~Punch’s Point of View~
I park the van outside a rough building in an even rougher area of town. Not in Flyer territory. Not somewhere I should be let alone the Alpha’s daughter. I tell myself I need to call someone to fetch Hazel, but I don’t. The plan had only been to scare her, just give her a little scare, well she’s gonna get even more.
Yet I know she’s safe here even in the most crime riddled neighborhood. The only thing to fear is me. This is a neutral zone, on the border of Flyer territory where it meets Viuda Negra’s. Though for me to be down here it would have to mean I’m handling pack business, which I’m not.
Mick paces in my mind, not giving a shit about Hazel for once. He is laser focused.
“Listen to me when I say… do NOT get out of this van. No matter what happens. If your ass leaves this vehicle I can’t be held responsible,” I warn, in a low voice.
It’s still a voice that says I’m not fucking around and she knows it.
“I’ll stay put,” she whispers.
The glow of a cigarette at the end of the alley is my cue. Hopping out of the van, I lock it for good measure. It’s cold as shit out here so I can’t leave her for too long without being an asshole. I’m fully aware she’s still only a pup with no wolf to warm her.
“Brother,” Grouch says, fist bumping me.
Even though he's old enough to be my father. Respect is only earned, and the fact that I'm still a Yardbird but have earned it gives me an intense satisfaction. As the Beta of our pack he’s the de facto Alpha when Doze isn’t around, but I already know anything he says goes. Doze trusts him 100%.
“How deep is he in,” I ask, cutting right to the chase.
“Three grand he brought, plus down another four when I came out. Maybe he’s gonna put up his car,” he says, tossing his cigarette.
Mick growls through me, pissed off. Where the fuck did he get three grand? He hasn’t worked in two years at least. I hadn't laid eyes on him personally but I had spies. He had to have stolen it. Or conned a female for it.
“I’m gonna need some gas to get home, can you help me out,” I taunt, raising my eyebrow and flicking my head up the street. He nods, then gives a small cough.
“Don’t you know those things'll kill ya,” I tease, slapping his back as he moves ahead of me.
“Counting on it,” he laughs, opening the door to the building.
I give a nod to the guard, of course he knows me even though he isn’t a Flyer. Unfortunately, alliances need to be made sometimes. This gambling den was an example of the necessity to get along. Now, it was far too profitable for us all to quit.
Grouch leads the way to the larger poker room and as he enters, I hang back.
*It’s him. Fucking hell. I can’t believe he didn’t leave town. Send the message,* Mick demands, pacing in my head.
I rub my face and pull out my cell. I open the group text chat for all Flyers. It’s very, very rarely used. Only for serious emergencies. Anything said in the chat is extremely cryptic on purpose, but with clear words everyone will more than understand.
ME: B Card, one hour.
I wasn’t officially a Flyer, but they would more than make an exception for this. I was thought of as Dozer's son and a wrong against me is a wrong against the entire pack. They know my story, they know how personal it is for me to help all the pups that come to the boxing ring and why.
I began to crack my knuckles, loudly. There are four active tables in the room and suddenly it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop. I move toward one table in particular. The eight males seated immediately take notice of me. I only know one of them, yet they all seem to know my face. I’m a sick fuck, so I like that.
Mick reveles in their fear. I often wonder which of us is sicker.
Nah, it’s him.
One by one they pop up to try and leave. All but one … is allowed to do so. Pretty soon the room is clear.
“Why don’t you stay awhile friend,” Grouch says, putting his hand on the male’s shoulder and shoving him back into the seat.
It’ll cost me probably 10k minimum to be shutting the place down for the rest of the night, but I couldn’t give a fuck. I may have to lean on Dozer for help, but I will pay him back. I don’t ever want to owe anyone anything. All actions have consequences but if I make it right, I’ll be forgiven.
“That your Mustang outside? It’s pretty nice,” Grouch asks, falling in the seat next to the male.
The Beta quickly pulls out his phone and shoots off a text.
