Morgan watched as Hank turned to him, with his lips pulled into a firm line. “Get everyone in the main room. Everybody that has a .380 needs to hand it over to the best shots in the group.” Hank passed the handful of bullets to Colt. “Divide these out to them.” He pulled his own pistol from the back of his pants, opened the chamber, and replaced a bullet with the silver one he’d held on to. “This one’s for that fucking piss ant.”
“What’s going on?” Colt asked.
Morgan glanced at her brother. Would he really kill Ant? Why? Nothing had even happened. Yet, she reminded herself.
“Anybody that wants their family under the protection of the clubhouse needs to have them here within the hour. After that, we’re on lockdown.”
Morgan watched as Colt nodded, then disappeared out the door.
“What’s going on, Hank?” She tried to sound strong, but she was just too exhausted to keep the worry out of her voice.
“I don’t know. What’s obvious is that the only thing he cares about surviving whatever’s coming, is you.”
Morgan felt a chill race down her spine. If her brother and his club were in trouble, and Ant couldn’t see past his own pride to do or say something, well, the line had to be drawn. She stood with her brother.
• • •
Ant arrived in what was considered downtown Pulleytown. He parked his bike in front of a storefront and observed the bustle of the humans. The hairs on the back of his neck rose. Something was off. His eyes connected with that of a young man standing near an alley. Ant sniffed as the wind blew his way.
Bingo.
A rogue.
The rogue didn’t look fazed that Ant had looked his way. Ant was sure that the rogue knew he was a shifter. He let out a string of curses.
“These rogues just don’t have any manners,” he muttered as he swung his leg over his bike.
He pocketed the keys as he ambled across the street, ignoring the sounds of car horns. His eyes locked onto the rogue’s as he reached the sidewalk. His wolf growled low as he approached him. He looked to be in his early twenties, with a short buzz cut and thin build. He was definitely not a pure born shifter. Pure born shifters were naturally taller and more muscular than a turned shifter. Those that were turned still kept some of the human characteristics after their transition.
“What’s an outsider doing here in Pulleytown?” the rogue asked, not taking his eyes off Ant.
“Question is, what are you fucking rogues doing, moving into this town without the permission of my alpha?” Ant growled as his wolf pushed forward, asserting his alpha status. Ant could see the wolf flash in the rogue’s eyes. He itched to teach this punk a lesson, but knew that doing it in public would not be smart.
“We don’t need anyone’s permission to settle here.”
“Like hell you don’t,” Ant growled. “Turning humans is against Lycan law.”
“We don’t answer to your laws, so you can take your pure born ass back to where you came from. What we do here is none of your business,” the rogue snapped. He paused and sniffed. “How do you know Morgan?” he growled, taking a step toward Ant.
Ant, never one to back down from a fight, didn’t budge from his position. If the young rogue wanted a good ol’ fight, he would get one. Ant’s wolf didn’t like that the rogue knew Morgan’s scent.
“Back up, boy,” Ant demanded and held his hand out. He pushed the rogue back. “Don’t worry about what goes on between me and Morgan.”
“She’s mine,” the rogue growled around his canines. Ant knew they were causing a scene, but he didn’t care. As long as this rogue didn’t try to shift, it would just be two men fighting.
The sounds of engines roaring could be heard off in the distance. The rogue paused, taking in the sounds of the engines drawing closer. His eyes quickly swept the area before he backed up and took off running down the alley. Ant watched the rogue sprint away before he turned left and disappeared. Ant would be seeing more of him soon. He would be damned if the rogue touched Morgan. He looked around and scowled at the pedestrians who suddenly pretended not to be interested in what just occurred.
Ant made his way back to his bike. He quickly threw his leg over and settled in before his eyes narrowed at the first bike making its way down the road. A smile spread across his face as the parade of bikes drew closer.
His pack had arrived.
