Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Marie
The back of my neck fucking itches. It’s as if someone can’t stop staring at me, but I refuse to turn around to see who it may be.
I definitely know it’s not Devon because he’s sitting in the same row as I am.
I’m sitting sandwiched between my alphas.
I figured Devon wouldn’t want to be anywhere near me, but I was wrong.
He’s on Wilder’s right side, and he forced Vik to move so that he’d be able to sit there. That alpha’s arrogance knows no bounds, I swear.
The emotions from the funeral make my eyes burn, and I caved and put my sunglasses on.
Storm and Wilder are sitting close enough to me that the pressure of their bodies feels as close to a hug as I can stand, and their hands lay heavy on my thighs to ground me.
The tears never land, but my skin feels as if it’s vibrating with anxiety and sadness.
The men on either side of me never twitch, and neither of them judge me. I’ll break at home, after I kick any lingering club members that aren’t mine out so I can do it in peace.
Devon and Wilder stand to speak, and my eyes widen.
“Fuck, I may lose it if they get sappy,” I whisper so only Storm can hear me.
“They won’t,” he whispers back. “Wilder is holding on by a thread too. There are grown men crying here, Kitty. Again, no one will judge you for it.”
Chewing on my bottom lip, I watch as Devon stands up at the podium first.
“We all have stories about my brother,” he begins.
“He was this larger than life warrior, a friend, a leader, as well as my brother.
He always felt as if he was one step ahead of everyone else, and it was comforting to know I could always count on him.
Some of you remember our father, and while we all agree he was a great president, he lacked in other places.
“A part of me always wanted to see if he would have children, because I need the blueprint on how to be a parent from him. Silly, huh? I learned how to be President from him, how to be a fair alpha due to his influence, and I want to punch him for leaving us.”
There are a couple of quiet chuckles at his words, and I shake my head because this is how these men seem to deal with their emotions. They beat the snot out of people and things until they feel better.
Lore and Ace’s caskets lay side by side in front of me, with both of them closed. All I want is to open Lore’s to say goodbye, so I hold onto Storm’s hand instead until the impulsive thought passes.
“I’m unsure if the world will miss Lore, but we sure will,” Devon sighs.
“I know that Wilder is the best person to step into his very large shoes. I do, despite how angry I am. This isn’t the place for promises of retribution, however, I will find it for my brother.
I hope he rests easy, despite the holes he’s left behind. ”
His eyes move over the pews until they fall on me, and I feel empty as I stare back at him. The words don’t evoke anything inside of me, because of the terrible first impression he left me with.
Moving aside, he allows Wilder to speak, and the first thing my alpha does is acknowledge the man who died protecting his club. Not Lore, but Ace.
“Folks, can we turn in our seats and tell Ace’s uncle how good of a human his nephew was?” Wilder asks. “He owns a mechanic shop here in town, and his name is Henry.”
Turning, I find Henry trying to hide in the corner. Standing, I make my way over to him and sit beside him, holding out my hand until he takes it and squeezes it hard.
“I’ve heard stories of your nephew for the last few days,” I tell him. “He was a hard worker, funny, and saw more than people gave him credit for. I am so sorry for your loss.”
“Fuck,” he whispers, his eyes shutting as a tear leaks out. “Dammit, I almost made it.”
“Sadness has a way of festering before it eats away at you,” I say, allowing my own tears to finally fall. My sunglasses hide them, right up until they slide off my nose. “Your kindness to me kept me alive, or I’d be sleeping on the streets. Don’t lose it because fate is cruel.”
A few grunts around me tell me that my words have been overheard and appreciated. My eyes meet Wilder’s and I incline my head so he can continue. His green eyes warm slightly as he watches me, and I lay my head on Henry’s shoulder as Wilder continues his speech.
His words have more to offer me than Devon’s and soon I’m quietly crying as I sit beside Henry.
“Can I give you a ride to the cemetery?” Henry asks as we stand at the end of the service.
“My presence has been requested for the funeral procession on the back of my alpha’s bike, but thank you,” I say.
My tears taste salty on my lips as Storm arrives at my pew to take my hand, and Henry makes a sound under his breath.
“Scent matches make things complicated,” I say softly, only for his ears.
“I’ll be damned,” he mutters. “That they do. I’ll see you at the cemetery, Marie.”
“You will.”
That’s all I say before I walk out of church with Storm, happy the rain is over as a gust of wind throws my hood off my hair.
