Page 29 of Confusing Hearts

We walked as a pack with my D.O.G. brothers over to the Theta house. I hated every step of it. It was true I had slept with nearly every one of the Theta sisters in my time at the ARC. I wasn’t proud of it, and I especially hated knowing that Jenna had heard about it. I didn’t want to be there, but an appearance was necessary.

Walking in, I immediately felt the familiar tingle signifying Jenna was nearby. Before I could find her, Tessa found me.

“Chase, dance with me,” she pouted, pulling me onto the dance floor.

“I’m really not in the mood, Tessa. Hanging with my brothers tonight,” I said, quickly introducing Liam and Patrick.

Kaitlyn came over and stared her down until she backed off. Giving me a big hug, she whispered. “I’m sorry. They found out you guys would be here, cancelled their party, and crashed ours. I’ve heard some disturbing rumors they’re out to bed some D.O.G.s, so heads up. The interspecies challenge, they’re calling it.”

I stared at her in confusion. “Seriously?” I mouthed, and she nodded.

I introduced Kaitlyn to my brothers all the while scanning the room in search of Jenna. I could feel her presence, so where the hell was she?

Half a dozen Thetas stopped by, most with offers for the evening, but I declined them all. Ayanna cornered me and practically purred as she too propositioned me.What the hell was going on?I wondered.

Liam, Patrick, and I grabbed a couple beers and headed for a corner.

“There’s some weird shit going on around here. Kaitlyn said the panthers are on the prowl and setting their sights on me and few of the boys,” I told them.

Looking around, Liam commented, “I certainly don’t remember the ladies looking quite so sexy when I went here.” He pointed out a few. They were all panthers.

“Damn. They definitely didn’t look like that at my college either. Makes me feel guilty just being here, like I need to go call Elise,” Patrick confessed.

We all laughed and teased him for being so whipped and losing his man card. Then I spotted Jenna and a low growl rumbled through me.

“Bloody hell,” Patrick said, following my gaze.

She was wearing a much-too-short mini-skirt with a button-down tank top that had one too many buttons undone at the top. The outfit was paired with high-heeled black leather boots that shined like her hair, which was brushed straight down her back. If we weren’t in a room full of males trying to catch her attention I’d think I’d died and gone to heaven just looking at her, but that wasn’t the case, and my wolf and I were not happy with this turn of events.

Liam grabbed my arm as I started to stalk off. “Do not cause a scene. Remember, no one’s supposed to know.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m good.”

“We should leave,” Patrick said smartly.

“Not without Jenna,” I growled.

I walked slowly and cautiously toward my mate. Anita grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear.

“See, I told you that outfit would work. He’s ignored the others but headed this way. You’ve got this,” she told her excitedly.

“Anita, Jenna,” I said, acknowledging both girls.

Jenna blushed furiously and tried to wiggle her skirt down lower, but it just exposed her lower stomach and I couldn’t stop my eyes from drifting to the sight of her exposed skin. I swallowed hard.

“What are you two doing?” I asked, including Anita, who was wearing even less than Jenna.

“We’re just here to party,” Anita said unconvincingly.

“Bullshit. Please don’t tell me you’re in on this interspecies challenge shit. You two are better than this,” I told them, trying to maintain my cool.

Anita sighed, but Jenna couldn’t even look me in the eyes.

Some girl I hadn’t met before came over and draped herself around me.

“Hello, Chase,” she purred. “Want to dance?”

I saw the barely concealed fury in my mate’s eyes and I felt the anger rolling off her.

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