it was like. If I was being honest, I would love to go for the first time, but Tavi and I both knew that the Wargs’ brooding Alpha would have something to say about it.
“I know you’re kind of bound to Violet’s cabin and the mess hall, but I did us both a favor.”
I raised a brow. “Tavi, you’re speaking in riddles.”
Tavi laughed. “Okay, I’m sorry for keeping you in suspense. I went to Night, and I asked him if you could go with me, and you know what he said?” She didn’t wait for me to guess. “He said yes!”
My jaw dropped. Are we talking about the same Night? “No, he didn’t.”
“He did! You’re coming with me and my friends, and you’re having some fun.”
I was happy, of course, but at the same time, so confused. “But why did he say yes?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I think if I pressed him on it, he would’ve changed his mind.”
“Oh.” I still had questions, but I wouldn’t find any answers without going to the source, and I doubted Night would tell me what he was thinking. Besides, I was excited about the bonfire. “We should tell Violet.”
“Agreed!”
We placed the weeding tools back in the tool crate and went inside. Violet, who was drinking a spiced chai in the kitchen, didn’t look up from the journal she was writing in. “You want to talk to me about the bonfire, right?” she asked.
Tavi put her hands on her hips. “Violet, are you psychic or something?”
Violet tapped her ear with the end of her pen. “My hearing might not be what it used to be, but you don’t exactly whisper, Tavi.”
Tavi covered her mouth with her hands. “Oops.”
Violet chuckled. She finished writing her sentence and tucked the pen behind her ear, looking up at me. “I’m glad you’re getting out, girlie. It’s about time you did something fun.”
“Yeah, and I’ll give you some of my clothes to wear,” Tavi said. “I think we’re about the same size.”
I nodded, and the excitement that I hadn’t allowed myself to feel when Tavi first brought up the bonfire began to bubble within me. “Okay.” I shared my smile with Violet and Tavi. “I’m starting to get really excited.”
“Me too!” Tavi gently hip-checked me. “I’ll be right back. I’ve gotta go look through my things for an outfit for you.”
I saw Tavi off, and then I went to the garden to finish up the weeding, growing more excited with each beat of my heart. Technically, I was still under strict instructions not to leave Violet’s cabin, but those restrictions had eased off quite a bit. In fact, Tavi, myself, and a few of the wolves I’d met in the mess hall often met up at Violet’s cabin since I wasn’t allowed to leave. Night had, to my surprise, been okay with me working in the kitchens with Mabel and other wolves. And now, to my even greater surprise, he was letting me go to my first bonfire.
The last couple of days had been nice—I was able to live my life, work, and not have to hide who I really was. I hadn’t even thought about an escape plan, though that was in large part due to Tavi’s company.
It felt so good to have friends and to be in a place where I could relax just a little bit. True, I was still a prisoner, but having friends like Tavi around lessened the strain. Actually, I was happier than I could remember ever being, and it was starting to mess with my mind. Objectively, I knew I ought to try to use tonight to get back to my mom, but the thought of attempting such a thing saddened me. I was so excited about experiencing something new that I couldn’t find the will to ruin the evening with any escape plans.
I let my hair out of its bun and washed up for the bonfire. Tavi returned with the clothes, and I pulled them on without question. The outfit turned out to be a pair of thigh-high black stockings and a long, heather-gray sweater dress. Other than my hands and face, several inches of my thighs were on display. Tavi wore something similar, only her stockings stopped above her knees, and her sweater was a pale peach color.
