“Answer me,” Demitri growled as he stepped closer to the bars. His power increased, and even Ant had to step back slightly from his cousin.
The rogue fell to the ground, his body writhing on the floor as his beast fought the human side. Groans filled the air as the two inner beings fought each other. The beast wanted to submit to the alpha, and the human wanted to fight against it.
“What the hell is going on down here?” Hank hollered, as he and the other human came to stand next to Demitri. Ant smirked as he looked at the human.
“Your prisoner here was just telling my alph—president where he’s from and what he’s doing here.” Ant chuckled and turned back to the writhing rogue.
“Who? Mark?” Hank snapped. Ant’s eyes flew to the human in disbelief. They knew this rogue?
What. The. Fuck?
“You know him?” Demitri asked, breaking the link between him and the rogue. Mark fell silent as he panted from his place on the ground, free from Demitri’s power. Demitri turned his sharp eyes on Hank as well.
“Of course we do. He grew up around these parts,” he disclosed. “Hell, him and Morgan used to date when she was in school. They were high school sweethearts. But the motherfucker let the other man in, who was the one that attacked my sister. He’s going to pay for leading him here.”
“He sure is.” Ant agreed as he looked over at the recovering rogue. Oh, he would pay. He would never get the chance to try to claim Morgan either. That was for him to do. She was his mate, and his wolf would be damned if another laid claim to what was his.
• • •
Only Ant seemed to notice Morgan’s arrival into the mix, and he did nothing to give away her presence. She kept her eyes on him, unable to tear her attention from the ferocious glint that burned in his dark eyes. How did he hold this power over her? Make her feel afraid and safe at the same time?
It wasn’t until his lips tugged to the side and he gave her an approving nod that she felt the hold break, and she could turn her attention to her brother. Hank was talking to who she assumed was Ant’s prez, as they discussed the best way to handle this new war. Morgan listened as Ant made his way over to stand behind her. He was close enough for her to feel the heat that radiated off him in waves. His hands rested on her hips, and she made no move to step away from him.
“Give me one good reason to trust you,” Hank huffed.
Morgan’s eyes scanned the small group that had assembled in the pit. She shuddered to think of what went on down here. She tried not to think too much about the boy she used to know, who was locked up behind the bars in the Demons’ jail. How could Mark put her in danger like that?
The man known as Demitri shook his head, frustration lined his voice. “We’ve been dealing with them since we organized. We know them.”
“And you expect us to just back down in our own house? It ain’t gonna happen,” Hank spat.
Ant shifted as his fingers dug into her skin from his own frustration. Morgan grunted at the sudden pain, causing Ant to flatten his palms against her, soothing her pinched skin. Demitri gave Ant a warning glare over his shoulder, then turned his attention back to Hank. He nodded toward Mark. “It’s not just the ones like him you have to worry about.”
Chapter Eleven
“We know their tricks,” Demitri declared. “We’ve been hunting them for cen—since I can remember. The bigger problem for you all are the locals.”
“Go on.” Hank leaned against a nearby wall and crossed his arms over his chest.
“We call them rogues. They’re men not loyal to a particular…club, and cause trouble. They’re going to do everything they can to get what they want, and they know sticking together is the only way to get it. They’re going to come here.”
“Why?”
Demitri eyed Mark through the bars. “Because he’s here and they need him. They’ll want him back to help get what they want.”
“And what’s that,” Hank smirked.
“Your town,” Demitri said through his bared teeth. “And her,” he added, cutting his gaze to Morgan.
Hank stood tall, and the Demons in the room closed in around him in a show of solidarity. “That’s not fuckin’ happening.”
Demitri ignored the statement, but Ant pulled Morgan against him, as if keeping her in contact with his body would be enough to keep her safe.
“We can lure the rogues away from the clubhouse. We can handle them. The locals are going to come after their boy, and he’s not going to leave without her,” Demitri explained.
“Then I fucking kill him right now.” Hank stepped toward the door of the cell, but Demitri stopped him.
“If you kill him, they’ll just spread out through the town, and you won’t know who’s who. The only way to tell who you’re fighting is to force them to come here.”
Morgan’s body went rigid, and Ant’s arms slid around her, hugging her. Hank’s eyes met hers, but he said nothing about Ant or them being so close. She knew what he was silently asking, and everything inside her was screaming, ‘No, don’t do it!’ She should just leave Pulleytown, hide out until school started again, and her life could go back to what it was last week.
Deep down, she knew that wasn’t an option. Even if she left, her brother and his club would still be left to fight these…these rogues. She pulled in a deep breath and gave her brother a subtle nod. She would offer herself as bait. Hank studied her for a moment, and Morgan thought he might argue. Instead, he pulled himself up and faced Mark, his knuckles white as he clenched the bars in his hands. “As soon as this is over, I will gut you myself.”
• • •
Ant released a growl deep in his chest as they exited the garage. The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention. He squeezed Morgan’s hand tight and pulled her in behind him as he paused. His keen shifter nose caught the smell of shifters in the wind.