Chapter Eight
Demitri Arcos, alpha to the Lycan Order, parked his bike alongside Ant’s. One look at him, and anyone would know that he was in charge. His overly large size required an extra-large bike, and when he rolled down the street, he possessed it. As with any pure born shifter, he was all muscle, and one of the toughest wolves around. That was why he was the alpha of all wolf shifters east of the Mason-Dixon line.
The rest of the pack parked along the road and kept their distance from Ant and the alpha. Demitri glanced at him, and if they weren’t outside on this nice summer day, Ant would have sworn the temperature dropped a few degrees.
Shit.
Demitri was pissed.
“I sent you down here on a mission,” Demitri started, his voice low as he settled back on his bike. Ant rubbed a hand across his face, sensing that he was in for an ass chewing. “A mission where you were to observe. And what happens? I get a call—”
“D, let me explain—” the raise of Demitri’s hand silenced his words. He instantly felt his wolf submit to his cousin. In the presence of the alpha, his wolf would show respect. His mother was the younger sister of Demitri’s father, and from a young age, Demitri was groomed to be their pack’s leader.
“I get a call from the human leader of the local MC asking about my club member, who was being questioned in an attack of a human female.” His words ended on a growl.
“I didn’t attack her. I saved her from the fucking rogues. I took her back to their clubhouse and they assumed I did it. The rogues have certainly moved in on this area, and doing everything that we were told,” Ant answered, trying to explain himself. It was the truth, and he knew that his cousin would sense it.
Demitri snatched his glasses off and glared at Ant. “Do you have proof that they’re turning humans?”
“The fucker that just ran from me, all but admitted it.”
“There was a rogue here?” Demitri’s eyes scanned the street. Since the rest of the pack rolled onto the street, all the pedestrians disappeared. The slight tinge of fear lingered in the air. A couple of humans could be seen peeking out of the business windows. It was as if they were expecting a situation to occur.
“Yeah. I was on my way after him until you all showed up,” Ant replied.
“I can smell the stench of a rogue,” Zamari announced, coming to stand next to Dimitri’s bike. Zamari Brewer was second in charge of the pack. He was known as the beta, and his eyes locked onto Ant’s. “How’d you let a fucking rogue get away from you?”
“I was trying not to cause a scene in front of the humans. The sounds of the bikes scared him away,” Ant said. He glanced at both his beta and alpha, and knew that after the shit he caused since arriving in Pulleytown, he would need to be straight with them and tell them everything. “He said that they didn’t answer to Lycan law, basically giving us the finger. Before he left, he mentioned the girl. He smelled her on me and announced that she was his.”
Curses filled the air. They all knew that if the wolf felt that his claim on a potential mate was threatened, he would go after her. Ant’s wolf growled deep in his chest. He didn’t like that thought at all.
“So.” Zamari shrugged his shoulders. “We’ll handle the rogues and be on our way.”
“I agree.” Demitri nodded before turning to Ant. “But why would you care that he has his eyes on this girl?”
“Because she’s mine.”
• • •
Morgan was restless. The fact that Hank had put the clubhouse on lockdown told her everything she needed to know. She was in danger. They all were, and she couldn’t st
and it as she paced her room.
She grabbed the gun her brother had left with her and swung open the door. She stepped out and heard a chorus of voices coming from the main room. She didn’t want to be in the middle of the masses, so she took the back hall and snuck through Hank’s unlocked office and out the door.
She rounded the building and caught sight of Colt standing near the gate, about to shut them all in for the night. She was prepared for that. What she didn’t like was that Mark was standing there, conversing with Colt. She hadn’t seen him since she’d left for college, and made it a point to avoid him on her rare visits home. He’d gotten clingy as her freshman year approached. He didn’t want her to leave. He had no motivation to make more of his life than to work in his father’s real estate office. Morgan had wanted more, and she’d been willing to leave Mark behind to get it.
Not wanting to see him now, she flattened herself against the building. She peeked around the corner and waited for Colt to send him on his way. The longer she watched, her apprehension grew as she studied him. Mark had changed. Not just physically—he’d sort of grown up—but there was something else that made Morgan look closer.
