Page 10 of Snarl (Primal Howlers MC #9)

“So, then what about the Primal Howlers?” I asked.

“No, I don’t think many of the brothers read the Bible much.”

I laughed. “No, I mean do they make their money legally?”

“The Howlers got in on the legal weed game from day one. Before then, really. They already had a pretty sweet grow operation before statewide legalization, but after 2014, they were instant legal weed moguls. The club has other business interests as well but weed has been good to us. ”

“So, you’re a member of the Primal Howlers, but you’re a nomad?”

Snarl nodded. “My older brother patched into the Howlers right out of high school. Sundance was already a member, his late father-in-law was the president, and when he died, Sundance took up the mantle. Naturally, wanting to follow in Rocky’s footsteps, I started prospecting with the club a few years later. ”

“Prospecting?”

“It’s like a probationary period, where the club can check you out in action, to make sure you’re club material.

Basically, the members make the prospects do all the shit jobs within the club for a year or so, and if the prospect doesn’t complain, screw the pooch, or get arrested, they can be eligible for a full-patch membership. ”

“Which you are, but you don’t live in Monument full-time.”

“That’s right,” he replied. “Club life suited me. The freedom, the rides, the family of the brotherhood. My allegiance is to the Primal Howlers when the shit comes down. But I get really itchy after being in one place for too long. Maybe it has something to do with my type of agoraphobia. Not sure, but something deep within my soul needs to ramble. I don’t know why that is or if it will ever change, but being in motion is part of who I am. ”

“Makes sense after your experience in the Army.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, as a soon to be Doctor of Animal Behaviorism, I’d say you’re far from being a lone wolf. In fact, you’re a natural pack animal. You joined the Army, you joined the Howlers. You place a high value on loyalty to those you’re committed to. You’re drawn to the pack.”

“Then why am I a nomad?” Snarl asked.

“Same reason every lone wolf separates from the pack.” I met his eyes. “Fear.”

He cocked his head. “Of what?”

“Of losing the people around you. At least, in your case it is. You still feel responsible for the lives lost in your platoon, and that wasn’t even your fault.

But maybe if you keep your distance from the ones you care about, and don’t stay around them for too long, you can avoid getting hurt, and most importantly keep them safe. ”

“Interesting points you have there, doctor,” he said softly.

“On the other hand, your wanderlust might not all be trauma based. Some beasts simply like to roam.”

“The mysterious and rare, roaming, long-horned, North American Snarl,” he said with a growl, before attacking my neck with bites and kisses.

“What’s your real name?” I squeaked out in between attacks.

“You really want to know?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I dunno. Maybe you’re only attracted to me because I’m mysterious.”

“If I’m going to research your species, I need to know your proper name for the record. ”

Snarl sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “Alright, my birth name is Granger Cane.”

“That’s a great name. What’s wrong with that?”

“I never said there was anything wrong with it, it’s just not the name I go by anymore.”

“Corporal Cane,” I said in my best tough guy voice. “That sounds like an action star.”

“Are you done yet?”

“Granger Cane, gun for hire. Tonight at eight-thirty. When you’re in danger, call on Granger.”

“I really think we’re done,” he said, trying to hide his smile.

“Oooh! The Lone Granger! It’s the perfect part for a nomad.”

“That’s it,” Snarl said before ‘attacking’ me again until I thought my sides would split open from laughter.

Once I finally caught my breath I asked, “If you’re a nomad, how come you still have to pay dues? I mean it’s not like you’re around to drink beer in the clubhouse.”

“Nomads pay a half share, twice a year.”

“So, you only go to Monument twice a year?”

He shook his head. “I haven’t been home in over three years. I usually mail a check to Sundance, our president, but this time he requested that I make the payment in person.”

“How come?”

“That’s club business, so I’m afraid I can’t get into the particulars, but it looks like I’ll be staying here for a little while.”

“Hearing that makes me happy and sad at the same time,” I said.

“Why’s that?”

“Happy because, I’d like to see you again if that’s okay with you.”

“That is very okay with me,” he replied

“Sad, because I leave for Africa in less than three weeks, and I’ll be gone for three months.”

“If I had to guess, I’d say I’ll likely be gone by the time you get back.”

“That’s what I figured. Thus, sad Lennon.”

“Well then, I guess we’ll just have to make the most of the time we’ve got left before you’re off to become the next Jane Goodall.”

“She studied chimpanzees and is brilliant. I study Black Rhinos and only hope to live long enough to see them thrive on our planet once again. Oh, and somehow eke out a living doing it.”

“What does a behavioralist have to do with saving endangered species?”

“From my perspective studying migratory and mating patterns of a species doesn’t provide enough data for how we can best protect them.

We also need to understand how the ecological and sociological effects of the past four hundred years on this planet have affected the natural behavior of these animals. ”

“You might be the smartest person I’ve ever met,” Snarl said, his hand softly stroking my cheek.

“Doctoral research is a turn on for you, huh?”

“How about, before you jet off to Africa, you do a little more field research on the Long-Horned, North American Snarl.”

“Long horned, huh?” I asked, my hand going to his already hardening cock. “Oh my, that is an exceptionally long horn.”