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Rocky

Xc A storm was brewin’. Not just in the clouds overhead, though those were black as hell and rollin’ in thick over the mountains. Nah, the real trouble was buzzin’ through the Wild Dog like a damn hornet’s nest someone took a bat to. And I was the unlucky bastard standin’ in the middle of it.

The minute I stepped through the back doors, the clubhouse hit me with a wall of heat, smoke, and bad vibes. Our officers were gathered in thick clusters, drinkin', mutterin', shootin' looks that meant more than words ever could. Word travels fast in a club like ours, especially when it’s got claws and fangs. And I had a feelin’ the whole damn place knew Birdie’d seen too much.

Church was set for midnight, but Knox had already texted me three times like I was late for a funeral.

Maybe I was.

My own.

I cut through the crowd, dodgin' a couple of hangarounds who smelled like cheap perfume and regret, then pushed open the heavy door to the room we called the chapel.

“‘Bout time,” Knox muttered, arms crossed over his chest like a goddamn statue .

TNT, Chevy, and Smokey were already seated at the round table, each one with a drink, and each one starin’ like they were waitin’ on me to blow up the spot. The others milled around, like they couldn’t sit still.

“Y’all started without me?” I tossed my cut over the back of my chair and dropped into it, leanin’ back with a creak.

“Not sure you’d show after makin’ a spectacle out in the woods,” Chevy said, fingers drummin' on the table. His voice was dry, like old leather left out in the sun too long.

“Spectacle?” I barked. “Sorry I didn’t let her get eaten so y’all could keep feelin’ safe.”

“Rocky,” Knox warned, that edge in his voice that made everyone else listen. “Ain’t nobody sayin’ that. But you shifted, out there, in front of a civ—”

“She ain't just some civ,” I snapped. “She’s Eliza’s best friend. She’s been around the club long enough.”

“Being around and bein’ in it are two different beasts,” Smokey muttered. His beard twitched with his frown.

I ran a hand over my jaw, feelin’ the week’s stubble and pressure both buildin’. “She was gonna die, boys. And I wasn't about to let her.”

“Problem is, now she knows,” Smokey said, voice low and cool. “And there ain’t no takin’ that back.”

Knox shifted in his seat, lookin’ more tired than I’d seen him in months. “How she take it? ”

“Hell, she was scared shitless. Thought I was a damn werewolf from a movie. Clawed and naked and drippin’ blood. Can’t blame her.”

Silence settled like smoke. Everyone knew what was at stake. We’d survived decades by stayin’ hidden, our truths tucked behind rides, cuts, and ink. But Birdie’d peeked behind the curtain, and she’d seen more than a rabbit trick.

“She tell anyone?” Knox asked.

I shook my head. “Not yet. But she’s askin’ questions. Right ones.”

Chevy lifted his beer. “Then she’s dangerous.”

My lip curled, but I held the growl. “She’s not dangerous. She’s scared.”

“She’s human,” Smokey added, tone like steel. “And scared humans get desperate. They talk.”

Knox nodded slowly, eyes cuttin’ to me. “What’re you proposin’?”

“I keep an eye on her,” I said. “Let her stay close. If she’s gonna be a problem, I’ll know first. But I don’t think she will be.”

“You think with your dick or your gut?” Chevy asked flatly.

I shot him a glare that could’ve peeled paint. “I’ll take my dick and slap you across your ugly mug.”

Smokey, always the calm one, leaned forward. “We gotta decide if we bring her in or push her out. ”

“Pushing her out risks her tellin’ somebody,” Knox said. “Hell, even if she don’t mean to. That’ll get her killed.”

TNT spoke up. “Keep our paws clean.”

“Careful,” I warned him. “Don’t go there.”

“And bringin’ her in?” Chevy asked me. “You vouchin’ for her?”

“I am,” I said without hesitation. “I’ll handle her.”

TNT spoke up, again, “You claimin’ her? Or is she up for auction? Don’t mind some white meat.”

I growled out, my eyes flashing, hairs growing out of my knuckles.

TNT laughed. “Settle down, Rock.”

Knox stared at me for a long moment, then gave a single nod. “You’d be responsible for her. I’ll have your back, but if shit goes sideways, it’s your neck, Rock.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” I said.

“We’ll have a vote. You boys think it over.”

We moved on to other business, dark rumors floatin’ through town, rival clubs actin' twitchy, one of 'em sniffin’ too close to our territory. Might be humans, might be somethin’ darker. Not the kind of problems we could afford on top of the Birdie situation.

But even as the voices circled and votes were cast in my favor, my thoughts drifted. Back to Birdie. To her eyes, wide and full of fire even when she was scared outta her damn mind. She was sunshine in a storm, warmth in the cold. And she had no clue what she'd walked into.

When the meetin’ ended, the boys filed out, mutterin' under their breath. Knox lingered, brows low.

“You really sure about this?” he asked.

“Sure as I’ve ever been,” I said. “She’s not just some girl. I feel it in my bones.”

He gave me a look like he half-believed me and half-worried I’d lost my damn mind.

“Just be careful, brother. We can’t afford to lose you.”

I clapped him on the back. “Ain’t planning on goin’ anywhere.”

But deep down, I knew what he meant. If things went bad, if Birdie couldn’t handle the truth of what we were, I might not have a choice. I’d have to put her down. Or be put down myself.

Birdie was tryin’ to piece this world together. And I was gonna be the one to walk her through it.

Whether she wanted me to or not.

Later that night, I stood out back near the fire pit, starin’ up at the mountains. The wind had a bite to it, but I didn’t care. The rage and heat from earlier still hadn’t worn off.

I’d wanted to mark Birdie. Hell, I’d dreamed of it. Her head thrown back, my teeth on her skin, claimin’ her like she was always meant to be mine .

But now? She wouldn’t even look at me.

Knox joined me, handin’ over a bottle of Tennessee whiskey. I took a drink and gave it back.

“She’ll come ‘round,” he said after a long pull.

“She don’t trust me,” I muttered. “And perhaps she shouldn’t.”

“She’s human, man. She ain’t gonna understand this world overnight.”

I watched the stars blink overhead, the scent of some rogue’s blood still clingin’ to my skin.

“Yeah,” I said. “But it ain’t the danger that scares her. It’s me.”

Knox slapped my shoulder, then offered the bottle. “Then give her a reason not to be scared.”

I took another swig, the burn searin’ all the way down.

“God help me,” I muttered. “But I think I’m already hers.”

And that terrified me more than any rival ever could.