Page 8 of Wolf.e (The Soldiers of Bedlam #1)

Brinley

“You look hot ! Wait—do you have a tan already ?” Layla squeals as she looks over my yellow strapless dress I bought for the rehearsal when I knock on her door the following Friday evening.

“I’ve been doing yoga outside.” I shrug, forcing the carefree tone to my voice.

And I’ve been wandering the halls of my parents’ barren mansion, getting through orientation at Crimson Homes after they called last Saturday and offered me the job, trying not to text Evan simply out of habit, and trying not to cry myself to sleep every night over my derailed future.

And more than I care to admit, I’ve been trying not to think of the haunting Hounds of Hell president who Layla told me was named Wolfe when we had lunch the other day. True story.

That’s his actual name.

Layla smiles back, she can’t know any of my struggles by my tone. I’m a pro after growing up with my parents.

I force a big happy smile and hug her. I don’t know what I expected when she gave me her address to an older part of town, but it was not this.

This little pocket of hundred-year-old homes on sprawling properties has been totally revived.

It looks like new families have moved in and everything is up kept and very Hallmark-ish.

Layla’s house is no exception. It’s a 1920s Craftsman-style house and has been fully renovated.

I’m pleasantly surprised and remind myself this doesn’t look like the home of a criminal.

Layla’s house is rustic and girly but somehow still smells like leather even though her fiancé isn’t here.

I look over the photos that line the table in the living room.

The man Layla is marrying looks like the other club members I’ve seen around town since I’ve been home.

The only one I haven’t seen again is their club president.

And for some reason, I’ve been looking every time I hear the tell-tale rumble of a Harley on Main.

If anything, just to show myself he isn’t as captivating as I remember.

I smile at a photo of Layla and her fiancé where his arms are wrapped around her waist and he’s biting her earlobe. Layla’s man has her name tattooed under his left eye. It’s small but that’s commitment if I’ve ever seen it.

I toss my hair over my shoulder as I kick my heels off so I don’t mark up their shiny hardwood floor.

I’m determined to push down my worries about where I’m going and just try to have some fun this weekend.

I called the contractor Mr. Kennedy gave me this afternoon and he flat out told me I’m looking at thousands to fix the porch.

It’s just the type of problem I’m not prepared to worry about until Monday.

“Okay, we have time for one toast and then we need to go. I have to see what these boys did all day… God, I knew I never should’ve left Sean in charge of décor,” Layla says nervously.

Something else I learned over lunch the other day is that Layla’s fiancé has a real name. Shockingly, he wasn’t born as Ax.

“Shelly will help him and make sure it’s beautiful,” Chantel says.

Layla nods. “Yes, you’re right. Okay, one shot then we’ll go!” she calls out.

I can’t help but notice how beautiful she looks tonight in pale pink silk.

Her hair is upswept and she has glittery pins holding it in place.

It’s a shame her parents didn’t live long enough to see her wedding day; although, I know they wouldn’t approve of her marrying into the MC anyway, so maybe it’s for the best.

I take my shot and knock it back the way the other girls do as we all take a seat in Layla’s comfortable living room. The shot is surprisingly sweet and sugary. Chantel sets her shot glass down and asks me if I’ve ever been to a clubhouse before.

“No,” I answer honestly. “I was always told to stay away from anyone associated with the club.” I look at Layla. “We both were.”

“That didn’t work out so well,” Amber says with a giggle as she fluffs her hair.

“Brin saw Wolfe and a few of the guys this week, though, and almost pissed her panties,” Layla tells them. The girls laugh as they down another shot.

I groan. “It was…embarrassing, but I froze. I just sat there and stared at him. He looked me over like he was about to demand my personal info,” I comment. “And he seems…terrifying, he stared right at me.”

“He is,” they all say in unison and laugh some more.

“But goddamn, he’s fucking hot. BDE for sure,” Amber snorts out.

“BDE?” I ask, and the girls laugh harder.

“You are innocent, aren’t you, new girl?” Maria chuckles.

“Biker dick energy,” Chantel fills me in.

Oh.

Hot? I’ve never looked at a man like that as hot before. Visions of him pinning me up against his bike overtake me. My body heats and I feel the pink creeping up my cheeks. I squeeze my eyes shut to force the vision from my mind.

“And trust me, he lives up to the hype,” Chantel says, cutting into my thoughts like she knows firsthand.

I cross my ankles and play with the hem on my dress.

