by BE Kelly
“No,” he admitted.
“This whole mysterious stranger giving orders thing isn’t right and you know it, Ringer. We have a responsibility to our son to know who or what is calling the shots. I have a right to know who’s controlling my fate, don’t I?”
“Maybe—I don’t know, Soph. Hell, all I can tell you is that my top priority is to keep you and our kid safe. I don’t know who I can and can’t trust anymore—besides you. You know what Husk told me. I can’t trust everyone inside the club. If I turn you, I’ll constantly be worried about whether or not you’re safe. If human hunters are coming after us—you’ll be able to keep our baby safe. They’ll want me, not you and we can use that to our advantage.”
“So, I’m supposed to let you use yourself as bait and what—hide with the baby? Won’t the hunters know he’s a shifter?”
“No,” Ringer breathed. “Akin said that kids don’t shift for the first time until they are a little older. From everything I’ve been researching, half-blooded shifters and shifters who are turned, take a little longer to shift for the first time. It’s one of the reasons I could only shift during a full moon and didn’t remember anything. Our kid might not be able to shift at all. We won’t know until he’s older and that will by us some time. You have to stay human, Soph. Promise me that if the hunters come for me, you’ll run and take our baby with you. Promise to keep our son safe, Soph and find a new life for both of you.”
“You want me to promise to leave you to die at the hands of assholes who don’t understand who or what you are? I can’t do that, Ringer,” Sophie said. “I won’t ever willingly leave you. If you turn me, I’ll be strong enough to fight alongside you.”
Ringer pulled her against his body, holding her so closely that she could feel his heart beating. “Let’s say I do it, Soph. I turn you and we are attacked,” he almost whispered. “Our son can’t shift because he’s too young, so he stays in his human form—vulnerable to the hunters who kill us and then him. You can’t be turned. Your first instinct will be to shift as soon as you feel threatened and that will leave our son unprotected.”
Fuck. Sophie hadn’t even thought of that. Ringer was right though. If she turned, every time she shifted would put their son in danger. She didn’t want to live a life where she was constantly afraid of hurting their child because something might set her off and she’d shift.
“Fine,” she said. Ringer framed her face in his big hands.
“Fine?” he questioned.
“Yeah, you proved your point, Ringer. I get why you can’t turn me. I remember how afraid you were of hurting me if you shifted in front of me. I don’t want to live with the fear that I could hurt our son. Or worse, have him fear me. I’ll stay human—for now,” she amended.
“Thank you, Honey,” he whispered. Ringer leaned down to gently kiss her lips and she smiled.
“For?” she asked.
“For admitting that I’m right,” he teased.
“Hey,” Sophie started to protest just as the doorbell sounded.
“Food,” he said. Ringer chuckled and gave her ass a gentle swat on his way out of the kitchen.
“This isn’t over yet, Ringer,” she insisted.
“Okay, Honey,” he agreed, grabbing his wallet out of his back pocket to pay the delivery guy. “How about we feed you first and then we can talk.”
“Well, that hardly sounds fair,” Sophie protested. “I’m always more agreeable after I eat.”
Ringer laughed, “Exactly,” he said. Ringer pulled the front door open to find Reaper standing on his porch, their takeout bag in his hand.
Reap held the bag out to Ringer. “I take it Sophie isn’t cooking tonight?” he said. “Good call. My sister isn’t the best cook.”
“Hey,” Sophie protested. “I’m not that bad.” Reaper kissed her cheek and smiled.
“Sure, she’s gotten a lot better,” Ringer promised even though she could tell he was lying.
“At least I try,” she said. “And, I’m getting damn good at ordering take out.” Sophie took the bag from Ringer and headed to the kitchen. “So, why are you here, Reaper?” she asked. “Are Beth and Chris alright?”
Her brother’s smile nearly lit up the room and she couldn’t remember seeing him this happy. “He’s perfect and Beth is good. Tired, but good. He’s keeping her up all night but I try to help out when I can and she gets to rest during the day when he naps. Lyra has been helping out too but she’s about ready to have her baby.”
