The Omni-Wolf’s Choice novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38 A ballroom kind of night…

Bridget’s POV

The ballroom takes my breath away the second I step in. Lights glitter across the ceiling, all silver and soft, like someone bottled moonlight and spilled it overhead. Everywhere I look there are werewolves, witches, vampires, and mixed-blood beings-people who don’t fit in one neat box. Me included.

The men wear crisp black-tie, the women shimmer in gowns that make the whole place feel unreal. I have been paraded through introduction after introduction, meeting faces from everywhere, all of them

here for the same reason: a night that might end with their other half.

Ryder spins me across the dance floor like we’ve wandered into one of those sweeping romance

scenes I secretly devour. I want to sink into it, to let the music be the only thing that matters.

But it can’t be. Not with my power still unpredictable, and too many unknowns circling us.

“So,” Ryder says, drawing me in until my chest nearly brushes his, “did you learn anything?”

“Wait.” I pull my focus tight and snap a silent barrier into place-a mind-link bubble, sealed so no one

else can eavesdrop. I’m getting better. Slowly. After realizing the Queen can read minds too, I have

needed to learn how to lock doors I didn’t even know existed.

‘While I was dancing with him, nothing happened,’ I tell my mate through the link. ‘No visions. Not even a flicker. I don’t get it. I can sense he doesn’t have abilities-so why do mine feel like they’ve

vanished?’

‘Then someone’s interfering,’ Ryder answers, his voice a steady thread inside my skull. ‘Either he has

help, or his mate is involved. She watched you two like she was studying a problem.’

‘Could be,’ I admit.

Out loud, Ryder’s mouth curves. “You’re incredible out here.”

“I had practice,” I say. “YMCA lessons. It was one of the only places I could disappear to when I

needed space from home.”

His arm tightens around me.

“Then you don’t have to feel that again,” he says aloud, low and certain. “This is home now.”

My smile comes easy because I know he means it-he would hand me the world if I asked.

‘On the subject of home,’ I send through the link, ‘he offered his castle for my training. Said it would be

better for me.’

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‘Over my dead body,’ Talon snaps from inside Ryder, and Ryder’s eyes flash pure black. “I’ll burn

kingdoms before I let him take you.’

I press my palm flat to Ryder’s chest, grounding him. Then I lean in, forehead to forehead, letting my

breathing steady his.

“It’s okay,” I whisper aloud-so Ryder hears it, and his wolf feels it.

The tempo rises, but we keep moving slow, clinging to our own pocket of quiet. The crowd blurs at the edges. His fingers trace down my back, unhurried, and heat blooms under my skin until I let out a soft

breath.

“I love what you do to me,” Ryder murmurs, brushing his nose along my neck. He inhales like he’s memorizing me. The shiver it pulls from me makes me giggle. “And I can’t wait to peel you out of this

dress.”

“Well,” I say, forcing myself to stay practical, “you look sexier than you have any right to in that tux. I’m struggling to concentrate. But we still need eyes on you-know-who.”

I try to create distance. Ryder refuses it, yanking me back against him.

‘The room’s watching the King and Queen,’ I mind-link, turning my gaze toward the raised area where they sit. ‘Most of these people have never been this close to them.’

Guests line up in polite clusters, smiling, bowing, chatting. And there’s something else that’s hard to miss-guards near the King who keep glancing our way a little too often.

Ryder’s voice drops. “Let’s get outside while they’re distracted.”

“Ryder…” I warn, because being alone with him has never stayed quiet for long.

He just winks, and my resolve cracks into a helpless smile. It’s ridiculous how easy he is to want.

As we move through the crowd, he signals his warriors to trail us-close enough to respond, far

enough not to crowd. Connor gets a subtle nod: keep watching the royals.

People keep stopping us. Welcome to the pack. Congratulations. Warm hands, bright eyes, excited whispers. Ryder had made sure I was marked before tonight, and I’m not naive about why. It’s a claim.

A statement.

And, yes, it did help the bite on my thigh heal faster.

We reach the massive double doors-two stories tall, carved wood framed with glass inlay. Someone

waits there, someone unfamiliar.

“Alpha Ryder. Luna Bridget.” His smile is practiced. “Forgive the interruption. My name is Lysander. I

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Fairy lights thread through the trees, outlining trails that are probably more for comfort than necessity. Most of the species here can see in the dark. The lights feel like a human idea of safety.

We follow the marked path only briefly. After a few paces Ryder tugs me off it-barely three feet into the shadow-and slams me gently but decisively against a thick tree trunk.

His hands frame my face like he’s starving. He kisses me like he has been waiting all night to stop

pretending.

“I have waited too long to taste you,” he breathes between frantic kisses.

“Ryder… goddess, Ryder,” I moan as his palms slide down my body, sparking the bond until my skin

feels too small to contain me. He finds the slit in my dress, pushes his hands under it, and glides up

my thighs.

I part my legs the slightest bit-permission without words.

My fingers fumble at his jacket, undoing buttons, then flatten over his stomach. Even through his shirt

I can feel the hard lines underneath.

He gathers my dress up to my waist. The night air chills my exposed skin, a sharp contrast to his heat.

“What if someone hears?” I manage, because we are still close to the trail.

Ryder’s voice turns rough. “Then let them. Let them hear you. Let them hear what you do when it’s me.” His fingers finally slide where I’ve been aching for them. “You’re mine, Bridget. Every part of you.”

I suck in a breath.

“I can tell you’re soaked,” he growls, satisfied. “Let me take these off.”

A single claw extends. In one clean motion, he rips my black lace thong away.

My pulse stutters as he lifts the ruined scrap to his nose and inhales, slow.

“God, I love your scent.” He shoves it into his pocket like it belongs there. “Now let me taste this pussy and see if she’s ready to take all of me.”

Ryder drops to one knee.

He lifts my leg over his shoulder, and I brace both hands on the tree, knuckles whitening. Then his mouth is on me-warm, wet, relentless-his tongue sliding between my folds until my whole body

shakes.

I clutch his shoulders as tremors start low in my belly.

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His tongue works my clit with urgent precision. I choke back a moan, but Ryder doesn’t let me hide.

“You’d better let them hear you, mate,” he says against me, voice vibrating through my nerves. “I want the world to know what I do to this body.”

A finger pushes inside me.

It’s instantly not enough.

“More,” I gasp.

He gives it-two thick fingers, stretching me as he pumps with steady pressure. The forest seems to

hush, leaving only obscene, slick sounds and my broken breathing. His thumb teases at my ass in

rhythm, coaxing, and his mouth seals on my clit like he’s claiming it.

I tip my head back, eyes squeezed shut, the orgasm building too fast to control. I grind down harder,

riding his face, chasing the edge.

“That’s it,” Ryder commands, pleased. “Ride my face. I want all of it on my mouth, Bridget.”

His thumb slides in fully for the first time, and my whole body jolts.

“Give me what I want,” he growls, “so I can fuck you against this tree.”

His tongue speeds up.

The tension snaps.

I fist his hair and come hard, screaming his name into the night, riding out the waves as my legs

tremble. When I can finally inhale properly again, he’s already standing, eyes wild, panting-unleashing

the monster I love from behind his zipper.

I’m still shaking as I help him undo his buckle. I shove his pants and boxers down over his hips, down

past the firm curve of his ass. For one hungry second, I want to drop to my knees and taste him.

“No.”

Just that-like he has read my mind.

Breathing heavy, he flips me so my front faces the tree. He presses in close, lining his thick length at my slick folds. He drags the tip up and down, coating it, making me ache as the broad head spreads me without entering.

His mouth brushes my ear.

“How do you want it, Bridget.”