"Drink! Drink! Drink!" Violet and Alaric shouted enthusiastically, cheering the two shirtless alphas who were going head-to-head in a drinking contest.
Roman Draven and Griffin Hale were upside down, balancing on their hands with their mouths latched to the hoses as cold beer streamed straight into them.
"One-ninety-seven! One-ninety-eight—"
Griffin had started to choke, his legs twitching in the air. Sweat beaded down his temples, and his grip on the keg hose was beginning to falter.
"One-ninety-eight!"
"Two hundred!"
A cheer went up, but Griffin was done. He sputtered, dropped down onto the grass with a grunt, rolled onto his back, and groaned loudly.
"That’s it. I’m done. I saw the Goddess and she told me to stop."
Violet laughed at the statement yet went on counting.
"Two-oh-two!"
Roman was still going, upside down and wild-eyed, his jaw clenched around the tap like a man on a mission. At that moment, he indeed looked like a god of decadence.
"How is he still drinking?" Violet was impressed.
"Because Roman doesn’t believe in moderation," Alaric said under his breath, eyes on the south Alpha. "South Pack breeds them like that, clubs on nearly every block, high-stakes tables in every basement. They party like it’s tradition." He gave a dry smirk. "Lavida loca isn’t a phase for them. It’s their lifestyle."
"Two-twenty! Two-thirty!" Asher shouted since they stopped counting.
At last, Roman tore his mouth away, dropped to his feet with a fluid, acrobatic twist, landing perfectly. He was soaked with beer, his chest heaving, but his eyes gleamed like a man who’d just won the crown.
Then with a vicious shower, he grabbed the keg and tilted the rest of it upward, letting the remaining beer splash into the air and it rained down around him like a triumphant champagne shower, catching in the light as they roared.
"That’s right, baby!" Roman yelled, pumping his fists into the air. "I’m the god of pleasure!"
Violet shook her head, biting back a laugh.
"You’re disgusting."
"You love it," Roman called back, wiping his soaked hair from his face with zero shame.
Griffin, still sprawled out on the grass, raised a limp hand. "Tell my abs I tried, honey."
Violet couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Then Alaric passed her a drink and she chugged it down, the garden coming alive again with the kind of energy that made her forget tomorrow existed.
"Let’s dance," Roman said, and without waiting for her response, he was already moving to the beat.
Violet didn’t hesitate, the warmth of the night was already buzzing through her veins. She was tipsy, and had to start watching how much more she drank. For once, Violet found herself wishing she had the fast metabolism of the wolves.
The lights strung above cast a golden halo over them, and Roman pulled Violet closer into him. They moved slowly, their bodies swaying to the music. Roman’s hand was firm on her lower back, anchoring her, while the other caressed the curve of her hip in circles.
The world narrowed until all Violet could feel was Roman’s breath at her ear, his fingertips drawing invisible shapes on her bare skin, and his chest rising and falling against hers.
Then Roman turned her until her back was to his chest and her eyes found Asher. He was lounging on the nearest couch with a drink in hand, watching them.
Except he wasn’t just watching, he was practically devouring them. The way Asher’s eyes dragged over her slowly, and with burning hunger made something twist low in her stomach.
So she decided to give him a show.
Violet raised her arms above her head, swaying her body to the beat, and losing herself in the moment. She rolled her hips, grinding back into Roman’s hardness behind her, feeling the sharp intake of his breath against her neck.
Roman didn’t speak. Not that he needed to. His mouth pressed hot kisses against her shoulder, her neck, his teeth grazing her skin. His hands roamed up her sides, brushed the outer curve of her breasts before sliding down and disappearing into the space between her thighs with a wicked slowness that had her goosebumps erupting on her skin. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Violet leaned into him, her eyes never leaving Asher. And that was all it took Asher to crack.
The west Alpha set his drink down and crossed the space in three long strides.
Without a word, his hand wrapped possessively around her throat from behind, and tilted her face toward his. His mouth met hers in a kiss that was all hunger and commanding, pulling a moan straight from her chest.
Violet melted between them. God, this was heaven.
"The what?" Violet mumbled, barely lifting her head.
"The mat." He pointed. "And your downfall."
Violet narrowed her eyes at all of them.
"You’re insane if you think I’m playing in this dress."
"No backing out now," Roman grinned, already kicking off his shoes. "You’re the one who walked in here looking like sin in heels. At least have the decency to play with your victims before you destroy them."
Violet rolled her eyes but walked barefoot toward the mat. The garden lights glinted off her black, body-hugging dress that was entirely inappropriate for a game that involved this much bending.
Her skin prickled with awareness as she stepped onto the mat, every movement followed by four male gazes that burned hotter than the fire pits surrounding them.
"I’m spinning," Asher announced from the sidelines, taking the role of a referee.
"Left foot, green." He announced.
Violet went first, stepping into place.
Roman followed her, intentionally staying close so she could feel his body heat, his thigh brushing against hers as he stretched beside her. Of course, he didn’t say a word and just smirked.
"Right hand, blue."
Griffin dropped next to her, hitting the mat with smooth control. He planted his hand near her waist, and as he leaned down, her dress shifted, riding up just an inch or two.
Yet, Violet didn’t miss the way Roman’s eyes dropped and his gaze latched to her thighs, zeroed in, then went even lower. Her panties peeked beneath the hem, lacy and black and he saw it. And Violet knew he saw it.
Then without apology, Roman inhaled slowly and deeply, as if he was tasting her with nothing but his senses alone.
Violet felt her cheeks heat, and her muscles tightened. The game hadn’t even started properly, and already, she was being devoured by their stares.
And they weren’t even pretending anymore.
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