Sophie rubbed her belly. “There will be babies everywhere,” she said. Ringer pulled two beers from the fridge and handed one to Reaper.
“You never said why you stopped by, Reap,” Ringer reminded. Sophie sat down with her plate of food and started into one of her burgers.
“Reckoning got intel that something is about to go down with Perdition, man,” Reaper said.
“Intel?” Ringer questioned.
“Yeah,” Reaper breathed. “I’m not sure you’ll believe me but Remi—Texas and Jag’s woman, saw something and it’s not good.”
Sophie put her burger down on her plate to give her brother her full attention. “What did Remi see?” she asked.
“Hunters,” Reaper said. “And, they’re coming for your pack.”
“Perdition isn’t my pack yet,” Ringer said. “I haven’t been patched into the club. If you want to get technical, Akin and his boys are my pack but they’re nowhere to be found.”
“Have you tried your Jedi mind trick thing?” Reaper asked.
“Very funny,” Ringer accused. “And, no. I don’t want to borrow trouble. I’m still not one hundred percent sure I can trust the three of them. I figured if I need help or have questions about this whole shifter thing, I can ask some of the guys in Perdition.”
“But you can’t trust them either, Ringer,” Sophie reminded. She hated seeing the worry in his eyes every time he had to turn to anyone else for help. Ringer had filled her in on what Husk had warned. He told Ringer that not everyone in Perdition was on the up and up and Sophie worried that he was putting his trust in the wrong group of guys.
“No,” Ringer said. “I can’t. But, that’s not for you to worry about, Honey,” he said. “I told you that I’ve got this and you just need to relax and take care of you and our baby.” He rubbed her belly and their son squirmed around, as usual.
“You can’t promise me that, Ringer,” she whispered.
“How about you let me and your brother talk, Baby?” he asked. “You look about ready to drop and that way Reaper can catch me up to speed.”
“I am tired,” Sophie said. “You promise to tell me everything?”
“I swear,” Ringer said, crossing his heart with his fingers.
“I mean it, Ringer,” she said pointing her finger into his solid chest. “Everything.”
“I’ll give you a full report, Honey,” he swore.
“Fine, I could use a nap. See you later, Reaper. Tell Beth I’ll be by soon and kiss my favorite nephew from me.” Sophie picked up her bag of food and Ringer chuckled. She shot him a look, “I’m eating for two,” she insisted.
“Have at it, Honey. I’ll wake you in a bit,” Ringer said, bobbing his eyes at her. Sophie giggled and shook her head. She wanted to be a part of whatever they were going to be discussing but honestly, she was too tired. One way or another, she’d get the answers from her husband.
Ringer
“Why are you here, Reap?” Ringer questioned. “I’ve known about the threat of human hunters for some time now.”
“Yeah, but this is new information, Ringer. They are coming for your pack—Perdition.” Reaper reminded.
“I’ve already told you that I’m not a patched member of the club. I won’t be a member of the pack until the final ceremony. Did your friend see a specific date for this happening?” Ringer wasn’t sure what to make of Remi’s vision. He knew that Sophie believed that her sister-in-law and friends had a gift to see into people’s futures. He just wasn’t sure
he believed in all that stuff. Of course, if someone would have told him that shifters were a real thing a few years ago, he would have told them they were crazy.
“It doesn’t work like that,” Reaper said. “All she saw was a group of hunters and they were headed for Tito’s bar. I think she had a connection with that place because of her cousin, Aylen is being held there.” Ringer chuckled at Reaper’s accusation. His brother-in-law still believed that he was someone connected to Aylen’s abduction and her ties to Perdition now. Reaper had no idea that Aylen was a wolf too—none of them did. It wasn’t something she had ever shared with Remi or her family back in New Mexico. Sure, Aylen being brought to Perdition might have started as an abduction but that’s not why she was staying with Rios. Aylen and Rios were together now but convincing Reaper of that fact would be impossible. Reap had always thought the worst of him and he’d learned to almost expect it from him.
