Page 15 of Knot So Sweet (Leather and Lace #1)

Chapter 14

Ghost

I met Pixie by the back entrance of the Den, my mind a chaotic mess of frustration and tension. After Candi left Viper's office last night, my mind wouldn't settle.

I felt like shit for almost forcing her into a bond before she was ready. Viper had a way of reading her that I didn't. My instincts had told me she wanted it. Wanted us. But Viper was right.

She deserved to choose us just as much as we were choosing her. I wouldn't be like the Hounds. Like Adam or any other ruthless alpha in Sterling, forcing submission through dominance and brute strength.

But that didn't mean she shouldn't be living at the clubhouse, where she could be safe under the MC's protection.

I couldn’t wrap my head around why Viper agreed to this bullshit. We didn’t need to be here, deep in Hound territory. It felt like a setup, a powder keg just waiting for a spark.

If she really wanted The Omega Den, then we could move it somewhere closer to home. Somewhere the Serpents could protect it without inciting a war we weren't ready for.

We already had The Ring, a boxing gym on the east side of town. We could easily add a nightclub near there, and she could live with us across the water at the clubhouse.

Being here was only going to make things worse for the Serpents.

Pixie stood blocking the back door, his stance unmoving as he stared unflinchingly. My irritation flared. He raised a brow, arms crossing his chest as he lifted his chin.

Okay… so he wasn't going to move. Great .

Pixie might be a head shorter than me at five-ten, but he had my respect. So, whatever he had to say, I would hear him out. Even if I wasn’t in the mood for his fatherly lectures.

And after my fight with Viper last night, I seriously wasn't in the fucking mood.

"What?" I snapped, my tone sharper than intended. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I searched for patience, taking a settling breath and trying to calm the rage bubbling inside me.

"Why are we standing outside, Pix?"

"Because you’re being a dumbass, and I need you to see reason," he shot back. And what little composure I had cracked.

See… reason?

My temper flared hotter. "What the fuck are you talking about now?"

He didn't budge, even under my hostility. It was part of the reason I respected him so much. "You need to calm the fuck down before we go inside."

"I am calm," I shot back, though we both knew it was a lie. Pixie’s lip curled into an ‘I-told-you-so’ smile, and my molars clashed together harshly. "Spit it out, old man. What the fuck do you want from me?" I demanded, frustration boiling over.

Pixie remained unmoved, standing in front of the door like a sentry, blocking my way. I was two seconds away from removing him from my path. Or being childish as fuck and walking around the front entrance.

My fists clenched at my sides, my gaze narrowing on him.

"What’s got your panties all in a bunch, Ghost?" Pixie asked, with a shit-eating grin. "Is it having to share your little omega with our prez? Being here in Hound territory? Or maybe you’re just sexually frustrated?"

A low growl rumbled from my chest, primal and raw. I knew he was poking to get me to see his side. It was the same thing Viper did last night, when he used Chaos's death against me.

I took in a deep breath and leveled him with a glare. "I’m fine. I get it. I'll keep my temper under control. Can we go in now?"

He shook his head, slinging his bag over his shoulder with an almost dismissive flick. His eyebrow arched in challenge. "Your scents all over the place. If you go in there like this, you’ll only make things worse with Huxley."

I scoffed. "Why should I care what that alpha thinks? I’m not here to be Hux's friend. I’m here to do a job. A stupid fucking job at that."

"Because, dumbass ," Pixie said, thumping me lightly on the back of the head. "Candi is in there right now. And this place matters to her . Huxley matters to her . If you go in there like this… "

He gestured to me, pointing out my rigid posture and barely contained fury. "You’re not gonna win any brownie points with her brother."

I turned my back on him, trying to force myself to calm the storm inside me. But it was no use. He was right. Fucking prick. He was always right. And that only pissed me off more.

I was on edge—so on edge I couldn’t see straight.

FUCK.

I hated being on this side of town. Hated how much the Hounds seemed to control everything, their influence seeping into every corner of the city. But it was more than that.

Chaos was dead, and we still hadn’t avenged him. Now, my omega, my princess, was living here, right in the heart of enemy territory, and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it. The only thing that kept me from going off the rails completely was Vaughn. I knew him better than most, knew he would do anything for his pack, his family.

And that included Candi.

