The alcohol burned as it slid down my throat. Tears welled in my eyes, and I laughed as I coughed against the back of my hand. I hadn’t bothered to check the shot before downing it. Not that it would have mattered. The entire point was to embrace tonight and all that came my way—to enjoy myself one last time before signing my freedom away to a political marriage. And if that meant drinking tequila, so be it.

“A bit strong?”

I flicked Mr. Hottie next to me a watery glance and grinned. “A lime might have helped.”

Without a word, he reached behind the counter and fished out a small container brimming with a mixture of lemons and limes. He set it down next to me and gestured toward the fruit. I grabbed the top lime and popped it into my mouth, my lashes fluttering as the burn subsided.

“Thanks,” I said with a smile.

He nodded toward the dance floor. “I saw you out there.”

Shame burned through my cheeks. Dancing wasn’t one of my talents. “Oh, yeah? Enjoy watching someone flop around like a fish out of water?”

Desire flashed in his eyes. “Trust me, there wasn’t any flopping.”

I ducked my head, then peered up at him from beneath my lashes. “Well, thank you for saying that.”

“But I wasn’t referring to your dancing. I meant with Joe the Asshole over there.”

I bit back a laugh. Joe the Asshole. I liked that. I’d definitely need to remember that when retelling the story. I glanced over my shoulder at the group of unruly boys. Thankfully, a new round of drinks had distracted them from me and Lucy, but it didn’t stop them from leering at other women—some from my pack.

My eyes narrowed as I watched the unfolding scene. A bit handsy, but nothing my packmates couldn’t handle. It took every bit of willpower to keep me from stalking back over there and cuffing Joe upside the back of the head. But I had to trust my packmates would handle it. As a rule of thumb, every single member of the pack knew how to fight. I’d long since eschewed the traditional dominant versus submissive concept that most werewolves practiced. Every single member had a duty to train alongside the rest of us, whether or not they were born warriors. We were only as strong as our weakest member. Surprisingly, some of the weaker members had shown a real affinity for the training, and I’d been lucky to watch them grow into something so much more than they’d ever thought possible.

Marie—as an example—was one of our younger members. But when Joe the Asshole caressed her rear, she grabbed him by the fingers and snapped his hand backward. That quickly, he dropped to a knee, cursing so loudly I could hear him above the music.

“I was going to offer some help with him,” the hottie next to me said, “but I think you all have it handled.”

“Thanks, though. I appreciate the thought.”

“Safe to say he’s having a bad night.”

Laughing, I tore my focus away from Joe the Asshole and turned back to Mr. Bedroom Eyes. I needed a better name for him. Definitely couldn’t spend the night thinking of him as sexual euphemisms. Or can I? Nawh…probably not the best idea.

“So, you have a name?” I asked.

The right corner of his mouth twitched. “Jerrik.”

“Jerrik,” I repeated, testing it out for myself. “Interesting name. Sort of Old World.” Which didn’t mean much when dealing with werewolves, considering our long lifespans.

He inclined his head toward me, his eyes catching the strobe lights. I felt like I should recognize him. Like the world should have somehow made me aware of his existence before now.

“Don’t you want to know who I am?” I asked.

“I already know who you are, Reagan. Every werewolf in North America knows who you are.”

Fair point.

And quite true. For the past five hundred years, my father had led the pack. Because of him, they’d sailed from Europe to the New World to establish a new colony, one free from their last alpha’s oppressive rule. Those who had followed my father had pledged their undying loyalty to him—a loyalty that existed to this day. Lucy often joked about my family. Werewolf royalty, she called us. I didn’t know of every werewolf, but they certainly knew of me. Especially considering I was the one slotted to take over the pack whenever my father decided to pass it on.

Jerrik slid closer, closing the distance between us.

I bit back a grin. I couldn’t help it. I liked that he seemed interested in me. Part of me wished he didn’t know who I was, but what were the chances of that? I couldn’t go anywhere without someone recognizing me, human or werewolf alike, thanks to the media. The humans loved sticking their noses in our business.