“I’m proud of you,” Storm says as we descend the stairs.
“He’s surrounded by people he doesn’t particularly care for. It was the right thing to do,” I reply. “Today is hard enough.”
A loud revving of a motorcycle makes me twitch, and Storm twists his body to catch me when my foot doesn’t land correctly.
His lips move to my ear as I look for the sound, the cocky smirk of the biker sitting on his perch, making me fist my hand so I don’t flip him the bird. His eyes are dark and hooded, and his arms show off the full extent of his tattoos.
“You’re going to be a good girl and sit behind me on my bike, right, Marie?” Storm asks.
“What if I want to learn to ride?” I ask suddenly with a frown. “Is that allowed?”
“I’m pretty sure telling you that it’s not will result in some type of electricity directed toward my knot,” he says. “I don’t have a rule about this, though some clubs are very insistent that their women ride bitch.”
“That’s adorable. I want to learn,” I shrug. “Who’s the idiot who startled me over there?”
Storm’s gaze flicks over to the man just as he pulls his balaclava over the lower half of his face. The weather is getting colder, and it vaguely makes me wonder how he’s not frozen.
“He’s one of Devon’s men. Wilder will know more about him,” he explains.
Nodding, I continue to walk with Storm toward his bike, but I continue to feel as if I’m being stared at the way I was in the church.
It takes a lot not to crane my neck around to see who it is, though it won’t do me any fucking good since three fourths of the men around me are wearing helmets by now.
“Let’s see what we can do about this dress, Marie,” Storm says, squatting down to knot it mid thigh. “Fuck, that’s a lot of skin on display.”
“It’s a thigh,” I say in a deadpan tone, to show he’s being ridiculous. “Besides, I’ve been flashing my thigh anyway because of the slit. I’ll survive, Storm.”
“I’ll still be annoyed by it,” he admits, standing up.
His lips slant over mine, kissing me slowly and thoroughly until I whine into his mouth. People hoot and holler, leaving me to wonder if he was just trying to get me out of my head.
“The caskets are in the hearse,” he says heavily, kissing my forehead.
“Your distraction techniques need work,” I lie, putting my sunglasses away. There’s no need to hide my tears anymore. I can see the raw emotions of the men around me.
Storm is right: no one is going to judge me for crying today.
“I’ll just as happily spank your ass red before I put you on the back of my bike,” he grumbles. “I didn’t want you to watch them take their caskets out. Now, for your helmet, Little Queen.”
“Please, no,” I hiss, allowing him to put the spare helmet over my head. Actually, I can’t call it that since it was bought specifically for me. “The spanking might be fun, but that nickname? Ugh.”
“You’re the one who went out and decided to make our club adore you,” he teases, getting on the bike before offering me his hand. “Nice big step, baby. Then make sure you’re holding me tightly.”
The tied up skirt is a little difficult to manage as I slide in behind him, and I scoot up so that I’m not flashing the world.
It also shows off my gun if I move in just the right way, so I suppose it’s just as well that we’ll probably be placed in the middle of the group.
I’m quickly learning the club protects their own, and I’m now part of that.
The transition from being on the outskirts to being accepted still blows my mind with how quickly it happened, but I suppose it is my fault for mouthing off.
Settling on the back of the bike, I reach up to drop down the visor of my helmet when something heavy is dropped on my shoulders. The smell of the leather hits my senses, along with the scent of violets and dark chocolate.
“What?”
Twisting in my seat, I have to look way up to see who put the jacket on me.
“The floors are wet, and your girl isn’t exactly dressed to be on the back of a bike,” the alpha from earlier growls at Storm. His face is free of any face covering, and he’s pissed. “If you wreck, it won’t fucking be pretty.”
“I offered to drive, but it appears to be a whole thing,” I shrug. I don’t enjoy being ignored.
“So you’re offering your jacket?” Storm asks. “That’s a statement I don’t appreciate.”
“If it’s going to keep her from being a smear on the goddamned pavement, then you can take it however the fuck you want.”
“Shouldn’t I know whose jacket I’m wearing?” I ask, making no move to put my arms through.
While the jacket is huge, I’m still wearing my raincoat, and the multiple layers make it difficult to move. It’s not the safest in case I need my weapon for some reason.
“I’m Ransom,” the alpha says, his hooded eyes heating slightly.
I’m confused by the attraction that he’s obviously feeling, and I don’t understand why I want to wear his stupid jacket.