My prey’s eyes stay dead focused on me. Mick listens carefully as his heart races, and sweat beads on his forehead. Amazingly, he didn’t reek of booze. He was probably wondering why the fuck I was here right now and how I managed to in any kind of position of authority.
Now was hardly the time for story hour, not when I had my Alpha’s daughter freezing her tits off in the van.
“It’s yours. Take it, just let me go,” the male whispers.
He tosses his keys onto the table.
“Where … is she,” I ask, though I really didn’t give a shit.
Yeah, Mick wanted them both but we’d never killed a female. I didn’t doubt my resolve to do it, for her I could make an exception.Especially for how she hurt Mags. But if I didn’t get her, I wouldn’t lose sleep. However she’s out there killing herself is probably just as bad. I just don’t want her to hurt anyone else, ever again. If what she did to me wasn’t enough to sign her death sentence, what she puts Mags through more than justifies her death.
His eyes lower as shame covers his features.
“Couldn’t say. Left me a long time ago,” he says, refusing to look me in the eye. Yeah, sure. You mean you left her.
“Imagine that, we have something in common. Leaving you was the best thing I ever did,” I say, my lips then press together and my eyes turn to slits.
Grouch stands in a swift movement and puts a bag over his head. I’m quickly behind the male, pulling him to his feet and grabbing his hands.
Within seconds I have his wrists zip tied and am leading him out of the building. Just up the block I catch sight of two Yardbirds laughing, moving quickly around a Mustang.
“I’ll ride with you. I got dropped off,” Grouch says, as I unlock the van.
“Gotta make a stop first,” I say, as I open the back doors.
He sees the back of Hazel’s head but I doubt he knows it’s her, at least not yet. This was hardly the type of adventure I would bring a Fly on, so he has to know something is up. His wolf will pick up her scent in a minute.
BOOM
“Ahhh!! Ohh shit,” Hazel shrieks, as the van rocks.
Heat pumps through the cold, otherwise still night air, washing over all of us. The intense stench of gasoline is also ripe and pushing into my lungs.
Grouch and I toss the male into the back of the van and slam the doors shut.
BOOM
“What the hell is that,” she cries, trying to turn around in her seat.
“Cleaning up trash,” I reply, quickly starting the engine.
Probably stupid on my part, I could have taken that car to a chop shop and gotten a few grand for it. But I’m dramatic sometimes, what can I say?
Grouch hops in the passenger seat and quickly turns around to see my guest.
“Uhm, shit,” he whispers, laughing and actually putting on his seatbelt.
I floor the pedal, backing out of the alley. I drive for a block in reverse before finally changing gears and going down a side street.
“What’s up with that,” Grouch finally asks, pointing in the back.
“Sanctioned, don’t worry,” I smirk, nearly hitting a dumpster.
“What!? My dad okayed this,” she snaps.
I don’t answer her, but a grin spreads across my face. She huffs and sits back, bracing herself with my crazy driving. When I finally get to her house, I stick my finger in Grouch’s face, indicating to give me a minute. He shakes his head.
Practically gliding across the front of the van I grab the door handle a second later.
PHEW
“What the fuck,” I shout, looking at the spit on my shirt.
Mick demands I grab her roughly, toss her in the grass. He always wants me to be rough with her. If literally anyone else spit on me I’d dismember them and feed them to some real animals.
I reach in and harshly pull her out. Once she’s steady on her feet I open a switchblade inches from her face, making her jump. Her eyes didn’t look at it though, they stay dead set on me. She doesn’t fear me at all and it pisses me off.
*No it doesn’t,* my wolf chides.
Not giving her a chance to answer I spin her around and cut the zip tie on her wrists. She groans and immediately rubs them.
I put my knife away and shut the door before turning around to see her still standing there. I get in her face.
“Listen to me, little girl. You’re gonna get your shit together and apologize to your mother. If I have to hear from her again that her precious angel has upset her it ain’t gonna be pretty. Do I make myself clear,” I seethe, getting in her face.
Mick flicks my eyes black for good measure, making her gasp and jump back. It's a battle at times to keep him from shifting around her.
“Who’s in the back,” she asks, slightly catching me off guard.