“Every eye in this place is on you, did you know that?” he asked, his voice carrying over the pounding music.

I didn’t bother to look. “That’s normal for me.”

“Did you know they call you the Werewolf Princess?”

I cringed. “Not a title I particularly enjoy.”

“Why not?”

“Because it gives the wrong impression. It makes me sound soft.”

“Ah.” He grinned at me. “And nothing like the warrior you are.”

I tilted my head and regarded him. “You sure do seem to know a lot about me.”

“While you seem to know nothing about me.”

“I feel like I should apologize for that,” I said, laughing. The only thing I knew about him was he was drop-dead gorgeous. And at the moment, that was all I wanted to know.

He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a once-over. “Trust me, there’s no need. I prefer it that way.”

I grinned at him. “Prefer to remain mysterious, do you?”

“Almost exclusively.”

“But I know your name now,” I pointed out. “A few clicks on my phone, and I’ll know everything there is to know about you.”

“That so? And what is it you think you’ll find?”

“Facebook?” I said. “Twitter?”

He shook his head. “Not a social media kind of guy.”

“Really.” My interest officially peaked. “No hidden websites? No Tinder account?”

“Certainly not.”

“Hey, it’s the newest craze. You really should get with the times.”

He leaned against the bar, his legs crossed at the ankles. “And what about you? Any secret websites or fake dating profiles?”

I shook my head, my cheeks starting to burn from smiling so much. “Doesn’t seem wise. I’m in the spotlight enough without adding fuel to the fire.”

He shot a glance to my empty beer and without asking, waved the bartender over. “Two more.”

Lucy brushed against my side and caught my eye. She silently gestured toward Jerrik, her brows lifted in appreciation before she mouthed the words he’s hot at me. I bit back a grin. I didn’t need her to point that out. I had eyes. She threw me a wink before returning to whoever she’d struck up a conversation with. I hadn’t bothered to look, a tad distracted as it were.

The bartender dropped two chilled bottles down before us. I thanked him, popped the cap, and took a heartening sip.

“So, I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen you here before,” Jerrik commented.

“Only pretty sure?” I teased.

“All right. I know I’ve never seen you here.”

I canted my head to the side and laughed. “And how would you know that?”

He eased another bit closer, our shoulders now touching. “Because I would have noticed you.”

His words sent a wave of heat through my stomach. Feeling brave, I held my position instead of backing away. I liked the feel of him against me and secretly longed for more. “You do seem the observant type. Tell me something, Jerrik. When did you first notice me tonight? While dealing with Joe the Asshole, on the dance floor, or…” I gestured toward the VIP section. “Back there?”

He lifted his beer and took a long sip, a means of hiding a grin, I suspected. “Truthfully? Back there.”

I groaned. Figured he’d noticed us while shoving inches of cake down our throats. “Then, the observant guy that you are, did you figure out why we’re here?”

His head bobbed. “Celebrating your bachelorette party. I think everyone in the club knows.”

I shot him a stunned glance. “So…you don’t care that I’m getting married tomorrow?”

His bright blue eyes slammed into mine, and I swear the world around us sizzled. I felt my temperature rise and my breath quicken. He held my gaze, his dark lashes rising and falling with every blink. After a moment’s pause, he licked his lips, and asked, “Do you?”

His sensuous voice sent a shiver down my spine. I forced myself to swallow and shook my head. “Not at the moment.”

“Good.” He took the beer from me and set it on the counter next to his. Then he extended his hand. “Shall we?”

“Shall we…?”

But he didn’t answer. Instead, he took my hand and led me out onto the dance floor. Halfway there, I glanced back to find Lucy watching me, her brows raised in shock. A part of me wanted to dash back to her side and ask her advice. I’d never actually danced with a man before. And I highly doubted sparring was considered the same thing.

I gestured toward Jerrik, my panic communicating my thoughts.

Go! She mouthed. Dance!

