By the time I got to his big truck, I had my breathing under control and my mask of indifference on. There was no way he could drive. I’d seen the way his hand shook when he’d picked up the bag. Climbing into the driver’s seat, I waited for him to make his way out.
My breath caught as he emerged in a fresh pair of jeans and another button-down. He’d also put on a pair of boots. Gah, I loved cowboy boots on men. As he engaged the alarm system by the garage opening, his back was to me, and I watched the flex of his ass in the denim. I was going to lose my sanity if I had to watch him hook up with one of my friends. Or I’d end up killing the woman, or women, who made a play for him.
“I see you’re doing the driving?” He raised his right brow.
I pressed the door opener’s button. “Obviously. Buckle up, buddy.” No more using cute little pet names. I was putting him in the friend zone.
Sitting idle in the circle drive were Kellen and Xan with their custom bikes rumbling. They were enough to keep my mind on the task at hand. Kellen’s skullcap and facemask covering was scary as fuck, partnered with Xan’s, and most people on the road gave them a wide berth. I laughed at Rowan’s shocked expression.
“Aren’t they worried they’ll get pulled over when someone calls in about bikers wearing skull and crossbones on their faces?” Rowan asked.
“Nope, they’ve been pulled over many times. The masks keep the dirt and dust out of their eyes, nose, and mouth. Police can’t argue with logic.” I followed the bikes.
His grunt made me think of other times he made that sound. To stop my mind from going there, I turned on the radio and tuned to my favorite rock station. He relaxed in the seat, the stress from what he’d gone through finally catching up with him.
Kellen’s bike pulled first onto the highway, while Xan hung back. They were making sure nobody was following us. Something I’d not thought to check on since seeing them. This late in the evening, there weren’t many vehicles on the highway, but still enough to make it hard to discern if anyone was tailing us. I was glad my brother had my back. Rowan, for all his strength, was in no shape to take on anyone at the moment, and I couldn’t truly fight off more than a wolf or two and hope to survive.
I had fucked up by taking Rowan home instead of to the Iron Wolf clubhouse. Kellen wouldn’t have punished Rowan or me for what was done. My wolf had wanted him, and I’d been too stupid and selfish to think straight. Now, he was paying for my selfishness. Had I taken him to see Kellen, he’d have been welcomed into their society with open arms. He’d have been helped through his first shift by the alpha, cutting down on the pain and agony, and wouldn’t have had to go through so many shifts in one day. Instead, I’d fucked him over royally, and he didn’t get to do the top three things all shifters wanted. Hunt, kill, and fuck.
“What’s wrong, Lyric?” Rowan asked.
His words jarred me out of my thoughts. “What? I thought you were sleeping. Are you okay?”
Rowan’s hand settled on my thigh, making me tremble. “I could feel your…I’m not sure what it was, but it made me and my other aware. Does that make sense?”
I jerked my eyes from the road to look at Rowan’s glowing blue gaze. “Don’t look at me like that, Rowan.”
“Like what?” He licked his lips.
I put my hand over his, where it lay on my thigh. “I didn’t mean to wake you. We’re almost to the clubhouse,” I said, not answering his question.
He turned his hand over, entwining our fingers. “Tell me what to expect once we get there. Are they going to put me through my paces and make me fight for my place? You know, like only the strong survive or some shit?”
His thumb rubbing along my palm almost made me forget what he was asking. “What? God, no. Rowan, you are pack now. I know you didn’t want this, and rest assured, we don’t go out and just turn people. As a matter of fact, it isn’t done. Usually, there is a process and a petition before a human is ever turned. I’ve never heard of this happening with someone without their consent and knowledge. The only time someone becomes one of us is if they are mates. Had that other wolf not bitten you, I’d never have…done it. I couldn’t allow him to make you his. You saw how Kellen could go into your mind?” I waited for him to squeeze my hand. “The other wolf, if he were the alpha, could’ve done the same at any time. If he wasn’t the alpha, then whoever was his alpha could’ve done the same. They can control you to an extent. You are strong, so I don’t think you personally would’ve been susceptible, but imagine some weak human.”
“Holy shite. I never thought of that. Do you think he can still get into my head?” Rowan released my hand.
The loss of his warmth made me ache. “No. Kellen would have felt another presence inside you when he took over your shift.” I wished he’d reach back out and touch me, but he stared out the passenger window, lost in his own thoughts, or so it appeared.
“I want to find that fuck, and kill him,” he growled.
I nodded, but we were pulling into the lot of the MC. Dozens of bikes and cars were still there. Lights flooded the parking lot, with music blaring, letting me know there were still many members partying. Exactly what I needed. Syn stood with Nene near the entrance, their worried expressions easing as they saw me driving the truck and my bike in the back.
Rowan sat up straighter. “Stay by my side, Lyric. Don’t leave me, okay.”
My heart melted at the plea in his voice. “I’ll do my best, but remember, Kellen is the alpha. I have to listen to him, and so do you.” I pulled his truck into an open spot and turned the key off, gasping when he pulled me over the console in the middle to sit on his lap.
“I don’t give a flying fuck what he is. You are mine. You stay with me. We clear?”
The electric-blue eyes worried me. Alpha eyes. I couldn’t let him go into the Iron Wolf showing signs of an alpha, like he was ready to challenge Kellen. “Rowan, listen to me. I want you like no other.” I shifted, straddling his lap. “Inside the club, Kellen is top man. We all listen to him. He won’t make me, or you, do anything that puts us in danger, nor will he do anything he truly doesn’t think is best for all of us. Right now, you only think you want me. Remember what you said back at your house? Give it time. We will see what you really want. Just don’t do anything that pisses off Kellen or Xan. Okay?”
The heat from his body under me was stirring things inside me that I wished we could act on. My canines ached to sink into him again, only this time marking him for the world to see.
“You mean like rip your clothes off and fuck you senseless?” Rowan asked.
Damn, my pussy actually pulsed at the imagery of his words. A growl brought both our heads around to the driver’s side.
“That would definitely get you in some serious trouble,” Xan said.
