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Chapter 10: Living the Lie
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2022-09-17 14:07:07Related chapters
Riding with the Pack Chapter 11: Mr. Policeman
HarlowMy heart was racing. "What's all this?" Bonnie asked as she came through the doorway."This gentleman's a U.S. Marshal," Red explained. "Says he's looking for a couple guys who mighta come through here the other day.""Ma'am," the Marshal nodded to her. "You the owner?""That's right. Bonnie Black," she said. "Is it typical for you folks to work on your own? I didn't see anyone else outside. No task force or anything.""Well, this case is a little near and dear," he said. "How dear, Mr…""Amos Jessup," he said, flashing her his badge. Then he showed her the photos. "This guy on the right is Robbie Cooke. His father's a good friend of mine. Governor Harlan Cooke." Sh*t. One of those guys was a governor's kid?"Robbie and his buddy, Travis Lawrence, broke their probation to cross state lines to attend some music festival over the weekend," the Marshal went on. "They were on their way back, according to Travis's girlfriend's text messages. Just a couple hundred miles f
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Riding with the Pack Chapter 12: Secret Lovers
CyrusI'd stayed late working on a pickup to see when Harlow got out of the bar. When she finally did, I walked over to my bike, lit a cigarette, and sent her a text. I did my best to act cool when she looked up, taking a drag, but the truth was I'd been thinking about her all day.Even through the late-night Howlers meeting about Sunrise Corp, which basically ended up nowhere, she was at the back of my mind. Seeing her over there in a little white dress under her leather jacket, I couldn't wait to get her on the back of my bike and drive off into the Bone Hills. When I got her text back confirming our meeting, I smiled from ear to ear. I tore off my coveralls and put my cut on over my T-shirt. "Hey, I'm gonna finish this up tomorrow," I told Mac and Butch, the two guys left working. "You in a rush to be somewhere?" Mac asked. "Hot date?""Nah," I replied, "your mom's busy.""A**hole," Mac said, throwing a dirty rag my way. "See ya," I called as I started my bike up and wen
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Riding with the Pack Chapter 13: Judge and Jury
Harlow"There's no need to say anything," Cyrus said, standing and helping me to my feet. "We can keep this between us.""I don't think so," the scar-faced biker said. I noticed the patch that said "SGT at Arms" on his cut. He was the Howlers' enforcer and seemed more than happy to lay down the law."Mac, come on—" Cyrus said to him, but he was cut off."You really messed this one up, bro," Mac said. "Let's go."We didn't have a choice.I held onto Cryus tightly as we drove back. Mac rode in front while the bigger guy, Butch, followed us back to town. When we'd reached the Gnaw Bone city limits, my heart was in my throat. We'd been caught going behind our respective Alphas' backs. What would they say?Soon, Cyrus was pulling up to the garage next to Mac. Butch parked nearby. When we got off the bike, Mac waved for us to go around to a side door. "After you, lovebirds."Cyrus led me through the door and up a flight of stairs until we reached a large room above the garage. The Ho
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Riding with the Pack Chapter 14: Kiss and Say Goodbye
Harlow"Good news," Bonnie said as she arrived at my table and slid into the booth. "Votes are in. You made the cut.""I can stay?" I gasped.She nodded. "We're going to wipe the slate clean and give you another chance.""Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.""But, you're not out of the woods just yet," she replied, her expression turning serious. "Like I said, this pack is built on trust, which takes time. And given recent events, you're gonna have to step up and go the extra mile. You think you can do that?""Absolutely. Whatever it takes."Bonnie smiled. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Madoc is coming back tomorrow, and I have no idea what he's got planned for us. I'll need all the reliable help I can get.""You can count on me," I said. "Good." She stood and left to chat with Lola and Dax.As I looked around the room, I watched pack members laughing and joking as they ordered round after round of drinks, played cards, and argued over which song
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Riding with the Pack Chapter 15: Ch-Ch-Changes
