Page 5 of Jace (Wolf Rider MC Daddies #2)

Jace

The Wolf Rider clubhouse is alive with chaos, the kind that makes my blood sing. I might be getting old, but I’ll never be too old for this…

The air’s thick with weed, whiskey, and the thump of heavy metal blasting from the speakers. My brothers are scattered across the sprawling warehouse-turned-fortress—some playing pool, others tangled up with club boys on sagging couches, all of them riding the high of a rare night off.

The place smells like sweat, leather, and trouble, with neon signs buzzing on the walls and the club’s wolf skull emblem painted above the bar.

It’s my world, raw and unapologetic, and tonight, I’ve brought Caleb into it. Part of me wonders if that’s a mistake, but the bigger part—the one that’s been obsessed with him since that kiss at the lookout—doesn’t give a damn.

He’s beside me, his hand tucked in mine, and I can feel his nerves radiating like heat.

The boy’s out of place in his jeans and soft blue sweater, his glasses slipping down his nose, but fuck, he’s beautiful. I wouldn’t change him for any amount of money in the whole world.

That quiet fire in his eyes, the way he’s holding his chin high despite the chaos—it’s got me hooked.

I wanted him to see this, to know who I am, not just the guy who sweet-talked him onto my bike.

But now, watching him take in the clubhouse with wide, cautious eyes, I’m second-guessing myself. This ain’t his world…

And maybe it never will be.

“Stay close,” I murmur, squeezing his hand, my voice low and firm. My Daddy Dom side is on edge, protective, possessive, ready to shield him from the roughness around us. “This place can get wild.”

He nods, his lips pressing into a tight line, but there’s a spark in his gaze, like he’s determined to prove he can handle it.

“I’m not fragile, Jace,” Caleb says, his voice soft but steady. “I can keep up.”

I grin, a low chuckle rumbling in my chest. “We’ll see, boy.”

I lead him through the crowd, my hand on the small of his back, a silent claim to anyone watching.

My brothers notice—Arch raises a brow from the bar, Razor smirks like he knows something I don’t—and I feel their eyes on him, sizing him up.

He’s not like the boys who hang around here, chasing patches and thrills. Caleb’s real, smart, with a life outside this shit. That makes him a curiosity, and in a place like this, curiosity can be dangerous.

We grab drinks—whiskey for me, a beer for him—and I steer him to a quieter corner near the pool tables.

“Follow me,” I say, sensing the wildness in the air.

Caleb sips his beer, his eyes darting around, taking in the tattoos, the leather, the couple making out against the wall.

“So this is your world,” Caleb says, his tone half-curious, half-wary. “Loud, messy, and… intense .”

“Pretty much,” I say, leaning against the wall, close enough that my arm bruhes his. “You regretting coming?”

Caleb tilts his head, studying me, and that spark flares again. “Not yet,” he says, a teasing edge to his voice. “But the night’s young.”

I laugh, and it feels good, like he’s cutting through the weight I’ve been carrying.

The club’s been on edge since the Iron Vipers hit our lookout, and Clay is pushing for retaliation.

I should be focused on that—planning, fighting, keeping my brothers alive. But right now, with Caleb’s scent—that damned vanilla and flowers combination—filling my head, all I care about is him.

Caleb surprises me by stepping closer, his fingers brushing my arm, tracing the edge of a tattoo.

“What’s this one mean?” he asks, his touch light but electric, pointing to the wolf inked across my forearm.

I catch his wrist, gentle but firm, holding his gaze.

“Strength,” I say, my voice rougher now. “Loyalty. The pack. A bond that can’t be broken. Not even in death.”

His skin’s soft under my fingers, and I’m fighting the urge to pull him against me, to show him exactly what he’s doing to me.

Caleb’s eyes flicker with something—nerves, desire—and he doesn’t pull away.

“And this one?” The boy asks, nodding to the flames curling around my bicep.

“Burning through the bullshit,” I say, smirking. “You want the full tour, boy… it’s gonna take a while.”

Caleb laughs, soft and bright, and it’s like a light in this dark, grimy place.

“Maybe I do,” he says, bolder now, and fuck… I’m all done holding back.

Before I can make a move, a shadow falls over us.

It’s Snake, one of the newer guys, all swagger and no brains. He’s drunk, his eyes raking over Caleb like he’s on the menu.

