Chapter 27 The Claws #2
I took him in. Purple hair. Tattoos crawled up his neck and disappeared beneath his collar. When Toma faced me, his grin went too wide and too wild. Additionally, he was handsome in a dangerous way—sharp cheekbones, eyes lit with mischief and violence.
He didn’t sit like the rest of the Claws. Instead, he was sprawled in his chair like he owned it. Still, his gaze was sharp and menacing.
He’s in testing mode.
I didn’t know why I thought that, but it was just what came to me.
Toma’s gaze shifted to Reo for a second and then he put his gaze back on me like I was a new game piece on a board he’d mastered—curious to see whether I was a pawn or something much more disruptive. “What do you want us to call you?”
Yes. . .he’s testing me.
I smiled back, doing my best to match his energy. “Nyomi is fine.”
“No. It should be one of your nicknames.”
My pulse kicked, but not from fear. From the thrill of being hunted while hunting. I leaned my head to the side. “And what are my nicknames?”
“There are many being whispered. Tiger. Outsider. Temptress. Chef. The Dragon’s Heart. The Dragon’s Noose.” Toma's eyes never left mine.
He’s testing to see if I’ll hide behind Kenji.
“Hmmm.” I considered the names. “I like all of them for different reasons, but perhaps, we can start with Tiger for now. I also love Tora.”
“Tora, huh?” That mischievous grin widened. “But do you bite?”
I began to open my mouth, but Kenji beat me to the response, and his voice went deadly. “Keep talking and it won’t be the Tiger’s bite that you would worry about.”
The grin instantly left Toma’s face. He kept his gaze on me and laughed, but it wasn't welcoming. It was a challenge as if he were saying, ‘Eventually, I’m going to see what you're made of, little Tiger and the Dragon won’t be around to help you.’
Kenji sneered at them all. "She will only be addressed as Nyomi at this time. Nothing else. I hear anyone say Tiger or Tora and there will be a problem."
Oh God. Can you let me get to know them?
Kenji didn’t raise his voice, but the entire room seemed to lean toward him anyway, pulled in by gravity he didn’t bother to hide.
His hand tightened on my thigh and pressed just enough to make the fabric shift against my skin.
“I will not tolerate any disrespect to my Heart. Address her with respect, or bleed for the insult.”
I stiffened.
Granted, the possessiveness should have felt suffocating. Instead, it felt like being wrapped in armor made of obsidian and fire.
The Fangs nodded immediately.
The Claws just continued to watch me.
Really tough group.
Reo cleared his throat and gestured to the twins. “This is Aki and Yuki.”
The two men were identical. Black hair slicked back, matching scars under their chins.
Same suits.
Same posture.
Even their breathing was synchronized.
But their eyes weren't. One held calculation. The other held rage, carefully banked. I was guessing that the twins had somehow learned to move as one unit, but underneath, they were two separate people who'd survived something horrifically terrible enough to bind them together forever.
What happened to them?
One watched my face.
The other watched my hands.
Coordinated surveillance. Do they always do that?
Seconds later, they tilted their heads in perfect unison.
One spoke, “She made. . .”
The other finished, “. . .banana bread.”
Back to the first, “For the Dragon's guards.”
The second shook his head. “Again. . .not for the Claws.”
The disgust in their voices was palpable.
Oh shit. How did they find out about the banana bread? These guys stay gossiping about food.
I could see it in the twins’ gazes that they felt like the Dragon’s guards were beneath them in the hierarchy.
And I'd fed guards before feeding the Claws? No wonder they had not given me a warm welcome.
I felt Kenji tense beside me. His body went rigid. A growl started building in his chest—low and dangerous. He was about to explode into a roar.
No. No. No. Let me handle this. I need to have a voice among them.
Under the table, I gently touched his hand.
He calmed.
Sighing, I looked at the twins. "You’re right about the banana bread. I'm going to fix that. I didn’t think anything of it because I have a much bigger plan for the Claws. A huge gesture."
