HarlowThe next morning was a big day for a couple of reasons. One: We would be getting on the road and driving to Mexico to pick up what we could only guess was illegal cargo. Two: We would know sometime that day if Brat made it through her first shift. If she survived, she'd be a Blood Dog for life.Before we got started, I rode my bike to Brat's little house to say goodbye. Goldie's bike was parked out front. She'd kept watch of Brat through the night. Stitch drove up behind me with his medical bag."Mornin', Harlow," he said as he dismounted. "Just here to give some TLC to our girl before we get on the road."The front door was unlocked, so I let us both in."Hello?""In here," Goldie's voice called from the bedroom.The bedroom doorway had a beaded curtain separating it from the living room, and the beads rattled as Stitch and I stepped through.Goldie looked exhausted, but Brat looked awful. She was awake but drenched in sweat. The mark on her wrist from Bonnie was deeply
HarlowI was greeted by six cuts bearing emblems of a flaming sword surrounded by seven rings as I sped toward the Seventh Circle bikers from behind. They'd been following our caravan for several minutes and were quickly gaining on our four bikes. From my vantage point, I could see that these guys were packing, and pretty soon, they would be in firing-range of Cyrus and the others.Thinking fast, I pulled up to within six feet of them. Once I matched the engine speed with the transmission, I pressed down on the clutch and stepped on the gas pedal, which made my GTO roar like a metal beast. Panicked by my sudden appearance, the two men bringing up the rear swerved and almost lost control of their bikes.To drive my point home, I brought my car closer and revved the engine even louder than before. They seemed to take my threat seriously, and all six of them took the nearest highway exit. Crisis averted.I let out a huge breath of relief and gave the steering wheel a hardy love pat. "
Harlow"Those were some good enchiladas," Red said as everyone left the restaurant. "And tamales...and chiles en Nevada.""Nogada." Cyrus corrected him with a smirk.We'd spent the better part of three hours there while the guys gorged themselves on round after round of Mexican food. We'd finally gotten word that the truck had been loaded and was ready to go.As we approached the big rig, the reality of what we were doing settled in. Crossing the border with an empty truck was one thing. But now that it was fully stocked with whatever illegal cargo we were transporting, we had stepped into the dangerous world of smuggling. Everyone in the group seemed on edge.The same Sunshine Corp employee who kept us out of the warehouse approached. "You should get moving. The transportation of these goods is time-sensitive. And I remind you that if the shipments are tampered with before you reach your destination, there will be consequences.""Alright, let's move out," Red called out. On his
Harlow"Get the poor girl outta there!" Stitch instructed.The woman in the crate was shaking and scared. Red lifted her out and gently sat her down to remove the restraints. The rest of us pulled the smaller boxes off of the other crates and began opening them. Each crate held a person bound, gagged, and blindfolded. There were twenty in total. Men, women, and children.It hit me then what the list I'd helped Madoc attach to his email meant. In each row was a town name, an M or an F indicating male or female, and a number. Their age. It was an inventory of human beings. I felt sick.I pulled out my switchblade and helped cut the frightened, weak people free of their restraints. Some were barely conscious as if they'd been drugged. These people weren't immigrants trying to get into the States. They'd been taken against their will."What the hell is this?" I asked."Human trafficking," Stitch said in disgust."Like sex trafficking?""Don't know," Stitch responded. "There are som
Blayze"Bonnie!" I called after her as she drove off to the west.Madoc walked up behind me. "Well, that was rude," he said. "She didn't even answer my question. Do you know if the cargo will arrive tonight?"I turned and punched the f*cker in the jaw hard enough to break it. His feet went flying out from under him, and he landed on his back on the pavement. I ran to my bike and got on."So, just to clarify, we don't know where the cargo is?" he asked.Ignoring the psycho occupying my cellar, I started my bike and followed after Bonnie. It took a few minutes, but I finally spotted her taillights in the distance. I hurried to catch up to her. She looked over her shoulder and caught my eye, her long, black hair whipping in the wind under the moonlight. She was still the most beautiful woman I'd ever known. No matter how many of the sweet butts or other she-wolves in town I took to my bed, it was always Bonnie in the back of my mind. I'd spent the last ten years hating her for that.
Cyrus"I said, get up," the Marshal demanded, his gun still pointing at me. "And let me see those hands."Not that his bullets would have had any effect on me, but the last thing I needed was to reveal that I was a werewolf to another human. So I got off of Madoc and put up my hands. Within a few minutes, I was sitting in front of the garage in handcuffs beside Madoc, who was also in cuffs.Members from both MCs had started to gather alongside the caravan team to watch how this scene would play out, but everyone kept their distance. I hated for Harlow to see me like this. It was humiliating."Is this going to take long?" Madoc asked."Shut up!" the Marshal said as he kneeled beside me. "Now, I need you to answer some questions for me.""Look, if this is about those college boy a**holes, I've told you all I know," I said.The Marshal chuckled. "You really think I give a sh*t about those two little punks?" He leaned in closer, smiling. "I need you to tell me where your Alpha is. B
Bonnie"I said, what the hell are you?" I repeated as Madoc walked toward the hunter he'd just instructed to shoot himself.He met my eyes for a second before leaning over the body of Amos Jessup. Then, I saw his canines elongate, and he sunk them into the hunter's neck. He appeared to be drinking his blood."No way," Blayze said beside me. "No. F*cking. Way.""Everyone get away from him!" I shouted. "Get behind us!"Harlow helped Stella hobble over toward us, stopping when she got to Red to pull the silver net off of him. Red had burns in the shape of the netting over the left half of his body. He stood and walked behind me to Gunner, who was holding Grim's motionless body.Dax picked up Lola, who lay lifeless in his arms, and brought her over. His eyes looked empty. Like he'd been crushed from the inside.When Madoc stood up, he looked healthier somehow, and the blood that was on his skin began retreating back into his body."I'm a predator," Madoc said. "Just like I told you
CyrusJust like that, a ten-year-long feud was over. I didn't want to ask Blayze if this meant that Harlow and I could be together. There was immeasurable sadness in the air, and we had thirteen fallen wolves to bury the next day. Not to mention what we'd be dealing with when Madoc came back. It felt selfish and petty to ask his permission. But I didn't have to.Blayze saw me looking at Harlow and gave me a nod. "You two are probably exhausted. Get outta here and get some rest... Or whatever."Harlow looked to Bonnie, who also gave her a nod. Harlow and I were free to do as we pleased and a surge of relief and joy washed over me despite the circumstances. I took Harlow by the hand, and we left the bar."Where are we going?" she asked when we got outside."Is my place ok with you?""More than ok." She smiled.We hadn't slept in about thirty hours at this point, and we were both covered in dirt, sweat, and spattered blood, but she managed to look beautiful. So much bad had happene