HarlowI had sh*tty dreams. After I got back to my trailer from the bar, I tossed and turned all night. Images of my father and flashing police lights were interspersed with Cyrus driving farther and farther away on his bike as I called after him.I woke while it was still dark. Unable to fall back asleep, I kicked off the blankets and paced back and forth in the narrow tailor. I had a couple of shots of Jack to try to make myself drowsy, but it didn't work. Eventually, I stepped out of my trailer and sat on the steps of my little porch to watch the sunrise.I was only slightly surprised to see a few giant wolves walking amongst the mobile homes. I could only assume that they'd been out in the desert during the night and were now returning to their lodgings. I watched in awe as they transformed back to their naked human selves. One of them was Bonnie.She caught my eye as she walked, "Come have some coffee with me, Prospect."I was barefoot but figured I could rough it since she w
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Riding with the Pack Chapter 16: The Lawman Foxtrot
CyrusThe Marshal swerved into the garage parking lot."Any idea what this is about?" Tank asked me."I don't know. But everyone stay put and I'll find out," I replied."Hey, you're not calling the shots now," Mac said, getting up in my face."I'm still your Beta.""And I'm VP," he replied.From the corner of my eye, I saw the Marshal's driver side door open."We don't have time for this. Come on," I said.Mac and I both hurried across to join Blayze, who was standing in front of the garage. At the same time, the Marshal stepped out of his Charger. His cowboy hat, badge, and sidearm made him look like he'd just been plucked out of the old west. He put on a pair of aviators as we approached."What can I do you for, Marshal?" Blayze asked."I have reason to believe the fugitives, Robbie Cooke and Travis Lawrence, are bankrolling the citizens of this town to keep them underground," he replied."Sorry, but I don't know anything about that. My boys and I run a legitimate busines
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Riding with the Pack Chapter 17: Leader of the Pack
BonnieHarlow somehow didn't seem completely surprised by what I'd just told her."So that tattoo on Blayze's shoulder? The one that says 'Bonnie?'" she asked."You noticed that, huh? Yeah, that's me," I admitted. "Our fathers were close before the big split. Alpha Quinton Black and Beta Jessie Rollins had been friends since they were pups. They started the MC together. Blayze and I were bound to be close."After we graduated high school, the pressure was on to make it official and get mated. But I didn't wanna rush into things. I had a lot to learn about becoming Alpha after Quinton retired, and getting mated didn't seem like the right path just yet. But Jessie had other ideas. Didn't think a woman should be Alpha. I knew it wasn't done much, but it's the twenty-first century, ya know?"Anyway, Jessie started telling Quinton that he should consider making Blayze Alpha instead. Wanted me to take the traditional role of Luna. You know what that is?" I asked Harlow.She shook her h
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Riding with the Pack Chapter 18: New Management
HarlowBonnie eyed Madoc suspiciously."I know you're not accustomed to taking orders," he said to her. "So I'll try my best to give you some time to adjust to new management."That clearly pissed Bonnie off, but she held her tongue for the time being."You ok if I go?" she asked me.I didn't know what other option we had, so I nodded."If I find out you so much as looked at her funny—" she began, but Madoc released his grip on my wrist and raised both his hands in the air."I'm just having a meet and greet with my newest employee," he replied."I'll be back in just a couple minutes," Bonnie assured me and headed for the door.When she was gone, Madoc said, "Why don't you be a dear and make me a margarita?""No salt with a little umbrella?" I asked."Good memory."I made my way behind the bar while he sauntered over to the jukebox. Coins clanked into the machine, and he selected a song. As I measured and poured the margarita ingredients into the cocktail shaker, a glitter r
Last Updated : 2022-09-17
Latest chapter
Riding with the Pack Chapter 50: We Belong