“I can’t even imagine being with a man like that. He’s intimidating, to say the least,” I say, focusing on the hem like it’s the most intriguing thing on earth.

“You can be afraid of him and still want him…” Chantel says. They all laugh, and now I think they all know firsthand.

“Forgive me for asking this but, have you all slept with him?” I ask incredulously.

“I haven’t,” Layla pipes up sweetly, arm raised. “The only member of HOH I’ve slept with is Sean.” She giggles using the acronym the town does for the Hounds of Hell.

“On the first night you met him.” Maria smirks.

I look at my friend.

“Couldn’t help it, all he had to do was touch me.” Layla smiles wistfully, and I feel a pang of uncontrollable jealousy.

I look at the other three girls as Chantel points between herself and the other two.

“As far as not sleeping with Wolfe…we can’t say the same, but that’s ancient history.

Like, years ago ancient history.” They laugh and there’s something about it—maybe the fruity shots I just inhaled—that makes me laugh with them.

“You all are a lot braver than I am,” I admit honestly.

“Don’t knock it till you try it. You hang around long enough, it’s just inevitable,” Maria says, spraying perfume down her cleavage.

“Hey, don’t bust my friend’s chops. She’s had two years of mediocre and occasional orgasms.” Layla winks.

I mouth the word “ asshole ” at her, and she grins. I love that our friendship is the type that picks right up where it left off even when time passes. Right now, I’m thanking my lucky stars I ran into her last week. At least I feel like I have someone. With Layla it’s always easy.

Layla stands up and makes her way to the mirror behind us to primp. I follow her because sitting here makes me antsy.

“So…will he be there tonight?” I ask, hating myself for not being able to hold the question in, I lean in to apply lipstick in the mirror beside Layla. As soon as I do and see Chantel’s smirk over my shoulder, I want to curl into a ball of embarrassment because she’s totally on to me.

“Wolfe? Of course. Nothing happens at the club if he isn’t there,” Layla says. She bites her lip in thought as she pulls gloss out of her purse, using the same mirror I stand in front of to apply it before side eyeing me.

“You know, you could have some fun with him,” Layla says, rubbing her lips together.

I scoff.

“Don’t make that uppity face. If not him, then someone like him, someone different than the boring, bland old vanilla you’re used to,” she adds before turning to me. “Sorry to say, Brin, but what you’re doing hasn’t worked for you. You’ve always dated preppy goody boys. Maybe you need a man .”

I shake my head. “I wouldn’t have the first clue about what to do with a man like that.

” I turn to the room. “You all didn’t care that he didn’t want to, like, date?

Just having sex with him, that didn’t make it weird afterward?

” I ask them all. I know how clueless I sound, but I genuinely want to know how this works for all of them.

They all laugh.

“I don’t think Wolfe understands the concept of dating or a relationship,” Maria says.

“Or even has feelings,” Amber adds with a giggle. “You know what you’re getting into with him immediately.”

“That man will be single forever. He has everything on his shoulders, and I heard him say once he doesn’t believe in love,” Maria says.

“Hell, half the time I don’t even think he believes in like.

I went to school with him. Known him for twenty-two years, since we were ten years old.

He’s never had a girlfriend but always had a girl, if you know what I mean. ”

I register that he’s eight years older than me. I knew he was older.

She laughs. “And to answer you, no, it’s not weird. It is what it is. All the guys have their own demons, Wolfe, especially, but they’re all safe. Wolfe never even kisses women.”

“Why hasn’t he kissed a woman?” I ask in shock, which makes the other girls laugh at my innocence.

“I’m sure he has kissed plenty, but he just doesn’t kiss. I don’t even think he’s been with the same woman twice,” Maria says with a shrug, like that’s normal.

I picture that big, inked body hovering over me again this time on a bed, this time he’s leaning in to kiss me . I blink to push the image from my mind. Too much of this fruity alcohol.

“He’s not my type and I’m sure I’m not his…” I shake my head.

Layla locks arms with me as we prepare to leave and leans in.

“Maybe not your type is just what you need.”

Chantel slips on her spiky black heels. “Come on, new girl, let us introduce you to the fun side of the town.”

Well, shit. I have no idea if I’m ready for that.

***

Twenty minutes later, we’re pulling down the half mile long driveway to the Hounds of Hell Clubhouse.

“Holy crap…so many people,” I whisper to Layla, taking in the long line of pickup trucks, SUVs, and of course, Harleys. A lot of them. If I had to guess, I’d say there are at least seventy-five bikes parked along the grass of the drive leading up to the house.