A while later, I knew what I wanted to do.
Viper’s POV
I sat at the table downstairs, watching the food fly out of the kitchen now that Snake was back. He’d told the prospects what he needed, and they had run to the store to pick everything up before the group arrived. I’d barely had a chance to meet his Mouse, she went back there with him and started cooking up a storm herself. “They make a good team,” Kelly said as she brought over our plates and sat down.
“He looks happy,” Andrew said. He had arrived home yesterday on leave from boot camp, where he had excelled. Of course, he couldn’t do things the same way as we did. No, he decided to join the Air Force and was selected for their Special Forces. He would spend the next two years training to be a Combat Air Controller, a combination of fighter, spotter and air traffic controller. He had put on some muscle in boot camp, his eighteen-year-old frame now filling into his six-foot-two body. “Eve does as well.”
I looked across the room, they were sitting with Hammer and Teri, laughing and holding hands. “I’m glad she got to have her destiny,” I said. “He seems like a good guy. Now Meghan and Abaddon? I thought Hammer was going to blow a gasket.”
“They are good for each other,” Kelly said, “and despite the age difference and the whole can’t have kids thing, it’s a good match. Teri would kick his ass to Wisconsin if he messed this up. She’s been trying to get Meghan interested in men for years.”
“Lots of changes,” I said as I sat back. My foot was still throbbing, and it must have shown on my face. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the pills, it was time again. “I’m getting too old for this,” I said. “When do we get to sit on the porch in our rocking chairs and watch the grandkids play in the yard?”
Kelly leaned into me. “Soon, I bet. Eve will go into heat, we’ll have grandbabies by next summer.” We continued the meal, it was something simple and fast. Spaghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic bread. I could tell Mouse was in the house, the sauce was amazing. She didn’t use canned stuff, she made it fresh and if she had time, she said she would have made her own pasta too.
The dinner conversation was lively, especially when the Knights arrived. They were reeling from recent events as well; we had been briefed on what had happened to them and the Packs. When the tables were cleared, and the children sent upstairs to sleep or watch a movie, we closed the doors and went into Church. Our club meetings were normally just voting members, adults who could ride and were patched, but this time everyone was here. Gabriel, Abaddon and Eve all told the stories of what had happened, but what concerned me was that Adam, and to a lesser extent Eve, were still in danger. The packs were gone, their wolves were gone, but the blame was going to Eve.
“I kind of expected this would happen when she found her mate,” Snake said. “Once the curse was broken, her mate would become a target because if he is killed, another can take his place. We must continue to protect them, they need to bring forth the next generation.”
“My men have considered this. Our sacred vow to protect her, and now Adam, that will continue on. The Knights will ensure the survival of our species. It’s the only reason we could come up with that would have kept Luna from taking our wolves as well.”
“Unless it is a reward for faithful service,” I said. “You men have sacrificed half your lives to protect Eve, you’ve lived like monks and given up everything. I am so thankful that you came alongside us for this time, and for the honorable men that you are. I love you guys like brothers,” I said before I sat back down. The rest of the Club felt the same and let them know.
“How can this work,” Eve said. “Adam and I have talked; our old Pack lands are still available to us, as the three of us are the only survivors. Alan said we could use the money in the old Pack accounts and rebuild up there. The funds have all been held in trust until survivors from two families or more would come forward. It’s beautiful, good for wolves and it’s where we belong.”
“I can’t leave here,” Moose said. “Sheri still has her bar, some of us have businesses here as well.”
“And some of us want to move south for the winter,” Tiny said. “I’m getting sick of the cold, my arthritis can’t handle it. The children have all moved out, we’re thinking of moving to Jacksonville and retiring.”
The discussions went on for ten more minutes, it all seemed to be falling apart. Finally, I smacked the table and there was silence. “First things first,” I said. “When the Knights showed up, they stayed separate from us because they were a Pack. Now they aren’t, but they are still the same fine men we’ve ridden with for two decades. I would like them in our club, fully and completely. I propose a Patchover.” A patchover in the motorcycle club world was where a smaller club was absorbed into another, changing their patches on their cut.
“Seconded,” Hammer said. “I don’t want my daughter marrying a guy in another Club,” he said as we all laughed.
“Under our bylaws, a Patchover requires a unanimous vote of both our club and the club being brought in,” Tiny said. “It’s a secret ballot of members.”