Thankfully, Kenji didn’t roar even though his body remained rigid beside me, ready to defend my honor with bloodshed.
I kept my voice steady. “In fact, I talked to Hiro this morning. Again, we're planning a big surprise.”
Kaede's eyes narrowed.
He’s still suspicious.
Toma's grin faded slightly.
He’s still testing.
Daisuke remained expressionless.
He’s waiting for proof.
The twins exchanged glances and then frowned.
They’re unconvinced.
One twin—Aki, I thought, based on the slight scar deviation—met my eyes directly for the first time. "What kind of surprise?"
"You'll have to wait and see," I said.
The other twin—Yuki—almost smiled. Almost. "We're good at waiting."
"And watching," Aki added.
"We see everything," they said together, but this time it sounded like a threat.
Kenji sneered.
The Claws were clearly a group of guys that had been through a lot and needed action not words in order to believe a person.
Tough crew, but. . .a very loyal one to Kenji. I don’t feel like any of them are spies.
And also. . .the more the Claws studied me, the more I felt the truth settle in my chest. I wanted to be worthy of this world. . .I yearned for their welcoming acceptance, and I wasn’t sure what that said about me.
That being said, I leaned Kenji’s way and whispered, “All of the Claws are clear. There are no spies in that group.”
He let out a low breath as if he’d been holding it the whole time. “Thank you, Tora.”
Reo had been watching us.
I gave him a small nod too.
Relief hit his eyes and he actually smiled.
A creak sounded across the room.
The door opened.
Who’s this?
Hiro walked in.
Oh.
I put my gaze on Hiro.
He was rubbing his eyes like he'd just woken up. Hiro’s hair fell across his forehead in a way that made his already handsome face look younger, softer—almost innocent on a man built for brutal violence.
Aww. He’s well-rested.
The dark circles under his eyes were lighter. His shoulders were relaxed instead of rigid with tension.
This was the first time I'd seen him look so peaceful.
The room's reaction was instant.
The Claws sat up straighter. Kaede's expression softened—barely, but it was there.
The twins shifted in their seats—left then right, a choreographed ripple of respect.
Even Toma stopped grinning, his face settled into something resembling respect.
Daisuke, who had been blending into the setting, actually waved like he wanted to be noticed.
Their leader is here. They’re so different with him around.
It made me happy that I got to see their energy in Hiro’s absence. Now I fully understand how devoted they were to him.
Hiro nodded at each one and continued walking.
There was an empty chair next to the twins—clearly Hiro's spot.
But he didn't go there.
Instead, he walked directly toward where Reo sat.
Right next to me.
What’s he doing?
Hiro stopped there, looked at Reo, and said nothing.
What’s going on?
Reo kept a neutral expression, stood without hesitation, and picked up his tea.
What is Reo doing?
Still carrying his tea, Reo walked away. Seconds later, he stopped at the empty chair by the twins and sat down.
O-kay. . .
Yawning, Hiro sat in the empty chair beside me. His shoulder grazed mine, but that tiny touch carried weight, acceptance, and unexpected warmth.
The Claws' eyes widened slightly. Kaede's eyebrow raised. Toma's knowing grin returned. The twins tilted their heads in unison, processing. Daisuke nodded once, making note of something.
Confused, I leaned toward Kenji and whispered, “Why did that happen?”
Kenji’s lips brushed my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “Hiro is putting himself next to you. The Claws follow him. If he sits beside you, it tells them you're not just mine. You're ours. Family. They'll trust his judgment.”
Okay. That makes complete sense.
The realization hit me all at once.
Hiro’s scent swarmed around me next.
Hmmm.
Today, he smelled like toasted sugar and cherry blossoms.
Warm, sweet, and dangerous.
Yawning again, Hiro reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out two red-and-gold lollipops.
Without looking at anyone else, he held a lollipop out to me. “Here, sis.”
The entire room sharpened.
Kaede froze mid-breath.
Toma’s eyes actually widened.
Daisuke blinked three times.
The twins exchanged another quick glance—this one not suspicion but surprise.