With the stream of brothers and families coming through the gate and entering the clubhouse, Mark seemed too calm. He stood with his arms crossed and his back leaning against the old guardhouse as he carried on a conversation with Colt. He checked each vehicle that entered the compound. He wasn’t worried at all, and that perked up every fine hair on Morgan’s body.
Chapter Nine
Morgan slid the gun into her palm and let it rest against her thigh. Something wasn’t right. She scanned the yard, but she’d been gone for so long, she didn’t know who belonged and who didn’t. Damn Ant for not being clearer about the dangers they faced.
She pushed herself off the building, ready to make herself known. A familiar looking man stepped through the gate. Colt threw his hand up, stopping the stranger’s approach to the clubhouse. Mark pushed off the building and slapped Colt on the shoulder. He appeared to be vouching for the guy.
What the hell?
Morgan leaned against the building and watched. Colt shook his head and refused to let the guy in. Why were they here at the compound? What was going on? Who the hell was the stranger?
Her hand grew damp around the handle of the pistol as she realized who the stranger was. What was Mark doing with that guy? He’d attacked her in the woods. If it hadn’t been for Ant, the guy would have killed her, him and his buddy. And her ex-boyfriend was buddies with him? Hell no.
There was no telling the havoc he’d create if he convinced Colt to let him in. Was he back for her? How many others would he hurt before someone could stop him?
Her mind raced as she leveled the gun in his direction. It had been years since she’d shot a gun, but she wasn’t letting this fucker get past the gate. Her heart slammed against her chest when she cocked the hammer back. Her whole body trembled with the adrenaline rush. She forced herself to breathe, slow and steady, as she aimed for his chest. Colt was standing to the guy’s right, with Mark at his other side. She had a clear shot. What else was she supposed to do?
She squeezed her hands tight, fighting the urge to pull the trigger. It was taking a man’s life. What if she was wrong? What if it hadn’t been him and she was over thinking this entire situation? She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t kill a man.
The stranger shifted, and his eyes looked directly at her. A knowing grin grew on his face, and the bastard had the audacity to lick his tongue over his lips. His gesture wasn’t missed on Colt, who turned to see Morgan hiding in the shadows. She squeezed the trigger.
Stunned, the man took a step back from the impact and barked out a laugh.
He fucking laughed.
A split second later, Colt had Mark face down in the dirt, his knee in his back and his pistol buried against his temple. “You fucking breathe and I kill you right now,” Colt growled.
A slew of Demons poured out of the clubhouse, their weapons drawn, ready for a fight. The yelling and chaos died to dead silence as the stranger sank to his knees, with a crimson stain blossoming on his chest.
Morgan stepped into view and strolled to the gate, her gun dangling at her side. She knew that Colt wearily watched every move she made from his perch on top of Mark. She was vaguely aware of Hank as he stood silently beside her. He didn’t reach for her gun. No one said a word as the stranger fell over, and a plume of dust rose from his massive body.
The spell was broken by the sound of Mark’s jaw snapping. Hank drew back and kicked him square in the face. “You bring this fucker to my house?”
Colt once again pressed his pistol against Mark’s head. “Get this fucker up and in the pit.”
Colt dragged Mark to his feet. She watched, unable to bring herself to feel anything at the moment. When Mark’s eyes met hers, an uncontrollable shiver pulsed through her spine. He smirked at her, at least as much as his busted jaw would allow him. He didn’t seem a bit worried, and that made her blood run cold. What did he and Ant know that she and the Demons didn’t?
• • •
Ant slowed his bike down as he reached the gate to the Demon’s club. The sound of his pack’s bikes roared behind him. His wolf went on alert as he turned into the yard. Something was wrong. A few Demons stood with Hank near a body that lay prone on the ground. His eyes narrowed in on the familiar body as he drew to a halt. His wolf snarled at the sight of the familiar dirty blond ponytail on the gravel. Demitri pulled alongside him as he cut his bike off.