I didn’t think she’d have the balls to even ask.
When I don’t answer she adds, “are you going to kill him?”
“Take your spoiled ass inside,” I say, pointing.
“What happened to you Punch,” she whispers, her lip trembling.
She looks a mess: make-up smeared all over her face, her hair crazy. Fresh tears, dried ones. Her clothes wrinkled. Still, all I wanna do is crush her to me and that’s a tell tale sign I need to get fuck outta here.
I nearly ask what she means. I’m no saint, she’s never known me as one. She knows what the Flying Death are, what we do. She knows what pays for the clothes on her back that she loves so much.
“Get your shit together Hazel. I mean it,” I say, and finally turn away. I don’t look back at her, I can’t.
The irony of me … lecturing someone on behaving. Yeah. I’ve already more than solidified my place in hell, if it exists.
My update schedule for this at least for the month of May is going to be Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. But I will have at least two chapters with each update. This is going to be a longer book because after this love story I will let the readers choose which member of the pack they want me to follow next! Definitely let me know who your favorites are as the story goes on!
~Punch’s Point of View~ Thankfully, Grouch doesn’t say anything or question me. If he did, I wasn’t totally sure what I’d say. He’s Dozer’s right hand man, he knows literally everything about everything. He wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t. But he also knows when to keep his mouth shut. The secrets that male has could probably take down anyone important in a ten hour radius. He’s never married and doesn’t have kids. The Flyers are his entire life. You’d never, ever know by looking at him he’s a millionaire many times over. He’s only 38 but looks weathered, rough and borderline homeless. He more than likes it that way. “I’m happy for you kid. Getting this closure, Mick needs to do this for you,” he says, once we were back at the packhouse. He pats my shoulder and I nod. I draw a deep breath as the roar of several motorcycles fills the lot, my brothers are rallying around me. It nearly makes me emotional but there is no time for that. *We’ll shift right away, let me do it. I
~Hazel’s Point of View~ “Hey Mags,” I say, giving her my best smile. She immediately raises her eyebrow at me, but then returns my smile and gives me a side hug. What does she know? I’m instantly on the defensive. “Hey sweetie. Your dad isn’t here, went to look at some machine or other for the shop an hour away,” she replies, handing me a glass of orange juice. “Oh that’s okay. Actually uhm, I was kinda wondering if you needed help with anything. You know, around here,” I say, throwing back the cool drink. She gives me a knowing look and shakes her head. “Not really a place for you to hang out hun and no, we’re good,” she says, taking drinks off her tray and handing them out to a few guys who were eating. They all make small talk with her. Damn it, I can’t exactly come out and ask for Punch. I don’t even know which room is his, I don’t exactly have a wolf that can find his scent. If I don’t have a task or something to do here everyone would ask why I was hanging around. I te
~Punch's Point Of View~ Christmas Eve "Dinner was incredible baby, thank you so much," Dozer coos, kissing his mate's hand. She blushes. It warms my black heart to see her happy, and Mick wags his tail in response. He likes being back at home, surrounded by familiar smells and sights. "It wasn't all me, Hazel helped quite a bit, even got up super early," Mona replies, smiling. I knew Hazel had made the pies, and they were my weakness. If they survived the day I’d be taking them back to the packhouse. “Not that anyone asked, but all I want for Christmas is my family under one roof,” Mona adds, looking at me. I give her a small, polite smile. Yeah I’d gotten her a damn nice present but of course she would ask for that instead. “Just to ensure she gets her wish we’re not doing gifts until the morning,” Dozer says, firmly. *It’s not that bad,* Mick chirps, making my eyes look at the ham on my plate. “Sounds good,” I concede, stabbing at it. I didn’t look at anyone when I said
