Chapter 2 #2
I gunned my Road King as fast as I could, promising myself whoever had just hurt Breezy would pay with their lives.
The echo of her screaming my name, and then the sound of metal crunching, caused my wolf and man to both howl.
I barely contained the beast from shifting, knowing I’d reach her faster on the big machine I was riding.
The scene I came upon made me leap from the bike, uncaring if the thing slid the final twenty feet as I shifted into my wolf.
My mate was being dragged from her mangled car, and blood seeped from a wound on her head.
The colors of her hair looked distorted through my wolf’s eyes, but I knew the normal blonde color with its pink and purple streaks had another mixed in.
I could scent the metallic smell of her precious life’s essence.
Two vehicles had driven next to her Cobra.
The blue SUV and a smaller four-door. I took it in with a glance.
The four completely human men glanced at the bike flying past them, unaware that the real danger was the wolf locked on their location.
I didn’t think before jumping on the man who was closest to Breezy, ripping his throat out without stopping.
My claws slashed at the next man holding a gun, his lifeless body falling to the ground.
I spun, feeling a pain hit my shoulder, but I didn’t stop.
Two down, two more to go. The men holding Breezy froze for a moment, then one transferred her to the other, lifting the gun and taking aim.
With faster reflexes, I shifted and leaped.
A startled gasp was cut off as I wasted no time ripping into him.
I turned and watched the last man drop an unconscious Breezy.
His fleeing form had jumped into the Tahoe, its taillights getting smaller.
I shifted quicker than I’d ever done, grabbing Breezy and rolling just before the big vehicle would have driven over her head.
I growled low in my throat, looking at the license plate, only to see there was none. Headlights lit up the night. The cavalry had arrived.
“Holy fuck, man. Did you have to go and have all the fun without inviting us?” Kellen kicked the center stand down on his bike, surveying the scene in a sweeping glance.
I shrugged my shoulders, not quite under control. “They were about to cart her off to god only knew where. I guess my wolf didn’t like it.”
Wyck drove up with a flatbed wrecker. “Dayummm,” he drawled the word out. “I missed all the fun. We need to get this cleaned up quick like. Them fuckers are human boys.”
Kellen knelt next to one, inhaling. “They stink like shifters, but they’re not.”
Lyric and Rowan pulled in next, Rowan’s big ass truck blocking the view from the highway. “I’m assuming this isn’t going to get called in?” Rowan’s deep voice asked as he bent and lifted one of the dead men into the back of his pickup.
I was glad my sister had met and mated a man who was more than a perfect match for her. Being ex-military and part of a Phantom team, Rowan had clearly seen and done more killing than any of the Iron Wolves.
“These guys were well organized and prepared for her,” I announced. “I don’t think they knew I’d be following, though.”
Coti came back from checking out the vehicle they’d left. “The car is totally clean, but it’s not a normal car.”
“What do you mean?” Kellen asked, watching Rowan load the bodies into the back of his truck as if it were a normal, everyday occurrence. I was a little stunned, too, at the efficiency of the matter, but I looked at my sister, and she smiled.
“My mate is a man of many talents. He knows these guys were out to hurt a member of the pack, so that means they are the enemy. Therefore, he is cool with what had to be done.” She shrugged as if that were enough of an answer.
“I knew I liked him from the beginning.” Kellen’s voice boomed.
I rolled my eyes, still holding an unconscious Breezy.
I was getting a little worried. “Baby, I need you to wake up.” I ran my hand down her face.
With all the noise and commotion, she should have already been awake and ripped me a new ass, or at the very least been upset over the damage to her new car.
“She’s going to be so pissed when she realizes her car is gonna need some work. ”
Kellen looked at the car. “We can make it to where that thing never rides again.”
“I wanna get laid again, by my mate.” I glared at Kellen. One day, a woman was gonna come and knock him flat on his ass, and I wanted a front row seat.
“Whipped already,” Kellen said, sounding disgusted.
I will gladly repair the vehicle if she’d wake up and look at me.
Her breathing and heartbeat were normal.
A knot on the side of her head, where the blood had come from, was the only concerning thing I could see.
I pressed my lips to her forehead, placing small kisses down her temple, then on her lips.
“Come on, love. You’re scaring the piss out of me. ”
A moan escaped from her parted lips. “Xan?”