“Fine, the Knights can remain out here, the Riders will go to the conference room. Patched members only. We’ll vote and reconvene in twenty minutes.”
“Good, I could use some help getting dessert out,” Mouse said as she headed for the kitchen. The prospects and some wives moved to help her.
Twenty minutes later, as the homemade chocolate-dipped cannoli were being passed out, we emerged from room. The vote had been quick and unanimous, what hadn’t gone as quickly were the announcements that followed. New and bigger club, it was time to step down. I announced I would be resigning as President and calling for a Club election as soon as the patchover was completed. Tiny resigned as well, followed by Moose. We were ready to pass the baton to someone else, we would have a whole new leadership in the new Club.
The Knights were unanimous as well. “The patchover ceremony and party will be tomorrow night,” I said. “Sunday we will hold elections for new Club officers. Those interested can put their names on the ballot by talking to Tiny.” I smiled as I looked out at what was to be my new, bigger club. “The party is going to be epic. Invite your friends, I’ll invite representatives from the other Clubs.”
“Lots of women,” Azazel said. “When we renewed our vow to protect Eve and her mate, we decided not to include the whole forsaking all others thing. If Abaddon can find a woman, we can too.”
“What about when Eve’s daughters grow up? You are the only male wolves left in the world, Luna may have left you this way because your mates are among her daughters!” Snake looked at them in horror.
“We’re getting older, and Eve can only have so many daughters,” Abaddon said. “We will not stand in the way if one of us finds love as I have with Meghan.”
“Oh God, I could retire selling women tickets to this party,” Sheri said. “Do you have any idea how many hot women have thrown themselves at these guys only to be shot down?” She gave herself a big smile. “Leave it to me, this party is going to be EPIC.”
There was a lot of change coming, and I was looking forward to it. The Northwoods Riders would pass to the next generation in good hands.
Abaddon’s POV
As soon as the vote was over, we started to circulate, talking to our friends about our newfound relationship. Meghan had been pulled away to talk to some of the old ladies, leaving me with the guys. As soon as Hammer saw me alone, he pounced. “We need to talk, Abaddon,” he said as he pulled me towards a booth in the back.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let him kill you,” Teri said as she followed us. We sat down, and I looked across at the two old friends who were my future in-laws. I tried to relax, but I know our relationship was a shock.
“No need, I love her, I’ll do anything for her.”
Teri reached across and took my hand. “I can see she loves you as well, but we need to know your intentions.”
I smiled. “I intend to make a new life with her. You should know that when Gabriel asked me to stay on with him, I said I would only do it if we stayed with the Riders. This club, these people are her family, I’d never take her away from them unless it was her decision.” Teri squeezed my hand. “We haven’t even had an official date, but I intend to change that. I’ve known her, watched her forever, now that I know how she feels it won’t take long for us to move forward. I intend to ask her to marry me, and I’d like your blessing to do so.”
“You can’t have children with her,” Hammer said. “Isn’t that a problem for you?”
“I never expected to have children, not after my mate died,” I said honestly. “She knows, we talked about it briefly. We can adopt, we’ll have a family, just a different way. I haven’t brought it up with her, but I’d be all right with using donated sperm to get her pregnant, since mine won’t work. There’s plenty of time to talk about that later, right now I just want to get closer to her. I want her to be happy.”
“That’s all a father could ever ask, Abaddon. It was a bit of a shock, knowing you this long and all of the sudden you two are together, it made me angry. Lucky for you, Teri likes you and talked me back from the ledge.”
“You have our blessing, Abaddon. If she says yes, of course. Just don’t take too long, she’s not getting any younger you know, and it’s not like our other boys are close. Two grandkids in Florida aren’t enough.” Hammer leaned over and kissed her. “That’s all we wanted to say. Meghan is special to us, she always has been, and I’m glad she finally has someone to share her life with. Have you thought about where you’re getting married? Is Crash going to do it?”
I just laughed. “I haven’t even asked her yet, and the wedding arrangements are something I’ll leave up to you and Meghan. I’ll just show up with the rings.” We talked for a few more minutes, then they got up and went over to talk with Viper while I went to find my woman.
An hour later, Meghan’s head was resting on my shoulder, she was clearly tired. “Ready to call it a night,” I whispered.