Even Reo, now seated farther away, paused with his tea halfway to his lips.
Only Kenji didn’t move; he watched with a faint curl at the corner of his mouth, as if this were something he already figured would happen and was glad he’d guessed right.
Shocked, I took the lollipop. “Thanks. . .bro.”
Hiro unwrapped his lollipop with a single flick of his thumb.
Smooth.
Fluid.
He’d definitely done that a thousand times.
Alright then.
I did my best to mirror him and failed.
Daisuke's shoulder twitched—the barest movement, but I caught it.
Amusement.
I gave up and used both hands to take off the wrapping. The plastic crinkled softly between my fingers.
Hiro watched me with intrigue and lifted his lollipop to his mouth.
Fast, I did the same.
Together, we placed them on our tongues.
Oh damn.
The flavor hit instantly—dark cherry syrup, warm vanilla sugar, and a tiny spark of citrus that melted against my tongue like an illicit secret.
No wonder he’s always sucking on these.
This was not sweet or childish. This was a grown man’s candy. A killer’s indulgence refined into softness.
Kaede straightened with new respect.
The twins eased back in their chairs, suspicion dissolving into something closer to allegiance.
Toma let out a sharp, approving huff—almost a laugh.
Daisuke’s chin dipped once and then he blended back into the surroundings.
Next, Hiro faced the Claws and pulled out the lollipop. “Have you all met Nyomi?”
The Claws nodded.
“Good.” Hiro twisted the lollipop between his fingers. “Nyomi fed me this morning. Eggs Benedict. We cooked together.”
Daisuke snorted.
Hiro raised his eyebrows.
Daisuke cleared his throat and pursed his lips.
Hiro licked the lollipop. “The food was good. Really good.”
The twins exchanged awkward glances.
“For the first time since Nura died. . .I slept without a nightmare.”
Silence.
Complete, absolute silence came.
Next, the Claws' body language shifted.
Kaede's gloved hands unfolded on the table.
Acceptance.
Daisuke put his gaze on me and it actually held respect.
She's not a threat.
Toma's grin became genuine and he even gave me a friendly nod.
Welcome to the Claws.
The twins' synchronized tilt stopped. For once, they weren't mirrors. Aki's hand moved to his throat—just above his scar—while Yuki's fingers curled into a fist on the table. Two different reactions to the same relief: their captain could finally rest.
The shift in the room was so sudden it left me dizzy.
One second: hostile assessment, wolves deciding if I was prey.
Next second: full acceptance due to their alpha, the pack making room for a new member.
I dragged in a breath—deep, full, the first one that didn't feel like it was being squeezed through a straw. I was glad I had passed whatever test the Claws had been giving me. . .because of Hiro.
My hands, still hidden in my lap, finally unclenched. Part of me still couldn’t believe I was here—trusted, protected, tested. The other part knew I’d earned this seat, and that scared me more than anything.
I raised one hand, took out the lollipop, looked at Hiro, and kept my voice low. "Thank you."
“No. Thank you. . .”
I grinned.
Reo stood.
The room went silent again, but this time the energy was different.
Focused.
Ready.
Reo's voice carried over the space. "Today another message to the Fox was intercepted on the island."
The words hung in the air.
Under the table, Kenji let go of my thigh and turned his hand up so that our fingers laced together.
His grip was firm, possessive, and tender.
His thumb traced the sensitive skin of my inner wrist, finding my pulse point.
And I swore that touch said, ‘You did well. You're safe. You're mine. I love you.’
Placing the lollipop back into my mouth, I squeezed his hand twice and delivered my own message to the Dragon, ‘I know. I trust you. I love you too.’
Reo continued, “I called this meeting today because I now don’t think it is one spy. I believe it is multiple spies. Coordinating. Watching. Waiting for the Fox’s signal to kill.”
Kenji sneered. “There is a nest of snakes on this fucking island, and we’re going to hunt and kill them, one by fucking one.”
I blinked.
Fuck. Now the meeting is really beginning.