Everlyn Chapter 14
The party was going strong. Earlier today, we had gathered, and the local police had shut down the main street leading to the charity’s storage building, where the toys would be organized, wrapped, and handed out to the children later in the month.
It had been an incredible sight, and we’d tied up traffic for a good hour.
Volunteers had been lined up on their end to take the toys from us, so that the line kept moving and didn’t become a snarled mess.
When that was accomplished, we went out to explore Gainesville further, as we did on Friday. We stopped for a late lunch at a local restaurant that the Prowlers loved. It was a place they made sure to visit at least once while in Gainesville. The food had lived up to their hype.
Then it was a brief rest at the cabins before returning to the main venue for more fun and music.
Overall, I was surprised at how few fights there were.
Sure, we had our Wayward Wanderers issue on day one, which I feared would set the tone, but it hadn’t.
And if there were more of them around, we hadn’t run into them.
If any of the other clubs had anything negative to say about the fact that there were women in the Prowlers’ club, they were smart enough to keep their comments to themselves.
It was dark, and I was wrapped in a hoodie, my property cut over the top. If that hadn’t been enough to keep me warm, Zephyr’s body holding mine kept me toasty. He radiated heat like a furnace.
The music was a combination of old rock and lighter heavy metal.
People sang along, while others danced. Alcohol was for sale, and many imbibed, but not our group.
The cops were waiting outside the closed-off area to tag anyone stupid enough to drink and ride.
We’d been closely scrutinized on Thursday and Friday nights when we left for the cabins.
And I had no doubt we would get the same tonight.
“Come on, you have to dance with us, Everlyn. It’s the last night. And the music is too good to ignore,” Spoiler pleaded. Both Slayer and she stood over me. They were shaking their bodies while standing in place.
“Go, have fun. I’ll be right here,” Zephyr said in my ear.
I gave him a hard, yet brief kiss, then jumped to my feet. They took me by the hands and dragged me not far away to where there was an open area to dance. The guys remained either seated on blankets on the ground or standing around.
I let the beat enter my bloodstream and take over my body. Both women were great dancers, very sensuous. We were far enough from the stage that we could hear each other if we spoke.
“So, what do you think of your first rally/ toy run? Are you having fun?” Spoiler asked.
“Do you regret coming?” Slayer added.
“I’ve had a blast. I needed this. Too bad Allegra couldn’t come, but I’m making her do it next time.
I hate that we have to leave tomorrow, but work needs us.
I can’t wait to attend another one. And the number of toys raised blows the mind.
And then add the clothing, and wow. They’ll be delivering stuff until next year. ”
They laughed along with me. After about twenty minutes of dancing, the band suddenly changed things up, switching to a slow song, which was a shock.
I turned to go back to sit with Zephyr. I never made it.
I was whirled around and wrapped in his muscular arms. He smiled down at me as he began to move.
“I hope you don’t mind dancing with me,” he stated.
“I’d love to. I didn’t know you’d slow dance,” I admitted.
“I know how, but it has been an eternity since I’ve done it. I’m rusty, so fair warning.”
“I don’t care if you are,” I admitted.
He never stepped on my feet once. When the song ended, he hugged me, then let me go to dance with the ladies again.
About half an hour later, we called it a night.
We wanted to go back to the cabins and hang out there.
We wanted to go back to the cabins and hang out there.
The guys could drink without risking arrest. Gathering the blankets and anything else we brought, we found our way back to the bikes, loaded up, and took off.
The campgrounds were a few miles outside of town.
We’d left the town limits and were on a stretch of road that wasn’t lit with street lights like they were in town.
And there seemed to be no one on them. We were alone on the road.
Stars shone down on us, along with a half moon.
It made the surrounding area somewhat spooky.
I shivered, trying to get rid of my silliness.
Then, out of the darkness, I heard a harsh curse, immediately followed by the sound of what I thought was a gunshot and swearing.
Zephyr and the others broke apart, scattered, and began weaving.
My heart was pounding nearly out of my chest. But despite my fear, I remembered to pull out my gun.
Zephyr reached into his cut and took out his.
Shots were flying off into the shadowy darkness as we sped even faster toward the cabins. At some point, there were no more echoes of shots, but I couldn’t stop swiveling around to see if I could see who shot at us or stop my heart from racing.