The rogues were not the brightest when it came to stealth. The need to protect Morgan was high. They were closing in on them, and he needed to get her to safety.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered as she leaned into him. Her smaller body pressed up against his, as if she sensed that something was wrong.
Demitri burst through the door and pushed past Ant. He could see his alpha was on alert as Demitri sniffed the air.
“They’re coming,” Ant growled, pulling her toward the clubhouse. She had to almost run to keep up with his long strides.
The pack needed to be notified before it was too late.
“Hank, your men need to get prepared, now. They’re almost here,” Demitri commanded.
“How the hell would you know that?” Hank sputtered. The human must have thought about it for a second. If they were going to work together, they would have to trust each other. “Hell, Colt, sound the alarm.”
Ant strode across the lot as fast as he could, without dragging Morgan. His mate was smart. She didn’t question a thing, but fell in line with him as they rushed through the back door of the club.
“Zamari,” Ant shouted, calling for his beta.
The pack and everyone in the main hall went on alert as Ant and Morgan rushed into the room.
“What the hell is going on?” Zamari snapped, standing from his seat at his table as they made their way to him.
The sound of a wolf’s howl echoed outside. Zamari’s beast flashed in his eyes, and Ant was sure that his was present too.
“Lycans,” Zamari growled, turning toward their pack that stood around, waiting for their beta to continue. “They’re here.”
Ant watched as his pack hastily made their way out the front door of the club, with the Demons right behind them. Ant could tell that they knew a fight was coming, and their two clubs would have to stand together.
“You need to go somewhere and hide,” Ant declared as he turned to Morgan. His wolf slammed against his chest, clawing to get out. Ant had to push down his beast. There was no way that he could change in front of the humans. As much as he wanted to let his anim
al out for the fight, he couldn’t.
Lycan Law.
“I’m not leaving you,” she insisted with her wide eyes locked on him. She squeezed his hand and moved closer. “Wherever you go, I go.”
“In case you haven’t been paying attention, there’s about to be a war outside. Men are coming to rescue your boyfriend—”
“Ex-boyfriend—”
“And they’ll try to take you,” he continued, ignoring her comment.
“Why would they want me? I don’t even know them. And Mark? I haven’t spoken to him since I graduated from high school. We broke up the summer before I left for college.” She shook her head and tucked an unruly strand of hair behind her ear.
“Because, for some reason, your ex-boyfriend has laid a claim on you and I won’t stand for it,” he growled, pulling her toward the back hallway in the direction of her room. The sounds of shouting could be heard outside. He had to get her to safety so that he could join the Lycans outside.
“And why is that?” she snapped as he swung her around in front of him. He pushed her up against the door, feeling his wolf nearing the surface. It was in full protection mode. He’d be damned if one strand of hair on her head was touched. The rogues would try to take her, but they would fail.
He and the Lycan Order would make sure of it.
“Because you’re mine,” he declared. He bent his head down and crushed his mouth to hers. She released a gasp as he invaded her mouth with his tongue. She slowly relaxed before openly granting him entrance. He knew he couldn’t have picked a worse time for them to have their first kiss, but he couldn’t wait any longer.
Her fingers curled into his shirt as she leaned into him. He growled as he stepped closer to her, loving the feel of her plump breasts crushed against his chest. Ant angled his head to get closer to her. Her taste was everything that he had imagined, and he wanted more.
But now was not the time.
He slowly reached out and gently turned the handle of the door. She gasped as she fell back into the room, breaking the kiss. He took a step inside, which caused her to back up further. He could still taste her on his tongue as he stared at her, trying to catch his breath.
“What the—”
“Stay here,” he murmured. His eyes took in her swollen lips and dazed eyes. It was time he joined his pack, and he would not be able to focus if she was out in the middle of the melee. He tried to convince himself that she would be safe here in her room. He would send someone to watch over her to make sure she remained there.
“No, I can—”
“Stay,” he snapped, cutting her off. There was no way in hell she was going out there. The widening of her eyes caused his heart to soften. He cursed under his breath at the flash of hurt that appeared in her eyes. He was turning soft. “Please.”
He backed away from her as she nodded her head. She remained in the same spot with a bewildered look on her face. He knew that he was confusing the hell out of her, but this was not over. Not by a long shot. After they handled the rogues, they would need to talk and figure this shit out. She needed to understand that she was his, right before they took that next step. As his mate, she was more than just a bitch that would warm his bed. This was his mate, and mates deserved the utmost respect.
Without a word, he shut the door and paused in the hallway. His wolf howled on the inside at the thought of the battle that was going on outside. It was ready for blood, but too bad the humans were joining in the fight. His wolf would have to sit this one out.
Chapter Twelve
It wasn’t just the air of danger that didn’t sit right with Morgan. There was a sense of urgency that was almost primal. Animalistic. Something she couldn’t explain or understand was gnawing at her about Ant, and as she paced the small room, the anxiety became overwhelming.
Outside, she could hear an occasional yell above the rumbling thunder of an approaching storm. She stopped at the window long enough to see Hank let Ant and a small army of his brothers out the gate. Where were they going, and why were they leaving the safety of the Demons’ compound? Why were the Demons not going as well?
