Page 4 of Knot So Sweet (Leather and Lace #1)

Chapter 3

Viper

T he roar of the bikes echoed through the quiet streets of Sterling City. Pixie and Ghost flanked me on either side as we raced through the streets. The Omega Den loomed ahead, its neon sign dark and uninviting.

The club had been closed down for months and was finally looking to reopen. Normally, I’d never set foot in this part of town. It was Hound territory, and just being here fueled the war that's been brewing.

But when my nephew called in a favor, asking for the Serpent’s protection, I couldn’t turn down family. Vaughn had grown up at the clubhouse, though he was never really one of us. He never patched in. I’d offered him a permanent place by my side, but he’d turned me down, choosing instead to carve out his own path and build his own pack here.

The Omega Den represented a safe space for omegas, and I agreed with Vaughn.

Sterling needed this place now more than ever.

But not only that. Vaughn was also family. Family meant everything, and when they needed backup, you stepped the fuck up and did what needed to be done.

Regardless of the risks.

Maybe it was my way of atoning for my past mistakes, a way to balance the scales of my conscience. Gears and I had started the Steel Serpent MC to unite alphas and protect our city. But the MC had been responsible for so many deaths, especially recently, and the aftermath of our actions was still haunting me.

Chaos’s death had hit us hard. He was one of our own, a dedicated member of the Serpents who had perished in the fire that consumed the docks. Chaos had tried to stop the bomb from detonating. But despite his bravery, he had been too late.

The innocent blood spilled that night was a stain on my soul, a constant reminder of my failures as president, and as an alpha. I'd made an oath to protect those who needed it, and I'd failed. The guilt gnawed at me, a persistent shadow of inadequacy that I couldn’t escape.

I took a deep breath, pushing away the shame that threatened to suffocate me. Vaughn’s plea for help had awakened something in me—a need to right wrongs, to offer protection where I could. The Omega Den wasn’t just a business, it was a lifeline for those who had nowhere else to turn, and it needed protection.

These omegas need the Serpents.

And if that meant stepping into Hound territory and facing Titus's wrath, then so fucking be it.

I grunted as I kicked the stand on my bike and pulled off my helmet, the cool air biting at my face, as the building loomed over me. As we dismounted, Pixie gave me a sharp look, his burly frame tense. He was the club's tech genius, and I trusted him implicitly with the security of the Den.

"You really think this is worth our time, prez? Owen Huxley’s mixed up with the Sterlings, and the last thing we need is Michelle snooping around the clubhouse," Pixie warned.

I nodded, I’d hear my nephew’s alpha out and then make a decision.

"Vaughn trusts him. That’s enough for me."

Ghost nodded once, a solid wall at my back. If things went sideways, I knew my enforcer would handle it, no questions asked. He had a soft spot for my Vaughn. They had been inseparable growing up, and this was a chance for them to rekindle their brotherhood.

Ghost needed that now more than ever. He hasn't been the same since his brother died.

We pushed through the doors, and the scent of omega pheromones hit me like a freight train. It was a heady cocktail of lilac and jasmine, something I'd never experienced before.

Instantly, my alpha instincts flared.

I froze. My world shrank to that single, intoxicating aroma. I inhaled again, and a shiver tore through my body. My pulse raced. I’d heard about scent matching, but I never expected it to hit me like this.

At forty-fucking-two. What the hell was I supposed to do with a mate?

My eyes scanned the room, zeroing in on the source of the irresistible scent. And then I saw her.

Candice Huxley, Hux's sister. She was mine .

FUCK.

Candice leaned casually against the bar, her dark hair cascading in lustrous waves down to her waist. Her frame was curvy, thick in all the right places, and I couldn’t help but drink her in like a fine wine.

Every curve and contour of her body was a temptation I had to restrain myself from indulging in. The way her corset clung to her curves made me want to rip it apart, leaving it in tatters on the floor. The thought of claiming her, marking her as mine, set my blood on fire.

She watched me with an intensity that made my pulse race, her black-painted lips forming a silent "o" as if she were caught in a moment of breathless anticipation.

All I could think about were those lips. Whether wrapped around my cock or parted as she screamed my name while I drove into her, I didn't care. I just knew I needed them.

