Page 33 of The Devil's Wrath

“I don’t know if I’m feeling up to it.”

“Wren. Stop being a drag. You can study later. Come out here and make sure I don’t make questionable decisions and give up my maidenhood.”

“As if your maidenhood was still intact!” I laughed loudly.

Vera’s laughter echoed through my phone. “True, but still, I need my wingwoman. Plus, I heard The Brotherhood boys might make an appearance tonight.”

“What is with everyone bringing up The Brotherhood today? What could possibly be so interesting about a bunch of roid-raged frat guys fucking their way through St. Mary’s?”

“You’re just saying that because you haven’t gotten a taste of that action,” Vera teased. “But seriously, Wren, you need to let loose andhave some fun. Forget all about Connor and his diseased dick. Trust me, I have my opinions about him, but I’ll save that for another time. Come out tonight. For once, let me taint you. I promise it will change your life.”

I sighed, weighing my options. Part of me wanted to curl up in my bed and wallow in my misery, maybe even spend the night giving myself multiple orgasms with my toys, but another part of me knew Vera was right. It would be good for me to get out, and maybe I’d find someone—even if I secretly wished it could be hot-and-cold Theo West—to help me forget about the shit with Connor.

“Fine,” I relented. “I’ll come out for a bit. But I’m not staying late.”

“Fuck yes! That’s my girl!” she squealed. “Wear something sexy but warm because it’s chilly out here.”

I chuckled and rolled my eyes as I hung up, but a smile played on my lips. A night out might be exactly what I needed to clear my head and gain some perspective.

As the sun set,I arrived at the quarry, my attire now consisting of a flowy olive dress gliding over my knees. My outfit was complete with tall, sturdy brown boots and a cozy dark brown cardigan. The thumping beat of the music and the warm glow of the bonfire immediately caught my attention. I spotted Vera among the sea of drunk people, her long red locks dancing in the firelight as she twirled with reckless abandon, sucking face with a burly brunet who clearly didn’t miss arm day at the gym.

“Wren!” she called out when she saw me, beckoning me over. “You made it!”

I couldn’t help but grin as I navigated through the crowd filled with bodies swaying and grinding against each other in a euphoric trance.

She thrust her cup into my hand. “Drink up, buttercup!” she yelled over the music. “Tonight’s all about letting loose!”

I took a tentative sip, the strong taste of cheap vodka mixed withsome sugary fruit juice making me wince. A party full of rich kids, and they couldn’t afford a more expensive vodka?

Vera pulled me through the crowd of dancing bodies. “Come on, girl! Show me your moves!” She laughed as she twirled me around.

I couldn’t help but giggle as I let the music consume my body. My hips swayed to the heavy beat as I downed drink after drink from Vera and whatever flavor of the night she was paying attention to. It felt good to let go, to forget about my train wreck of a love life. The warmth of the bonfire and the stinging taste of alcohol blurred my surroundings, engulfing me in a dreamlike haze. Through the dancing flames of the fire, I caught a glimpse ofhim.

Or I think it was him. Did I actually see him, or was I imagining it?I squinted my eyes because, in my mind, that would somehow help me see clearer. Drunk girl logic.

There he was again. Standing at the edge of the crowd, a bottle of beer in hand, laughing with a group of guys all covered in tattoos, with an edginess and danger to them. A thrill shot through my veins at the sight of him, his raw masculinity and uncertainty drawing me toward him like a fucking magnet. He looked devastatingly handsome in that black leather jacket and dark jeans, a strip of black hair falling over his eyes as he continued his conversation.

Sensing my gaze, he turned his head toward me, and our eyes locked. For that singular moment, the music and the chatter of the crowd became nothing more than muffled background noise. The flickering firelight danced across his chiseled features, casting shadows that only emphasized his brooding allure. My breath caught in my throat, and despite the chill of the autumn night, an inferno burned inside me, a familiar ache between my legs, and I needed release.

Vera’s voice suddenly cut through the haze of my thoughts. “Earth to Wren! Are you even listening to me?”

I blinked, tearing my eyes from Theo to focus on my best friend. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

She followed my previous line of sight and smirked knowingly. “Ah, I see. My girl is distracted by a certain sexy Brotherhood boy, are we?”

I felt my cheeks flush and prayed the darkness would conceal it. “No, I just . . . I thought I recognized someone.”

“Uh-huh, sure,” she replied, unconvinced. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “You know, I heard some interesting rumors about The Brotherhood.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Apparently, they have this ‘hunt’ where they chase girls down, and whoever wins gets fucked over and over again.Worshippedall day and night.”

“And then what?” I breathed, a shiver running down my spine and settling deep in my core.

Vera leaned even closer, her warm breath tickling my ear. “And then, if you’re lucky, you become their chosen one. Their queen. And that queen gets picked to go through some dark ceremony where she gets a train run on her by all of them. It’s like a dark fairy tale come to life.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “That sounds . . .intense.”

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