Lush seating and various colorful pillows were tucked into the wall around the rooftop, while several round beds of tufted red velvet—Vaughan sure did like his velvet—and pillows were positioned strategically around the roof. Beside each sitting area stood mosaic-topped tables, each containing a medium-sized carved wooden box, a fancy bottle of what he assumed was lube, and a stack of pristine white hand towels.

  Looked like they’d reached the orgy part of the retreat. Fantastic. Nothing like having sex in front of strangers to spice up one’s marriage.

  Sloane’s hand on Dex’s lower back snapped him out of it, and he quickly recovered by turning to Sloane with a wicked grin. “It looks like you may not have to wait until tonight to demonstrate how badly you want that motorcycle.”

  “Lucky me,” Sloane purred, his hand moving to Dex’s ass. He gave it a squeeze, then a playful smack before Vaughan took to the center of the roof.

  “I’m sure you’re all familiar with how much stamina a Therian possesses.” He gave them all a naughty, knowing look, drawing laughter from the crowd. “Very rarely do we get to test and compare that stamina with our peers. I ask that you have your Therians prepare for a shift.”

  What the hell did Vaughan have planned? Dex darted a glance at his husband, his eyes slightly widening. Have things taken a weird turn?

  What kind of orgy is this?

  Sloane eyed him and shook his head, like, I don’t fucking know, but are you thinking what I’m thinking?

  Dex nodded. That I’m about to fake a fucking heart attack if anyone’s bits go near someone’s furry ass? I love you, but there are lines, and my fucking you while you have whiskers and a fucking tail is one of them. He had no idea what his husband was thinking, but Dex would bet his career it was something like he’d thought.

  Okay, sometimes Therians got it on in their Therian form, but only when both partners were in their Therian form. He wasn’t about to think about what certain other people might get up to because his brain was already preoccupied with whatever fuckery this was, and quite frankly, it was enough. At times like this, he had to pause and contemplate early retirement.

  The Therians were expected to undress in front of everyone. Although Therians had no problem with their nakedness—it was a necessary part of the shifting process—it tended to be done in private and not for the sole purpose of being gawked at by a bunch of assholes.

  Dex turned to Sloane, receiving a wink as Sloane untucked his shirt. It slipped to the floor, revealing tanned, sculpted muscles defined by years of training with the THIRDS and then TIN. Several faint scars he’d acquired on the job as team leader for Destructive Delta were peppered around his body, the most prominent a long thin scar up his side where he’d been impaled by a jagged piece of metal after Ash’s truck had been blown up by the asshole who’d kidnapped Cael. Along with the death of his parents, that had been one of the worst moments of Dex’s life.

  Sloane removed his shoes and socks before unbuckling his belt. Fuck, his husband was hot. “Am I giving you ideas?” Sloane’s low, husky voice dripped with sex. He knew exactly what he was doing, and Dex had to adjust himself.

  “You’re giving me something all right,” Dex muttered. A shiver went through him when Sloane dropped his slacks and stepped out of them, remaining in black boxer briefs.

  “Want to help me with the rest?” Sloane waggled his eyebrows, and Dex stepped up to him. He took hold of Sloane’s chin and gazed into his husband’s eyes. His cocky grin might be Brodie, but the intensity behind those beautiful amber eyes was all Sloane, and it soothed Dex.

  “Such a tease.” Dex pulled Sloane’s bottom lip into his mouth, making Sloane groan.

  “Now, now, Mr. Delacruz,” Vaughan tsked playfully. “There will be time for that soon enough.”

  The crowd chuckled and tittered as Dex pulled away and held a hand up.

  “My apologies. Couldn’t help myself.”

  Sloane removed his underwear and stood in all his naked glory. At over six and a half feet tall with thick biceps, broad shoulders that tapered down to a slender waist, muscular thighs, powerful legs, and an amazing ass, he was impressive. Of course, Dex was a tad biased.

  “Look at all this magnificence,” Vaughan cooed as he made his way around the room, his lecherous gaze running over the young Therians, fingers trailing close behind. When he reached Sloane, Vaughan bit down on his bottom lip, but his gaze darted to Dex, whose smile was anything but friendly. Clearing his throat, Vaughan spun toward the crowd. “Please escort your companions to the end of the terrace so we may all appreciate their perfection.”