A sharp tug on my hand whirled me around. I stumbled forward, my hands landing against his chest—his hard as rock chest. Wow. He hooked a finger under my chin and lifted until our eyes met, then started to move in time to the music. I couldn’t resist. I slid my hands around his neck just as he grasped my hips. His touch sent a wave of heat through me, and without thinking, I stepped closer until our bodies touched. With a panty-melting grin, he wrapped his arms around my waist, the palm of his hand searing the small of my back.

Jesus, he knew how to dance. His every move provoked a naughty thought, tempting me to jump his bones right here and now. And from the smell of it, I knew he wouldn’t mind. His arousal possessed a heady note, entirely intoxicating as I breathed it in. It teased my senses, and sparked a desire unlike anything I’d ever felt. Surprising, considering I’d known him for all of five minutes. That didn’t matter to my body, though.

The song changed, but we didn’t stop dancing, didn’t change tempo to keep up with the beat. Our bodies moved in rhythm, taking every possible opportunity to brush against one another. He made my head spin, and my heart race.

I unlinked my hands and pressed my palm against his chest. His heart hammered against his ribs, matching my own quickened pace. I lifted my head and met his gaze, our mouths inches apart. I desperately wanted to feel his lips against mine, but I couldn’t. Not here.

Was the booze affecting my head? I’d drunk quite a bit throughout the night. But somehow, I didn’t think that was it. No one else here held my attention like he did. No one else called to my wolf. I felt her in the back of my mind, anxiously watching, waiting for one of us to make the first move.

I wanted it to be him. Wanted him to pull me up against him and claim my mouth. Startling, to feel so strongly for someone I’d only just met. Yet, it felt right. Him holding me as we danced…there wasn’t anything that felt wrong about it.

He leaned closer. So close that I thought he might kiss me right here in front of everyone. Instead, his lips brushed along my jaw and found my ear. I shivered in his arms and bared my neck, my eyes fluttering shut when his hot breath caressed my throat.

“Wanna get out of here?” he murmured.

Hell, yes! But could I? My upcoming wedding was nothing more than a political alliance—we all knew that. My father and Benjamin’s father, Christian, were old friends from back in the day. And now that Christian wanted to bring his pack west, they’d agreed to join us all through marriage, to ease the transition, expand the pack, and avoid any unnecessary territorial fights. Benjamin and I had only met once, and nothing about him had inspired anything within me. Not like Jerrik. His touch made me burn.

When I didn’t immediately respond, Jerrik lifted a hand to my shoulder and brushed his fingers along my neck. The simplest caress, but one that turned me to putty in his hands.

“Reagan…” he growled in my ear.

Oh, God. The sound of his rumbling voice.

Tonight was the last night of my single life. I’d made no promises to Benjamin. No agreements to remain celibate before the wedding. And I wanted Jerrik like no one else. I knew I needed to feel him above me. Even if only for one night. And in the back of my mind, my wolf agreed.

His hand tightened on my waist, and he brushed his lips against the curve of my bare shoulder. “I’m gonna need an answer, dove.”

“Yes,” I whispered, internally swooning at the sound of his pet name.

He lifted his head, his face partially hidden in shadow, but his eyes brighter than ever. “Yes?”

I nodded. “Get me out of here.”

“As my lady commands,” he murmured.

He took my hand and led me off the dance floor. I swept the bar in search of Lucy, but couldn’t find her. And I didn’t want to waste any time seeking her out. Jerrik snatched a leather jacket off the back of a chair as we passed by and led me toward the door. I followed, my nerves buzzing. I couldn’t believe I was doing this, but I knew this was where I wanted to be tonight.

Once outside, he draped his jacket over my shoulders and pointed to his motorcycle with a lifted brow. “You sure about this?”

To dispel any doubts, I climbed astride the leather seat. “You coming?”

“I sure hope so.” He threw me an impish grin, then seated himself in front of me and revved the engine. With a loud roar, we took off into the darkness with my arms wrapped around his waist and his bike vibrating between my thighs.