Chapter 11
The low roar of motorcycles broke the quiet of the night, a sound that set my heart racing and my breath catching. I stood on the porch of the clubhouse, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as the lights of the approaching bikes cut through the darkness. They were back. He was back.
As they came closer, the headlights revealed them one by one, their silhouettes framed against the dark sky. Wolf rode at the front, as he always did, his broad shoulders squared, his presence commanding even from a distance. The others flanked him, Cutter, Ironhead, Rocco, and the rest, their faces shadowed but unmistakably triumphant.
The weight that had been pressing on my chest since they left finally eased. Relief surged through me, mingling with a flood of emotions I couldn’t quite untangle. Fear, hope, love—all of it rushed to the surface as the bikes came to a stop in the gravel yard.
Wolf swung off his bike with the kind of grace that shouldn’t have been possible for a man his size. His eyes met mine instantly, piercing and intense, and the rest of the world seemed to fall away. He was here. He was safe.
Without thinking, I ran to him, my bare feet crunching against the gravel. He caught me as I reached him, his arms wrapping around me like a shield. His scent surrounded me, leather and smoke and something uniquely him. I buried my face against his chest, gripping the back of his kutt like I was afraid he’d disappear if I let go.
“You’re okay,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
“I’m okay,” he said, his voice rough and low. “We’re okay.”
He didn’t let go. His hands were firm against my back, his head dipping to press a kiss to the top of my hair. The brothers gave us space, murmuring among themselves as they began to dismount and move inside, but I barely noticed them. All I could feel was him.
Wolf lifted me into his arms without a word, his strength effortless as he carried me through the clubhouse. My arms looped around his neck; my face tucked against his shoulder. I felt safe, anchored in a way I hadn’t been in years.
When we reached his room, he kicked the door shut behind us and set me down gently. The second my feet touched the ground, his hands were on me, framing my face as he kissed me. It wasn’t soft or hesitant. It was desperate, consuming, a fire that burned through every doubt and fear I’d carried all night.
I kissed him back just as fiercely, my fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. His lips moved to my neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin, and I shivered, heat pooling low in my stomach.
“Wolf,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.
“I’ve got you,” he said, his voice a low growl. “You’re mine, Bella. Always.”
He backed me up tumbling us both down together onto the bed. His weight pressed against me, solid and unyielding, and I felt completely surrounded by him. Safe. Protected. Desired.
Clothes disappeared in a blur of heat and urgency, the cool air a stark contrast to the fire between us. His hands were everywhere, mapping the curves of my body, his touch rough and reverent all at once. I arched into him, my body responding to every kiss, every touch, every whispered word.
When he finally moved inside me, it was overwhelming. The connection between us was electric, raw, and so real it left me breathless. We moved together, a desperate rhythm that spoke of need and love and everything we couldn’t put into words. His name was a prayer on my lips, and he answered it with every touch, every thrust, every promise.
Afterward, we lay tangled together, the room quiet except for the sound of our breathing. His hand traced lazy circles on my back, his other arm wrapped securely around me. I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
“Talk to me,” he said softly, his voice breaking the comfortable silence.
I hesitated, unsure where to start. But the way he looked at me, his blue eyes steady and patient, gave me the courage to begin.
“I grew up watching my parents fight,” I said, my voice quiet. “My dad…he wasn’t a good man. He broke my mom down, piece by piece, until there wasn’t much left of her. When he finally left, it was almost a relief. But by then, it was just me and her, trying to survive. I grew up thinking love was pain, that it was something that took more than it gave.”
Wolf’s arms tightened around me, his silence urging me to continue.
“When I met Dylan, I thought he was different,” I admitted. “He wasn’t. He took control of my life the same way my dad had with my mom. And I let him. Because I didn’t know how to fight back.” I paused, swallowing hard. “But then I met you.”
His hand stilled on my back, and I felt him tense beneath me. “What about me?” he asked, his voice rough.
“You make me feel safe,” I said simply. “You make me want to be stronger, to fight for something better. You make me believe I can be more than just…this scared, broken version of myself.”
He didn’t say anything for a long moment, and I lifted my head to look at him. His eyes were dark, his expression unreadable.
“You’re not broken,” he said finally. “And you’re not weak. You survived things most people couldn’t. That takes strength, Bella. More than you realize.”
His words settled over me, a balm to wounds I hadn’t even known I was still carrying.
“What about you?” I asked, my fingers tracing the tattoos on his chest. “What brought you here?”
He exhaled heavily, his gaze drifting to the ceiling. “Pain,” he said. “Loss. Anger. I didn’t have much growing up. Bounced around foster homes, always getting into trouble. Fighting was the only thing I was good at. Cutter found me, gave me a purpose. The club became my family, and I learned how to survive. How to protect what was mine.”
He looked down at me, his expression softening. “And now, you’re mine. I’ll protect you with everything I have. Always.”
Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. Instead, I leaned up and kissed him, pouring everything I couldn’t say into that kiss. He held me like I was the most precious thing in the world, and I believed it.
The night stretched on, our words and touches weaving together a fragile tapestry of hope and love. And as I drifted off in his arms, I knew that no matter what came next, we’d face it together.
***
I woke to the sound of laughter and the blaring of music, the deep thrum of bass reverberating through the floor. The morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. For a moment, I stayed still, letting the memories of the night before wash over me. Wolf’s arm was draped over my waist, his breathing slow and steady. It was tempting to stay there, wrapped in his warmth, but curiosity pulled me from the bed.
I slipped into a pair of jeans and one of Wolf’s shirts before making my way downstairs. The main room of the clubhouse was alive with energy. Music blasted from the speakers, and the brothers were scattered around, laughing, drinking, and decompressing from the night before. The tension of the fight was gone, replaced with the easy camaraderie that came from shared victory.
Wolf joined me a moment later, his presence grounding me as he wrapped an arm around my waist. “You okay?” he asked, his voice low.
I nodded, taking in the scene. The brothers greeted me with nods and smiles, their acceptance palpable. Ironhead raised a glass in my direction, his grin sharp. “You’ve got a hell of a woman here, Wolf,” he said.
Wolf chuckled, pulling me closer. “Don’t I know it.”
Lena, approached me with a warm smile. “Come on, Bella. Let’s get you a drink.”
I hesitated, glancing at Wolf, but he nodded, his expression encouraging. “Go ahead,” he said. “I’ll be here.”
Lena led me to the bar, her demeanour easy and welcoming. “You did good last night,” she said, handing me a glass of water. “Not a lot of women can handle this life, but I think you’ve got what it takes.”
Her words bolstered my confidence, and as the day went on, I found myself relaxing. The brothers treated me like one of their own, their banter and laughter infectious. Lena and I clicked instantly, her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude a refreshing change. By the time the sun began to set, I felt like I’d found my place here, among these rough, loyal, and fiercely protective people.
And when Wolf pulled me into his arms that night, whispering promises of forever, I knew that this was where I belonged.