  Dex didn’t miss the way Vaughan always addressed the Humans, like the Therians had no say in anything. Warning bells went off in Dex’s head, and he wished Keane would get him the damned intel on these Therians. He headed toward the end of the roof with Sloane beside him, his husband walking like he owned the place. Although Sloane was sure of himself, Brodie was a cocky fucker. His lazy smirk told everyone he was fully aware of how impressive he was. Sloane moved leisurely, allowing the younger Therians to line up ahead of him and not corner him in.

  Thirty naked Therians stood facing a group of Humans, and Sloane stood out among them. Even if Dex hadn’t already known every Human in attendance and the type of Therian that came with them, the classification tattoo on each Therian’s neck would have told him what they were dealing with.

  The majority were male wolf Therians, cougars, and a few female leopard Therians, plus Dawson, who was on the small side for a tiger Therian. He was as tall as Sloane but lean, not like Seb or his brothers, who were all ginormous walls of muscle, as tiger Therians tended to be. In fact, all the Therians were a bit on the small side. Sloane was definitely the biggest, and oldest, of them.

  “Please feel free to inspect this incredible display of Therian beauty.”

  Dex discreetly brushed his fingers along Sloane’s as he walked past to join the Humans. As much as he hated the thought of anyone here putting their hands on Sloane, he reminded himself this was the job. They couldn’t allow Vaughan to exploit the virus. Finding that lab was critical, but Dex kept in mind the more personal part of the mission—Cory. Somewhere close by, he was in pain, terrified, and in need of them.

  Stopping in front of a wolf Therian, Dex froze. The kid had to be in his early twenties at most. As Dex glanced briefly at the lineup, bile rose in his throat. They were all so young, some looking barely over eighteen. Several seemed nervous; a couple trembled with fear. It struck Dex then. Jesus, was it possible these young Therians weren’t here of their own free will? Was that why their information was so closely guarded? Quickly shaking himself out of it, Dex smiled in greeting. The wolf Therian smiled shyly in return, big blue eyes staring up at him, searching Dex’s gaze for… something. Feeling eyes on him, Dex brushed his fingers down the young Therian’s cheek. To his surprise, the kid leaned into the touch with a whimper, his lashes wet with unshed tears. For a heartbeat Dex stilled, fear gripping him. Was the sleeve not working?

  The sleeve that covered Dex’s arm and masked his scent from Therians was the most powerful weapon in his arsenal. Without it, he wouldn’t be able to work out in the field.

  Due to his bond with Sloane, Dex didn’t just carry Sloane’s scent with him—he was marked as the mate of an alpha, and that tended to bring out a visceral reaction from many Therians, especially other alphas who stupidly thought challenging Sloane for Dex was a good idea. One growl or hiss from Sloane usually put an end to that real quick. No one wanted to fuck with a jaguar Therian. But this wolf Therian wasn’t an alpha.

  “Why are you crying?” Dex demanded quietly. He couldn’t afford to slip out of character for a second.

  The wolf Therian shook his head, his eyes wide and filled with fear before his gaze darted to Ramos, who was busy groping his way down the line.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Kenley.”

  Dex nodded and smiled softly. He put his hand on Kenley’s shoulder, then turned to leave, only to have his wrist seized. Kenley’s sharp intake of breath confused Dex.

  “Don’t go.” Kenley’s words were almost a whisper.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Don’t go. Please.”

  Dex stepped closer, lowering his head to Kenley’s and feigning interest. “What are you doing?”

  “Take me away from him.”

  Having the confirmation that some of these Therians weren’t here by choice broke Dex’s heart. Shit. He wanted to comfort Kenley, promise him everything would be okay, but he couldn’t. With a small squeeze to Kenley’s shoulder, Dex forced himself to move on to the next Therian, a young female leopard Therian who looked about eighteen or nineteen. Bright amber eyes stared up at him, and Dex fought the urge to kick the ass of every Human in this room.

  “What’s your name?” Dex asked.

  “Brielle.”