“What the hell is going on here?” Ant demanded as he got off his bike. His eyes roamed the yard and found no sign of Morgan. His wolf was pissed at the thought that he missed out on the kill of this rogue.
“Now, don’t you come demanding nothing. You don’t run shit around here,” Hank spat, pointing a finger at Ant.
“He meant no disrespect.” Demitri’s voice appeared next to Ant. They both joined the humans as they stood around the body.
“Who the hell are you?” Hank demanded, looking the alpha over.
Ant bent down and pushed the loose strands of hair from the face and growled low in his throat. It was certainly the rogue who slapped Morgan in the face. His gums burned from his incisors wanting to break through. This should have been his kill.
“My name is Demitri. We spoke on the phone.” Demitri’s voice was calm, but Ant could feel his alpha tones beneath the surface. Demitri held out his hand, in which Hank took it. The two leaders assessed each other during the handshake. “Do you recognize him?” Demitri turned to Ant.
“Yeah. This is the motherfucker that I saw hit her,” he replied, standing to his full height. “Who shot him?”
“Morgan did,” Colt answered, folding his arms across his chest. Ant’s eyes flew to the Demon. His wolf calmed down, but only slightly. It technically should have been her kill since she was the victim. Pride filled his chest with the thought that his mate took matters into her own hands. He nodded his satisfaction to Demitri.
“We got the other one locked up in the pit,” Hank announced, and motioned for them to follow him. “Your men are welcome as long as they show more respect than this one here. I’m sure they’re tired and could use a cold one.”
“What other one—” Ant snapped, ignoring the human’s remarks. They had to make sure that Morgan was safe and far away from this place. The rogue that was after her was sure to come. Ant prayed that the other one was not the one searching for Morgan.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Demitri drawled, cutting Ant off. Ant’s wolf submitted to his cousin, but he didn’t want to. He swore under his breath and followed Hank and Demitri.
Locking up a rogue was not good. They may not have any connections to one particular pack, but they did stick up for each other. Others would come. Ant could feel it in his gut, and it never led him wrong.
Chapter Ten
“Where’s Morgan?” Ant asked as he followed behind them through the o
versized building, located behind the human’s clubhouse.
“You let me worry about her,” Hank barked out over his shoulder.
Ant went to respond, but Demitri held up his hand. He suppressed his retort, only out of respect for his alpha. They came upon a door that led them to what the humans had nicknamed “The Pit.” It resembled a makeshift dungeon from the older days. Ant’s eyes narrowed on the figure locked in the first cage. He came to a halt outside the bars and glared at the rogue.
Demitri came to stand beside him, as Hank continued down the hall to speak to one of the Demons who stood guard.
“Do you recognize him?” Demitri asked.
“Yes. This was the rogue that ran from me when you all showed up,” Ant affirmed, not taking his eyes off the rogue.
“What in the hell are you pure borns doing here?” The rogue growled from his perch in the corner of his cell.
“I told you before, boy, it’s our business when rogues blow into a town without permission,” Ant snapped. He glanced over at Hank, but the human was too engrossed in his conversation with the other human. Ant had to choose his words carefully with the humans in close proximity.
“I don’t need no one’s permission to be here,” the rogue said with a smirk. Ant’s wolf begged to be let loose so that he could wipe the smirk off the young rogue’s face.
“What did you just say?” Demitri snapped, broadcasting his alpha waves.
The smirk left the rogue’s face as the power hit him. Being a turned shifter and a rogue, he would never have known the true power of an alpha. The painful look on his face showed that his wolf was attempting to submit to Demitri’s.
Ant chuckled because he knew the rogue didn’t understand what was going on. It was a painful process for shifters to fight the power of an alpha. No matter what, his wolf would submit to an alpha, and Demitri’s wolf was the most powerful alpha in the room. No matter how much the rogue fought, Demitri’s wolf would win.
When Clubs Collide Page 16