He thought about it, there had to be something out there that could help her. “Of course.”
“Before you leave, you will be the expert in the Werewolf universe on Human-Wolf Separation. I expect a well-researched report, with case studies and recommended treatment options. Get busy, because if she shows up tomorrow, we have to be ready to help her.”
Chase looked through the folder he was handed with the briefing materials on her. The cover showed a young girl with red hair, athletic build and mesmerizing eyes. “She’s beautiful,” his wolf said. Flipping through the pages, his anger surged forward as he read of her Pack. “She’s the daughter of the Arrowhead Pack Alphas? They were wiped out when I was a young boy,” he said sadly.
“She is also a direct descendant on the female side of King Lycanos, the ONLY remaining descendent.”
That made her a baby-making machine, something that in their world was worth going to war for. “Killing the Pack was cover for taking her?”
“We think that was the plan, but they didn’t capture her. Take the folder back to your office, study it, and start your research. I’ll cover sick call in the morning, unless there is an emergency you keep working on this.”
“Of course, Doctor.” He closed the folder and walked back to his room. An hour later, he was in wolf form running off his anger over what he had learned.
–
Three months later, Rori had settled in well to her life at the Manchester chapter of the Steel Brotherhood. She had customized five motorcycles already, with a waiting list of four more, and was working on a mural for the conference room they used for Church. She hadn’t had any other episodes since the party early in her time there, which was a relief.
She set her paint palette down and grabbed her Mountain Dew, taking a drink. The painting work had to happen during the day as the room could be used at night. She liked the subject; she had photographs of the Club riders in their two-wide formation, moving through the mountains in the fall. The mural had a lot of color, and she did her best to capture the people she now loved as her own. There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” she said.
Bear opened the door, letting Howler walk in ahead of her, then locked the door again. “Good, you’re on break, we need to talk,” Howler said.
“I hate it when a woman says that,” Bear muttered to himself. “But, she’s right. We need to talk, and the news isn’t good.”
“What’s happening?” Rori nervously wiped her hands, trying to get the rest of the paint off.
“We think the bad guys know you’re here,” he said.
Her gut dropped, and she thought back to the warnings the voice in her head had given her last night, the voice that told her to stay in her room and spray Febreeze around. “How?”
“We don’t know, but this afternoon the Regional President had a conference call with all the Chapter Presidents. Five chapters have been approached already by bikers without cuts, showing pictures of you and asking if you’ve been seen around.”
“Did they say anything?”
He laughed. “Fuck no, we don’t say anything to anyone outside the Club, especially if they look like cops,” he said. “You’re under our protection, Rori, we’re never gonna give you up.”
“Never gonna let you down,” Howler added.
“If you say you’re never gonna run around and desert you, I’ll have to smack you with a paintbrush,” she said with a laugh.
“Damn, can’t even Rick Roll her,” Bear said with a laugh. “It’s just a matter of time until they show up here, and all it takes is one person to confirm you are here or see you. They aren’t saying who they are or why they want you, and we’re not going to wait.”
She looked at the mural, it was a good thing it was almost done. “What’s the plan?”
“Next week, some of us are heading down south for a rally in Panama City. We’ll be taking about a dozen patched members and a support van. You and your motorcycle will be in the van,” he said.
“Where am I going?”
“You can’t stay in Florida, even though it’s a good seven-hour drive to Orlando. I’ve talked to a brother in Fort Worth, he’s going to bring you back to his Chapter at the end of the rally.”
She thought about it, then something clicked. “I’m not going to go to the rally, am I.”
He shook his head. “We can’t let you be seen there, it’s too dangerous when we don’t know who is around. The local Chapter is hosting us, you’ll stay with one of the Old Ladies at their house until you’re picked up for the trip west.”
She slumped in her seat. “This sucks.” She looked at the mural, she’d have time to finish it, but she loved it here and didn’t want to leave. “I can’t even ride?”
“We don’t want you seen,” Bear said. “All this is for nothing if the people looking for you track you to your new Chapter. I don’t trust anyone outside the Club.” He leaned forward and looked at her. “On the good side, it’s new people who haven’t seen you fight. I bet you can make some money before they figure you out.”
She laughed to herself, thinking back to how Taco and Smoke had hustled Reaper after their first spar. He came down the next morning and Taco started teasing their Master-At-Arms about slacking off in his training. “Hell, I bet you a hundred bucks any one of us down here can go three rounds with you,” he said. Taco had just smiled, then looked over at Rori as she jumped rope in the corner. “No, not her,” they said in a panic, but he had them. The whole Club had shown up that night for the fight, and they made a bunch of bets at 10-1 odds or better on Rori to make it. She was able to use her speed to stay out of trouble and go the distance, gaining the respect of every man in the Club. Reaper and the others had trained her for hours each day on different fighting styles, making her an even tougher opponent. With her age and innocent looks, it would be easy money. “We can’t do it with a bunch of Chapters there, word will spread too fast,” she laughed.
“That wouldn’t be as much fun,” Bear laughed with her. He was one of the few who had taken her side of the bet. “I don’t want anyone to see you. The Club isn’t going to be open to anyone but patched members and prospects until seven at night, and I want you in your room after that. No going outside, either, not even to a place like the garage where someone might spot you. One of the chapters reported someone was staked out on their clubhouse with a spotting scope and a big-ass camera.”
It was like being grounded, but after three kidnapping attempts on her, she wasn’t going for four. “I understand. I’ll do whatever you think is best.”
“There is some good news,” Howler said.
“I spoke to Mongo this afternoon. Apparently, Dawn has hit it off with Roadkill and they are dating seriously.” Her eyes got big, her Mom was dating again? “The Orlando club is coming up to the Panama City rally, and your Mom is riding on the back of Roadkill’s Harley.”
“I get to see her?”
“Damn right. They’re staying at a hotel on the beach, but we’ll get you some time together. It’s easy to sneak people off. Mongo and Three Tequila want to see you, and if there is anyone else you want to see, we can find a way.”
She would see her Mom again, after almost four months apart, not even talking directly. Tears were going down her face, and Howler pulled her into a hug. “It’s going to be all right. Look at the bright side, you avoid the winter up here!”
The rally in Florida was a welcome relief for Rori. She didn’t have the heart to paint over the designs she had on her motorcycle, but she used logo stickers to cover them up. The Old Lady at the house she stayed at was a hairdresser and gave her a complete makeover- her long red hair was trimmed into a layered cut to her shoulders, then dyed black with a hint of blue. It still wasn’t enough to fool her Mom or her friends, but she wouldn’t stick out like she did before.
She spent two days with her Mom, and both cried when she had to go. Donna feared for her, she wanted her around but knew from Roadkill and Mongo that this was the best way for her to stay safe. The Club still didn’t know exactly who was behind the attempts on her, but the people up in the Adirondacks were the leading suspects. Ashley and her father had not been seen since she fled from their compound, and neither side wanted the police involved.