There was no thinking the decision through. Morgan grabbed the pistol, swung open the door and listened just a moment. She snuck into the hallway when she didn’t hear anyone. There was something more to this rogue club that was going on, and she wasn’t going to hide in the clubhouse like a helpless damsel while the Demons, Ant, and his brothers risked their lives.
Once outside, she waited until two Demons disappeared around the side of the building before she made a beeline for the woods. There was a decrepit wooden fence that secured the perimeter of the property. She had no problems scaling it and dropping down to the other side.
She crouched and listened. She had no idea which way Ant and the others had gone, but she was drawn back toward the river where she’d been attacked.
Morgan moved slowly and scanned the trees as she moved along the overgrown path. It was easier to see without the fog shrouding everything, but it had started to drizzle. It would mask any sound unless she was right on top of it. Or it was loud. Very loud. The sort of noise that screamed danger.
Her heart slammed against her chest as she gripped the pistol tighter. She spun around and her eyes scanned the woods. She swallowed hard as she took a deep breath and brushed her rain-soaked hair from her face. She pushed on.
A blurred ball of fur and fangs slammed into her from out of nowhere, sending her flying sideways into a tree. The gun went sailing from her wet hands and into the brush. She rolled over and came face-to-face with a massive wolf that bared his teeth at her. Another beast slammed into the wolf, freeing her. Growls filled the air as the two animals wrestled on the ground.
Morgan squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head. The sounds of growls were muffled by the storm, and the yelp of death faded as the sound of thunder ripped across the sky.
A ripple of fear ran up her spine as her eyes snapped open. An instinctive need to protect herself had her scrambling backward.
The massive wolf in front of her drew closer. Thick strings of saliva dripped from its razor-sharp teeth. Her back slammed against a tree, blocking her escape. The animal stopped, lowered its head and bared its teeth. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at the animal.
Those eyes.
It was as if she was looking into very familiar eyes, and she shook her head at the train of thought. It wasn’t possible. She must have hit her head. The animal paused and snapped its mouth shut as it returned her gaze. Her heart slammed against her chest as her hand slowly reached out and paused, just centimeters away from the large snout.
“Anton?” she breathed.
• • •
Ant tore his eyes from Morgan’s. The sound of his name on her lips made his hardened heart stutter. She recognized him. The fear in her eyes had his wolf wanting to comfort her, but there was a battle going on right now. She needed to run back to her brother, who would keep her safe. He should have known that she’d escape the room. She was a stubborn human, and almost got herself killed had he not seen her.
He motioned his head for her to go back the way she came. Her eyes widened at the movement. This was certainly not the way he would have wanted to tell her of his inner animal. It would be hard for her to understand since humans were oblivious to the notion that shifters existed.
“Is that you?” she whispered as her hand connected with his head. His wolf pushed his head into her touch before pulling back. He could tell her mind was racing a mile a minute. There was no telling what she was thinking, but the one thing that was plastered across her face was shock and disbelief.
His body stiffened at the sounds of growls and snarling that filled the air directly behind him. She had to get away. This would not be the time for explanation. He wouldn’t be able to answer her in his wolf form and for now, she would have to think whatever it was she was thinking and go.
Again, he forcefully motioned his head for her to go back to whe
re she came from, butting her with his head. She scrambled to her feet with her eyes locked on something behind him. The hairs on the nape of his neck rose. A growl rumbled from deep within him as he turned and found two large wolves, about twenty feet away from them.
He planted his paws on the ground and met their gazes head-on. There was no way that he would let them past him to get to Morgan. He’d fight to the death, and take them with him straight to hell before he’d let a hair be harmed on her head.
He bared his teeth, not bothered by the fact that there were two rogues stalking toward him. He was a pure born and would be stronger than them both. His pack would handle these rogues and make them leave Pulleytown.
The first rogue dove at him, but Ant was ready. His wolf had been begging for a fight, and tonight he would have one. Ant met the wolf head-on as their bodies clashed into each other. They tumbled to the ground. Ant wrestled with the wolf, but his body much larger. Ant sunk his canines into the wolf’s throat. It howled before struggling to break free.
The other wolf slammed into Ant’s side, which caused him to release the rogue from his jaws. Ant was thrown to the ground with the second wolf pinning him down, trying to get to his throat. The other wolf jumped onto Ant’s lower body and latched onto Ant’s hind leg. He growled as the piercing pain shot up his leg. He tried to kick the wolf with his other leg, but he couldn’t twist his body around due to the first wolf.
Ant’s rage grew at the thought that these wolves thought they could take him. He’d be damned if two rogues would be the death of him. A shot rang out in the air and Ant’s legs broke free, giving him the leverage he needed to twist around and push the other wolf off his chest. Ant immediately latched onto the other animal’s throat.
Coppery fluid filled Ant’s mouth as he bit down further. The wolf tried to buck Ant off, but his wolf refused to budge. The rogue continued to fight but grew weaker. Ant used his power to jerk the wolf’s neck to where he heard a snap, breaking the neck to finish the animal off. The body went limp. Ant’s wolf finally released it and threw it to the ground.
When Clubs Collide Page 17