Chapter 28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
ASPEN
It’s done and over with.
Adlet is no longer a problem lurking in the shadows. The devil in Asher’s and my story has been slain. We can finally live in peace.
It’s freeing in a way I didn’t know would be possible.
Tonight we celebrate. Not just the war being over, but Asher, and he has no idea.
Tonight is his patch-in party. He’s officially going to be a member of the Mountain River MC. There will be no going back now. Not that he would. Not unless I asked him to, which I wouldn’t.
He loves this club almost as much as he loves me.
“Kim texted. She says she has the sweets but is running late. Apparently, she got held up,” Rain says.
“Everything okay?” Maggie asks her.
“She said not to worry. Is Ashley still coming?”
“She is. She has parent-teacher conferences today, so she will be here later,” I tell them.
“That’s rough,” Maggie says.
“Yeah, she’s definitely going to need a drink by the time she gets here,” I say, making them laugh.
“Well, we have her covered. The bar is officially stocked. This place looks awesome,” Rain says as she wipes down the bar.
Maggie and I stop and look around. The place is cleaner than I think it ever has been. The floors shine like they are new. We hung up party lights and set up yard games in the back. The fucked-up pool sticks and broken darts have been replaced with new ones.
What makes me smile, though, is the balloon arch Ashley put together in her brother’s honor. She told us that her mom loved putting them together to celebrate big milestones before she got sick, so it felt fitting to include one today.
Is it childish? Absolutely, but I hope he loves it.
“Hey, what are you three up to?” Panther asks as he walks into the clubhouse.
“Your boots better be clean,” Maggie warns him as he approaches.
He ignores her sassiness and pulls her into his arms and kisses her.
“Okay, you two, keep it PG,” I tease.
Panther smiles down at her when he pulls away before turning toward me.
“Now you know what it feels like when I see you and Asher together.”
I roll my eyes but smile.
“It looks good in here,” he says as he looks around.
“Thanks,” we tell him in unison.
His eyes come back to mine, and my heart begins to race.
“You said you needed to talk to me?”
Maggie touches his arm lightly but looks at me. “We will give you two a minute.”
Maggie walks over to Rain and loops her arm through Rain’s, and they walk out together, leaving Calloway and me alone.
“What’s wrong?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
“Aspen…” he warns.
“I’m serious. Nothing is wrong. In fact, for the first time ever, I think everything is right.”
His eyes soften. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, which is why I wanted to talk to you.” I lick my lips and take a deep breath. “Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?” he asks as he leans against a table with a frown between his eyebrows.
I walk over and take a seat across from him.
“Thank you for loving me, for saving me. Thank you for giving Asher a chance to prospect. For letting him join.”
Calloway smiles as he shakes his head. “He earned his spot in the club. It was a unanimous decision to join. It wasn’t just my decision.”
“Still. Thank you.” I shrug.
“He makes you happy,” he says rather than asks.
“He does.”
Calloway looks away. “You know, growing up, I never thought anyone would be good enough for you. In fact, it used to keep me up at night. You were a wild child and had no fear. I used to worry like crazy about what you would get yourself into, but then you met him. While I might not like how you two met, there’s no denying that you two belong together.
” He looks back at me. “Asher proved he’s willing to put you first. That you are his main priority and he’s willing to lay down his life for yours.
He showed all of us that he loves you, that he’s worthy of you. I’d be a fool to let him go.”
I look down at my hands and smile.
Asher has proved all of those things and then some.
He’s been patient with me while I worked my way through the shit we went through. He forgave me when he didn’t have to, and he’s saved me time and time again. Even in ways he doesn’t know.
It’s the little things.
“He’s pretty amazing,” I say quietly.
“You’re amazing too. You know that, right?”
“That’s sweet of you to say, but we all know he’s the real prize in this relationship. I’m just the lucky fool who caught him.”
“You’re wrong,” he says, shaking his head.
“Agree to disagree.”
Calloway sighs. “Well, I guess it’s on brand for us Alstone siblings to think we don’t deserve good things.”
“But we’re working on it,” I add.
“That we are.” He clears his throat. “So…you guys cleaned.”
“We did.” I smile at his change of the subject.
“Was it not good enough or something?”
I look around. “It was good, but it could always be better.”
He rolls his eyes and then looks down at his watch. “Do you need to get ready for the party tonight?”
“I do. Is Asher still clueless?”
Calloway nods. “Yeah, he’s out running errands with Yak. The guy might like to talk, but he’s not going to spill the beans on something like this.”
“Good.”
“I’ll see you later?” he asks as I get off the stool.
“You know it. Go have fun with Maggie.”
We start walking our separate ways when I realize I forgot to ask him something.
“Oh, Calloway, I forgot to ask…” I say as I turn to face him.
He pauses at the door and looks over his shoulder. “What’s up?”
“Road names. Did you already pick one out for Asher?”
Calloway smirks. “I did.”
“Well, are you going to tell me?”
“You’ll find out later.”
“You’re not even going to give me a hint?”
“You already know.” He winks and then walks outside.
I huff. Fucking brothers, man.
ASHER
As we pull down the drive to the clubhouse, it becomes evident that a party is happening.
I look over at Yak. “Did you know about this?”