“Yeah, Bella. You’re safe. I got you.” Because I couldn’t help myself, I feathered another kiss on her lips.
“What happened?” Then her body jerked as she tried to get out of my arms. “They were chasing me. My car. Oh, god. My poor car.”
I laughed. “I told you. She’d be worried about her precious car.
” I looked down and swore I’d do anything she asked of me.
“I’ll have your baby up and purring like a gem in no time.
Better than it was.” Hell, I’d pull the moon down if it wiped the fear and anxiety from her face.
I was so effing screwed, and didn’t that just make me happy?
Now I just had to prove to one she-wolf I meant business and wasn’t planning to let her run from me again.
“I don’t understand why they want me.” Her entire body shook.
Wyck came over to us. “I’ve got your car and Xan’s bike loaded onto the rig. Y’all ready to roll on up outta here or what?”
“What happened to your bike?” Breezy asked.
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. Fuck, I’d give up my left nut if it meant you were never harmed.”
She turned startled eyes up at me, clearly noticing she was draped over my naked form. “What did you do, Xan?”
“Nothing I wouldn’t do again, Bella. Come on, we’ll hitch a ride with Lyric and Rowan.”
Lyric nodded and jogged over to their truck.
How strange it was to consider what used to be Rowan’s theirs.
As in Lyric and Rowan’s. I wondered if I would be picking out China patterns with Breezy, then laughed.
I was more of a paper plate and red solo cup kinda guy, but again, if it made my mate happy, I’d do it.
Whoa, I needed to get one feisty woman to agree to be mine first. My wolf whined, but I pushed him back.
“Where to, Xan?” Rowan asked once we were in the backseat of the big truck.
“My place,” I said at the same time Breezy said her place.
“My dad and brothers will freak the fuck out, Xan.”
“Sweets, believe me, they’ll be just fine. You will be safest staying with me, especially with Kellen’s place not a mile away.” I gave her my most charming grin.
“We will meet at Xan’s and fill you in, Breezy. It’s non-negotiable. I’ll inform your family.” Kellen turned and walked back to his bike, strapping his skullcap back on.
It was good to be alpha.
“Don’t you dare smirk, Xander Fucking Carmichael.” She punched me in the arm. “Are you going to put some pants on? Also, are you going to put me down, and do you know you’re bleeding?” She ran her finger over my shoulder.
My cock hardened at her touch, making her eyes widen. “Bella, I’m not letting you go until I get you in my home. Who fucking cares about clothes or that little scratch? Ignore him, he’s constantly in a state of arousal around you.” I shifted her on my lap.
“Well, make him stop,” she groused.
I laughed. “Only one thing will do that.”
“And that ain’t happening in my backseat. The only ones allowed to fuck in my truck are Lyric and I.”
I growled. “Don’t make me kill you, Rowan.”
Lyric put her head in her hands. “Oh, god. I can’t believe you just said that to my brother.”
Rowan shrugged his big shoulders, not the least intimidated. “Hey, I’m pretty sure he’s done a lot worse in some...” I cut him off as I lifted my hand, claws extended. Rowan may be an alpha, but I still outranked him.
“You’d best concentrate on the road, brother.”
Breezy’s head fell to the crook of my neck.
“I know you’re no angel, Xan. Don’t forget I’ve walked into the club office on a few things you can’t unsee.
” Hurt laced her words. For the world, I wished I could erase the past, but I couldn’t.
However, I could make sure the future held only her and me and all the fantasies she wanted, and even some she didn’t know existed.
“From here on out, there will be no other but you and me,” I promised.
She tried to put space between us, but I held firm, and then Rowan drove over the cattle guard at the entrance to my property.
The rustic-looking cabin was a mile down the tree-lined driveway, with a wraparound porch.
I waited to see what Breezy thought of the place, hoping she liked what she saw.
Her inhale didn’t give away her inner musings, but the twinkle in the amber eyes staring at me confused me.
“I like the rocking chairs.” Her head tilted toward the twin rockers on one side of the porch.
The other had a set of wicker chairs with a table between them.
I liked both for different reasons. The porch wrapped around, with a deck off the master bedroom that had a hammock I liked to lie in at night, big enough for two.