  Dex smiled and nodded. He made to move, but she grabbed his wrist. What the hell was going on? He frowned at her, and she put his hand to her cheek. Thankfully no one was paying him any attention, but there were still cameras around. He put his other hand to her waist and leaned in.

  “You need to let go.”

  “Save us.”

  Dex stilled. No way did any of these Therians know who he was, and as far as he knew, there was nothing wrong with the sleeve. If there had been, Vaughan’s Therian security would have been all over him the moment they sensed something was off.

  “I need to go,” Dex said, pulling away.

  She grabbed his neck and brought him in to whisper in his ear, “You’re not like them.”

  Dex gingerly pulled back, making sure not to make any questionable movements. He smoothed down his jacket and moved down the line, offering quick smiles and even quicker, more discreet touches. Several made to touch him, and he managed to sidestep them. He had no idea what the hell was going on, but he felt sick to his stomach, something inside him swirling and growling. This had never happened to him before.

  Why would these Therians think he could save them? And save them from who or what? Their Human companions? Had to be. Fuck. He hated complications, and a bunch of young Therians acting like he was their savior was one hell of a fucking complication.

  As Dex joined the other Humans, he observed all the Therians and the way they kept sneaking glances at him. Something was going on.

  “Now that we’ve had some time to inspect these stunning examples of Therian perfection, we can move on to the pleasure portion of the evening.” A predatory smile spread across Vaughan’s face. “I’ve had this rooftop arranged to offer you luxurious comfort. Once your Therian shifts back into their Human form, you’ll find drinks and PSTC protein bars for your companions.”

  Thank fuck for small miracles.

  “Enough to make certain they’re able to perform,” Vaughan added.

  Dex blinked. Had he just heard what he thought he’d heard?

  Excited gasps and murmurs broke out around the room, and Dex slipped his hand into his pants pockets to hide his clenched fist.

  “What better way to test the stamina of these beautiful Therians than to take pleasure from them after a shift?”

  Dex moved his gaze to Sloane, who stood looking bored, but Dex could feel the anger flaring inside his husband. Therians were at their most vulnerable after a shift. The heavy amounts of protein they needed to recover would ensure they didn’t have any medical complications that could lead to death, but they still needed a significant Therian-sized meal to fully recover.

  Therians were stronger than Humans, but even they had their limits. Were these Humans so threatened by Therians that they needed to have sex with them while in their most weakened state to show their dominance?

  “Please shift,” Vaughan ordered.

  Dex clenched his jaw as Sloane began the process of letting his felid side out. The pain that flowed through Dex was fierce, but after years of being bonded to his mate, he’d grown used to it. Roars, howls, and cries filled the air as the Therians shifted. Sloane’s muscles stretched, his bones popped, and fur pierced his skin as his body mass changed to accommodate his jaguar body. Although Sloane’s Human mind was still very much present, his animal instincts were at their strongest.

  Gasps and murmurs filled the room. In their defense, Sloane was the biggest of them all. As a black jaguar, the rosettes on his fur were faint but visible, his coat was glossy, his amber eyes glowed bright, and he was the strongest felid there. Like all black jaguar Therians, he had the most epic resting bitch face of any felid, and it made Dex smile every time. No one in their Therian form looked like they gave less of a fuck than Sloane in his black jaguar form.

  Vaughan approached Sloane cautiously, and rightfully so, what with jaws capable of crushing a Human skull and razor-sharp claws that could slice through flesh with ease. “I don’t suppose your companion would roar for us?” Vaughan asked Dex.

  Dex stopped beside Sloane. He put a hand on Sloane’s head, receiving a huff before Sloane got up off his haunches and rubbed himself against Dex. When he was done, he gazed at Dex with those intense glowing amber eyes.

  “Roar for me,” Dex demanded silkily.

  Sloane turned to the crowd and hissed before letting out a series of roars that had several Humans taking a quick step away.

  “Incredible,” Vaughan said, his voice filled with awe.

  A wolf’s yelp met Dex’s ear. Before he had a chance to find out what was happening, Sloane was off. With a fierce hiss, Sloane bared his huge fangs as he landed in front of the small wolf Therian. Dex discreetly sniffed the air and recognized Kenley.