“No, but hurry the fuck up. I’m ready to get out of this cage,” he says as he rubs his hands together.
Tide lets us through the gate, and true to his word, as soon as we stop rolling, Yak is out of the truck and heading up the steps to the clubhouse. I laugh under my breath as I shut the truck off.
“Hurry the fuck up,” he says impatiently right outside the door.
“You know, Yak, maybe that’s why you’re single. You don’t know how to take your time,” I tease as I get out and start heading his way.
“Fuck you,” he says with no heat.
Instead of walking in ahead of me, he pushes me through the door, making me stumble.
“Surprise!” everyone yells as soon as I cross the threshold.
I look up and freeze as I take in the room around us.
Everyone is turned, looking at me with looks of excitement. The air smells like a mix of beach and alcohol, and there’s even a balloon arch in the corner.
“What in the fuck is going on?” I ask.
Yak laughs and shakes me by my shoulders. “Welcome to the club, buddy.”
As Yak steps away from me, Panther walks toward me.
Panther smiles as he comes to a stop next to me.
“Are you ready for this?” he asks quietly.
It’s then that it hits me what this is.
My swearing-in party.
My mouth goes dry, and I nod. “Yeah.”
Panther turns and whistles, making everyone fall silent.
It’s then that I spot Aspen in the crowd. Her hair is curled and down around her shoulders. Her eyes are bright with excitement, and her hands are clasped beneath her chin.
“Tonight, we welcome a new brother into our family. Asher might have come on our radar as a fed, but he quickly proved to us whose side he was on. He’s shown us nothing but loyalty, and in return, we welcome him into our family.
” He turns to look at me. “In church, when we were trying to pick a road name for you, Talon spoke up and reminded us of something. What you don’t know is that Cloak, our former president, named a lot of us.
Talon reminded us that Cloak used to say the road name should reflect the man, and as soon as he said it, only one name came to mind. Wolf.”
Wolf.
The name hits me in the solar plexus, and I swear it feels right.
“You were a lone wolf in a field of pigs, trying to make the world a better place. Then you met your songbird.” He looks over and winks at his sister before looking back at me.
“And you realized that the solitary life isn’t the one for you.
Because of her, you met us, and then you remembered, wolves run in packs.
At first, we didn’t know if you had ulterior motives, but you proved yourself to us time and time again.
You earned your way into our family. We are your pack, your chosen family, and we are fucking thrilled to have you by our side until death. ”
Eagle steps forward, carrying a leather cut.
A cut that has the name Wolf sewn on, showing everyone where my loyalty lies.
Panther takes it from him and helps slip it onto me.
As fucked up as it is, this might be the best surprise I’ve ever been given. The leather is smooth to the touch and feels right. It feels like mine.
“All right, everyone, let’s give a big welcome to our newest member, Wolf!” Panther yells.
The brothers go wild, hooting and hollering. Even a wolf whistle cuts through the air, making me smile.
“Welcome to the family, brother,” Panther says quietly.
I look over at him.
“Thank you,” I tell him sincerely.
“It’s nothing. Now go get your girl. She looks like she’s ready to come out of her skin.”
Without having to be told twice, I step forward, my eyes already on her.
Aspen breaks away from the girls and rushes toward me. She jumps into my arms and wraps her legs around my waist, her arms hugging me around my neck.
“You did it!” she squeals.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I tell her.
She leans down and kisses me before pulling back.
“How does it feel to officially be a member?”
“Right.”
“Yeah?” she asks, smiling beautifully.
“Yeah, and as soon as I can make it official, I’m making you my old lady.”
Her cheeks turn red. “I’d like that.”
She leans down and covers my mouth with hers, kissing me lightly. Only the kiss turns into more. Aspen hums into my mouth.
“Okay, Wolf, just because you’re a brother now doesn’t mean you get to make out with my sister in front of me.” Panther sighs, making our brothers laugh.
Aspen pulls back and rests her forehead on mine.
“Later?” I rasp.
“It’s a date.” She jumps down from my arms and takes my hand in hers. “Come on. Let’s go party with our friends before we sneak off and have our own party in private.”
Desire rolls through me.
Fuck yes.
She weaves us through the crowd, only pausing when brothers stop us to congratulate me. When we reach the bar, Rain smiles at us.
“What are we having tonight?” Rain asks.
“Shots,” Aspen tells her.
“Uh, no shots. Beer for me, please,” I tell her.
Aspen turns those doe eyes onto me. “One shot?”
“Fine, one.” I cave.
“Make it a round for all of us,” Yak says.
“Yes!” Ashley says, getting my attention.
“When did you get here?” I ask my twin.
She winks. “I’ve been here the entire time. You were just a little too distracted to notice.”
I go to tell her that she’s wrong, but realize she’s not. Well, shit.
“Who else wants shots?” Rain asks.
Panther and Maggie share a look and nod. “We’re in.”
“Same,” Ridge says.
“Sure, why not?” Eagle says.
As Rain gets our shots ready, I can’t help but look around and take it all in. I’ve got the girl I love under my arm, and we’re surrounded by our family.
I used to think I was supposed to be an agent. Be the one who taught people right from wrong, but in the end, it was me who was wrong. I was always meant for this life. I was always meant to be a Mountain River MC brother.
I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I wouldn’t change a damn thing.