“Who’s this, Jace?” Snake slurs, stepping too close. “Didn’t know you were into sissy librarians .”

My jaw tightens, and I step in front of Caleb, my body a wall between him and this asshole.

“Back off, Snake,” I say, my voice low, deadly. “He’s with me. And you’ll show some fucking respect if you value those teeth of yours.”

Snake laughs, but there’s a nervous edge to it. “Just makin’ conversation, man. He don’t look like he belongs here is all.”

Caleb surprises me, stepping out from behind me, his chin lifted.

“I can speak for myself,” Caleb says, his voice sharp. “And I’m exactly where I want to be… Snake .”

I almost laugh—my boy’s got fire, alright—but Snake’s not smart enough to back down. “Feisty,” Snake says, leering. “I like that.”

That’s it. One step too far. Time for Daddy to put a stop this right here and now.

I grab Snake’s collar, yanking him close, my fist itching to connect with his face.

“You don’t look at him, you don’t talk to him, you don’t fucking think about him,” I growl. “Walk away, or I’ll make you crawl.”

The room quiets, heads turning, and I feel Caleb’s hand on my arm, light but grounding.

“Jace,” he murmurs, and it’s enough to pull me back from the edge. Snake stumbles back, muttering something, and slinks off into the crowd.

“Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!” Arch calls out, a knowing smile on his face over in the corner with a beer in hand. “Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!”

The tension breaks, and the party roars back to life, but my blood’s still humming.

I turn to Caleb, expecting him to be shaken, but he’s looking at me with those big hazel eyes, a mix of worry and something hotter.

“You okay?” I ask, my voice softer now, but my hand’s on his waist, possessive.

“Yeah,” Caleb says, his voice a little breathless. “That was… quite something.”

“You held your own,” I say, proud as hell. “I told you you’re tougher than you look. And now that idiot Snake knows too.”

Caleb smiles, but it’s shaky, and I know this place is getting to him. I don’t blame the boy, it’s the kind of place that takes more than a little getting used to.

I need to get him out of here, away from the noise and the eyes.

“Come on,” I say, taking his hand. “Let’s find somewhere quieter.”

I lead Caleb through a side door to the clubhouse’s back lot, where the air’s cooler, the stars bright above the silhouettes of parked bikes.

It’s just us now, the thump of music muffled, and I pull him close, backing him against the wall, my hands on either side of him.

“You’re mine tonight, Caleb,” I say, my voice low, commanding, letting my Daddy side take over. “No one else gets to look at you like that. Understand?”

His breath hitches, but he nods, his eyes locked on mine.

“Yours,” Caleb whispers, and it’s like a match to gasoline.

I kiss him, hard and hungry, claiming his mouth like I’ve wanted to since the lookout. He melts into me, his hands gripping me, and I deepen the kiss, my tongue teasing his, my body pressing against his slender body.

Caleb’s all fire and sweetness, and I’m guiding him, setting the pace, showing him how good it can be when he lets go. My hand slides to his neck, my thumb brushing his pulse, and he moans softly, a sound that drives me wild.

I pull back, just enough to look at him—flushed, lips swollen, eyes dark with want.

“Fuck, boy,” I murmur, my voice rough. “You’re gonna ruin me.”

Caleb laughs, breathless, but before he can respond, my phone buzzes again.

I curse, checking it—Razor, with a text about the Vipers planning something big. The club’s pulling me back, and I hate it.

Caleb sees the shift in me, his brow furrowing…

“Lent me guess… club stuff?” he asks, a knowing look in his eyes.

“Yeah,” I say, shoving the phone away. “But I’m not going anywhere yet.”

Caleb looks longingly at me, and I see it—the fear, the questions he’s not asking. I want to tell him it’s fine, that I’ll keep him safe, but the truth is, my world’s a minefield, and he’s standing too close to the blast.

“Jace,” Caleb says, his voice soft, “What happens if this… if we get too deep? You know… if… I’m close to the danger. Or a Viper sees us together?”

I cup his face, my thumb brushing his cheek.

“Then we figure it out,” I say, meaning it. “But I’m not letting you go, Caleb. Not now.”

He leans into my touch, and for a moment, it’s just us, the club and the Vipers fading away.

But I know it won’t last.

My life doesn’t allow me to forget.

And as I kiss Caleb again, softer this time, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m pulling him into a storm I might not be able to stop…