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Well, it had been almost an hour now, and I was still sitting on the curb like a numb nuts. Listening like a thief at the door for every muted laugh, every happy rumble, every gasp of surprise or cry of victory that came from the people inside.
Unfortunately, my men would’ve felt my presence from the moment I’d ridden into town. I was under no illusion that the rest of the work party remained in the dark, either. Word would’ve spread by now. And I still hadn’t come up with a good reason for the visit.
This sort of behaviour from an alpha was dangerous. You couldn’t have a distracted wolf in charge of a pack as big and fierce as ours. It would invite challenges of the worst kind. Yet my wolf didn’t care that this behaviour was completely undignified. He wanted to earn another of those smiles.
I was, in short, completely pussy whipped. My Enforcer had called it first and the dickhead had been spot on.
Fuck.
No matter how many times I told my foot to kick the bike back to life and ride on, it wouldn’t budge. Instead, I was sitting here pondering the great questions of life. Like how I might be able to finagle an invitation inside. Hell, I would’ve gotten down on my knees and scrubbed that damn floor myself, if it meant I could watch Sasha’s exquisite neck tip back in laughter.
But it wasn’t really my place to share in her happiness, was it?
Sasha hadn’t ceded to me as her alpha. In fact, she’d gone out of her way to ensure I knew—at every turn—that she and her humans were accepting our hospitality as an independent group. And my wolf wasn’t even that bothered by it anymore. He kind of chuffed and turned his head, willing to let her walk all over his authority, so long as she didn’t put anyone at risk.
So, no, I wasn’t going to be the selfish ass who stomped inside and soured their good mood. These humans were finally claiming a little piece of the world for their own and they deserved to celebrate the fact.
Right as I was about to do the honorable thing—take a hike and leave my unclaimed mate to her business—I felt my Enforcer coming my way. Curious, I stayed put, arms crossed over my chest.
A couple of the girls—Addy and Louise—were cleaning the windows and tittering as they gossiped and shot pointed looks in my direction. I ignored their antics and kept my face stony.
In my years of being alpha, I’d had plenty of experience ignoring the razzing of growing cubs who thought they were being subtle when good old-fashioned hormones were on the rampage. But I grinned on the inside all the same. I loved seeing a natural cheekiness returning to their haunted faces and too thin frames.
Addy, in particular, was gonna be a handful as her confidence and sense of place in the world grew. In a safe environment, I had no doubt she would grow into a fierce young woman and I looked forward to watching her thrive. My wolf was already protective of her young family.
I really, really wanted Sasha to accept the Soul Reapers’ hospitality. Permanently. To fully integrate into our club and take her natural position as head of the club girls.
In truth, Popcorn had her hands full with keeping the sweetbutts in line. Plus, she’d shown every indication of being willing to work with Sasha and her people. There was no rivalry there. Not like there would’ve been if another club girl or boy had risen through the ranks and begun to nip at Popcorn’s heels, usurping her authority. Gods knew Narcissa had tried.
But I meant what I’d said to Sasha in my office the other day. Being a leader wasn’t just about brute strength and dominance. It was about whether you earned your people’s trust.
As soon as Sasha had claimed her place at Silver’s side, Popcorn had taken our mate under her wing completely. And I had no doubt that together, those two women would make a formidable team. So why the hell wouldn’t Sasha accept that her place was here—with the Soul Reapers—instead of being so fucking determined to make it on her own?
Couldn’t she see that I needed her here at my side?
Without even trying, Sasha had become the Blood Moon and I the ocean held in its celestial sway. I couldn’t get enough of her warmth. Her strength. Her vitality. That brave growl as she spoke up for those in need.
And that was the fucking problem right there.
I needed her. Needed to share her air. Needed to bathe in her presence. Me. At some point in this interminable Chaos, I’d come to rely on her. Trust that she would always be here.
I needed her. Not the other way round.
Sasha had already proven that she would thrive, with or without me.
“Alpha,” Carbon murmured respectfully as he swaggered inside the bar, swinging a plastic bag full of mysterious supplies from a hardware store in one hand and some divine smelling BBQ takeout in the other. He trotted back out and fetched some sodas and chilled water from his saddlebags, too.
I almost did a double take when I tracked my Enforcer’s progress on the second delivery and discovered that Carbon—the untamable bachelor—had a woman riding on back. Without a word, he’d sauntered back inside.
I nearly fell off my own bike when I realized who that woman was.
Winter sat on the back of his tricked out ride like a broken dove ready to flee. Yet her body was as relaxed as I’d ever seen it. She wasn’t going anywhere, was she? No. That little dove was sitting on her perch, calm as you please, waiting right where Carbon left her until he returned.
The asshole even sent me a sardonic salute as he mounted his bike.
In silence, Winter slid forward and wrapped her skinny arms around his middle. I might have even been fooled into thinking he’d forgotten she was there, riding as his old lady, except for the happy rumble emanating from his chest. Her face remained placid and serene, her gaze staring off into that unfathomable middle distance, as he kicked his ride to life and backed out of the parking space.
Carbon still hadn’t said a word to her as he pulled away but I could imagine that sound of quiet contentment thrumming away under the throaty purr of his bike.