CyrusEveryone else in the bar parking lot looked as shocked as I was. Madoc was still alive. But how?I pulled Harlow close to me. To my disappointment, she looked relieved to see him."Now, I know what you're thinking," the vampire said, from the middle of the road. "Where did he get a new suit on such short notice? Spoiler. I got it at Mega Mart. I also picked up a toolset for only ten dollars—""That's it!" Blayze roared as he threw down his cut, shifted, and charged the vampire.He slammed into Madoc, knocking him to the ground, but in seconds. Madoc was on his feet again, seemingly unfazed. The Alpha attacked again, this time snapping at him with his jaws, but to everyone's surprise, all he got was air as Madoc rushed out of the way and reappeared several yards away.There were gasps from all around at how fast Madoc moved."Look, I just want to talk," the vampire said. Undeterred, Blayze rushed toward him, but again, Madoc evaded his assault."Honestly, I just want to ha
Riding with the Pack Chapter 49: First Shift
CyrusI held Harlow while she fell asleep. The sun had come up, and she'd be unconscious for a while after being bitten."I love you, baby," I whispered in her ear and kissed her mating mark. It was bruised, and the heat from the bite was quickly spreading to the rest of her body.Soon she'd have a fever. Then would come the pain of her human body being overtaken by the bite—a pain no one who was born a werewolf had to endure. Sure, the first few shifts were uncomfortable for born wolves, but what Harlow would be going through was an entire transformation; her DNA was rewriting itself.Hours went by before she finally began to stir. By that time, she was feverish, and it would continue to climb. Werewolves run hot."Hey," I said, helping her sit up. "How're you feeling?" I took the cap off a bottle of water and gave it to her with a straw."Ok so far," she said before drinking, then motioned for me to get into the bed with her, which I did. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed
Riding with the Pack Chapter 48: Marked
HarlowAfter we pulled up to Cyrus's house on his bike, he picked me up and carried me inside. It made me think of the first time he'd done that before we'd made love. Turning on the living room lamp, he sat me down on the couch and planted a kiss on my lips."Wait here a minute," he whispered, and he headed into the bedroom.I was becoming nervous. I'd have been lying if I said I wasn't, but I was also excited for what was to come. I would be like Cyrus and the rest of the pack members soon. If everything went right… It had to. Cyrus was going to be my mate, and it felt impossible that our love couldn't withstand my first shift. It made me feel invincible.Regardless of how sure I felt, my knees were shaking. I placed my hand on my neck, where my mating mark would be."Oh, God," I muttered. My pulse quickened, and I tried to force myself to keep my breathing steady. My mating mark… This was really happening.Then I felt Cyrus's familiar touch on my arm, and it had an immediate c
Riding with the Pack Chapter 47: Return of the Mouth
Harlow"You…want to mark me?" I asked, astonished."You mean so much to me, Harlow," Cyrus said, pulling me in close. "If you still want me to—""YES!" I blurted louder than intended. In an instant, our lips were locked in the sweetest embrace.We spent the next several hours there just holding one another. Cyrus and I sat wrapped in each other's arms overlooking Gnaw Bone from up high in our spot. Knowing how seriously he'd thought about marking me made it all the more special, but a text from Bonnie eventually brought me back down to earth.It read, "Can you come to the bar? It's important."I hated that we had to leave, but I did as requested. We rode our bikes back to Gnaw Bone side by side as the sun went down. When we arrived, Cyrus and I walked into the bar, where Bonnie and the rest of the Blood Dogs officers were waiting for me."Hey, Harlow," Bonnie said. "I know that was hard for you today, but we couldn't—""Mind control," I interrupted. "You couldn't risk me spi
Riding with the Pack Chapter 46: Double-Cross
HarlowI was relieved when we drove back into Gnaw Bone. All I wanted was to go back home with Cyrus, take a hot shower, and crash. I still couldn't believe the crazy stunt I'd pulled to get my car back, but I was pretty proud of it.I parked my car outside the garage, and everyone else got off their bikes. Remy and Leon stepped out of the SUV parked around the back and came to watch us unload.But instead, Butch and Shorty quickly took both of Madoc's familiars into chokeholds."What are you doing?!" I asked, confused."I'm sorry," Cyrus said. "I couldn't tell you in case Madoc forced you to spill information.""You couldn't tell me what?""We're not handing the smack over to Madoc," Bonnie said as everyone else began unloading a small mountain of heroin behind the garage. "We've gotta show Sunrise Corp that we won't be their foot soldiers."I didn't know what to say. I got why everyone thought they had to keep it from me, but it didn't make me feel any better, being left in t