Pixie sighed, his hand clapping down on my shoulder. "Do you want Candi or not, Ghost?" he asked directly, the weight of his words sinking like a stone in my gut.

"What kind of fucking question—" I began, but Pixie thumped me again, harder this time. I growled, a mixture of pain and irritation bubbling up. "Ow! The fuck is wrong with you? Stop fucking hitting me!"

I knew I sounded like a child with my outburst, but I'd had it up to here with all the advice I'd been getting. Even as the words left my mouth, I knew what he was getting at though.

This wasn’t just about Huxley, or the club, or even the territory. It was about Candi—about proving I was worthy of her, about not letting my emotions fuck up what mattered most.

My pack.

Even if now that didn't include Chaos.

Pixie wasn’t just knocking sense into me, he was reminding me of the bigger picture. I needed to get my head straight. For her. For my brother. For the Serpents.

He watched me for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if he could see every thought running through my head. He was quiet, but I could feel the weight of his stare, like he was waiting for me to snap out of it.

I hated that he had this effect on me—that he could pull me back from the edge when I was ready to dive headfirst into the fire.

"Look, Ghost," Pixie started, his tone softer now, less confrontational. "I get it. This is eating you alive. You’re torn up about Chaos, about everything. Hell, we all miss your brother, and we all want revenge for that failed run. I know someone must have fed intel to the enemy."

I nodded in agreement.

"But you can’t let this shit destroy what you have with Candi. You can’t let it mess up the mission. We need to get in there, install the cameras, and make sure the Huxley pack stays safe. That includes Vaughn—remember him? Your childhood friend, your alpha’s nephew?"

Pixie’s words cut through the fog of rage clouding my mind. I clenched my fists tighter, feeling the leather of my gloves groan under the pressure. He wasn’t wrong.

My father, Gears, had taken my brother’s death harder than anyone. And me? I was barely keeping it together. If it weren’t for Pixie’s steady presence, I’d probably be holed up somewhere, lost in a bottle of malt liquor and drowning in my guilt.

And then there was Candi. The thought of her, of losing her, twisted the knife even deeper.

"We’ll get justice for your brother," Pixie continued, his tone firm but understanding. "I swear to you. But right now? Your omega, your girl, is in there unprotected. So alpha-the-fuck-up and take care of business."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. Candi wasn’t just any omega—she was mine. The idea of something happening to her, of losing her, because I couldn’t keep my shit together, gnawed at me like a hungry beast.

But this wasn’t just about me anymore. It wasn’t even about revenge for Chaos. This was about the Serpents, about all the omegas in Sterling City, and about making sure The Omega Den was a safe haven for them. For her.

"I fucking hate this," I muttered, my voice a low growl, the frustration barely contained. "Hate being here, hate playing nice with Huxley, hate that Candi’s caught in the middle of all this. And I fucking hate that Chaos will never know her." My voice cracked, and the vulnerability in it made me wince. I couldn’t afford to be weak. Not now.

Pixie, to his credit, didn’t push. He didn’t bust my balls or tell me to suck it up. He just let me have my moment, and for that, I was grateful. If he had pressed, I would’ve lost it right there.

"I know, son," he said quietly. "But you’ve got to keep it together. For Candi, for our brotherhood, and for the city. This is bigger than just us."

I turned to face The Den, the imposing building looming like a constant reminder of everything I stood to lose. The pressure was suffocating, but it also kept me tethered to reality.

I had to do this—for her, for the Serpents, for everyone depending on me to keep my head on straight.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, to push the anger and grief just below the surface. It simmered, hot and unyielding, but I wouldn’t let it consume me. Not today. Not when everything was on the line. The tension in my shoulders eased a little, though the weight of everything still pressed down hard.

"Alright," I finally said, my voice more controlled now. "I’m ready."

Pixie watched me for a beat longer, eyes scanning my face like he was checking for any cracks in the armor. I appreciated it, even though I didn’t want to admit it.

He wasn’t just my second; he was my brother, my family, and he always knew when I was fronting. After a moment, he gave a single, curt nod and stepped aside.

With that, I turned back toward the entrance of The Den, a sense of purpose settling over me like a second skin. The weight of my brother’s death, of Candi’s safety, of the entire damn mission—it was all on my shoulders. But I wasn’t about to let it break me. Not now.

I pushed open the door and walked inside, ready to face whatever came next.

The lion’s den was waiting.