“Okay, well, thanks for the warning,” Ringer said, not taking the bait and arguing over whether or not Aylen was being held against her will by Rios. He’d save that fight for another day.
“You’re not listening,” Reaper accused. “If they are coming after you, they’re coming after my sister and the baby. Tell me you have a plan to keep them safe,” Reaper growled. He hated the accusation he heard in Reap’s voice. He would give his own fucking life to save Sophie and their baby.
“I’ve got her,” Ringer insisted.
“How about you give me something to go on here, Ringer,” Reaper said. “What’s the plan here?”
Ringer barked out his laugh. “That depends on who you’re asking,” he said.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Reaper crossed his arms over his massive chest and stared him down. Even knowing that Ringer could take him apart, as a wolf shifter, Reaper didn’t back down. That was one of the things he had always admired most about his new brother-in-law. He was fiercely loyal and wouldn’t back down even when the odds weren’t in his favor.
“Your sister wants me to turn her,” Ringer said.
“Turn her?” Reaper asked.
“Into a shifter,” Ringer said. “She has this crazy idea that if she’s a shifter, she’ll be able to help me when or even if the hunters show up.”
Reaper practically leaped across the kitchen at him. “Tell me that you fucking told her no,” he insisted.
“Damn straight I told her no,” Ringer said. “But, you also know how stubborn she is. The only way I convinced her that it was a crappy idea was by telling her that would put the baby in danger.”
“Thank fuck,” Reaper growled. “How would her being a shifter hurt the baby?”
“Well, I’ve done a little digging and apparently, shifter babies don’t shift until they are a little older. Given that our kid is only half shifter, he might never shift. So, having a human mom, who the hunters will leave alone, might help protect him. If they don’t know he’s a shifter, they won’t hurt him. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. All this is so new to us, we’re just trying to find our way through. It almost feels like we’re in a maze—a labyrinth even, and we are mapping our way out. All I know is that Soph’s promised me that if it comes down to it, she’ll take the baby and leave, to keep him safe.”
“And, you believe her?” Reaper asked. “You know how Sophie feels about you, Ringer. Hell, she’s always had a thing for you, man. You believe she’d let the hunters have you and just walk away?” That was the question of the hour. Ringer wasn’t sure of anything anymore. All he truly knew was that turning Sophie was an awful fucking idea.
“I have to because I won’t turn her, man. I can’t. When Akin and his boys turned me, I was given no choice. They took that and my life as I knew it, from me. How can I do that to the woman I love?” Ringer watched as Reap paced in front of him.
“What if you leave—you know, just take off?” Reaper asked.
“With Sophie?” Ringer questioned, although he had a feeling he already knew what Reap’s answer was going to be.
"No,” Reaper breathed. “You can’t honestly believe you can keep her safe on your own, right?”
“No, not on my own,” Ringer admitted. “That’s why I plan on patching into Perdition next week. With them as my pack, I’ll have a connection with the rest of the guys. If Sophie’s in danger, I’ll be able to call for help. No one will touch her or our son.”
“You sure about that, Ringer? What was all that about not being able to trust everyone in your club? Has something happened?” Reaper rattled off questions and Ringer was starting to feel as though his head was spinning.
“Slow down, man,” Ringer said. “You’re giving me a headache.”
“Soph said—” Reaper started.
“I know what Sophie said, Reap. I had a message from Husk, just after they left our house during their little impromptu visit last month. He told me that I needed to watch my back with Perdition. He said not all the shifters in that club can be trusted.”
“You believe him?” Reaper asked.
“No—Yeah.” Ringer sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. “I have no fucking idea,” he said. “I know that I don’t trust the three of them—Akin, Nix, and Husk. How can I when they are the ones who turned me? But, I’m so new at Perdition. I don’t know all the guys and I have to rely on the few I do trust.”
“Well, that just proves my point then,” Reaper said. “You can’t keep Sophie safe if you don’t know who you can and can’t trust, right?”