Her cheeks flushed a deep red, the color spreading down her neck and into her chest. I followed the path of her blush with my gaze, and the sight of her swallowing visibly was a gratifying confirmation that I was having a similar effect on her as well.

Good. I was affecting her, too.

Even from across the room, the tension between us was electric and impossible to ignore. This wasn’t just duty anymore—it was an all-consuming need to protect and possess, to fuck and claim. My cock throbbed painfully behind my zipper.

Pixie nudged me, snapping me out of my trance, just as I noticed another omega, a blond male, standing nearby. Recognition hit me immediately—this had to be Vaughn’s omega. Creed. I forced myself to tear my gaze away from Candice and focus on him.

"You must be Creed. The omega my nephew left my club for," I said. I’d come here planning to give Creed Sterling a hard time, to bust his balls a bit, but my heart wasn’t really in it. All I could think about was her.

Candice.

Creed stuttered at my jab, and if I wasn’t so damn focused on the lilac scent making my cock throb, I might have laughed at his discomfort. Even when I wasn’t looking at her, I was acutely aware of her every movement. My senses were completely captivated by her presence.

What the hell was happening to me? My head was spinning with images of what I wanted to do to her. She was making me feral, and I hadn’t even spoken to her yet.

"Classy, Creed," she snorted, and Creed shot her an annoyed look. She walked over with a confident stride, her beauty almost overwhelming. I fought to keep my hands from reaching out, from feeling the curves that were so tantalizingly close.

Finally, she looked up at me, and my heart hammered in my chest. I forced myself to meet her gaze. And when I did… I purred.

I fucking purred—something I’d never done before.

Her blue eyes were electric, outlined perfectly with coal, which made them stand out like beacons of light. Her hair looked so soft, and I imagined gripping those long strands, pulling her close as I took her from behind.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I fought the urge to act on my instincts. The reaction was magnetic, a physical tug in my gut.

FUCK.

"You must be Candice Huxley."

Her frown was immediate. "Candi. Candice sounds like an old grandma’s name. And the only one allowed to call me that is my brother."

I smirked. Candi? I wondered if she tasted sweet?

"Whatever you say, sweetheart . It’s a pleasure to meet you," I purred again. My voice came out deeper, more possessive than I intended. I couldn’t fucking help it.

This omega was driving me wild with need. I fought to maintain my composure, knowing full well that I was currently far from the stoic alpha I usually prided myself on being.

Vaughn’s voice cut through the haze, but I barely registered his words. Candice visibly shuddered as we broke eye contact, the spell between us coming apart.

Don’t worry, sweetheart, you’ve got me under a spell too.

I remained completely absorbed by Candice. Pixie’s voice reached my ears as only a blur of background noise, I couldn’t focus on anything, but the way Candice’s little pink tongue darted out to lick her black-painted lips.

I imagined those plump lips pressed against mine, the taste of her searing my senses. I ground my teeth together, struggling to regain some semblance of composure.

We were here to meet Huxley, but where the hell was he?

I narrowed my gaze at Vaughn, my irritation flaring. "Where is Hux? He told us to meet him here, and he didn’t show?" My growl was low and edged with frustration. I knew my anger was irrational, but Candice’s presence was fucking with my head.

"Hux is making a connection with a few Hounds. It'll just be us meeting today," Vaughn shrugged nonchalantly.

My growl rumbled again, louder this time. "Why the fuck are you working with strays?"

This whole thing was quickly turning into a disaster, and all I could think about was how bringing trouble to the Serpents wasn’t worth the risk. But the thought of Candice not being protected forced me to stay and hear Vaughn out.

"We need to take back control of Sterling City, ‘Unc. The Hounds might be part of that."

I scoffed, dismissing his reasoning. "By recruiting from the slums? Not if you want our help, Vaughn. No. We don’t work with Hounds. Ever."

Candice laughed darkly. "You have no idea what you’re talking about. Just because you’re some alpha of a little motorcycle club, doesn’t mean you’re better than them. You don’t get to come in here demanding shit, Viper."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. My anger dissipated, replaced by a burning need. The way she said my name was like a drug, and I was hooked. I needed to hear it again, needed to see how far I could push her.

"You’re the one asking for our help, sweetheart. We get to set the terms of that arrangement." I was fixated on her fire, her stormy blue eyes narrowing as she met my challenge with a lifted chin.