I wondered if she’d enjoy lying out there with me, naked and looking at the stars.
Fuck! I was becoming a damn pussy-whipped motherfucker. A grin split my lips.
“You know you look a little devious right now, right?”
I ignored her question as the truck pulled to a stop in front of the wide steps.
Lyric waited for Rowan to come around to her door, and I popped open the door on the back driver’s side, sliding out with Breezy in my arms. I inhaled, scenting for any danger.
Kellen’s bike pulled in behind us. I assumed Coti and Wyck had returned to the Club to take care of Breezy’s car and my bike.
Luckily, I had another bike, a truck, and a car, not to mention my favorite XV in my garage to choose from.
The thought of letting Breezy drive one of them made me break out in a cold sweat.
Not because I didn’t trust her, but fear for her life, and the fact that we didn’t know who was out to get her.
I waited until we were safely in my home before setting her on her feet. The wound on her head was already healing. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up, and then we’ll talk. Y’all make yourself comfortable.”
Linking our fingers, I led a dazed Breezy down the hallway to the master suite.
When she didn’t protest at the doorway, I continued into the large bathroom, still naked.
“Let’s get you cleaned first.” The bullet was itching to get out, but my wolf demanded I take care of our mate, even though we hadn’t formally claimed her yet.
“Um, I can take care of myself. I’ll just be a moment, or I can use another bathroom.
Do you want me to…tend to your wound first?
” She was adorable when she stammered and blushed so prettily.
I didn’t think she would with her experience, but I pushed the thoughts of other men with her out of my mind.
Killing her previous lovers, men I’d never seen her with, wouldn’t endear her to me.
“I need to make sure you’re truly okay, Bella mine.” It wasn’t a line. My wolf, as well as the man, needed to look her over from head to toe. The coppery scent of her blood could be seen as well as smelled. We needed to wash the offense off her and ensure she was never injured again.
Breezy backed away from me. “Oh, no. I am not going to be another notch on your belt.”
My eyes widened. She thought I wanted her for a night or for a plaything.
I’d have to prove that wasn’t the case, but not with a houseful of people.
“Take a shower and get clean. I’ll shower across the hall, and after they leave, we will talk.
” I stabbed my finger in her direction. “If you ever run off again, I swear by all that is holy, I’ll blister your ass so fucking hard you won’t be able to sit for a damn week without feeling the sting. Feel me?”
I didn’t wait to hear her reply, turning on my heel and stalking from the bathroom. The door to the ensuite shut behind me with a thud, letting me know she didn’t like my words, but I didn’t give a flying fuck. Her safety was my priority.
The lonely shower sucked as did the fact my dick was hard enough to drill holes in the wall, yet the only hole it wanted was across the hall.
The image of a slicked-up, naked Breezy had me reaching for the soap.
I washed my hair and body quickly, knowing the people out in my living room would know I was jacking off, but I had to release the pressure in my aching balls, or I’d never be able to focus.
It only took a few hard pumps, and the thought of Breezy on her knees with her lips wrapped around the head of my dick, to have me coming like a teenager.
I grunted as streams of come flew out and washed down the drain with the water.
Quickly, I finished and dressed in record time.
As I entered my bedroom, I could hear the shower running and felt like a caged wolf.
I paced the length of my room, wanting to knock down the door.
When the shower cut off, I barely contained my instinct to go in and help her dry off.
I’d dressed in a pair of loose sweats and a white T-shirt.
I wasn’t sure what Breezy would put on, so I grabbed leggings and a sweatshirt Lyric had left in the guest room.
Knocking on the door, I yelled, “I have something for you to put on that’s clean. ”
I swore it sounded like she growled something about my whores’ leftovers, which made me laugh.
“You and Lyric are about the same size, and since they’re leggings and a sweatshirt, they should work.
” I made sure to keep my voice level. No sense in pissing her off anymore.
I’d have to let her know I’d never brought a woman to my home.
Ever. When I fucked a woman, or a she-wolf, it was always at her place, the club, or somewhere else.
I didn’t do morning afters or lead them on.
With Breezy, it was different. She just didn’t know it yet.
The door jerked open a couple of inches. I saw her wet head and my dark red towel wrapped around her chest. I felt like whining when she hid the rest of her body behind the door.
“Thank you.” She held her hand out.