I didn’t feel the tension in Zephyr's body begin to ease until we came racing up to the entrance to Kenny’s land.
We flew through the gate and straight toward the cabins.
Surely whoever shot at us wouldn’t be stupid enough to follow us here.
There were too many people around on the nearby grounds.
We didn’t stop until we reached the carports outside the cabins. Bikes came to abrupt halts.
“Get off, elskling,” Zephyr said sharply.
I stumbled as I did. He kept me upright and held onto me as we headed for the cabin.
The whole club was speaking in Norse, I assumed.
I understood none of it. A flurry of activity broke out, and then everyone headed toward our cabin instead of splitting off.
I figured it was because they wanted to talk over what happened.
“Is anyone hurt? Do we need to call an ambulance?” I asked, suddenly wondering if the bullets had hit anyone. No one answered me.
Light after light was flipped on as the cabin filled with bodies.
I heard Zephyr bark something, and then there was movement.
That’s when I saw Raider being supported between Pirate and Harbinger.
He was hobbling toward our bedroom. I gasped.
Zephyr let go of me. He gave me a commanding look as he spoke to me.
“Stay out here. I’m going to check out Raider. You should drink something and sit. Shock can spike your blood sugar. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.”
Before I had a chance to reply, he left me standing there.
Others were milling around, muttering darkly and speaking to each other, still in Norse.
I felt lost. And for me, when that happened, I needed to have answers.
I paced the opposite side of the room, the section closest to our bedroom.
First Icelander, then the girls asked me if I needed anything.
Followed by suggestions that I sit. I brushed them off.
When everyone slipped back into speaking in their native language, I had had enough.
What if Raider needed an ambulance? I know that Zephyr was the club’s medic, but I had no clue how extensive his training was.
Did he hold a paramedic’s license, or was he more the wrap-it-up-and-that’s-all kind of medic?
Wanting to see if I could assist even if it were only to call 911, I slipped over to the bedroom door.
Not wanting to startle them, I eased open the door and slid inside.
I glanced at our bed where Raider reclined.
He was swearing. Pirate and Harbinger stood off to the right of the bed, while Zephyr was on the left, bent over Raider’s body, shielding him from view.
He had a bag open, one he’d brought in off the bike the first night we were here.
There was medical stuff scattered on the foot of the bed.
No one saw me since they faced Raider. I opened my mouth to announce my arrival and ask if they needed help, but was stopped by Raider’s words.
“I want you to find out who the fuck did this. And when you do, make an example out of them,” he snarled.
“We will, Pres, but first we need to get you patched up,” Pirate replied.
“I’ll be fine,” Raider said impatiently.
“You’ve been shot in the gut. You’re not standing up and walking this off in an hour. Stop moving. I’m trying to make sure everything is cleaned and covered with gauze,” Zephyr told him.
“It’s not like it’ll kill me,” Raider grumbled. Harbinger and Pirate chuckled.
“Yeah, but we can’t let him hop up and act as if nothing is wrong. Everlyn saw us bring him in here. She knows something happened,” Zephyr said.
“Get some of the brothers together and go hunting,” Raider snapped.
Nothing they said made sense to me.
“I already sent Fenrir out with Berserker to see if they can track whoever did this. It might be those Wanderers we had words with on Thursday,” Pirate replied.
“Whoever it is, we’ll find them. When we do, they’ll feel the fury of the ulfhednar. They won’t live to do it again,” Raider snapped.
Their words scared me. I took a step backward just as Zephyr shifted so I could fully see Raider.
The club president’s eyes were glowing greenish-gold like a predator’s at night.
His gaze drilled into mine. I gasped. The other three’s heads whipped around to look at me. Their eyes were doing the same thing.
I screamed, then, without another thought, I scrambled out the door. I heard Zephyr shout my name. The others were gathered in the kitchen. They swung around to look at me. I didn’t stop. All I heard was my mind screaming at me to run.
I shot to the front door and tore it open.
Running outside, I was flustered. Where should I go?
I need to find help. Whatever they were, the Grave Prowlers weren’t human.
Tears of terror filled my eyes as I darted off toward where the owner’s house was.
Zephyr had pointed toward where he lived.
Surely he or someone else camping here would help me.
The sounds of raised voices and the thunder of feet from inside sent me running as fast as I could.