~Hazel’s Point of View~ I stare off into space, completely blank. Travis. Naked. Hard. So hard. No shame about it. Proud of himself. Why wouldn’t he be? I literally couldn’t hold another thought in my head. I’d never wanted anything more in my life. Travis. Naked. I wanted to stare at him, watch him watching me admire him. His muscles, his scattered random tattoos that seemed to make no sense. The scars he had all over. I wasn’t afraid of him, I could never be. They only proved that he was strong, a survivor. Flopping onto my belly I bite my lip. There’s not a chance in hell I’m going to sleep tonight. And what am I going to do about it? He doesn’t live here any more, I don’t exactly have the easiest access to where he does live. I have only tonight. I knew the likelihood of rejection would be present. All he does is push me away and I go back like a puppy dog begging for attention. Every single time. How can I not? His eyes are hypnotic, his touch is electric and he alway
~Punch’s Point of View~ It was impossible not to leave last night, to go back to the packhouse. Wrestling with what to do over Hazel was the hardest thing I’d ever faced. I prided myself on my confidence, on handling any situation. Now she was parading around the house, completely ignoring me. I couldn’t lie either, it hurt. I wanted her to look at me again like she had last night. Lusty, hot, sexy. Like I was the best thing she’d ever seen. And the way she effortlessly handled Mick? There wasn’t a doubt in my mind I could have had her virginity last night. And probably have Dozer cut my dick off afterwards. Ruining his little girl for her mate, under his roof no less. “I get to go first, I can't help it,” Dozer says, handing his mate a small box. Looking at Hazel by the lit up Christmas tree, now dressed in conservative holiday jammies covered in candy canes … it does something to my heart. She certainly isn’t a Fly, nothing even remotely like it. She is absolutely wife and mate
~Hazel’s Point of View~ “Hey dad, whatever happened to you wanting to fix me up with your friend’s son? What was his name, Hector,” I ask, trying my best not to lay it on too thick. It was rare that I got him alone, especially when he was in a good mood. We’d ordered take out and lounged around together, watching the history channel. I couldn’t have been more bored but he was too into it. Mom was actually in a female’s only bowling league and that was happening tonight. He raises his eyebrow, and I pray like hell he doesn’t call my bluff. I knew Hector was a tiger shifter, and if we mated it pained me to admit his animal was higher in the pecking order. Our babies would be cubs, not pups. It was not at all common for females to willingly choose to mate outside their species, but love happens. I kind of thought dad only wanted me to date him to prove to me that a wolf male would be the best choice. I had certainly dated outside my species before, which he didn’t like but none of the
~Punch’s Point of View~ For the hundredth time I run my fingers over a bottle cap, nearly hoping it’ll cut me so I can have a momentary distraction. I hate closed doors and the meeting room at the packhouse was closed only a couple times a month typically. But it absolutely fucking kills me not to know what’s going on in there. Every so often there were loud noises, good and bad sounds. Some growls. Even though we tried to operate as a normal pack, Dozer didn’t like being called Alpha. Even more so, in mixed company he really hated it. Just Doze or Dozer and it wasn’t considered disrespectful. But not all Alphas are like that. Grouch liked to be called “VP” instead of Beta and people did it just to appease him but for me, he was Grouch and that’s it. For me, I’d have no problem being called Reeve when the time comes. It’s a badge of honor. I’m the judge, jury and executioner. But Alpha or Beta, nah. Not me, not ever. Zero interest in that. I’m not a leader, but I didn’t follow bli
~Hazel’s Point of View~ I laugh out loud, as I fall for the hundredth time tonight. But as always, big strong arms caught me. Warmth envelopes me and bright eyes look down, along with a sexy smile. “I’ve got you linda,” he whispers, and I make a face. “Who’s Linda,” I ask, finally getting upright. He laughs. “It means, lovely. Believe me Hazel I know your name,” he insists, reaching for my chin. I blush as he holds it, then he gives me the lightest kiss. Just a feather basically, but it is sweet. He’d been so damn nice all night, like unreal. I didn’t know males could be this considerate. Especially while I felt like I’d made an idiot out of myself, I couldn’t skate for shit! But he seemed to love that I kept trying. “I think I’ve tortured you long enough, want to get these things off,” he asks, pulling me off to the side. I nod, eagerly. He makes a whole show of putting my boots on for me, and I wasn’t sure feeling this turned on was even legal. As soon as my feet hit the f