Riding with the Pack Chapter 45: H-Day
HarlowSitting in the Mega Mart parking lot, I watched the heist unfold in the reflection of my rearview mirror. I'd parked near the gated entrance that led to the loading dock. It was surrounded by a chain-link fence where I could see several Seventh Circle members pacing near five semi-trucks.Bonnie, Blayze, and Gunner kept watch from the adjacent parking lot so their bikes wouldn't draw attention. Stella and Stitch, on the other hand, were already inside working undercover as dutiful Mega Mart employees. And for the next fifteen minutes, everyone else took turns walking inside and getting into position.Tank was the first to go inside, followed by Shorty, then Butch. They all definitely blended in with the rest of Mega Mart's typical clientele, wearing things like cargo pants and T-shirts with stupid phrases on them.Goldie and Wyatt went in together. From the moment they stepped out of their van, they assumed the role of a bombastic couple and pretended to bicker as they made
Riding with the Pack Chapter 44: Reservoir Wolves
Harlow"You're..." I couldn't believe what Bonnie had just told me."Keep it to yourself," she said. "No one else knows."I didn't dare ask who the father was, but I had a pretty good idea.At that moment, Blayze walked into the bar."Hey," he said, "Bonnie, we have a last-minute addition to the security squad. Cyrus told me Seventh Circle's got five escorts on the trucks. He wants to add Butch and Shorty. Cool with you?""That's fine," she said, not meeting his eye."What was it you wanted to talk about this morning?" he asked."Nothing," she replied. "Let's just focus on getting through tomorrow for now."Ok, I knew who the father was."You sure?"I felt really uncomfortable between the two of them."Yeah," Bonnie insisted. "Don't worry about it."I spent the rest of the day thinking about what Bonnie must have been going through. But it also got me thinking about Cyrus and me and our future together. I didn't know if he wanted kids, but I'd always thought that I would e
Riding with the Pack Chapter 43: I Hate Myself for Loving You
BlayzeI woke up to someone knocking on my front door. The two sweet butts in my bed both groaned as I climbed over their naked bodies to get my boxers. Looking at my phone, I saw that it was about 7:00 AM. I went to sleep only three hours before."Better be f*cking important," I mumbled. I nearly tripped over my underwear, pulling them on as I made my way for the front door. "What!" I demanded when I swung it open, which I immediately regretted when I saw my mother's face."Good mornin' to you, too, Sunshine," my mom said as she waltzed past me and toward the kitchen. "Ugh, Blayze," she said disapprovingly. "It smells like cigarettes and a** in here. I brought leftovers."I rolled my eyes as I closed the door. But the truth was, I appreciated my mom making sure my fridge was stocked with her home-cooked food. Unlike Cyrus, I'd never let her teach me how to cook. My dad had always said cooking was women's work, and I'd, unfortunately, listened to him. Now I pretty much relied on my
Riding with the Pack Chapter 42: It's My Party
Harlow"Get your hands off her!" Cyrus's voice boomed from the bottom of the cellar stairs. Within seconds, he shifted and charged forward as Madoc released me and put his hands up."Woah, woah! I just gave Harlow her birthday gift. That's all," Madoc said.Cyrus didn't listen. Before I knew it, Madoc was on the floor, and Cyrus was on top of him."Cyrus, stop!" I cried. "He wasn't doing anything to hurt me!"Cyrus now had Madoc's mangled wrist in his mouth. He looked over his shoulder at me with his wolf eyes and let out a low growl."Please, let him go," I begged.He released Madoc and slowly shifted back."What was he making you do?" he asked as he picked his cut up off the floor."He wasn't making me do anything!" I shouted angrily. "I was just hugging him to thank him for my gift.""Why are you crying?" Cyrus asked, gesturing to my tears.I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Madoc set up a call with my dad. That's all. I haven't so much as heard his voice in years. I'm ju
