She was more. Journey was so much more. She was more than a possession, a thing, a toy for my wolf to play with and discard for later.
Journey was…my mate.
I pursed my lips, my fangs lengthening at the thought of having to give up Journey. I had a chance, my former mate rejected us for another, someone more robust, faster, better. My wolf growled out, forcing those thoughts of inadequacy from my lips.
I would be the best damn wolf for her.
“Journey is our mate,” my wolf growled out. Locke stepped back, leaning his back against the wall.
“Holy shit, Grim,” he panted. “No fucking way, no, no, no!” He pulled at his hair, pacing up and down the hallway. “No damn way!
My ears perked at the light breathing on the other side of the door. There was no denying what I heard. My wolf was growing stronger by the minute, having Journey near us. I could hear the faint beating of her heart, how her ear grazed the old wooden door, her fingertips gently tickling the wood beneath them.
I put my finger to my lips to silence him. Locke was still in a state of shock. So, I put my hand on the door. I could feel her warmth, the heat of her breath. Why had I not entirely accepted it when our fingers let out the jolt of surprise last night? It was time wasted, time that I could have been spending with her.
“What the fuck are we going to do? If this gets out?” Locke rubbed his hands up and down his face. “I’ll take care of it.” His hands shook. “Without a doubt, yeah? She’s your… your?” he whispered as he lit another cig.
My lip curled into a smile. I had a chance at being happy for once in my life. She brought the wolf back to me. She brought me from the brink of losing myself, and she didn’t even know.
“Oh fuck, she is.” He pulled his hair and turned his back to me to walk back down the stairs. “Wait.” He turned around, the cig dancing on his lips. “If she is—” He pointed to me and the door. “Then does that mean—” He pointed back to himself, then his finger swayed to the open window towards the bar.
Fuck if I knew. I just knew I had a second chance. If the others did, I wasn’t sure. I just knew I had one thing I never thought I would have.
A second chance.
“I’ll take care of it, yeah—” Locke muttered. “We don’t tell anyone, not yet. Can’t cause a stir in the club, you hear?” He wagged his finger at me. “We can’t let this get out in the open yet. Not until we figure something out about the Royal Council, because if they knew. Fuck, if they find out…”
Locke had never lost his cool in all years I’d known him, and he was breaking at the seams. I held in a growl, shaking my head and keeping my hand firmly planted on the door. Journey had backed away, the heat dissipating.
“They won’t know,” I gritted my teeth. “We are just a bunch of rogues, anyway. Who are they to care?”
Locke shook his head. “Just keep it quiet. She can live here, obviously. Can’t separate you two.”
No, he can’t, not when she was mine.
“Word is out you scented her. Everyone will stay away. I’ll just tell them you have an urge to protect her as your last effort to keep sane. That alright with you until I figure it out?”
I nodded, holding out my hand in agreement.
I wasn’t a complete prick. Keeping the rest of the brothers safe was a priority for me. I’d do my best to keep my hands to myself in public, if she would even let me touch her.
Locke was a suitable substitute alpha president for the club. He was fair and honorable, always had been since I’d known him. He simply better not impede my mate.
“Need money?” He walked from down the stairs.
I had so much money saved up from doing tats for out-of-towners and Switch setting up a social media page. I had plenty of clients. I could take care of my mate no problem. I was her provider now.
“I’m fine.”
Locke ran back up the stairs. He put his arms around me, patting me on the back. “I’m so glad you’re gonna be alright.”
Little did people know how close of a relationship Locke and I had. Behind closed doors, I swear the gods mixed us up at birth, and we were supposed to be blood brothers. Spirit brothers are closer, I suppose.
“Thanks,” I said patting him equally hard on the back. His head nodded to the door.
“Go get your girl. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll leave you alone for a few days.” He winked.
Before he strolled away, I gripped his arm. “Yesterday, at the club. I saw—”