  Ramos tripped over his own feet as he scrambled to get away from Sloane, who stood in front of Kenley, protecting him from Ramos. Whatever Ramos had done to Kenley, Sloane’s jaguar didn’t like it.

  “Is there a problem?” Vaughan asked Ramos.

  “The little shit nipped at me. I was putting him in his place.” Ramos glared at Dex. “Delacruz needs to keep his cat on a tighter leash.”

  Everyone turned their gazes to Dex, who shrugged. “I don’t need to put my Therian on a leash. He does what I want him to without having to resort to such crass behavior.”

  Ramos scoffed. “Please. You think these animals will do what you say in this form because you ask nicely?”

  “Brodie, come here,” Dex said.

  Sloane trotted over to Dex and took a seat beside him, tail thumping against the floor. With a smug grin, Dex turned to the rest of the Therians. “Come here, please.”

  The rooftop broke into gasps and murmurs when twenty-nine Therians padded over to Dex. He’d taken a gamble but won this hand. His theory that there was something going on was also solidified. Looked like their mission took an unexpected turn.

  “What the hell?” Ramos growled. “What did you do?”

  “You see,” Dex said as he casually walked toward Ramos, hands in his pockets. “I don’t have the time or desire for emotional entanglements. I abhor violence. So messy. I deal with Therians the way I deal with my business associates. Together we work out an agreement that is mutually beneficial. I get what I want. They get what they want.” He stopped in front of Ramos.

  “I make myself indispensable. Why would Brodie go anywhere else when I give him everything he needs? I give him pleasure; he gives it in return. I give him luxury; he gives me the control I crave. Who wants to spend all that time and energy to break a Therian? They’re wild creatures by nature. I choose to harness that ferocity, Mr. Ramos, not subdue it.”

  Dex turned to the guests. “You can’t beat loyalty into a wild animal.” He held his hand out to Sloane, who rubbed his head against it and released a chainsaw-like purr on each exhale that had everyone gasping. “But you can certainly buy it. Whether it’s with food, affection, or…” Dex grinned as he scratched Sloane behind the ear. “A new motorcycle.”

  Sloane rubbed himself against Dex’s legs, his purrs reverberating through the huge rooftop before murmurs and conversation filled the air.

  “Thank you, Mr. Delacruz,” Vaughan said as he approached. He patted Dex’s shoulder as he addressed the crowd. “My goal for this retreat, besides giving you all a pleasurable experience, is to offer new knowledge on Therians, expertise to help you better navigate what is to come. We all need to be equipped to handle the changes my vaccine will bring. If we want Therian traits, we must understand Therians so we can make the most of the gifts I’m to bestow upon you.”

  On the outside, Dex nodded in agreement. On the inside, his mind imploded from the amount of ego Vaughan possessed.

  “But we still have time before all the seriousness starts, so let’s have some fun. Get comfortable, have your Therian shift back, and enjoy. If your Therian isn’t up to the task, Therians will be provided for you.” Two rows of naked young Therians paraded through the door and out onto the roof to join the crowd, who clapped and cheered.

  Vaughan squeezed Dex’s shoulder. “I would love to pick your brain sometime. Perhaps you’ll join me for drinks tomorrow evening?”

  “Of course,” Dex replied.

  “Wonderful! Now go enjoy that stunning creature.”

  Dex tilted his head in acknowledgment, then walked toward the farthest corner of the roof, where a sturdy-looking chaise lounge sat. He unfastened his tuxedo’s bow tie.

  “Get on the chaise and shift.”

  Sloane did as instructed, his roar joining the howls and hisses filling the room as he started his shift. Dex clenched his jaw as he worked through the pain of Sloane changing back into Human form. He picked up a fancy glass bottle of orange liquid that looked a lot like Gatorade, and a protein bar. Placing it on the table next to Sloane, he took a seat beside Sloane, who now sat hunched over, his head in his hand as his body trembled.

  Picking up the drink, Dex cupped the back of Sloane’s neck like he’d done countless times over the years.

  “Drink.”

  Sloane sat back against Dex’s hand and welcomed the bottle held to his lips. He took small, slow sips, his eyes closed. It took some time, but the more Sloane drank, the more his strength returned until he could eat the protein bar without Dex having to hold it for him.