“No,” Ringer breathed. “But what you’re asking me to do is impossible. I can’t just leave Soph and my kid. I won’t do that to her. My son deserves a father—a good one. Not one like my old man turned out to be. If I desert him, I’ll be no better than my father.”
“Not fucking true,” Reaper countered. “You’ll be a fucking saint compared to your old man, Ringer. Your father almost destroyed my life and took everyone I love from me. You’d be giving your wife and son a chance. You’d be giving them a life that wouldn’t have them constantly looking over their shoulders, worrying that the hunters might catch up with them. That’s no life for Sophie or your kid. I can help take care of them—I’ll help Sophie raise your son, Ringer,” Reaper promised.
“No,” Ringer breathed. “I won’t do that to her.”
Reaper’s smile was mean. “Suit yourself,” he said. “Just think about what I said, Ringer. You know deep down that I’m right. She and your kid would be safer without you.” He watched as Reaper turned to leave, not bothering with showing him out. Ringer hated like hell that his brother-in-law would accuse him of not wanting what was best for Sophie and his son. They were the two people he wanted to give his all for. He’d give them everything he had, including his own life.
“It’s all I’ll be thinking about,” Ringer whispered.
“You nervous?” Sophie whispered in his ear. He had pulled her against his body and kissed her. Ringer told her it was just for luck but it was for so much more. He was scared to death about being patched into Perdition and she always helped to calm his nerves. She always had that effect on him—calming, soothing. Sophie was his drug of choice and she never disappointed. She loved all his insecurities and fears away until he had only hope. Now was no different.
“Naw,” he lied. They were sitting in his pick-up truck, outside of Tito’s and he knew that he couldn’t hide out there all night. The ceremony was going to start in a few minutes and he had to get his ass in there before Rios sent Gray out to haul him in.
“You’re such a bad liar,” Sophie accused. “If you’re not scared then why are you still sitting here with me?”
“Okay, okay—busted. I don’t know what to expect in there but out here, I know what’s up,” he admitted. “You want me to tell you that I’m nervous? Sure, I am. Am I scared? Hell, yes. But, I have to do this for us, Soph. A lone wolf ends up getting himself killed. With the strength of the pack behind me, I’ll be able to protect both of you.” Ringer rubbed her belly, feeling his son kick and squirm unde
r his palm. “That never gets old.”
Sophie giggled, “Well, maybe not for you but I’m out of room for this kid. He either needs to calm the hell down or I’ll be serving him eviction papers soon.”
“Yeah,” Ringer breathed. “It won’t be long now. Are you nervous?” he asked, giving her a taste of her own medicine.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I’m terrified, honestly. But, you’ll be there and I know that together, we can do anything. I wish I could go in with you tonight,” she said. He did too but that wouldn’t be allowed. Women were allowed in his club, which wasn’t usually the case. His club wasn’t like other MC’s though. They were shifters and followed their own rules. Aylen would be by Rio’s side tonight and in a regular MC, ol’ladies weren’t allowed. Even though Sophie was technically his ol’lady, she would never be allowed in Perdition during church because she wasn’t a shifter and he hoped to keep things that way.
“I know, honey, but you know the rules. Besides, this is something I need to do on my own.” Sophie framed his face in her hands and gently kissed his lips.
“I’ll be home, waiting for you, Ringer. Wake me when you come in,” she said.
“I might be out late. I’ve been told that after the ceremony we will shift and hunt,” Ringer had learned so much since Akin showed up at his house a little over a month ago. He had so many questions before that, including if he’d be able to shift without a full moon. He took the guys at Perdition up on their offer to help train him. He could now shift on his own and remember the entire thing. Gone were the days of locking himself away in a storage unit and not recalling what happened for days on end, while he shifted. Now, he could control his shift. The only thing he wasn’t too crazy about was connecting to Akin and his boys every time he shifted. Ringer was hoping that tonight would change that. He hoped that he’d form a bond with the guys in his new pack once he became one of them. Having the three men who turned him in his head wasn’t something he was fond of. He still didn’t trust them and when he shifted, they had full access to his thoughts and his life. Hopefully tonight, that would all change.