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He was just Ren.

My cousin’s emotionally scarred familiar. Someone I’d known for a long time. A male I cared about the same way I cared about Roman or Relic. I wanted to help him, the same way I would anyone who came to me suffering and in need of my brand of healing.

I’d been avoiding him this week, afraid that when I finally saw him it would all come rushing back. But it didn’t. The constant longing, the awful pit in my stomach was gone.

Throwing up my arms, I tilted my head back and sang at the top of my lungs, the relief pouring from me.

The song ended, and when the next started, everyone rushed toward the stage. It was a crowd favorite. I’d seen the band play before with Mags a couple months ago. The lead singer was hot, and when he sang this song, everyone went wild. I was pushed back, and Talon stopped me from falling, catching me with an arm around my middle.

Iris and Rose had moved back as well, standing with their mates. Mags was scowling beside me, trying to see. Then Bram was there, grabbing her and lifting her onto his shoulders. I looked up, jealous, she’d have a perfect vantage point from up there.

Talon bumped my arm, then motioned at himself and pointed upward. I grinned and nodded. He gripped my hips and tossed me onto his shoulders as well. Mags laughed and grabbed my hand, right as the drums kicked in and everyone started losing their minds. The crowd was singing and jumping around, and I danced on Talon’s shoulders, belting out the lyrics at the top of my lungs. The room was so hot, and I noticed several of the wolves had taken their shirts off, dancing in their bras. I had on a sports bra that looked more like a top. Screw it. I tugged my shirt over my head.

Talon held up his hand. I gave it to him, and he tucked it in the waistband of his jeans.

Tomorrow, I’d get back to my search, but tonight, I’d take this small reprieve from the constant worry over the missing souls, and Death, and bring my sister home.

Mags looked over at me, grinned, and pulled up her top. Bram reached up and grabbed the bottom of it, yanking it back down. I cackled, and she scowled and tried again. Next minute, Mags was pulled down, tossed over Bram’s shoulder, and his hand came down on her ass as he carried her toward one of the dark corners. No doubt to make out.

I wanted to make out with someone too. I glanced down at Talon’s tattooed hand on my knee. He was hot. There was no doubt about it. He had intense black eyes and a wickedness about him that was incredibly appealing.

The song ended, and I looked down again, surprised to see Ren was standing in front of him. I hadn’t even seen him come over. I always used to know where he was if he was in the same room. Right now, his face was all twisted up and he looked pissed off. I couldn’t see all of Talon’s face, but I thought he might be smiling.

I tapped his hand, and he looked up. I motioned for him to put me down. He gripped my waist and lifted me from his shoulders, then hooked his arm around my neck.

I looked between him and Ren. “What’s going on?”

“Can we talk?” Ren said, his eyes blazing.

I glanced at Talon. He winked.

“Does it have to be now?” I kind of wanted to kiss Talon. He was cute, something I hadn’t really noticed before. I mean, I’d noticed, I just hadn’t cared.

“Yeah, it has to be now.” Ren grabbed my hand, yanked my shirt from Talon’s waistband, and towed me across the floor to an empty table in the corner.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

He thrust my top at me, and I blinked down at it.

“Put it on, Jaz. There are creeps all over this fucking club staring at your tits,” he growled out.

“What?” I looked around. “No they’re not, and my tits are covered.”

“Believe me, they’re looking.”

I took my top back, but I didn’t put it on. It was hot and there were people wearing a lot less than me. “I don’t know what this is about, but I’m here with my friends. I’ve had a shitty fucking week, and I need this. If this isn’t important, I’m going to head back.” I took a step away from him, but he grabbed my wrist, stopping me. “What is it, Ren? Jesus.”

“I spoke with Agatheena. She gave me the info you need.”

I stilled. “She just gave it to you?”

“I swore I’d get the feral. She took some of my blood, deal done. I was going to kill it anyway. No big deal,” he said, his gaze dipping below my chin, and his lips peeled back in a snarl before they slid back up.

His words weren’t matching the expression on his face. He was wound tight and pissed off. The veins in his forearms and biceps were bulging, and his eyes were nearly glowing.

“Well, can I have it?” I said, starting to worry that my healing wasn’t working. He should be starting to feel it, a change in his emotional well-being, but if anything he seemed more tense than usual. Ren had a lot of healing to do, though, and sometimes the process made people act out of the norm.

“It’s back at my place.” His gaze locked on mine.