"Damn, prez. Don’t mess with the feisty omega," Pixie chuckled, attempting to defuse the tension.

Candice’s gaze shifted to Pixie momentarily before returning to me. "All you alphas are the same."

Pixie raised an eyebrow, amused. "You really aren’t afraid of us, are you?"

"Afraid of you? Why would I be afraid of you?" Candice shot back, her gaze unwavering and fearless. Her sass was driving me wild.

Fuck, I was losing control.

"Enough," Ghost’s voice cut through the charged atmosphere. My enforcer had a presence that commanded instant obedience, and the raw power in his voice made the room fall silent. As Ghost took control, Candice’s gaze shifted toward him, her scent once again filling the air with its delicious floral perfume.

Could Ghost be her scent match too?

The thought hit me hard, and surprisingly, I found myself more intrigued by their connection than jealous.

Curious.

"Who are you saying we should trust? If you don’t trust us, why should we trust your judgment?" Ghost challenged.

Vaughn cleared his throat, and answered with a steadier voice. "The Cromwell Pack. Shade Jacobs has a connection with them."

"Fuck no. I’m not working with Shade," I growled. Associating with anyone tied to the Hounds was out of the question, especially when it came to Candice’s safety. Because now, that took priority over everything else.

"Viper." Creed finally spoke up, his gaze flicking between me and Candice. "Candi is unmated. She will have to register with the Bramwell Sanctuary along with all other unmated omegas in Sterling. It will be mandatory." A heavy silence fell over the room. Even her little friend noticed our connection?

Curiouser still.

I turned my gaze back to Candice. "Do you want that, sweetheart? To give the Bramwell Sanctuary control over your scent match?"

I needed to hear her answer. The idea of her being mated to another pack ignited a fierce anger within me.

Candice’s stormy eyes narrowed. "No one will choose my pack for me, Viper . And that includes you."

A smirk curled my lips, dark and satisfied. My cock was hard as steel now. That was the second time I'd heard her say my name and I was quickly becoming addicted.

"I respect that," I said evenly, even as the liquid fire of her scent coursed through my veins like a hit of pure adrenaline. "You shouldn’t have your future dictated for you. But I’m curious. You’re perfuming. Is it for me? Ghost? It damn sure isn’t for Pixie."

My heart pounded as I awaited her answer. She flicked her gaze between Ghost and me, guilt shadowing her features, as if her body’s reaction to my enforcer was a betrayal to me. But the look quickly vanished, replaced with a calculating stare.

"Are you going to help us or not, Viper?"

Ghost's green eyes mirrored my darkness. There was no fucking way we could walk away from her now. No way we could turn Candice down. But I wanted something in return.

I stepped closer to my curvy little omega, invading her personal space, and forced her to look up at me with a single finger under her chin. Fuck me. This close, I could see a dusting of freckles on the bridge of her nose.

"Yes, Candice. I’ll help you, but under one condition." I stroked my thumb over her chin, loving how she unintentionally leaned into my touch. Craving me just the same way I did her. "I want you as my omega," I whispered, so only she could hear.

Her growl was instantaneous, and my cock jumped at the sexy sound. She jerked away from my grasp, her chest heaving. "You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You think you can just waltz in here and make demands like that?"

I tilted my head, my smile widening. She was fighting our bond. Cute. Chasing after her sounded fun.

I glanced at Ghost, whose entire body was rigid, his pine scent sweeping past my nose. He loved the idea of her being ours. I chuckled darkly. "Consider this, sweetheart. You need protection, and a secure place to call home. Your brother will soon have his own pack, and the Bramwell Sanctuary won’t offer what you need."

Her cheeks reddened with anger, but I wasn’t done yet. "Plus, I’ll let you choose any of my men to bond with—hell, claim them all if you want. I just want to be first ."

I wanted her to know she didn’t need to feel guilty for wanting my enforcer. I didn’t care as long as she was mine .

" Let me choose who I want," she mimicked with disgust. "And why would I ever consider becoming some omega slut?"

My smile grew wide and feral. "You’re already thinking about it. Here’s the deal. Agree to at least consider being mine, and I’ll help you with your club."

I was going to help her little club regardless. But playing with her like this was too fun to pass up.

She sighed heavily. But really, what did she have to lose? She was already mine.