Wolf.e: A Dark MC Romance
Wolf.e: Chapter 26

It’s sometime after three in the morning when I finally meet up with my men deep in the woods beyond the maintenance cabin. I walked here alone so I could clear my fucking head.

I was focused before her. I was calculated. Right now, my head is a fucking mental shitshow of her face, her clenching cunt, her voice, and the fire I see in her eyes. The fucking want. She should be dead but the only thing I could think when Kai offered to go after her tonight, was that not one single hair on her head would be touched by anyone but me.

The wedding reception has wound down, although people were still partying in various cabins around the property when I walked by. Ax is gone for the night so we’re short one man. Kai, Robby, Mason, and Flipp have a couple of feet dug out already. Four more to go. Digging doesn’t happen quickly by hand. Especially when it’s Georgia clay.

They all stop when they see me approaching. I observe what’s left of Gator. He’s laid out on a tarp and all of his missing pieces are scattered around him. He’s already beginning to stiffen.

“Boss, you got a plan we don’t know about? Something you wanna tell us about you and that little sprite?” Kai asks.

“She’s still alive… so, do you have ideas you aren’t letting the rest of us in on?” Flipp asks.

Fucking Jake must have told them.

“She saw it. She has to go,” Robby adds.

“She’s a rich man’s daughter. A good girl, a liability,” Flipp mutters, his weathered face crumpled into a scowl.

“Enough,” I growl. “She’s an accessory, yes, but she’s my accessory. Understand?”

Every single one of them nods in understanding. Brinley is off fucking limits. Only I choose if and when she dies, and until then they’ll treat her with the same respect they do me. The mood shifts as every one of them accepts without further explanation that it’s now their job to protect her. I pick up a shovel that’s leaning against the maintenance truck bed.

“Anyone have any issues?” I ask.

“No, boss,” they all mutter.

“Then get back to work. All of you,” I say. I move toward the shallow grave. I try to rationalize not killing her as I work in silence with my men. I don’t know what to do with this blinding need to protect her, because I’ve only felt the need to protect one other woman. And that woman died at the hands of my father and this very club.

I should kill Brinley. If I wasn’t such a selfish motherfucker, I would.

But I am and it’s too late. I’m already addicted.

Three hours later, Gator has been committed back to the earth, where the worms can feast on his flesh, or what’s left of it. I make my way into the cabin and pull my muddy boots off. I take one step and something sharp pierces the bottom of my foot. I silently curse while pulling it out, slicing my finger and thumb in the process, and then look around the room. Glass, all over the floor.

I can’t help it, I grin. My little hummingbird has a temper after all. The shards glimmer in the dim light. I put my boots back on. Brinley will be cleaning that up in the morning. It’s a teachable moment. Temper tantrums have consequences.

I’m caked in dirt, but I really don’t give a fuck. I drop into the chair that’s sitting across from Brinley as she sleeps soundly, breathing in the scent of her clean skin, but something isn’t right. It smells too much like hotel soap mixed with the smoke and cologne of me. I don’t like it and it just won’t do. I glance around the room looking for her bag and make my way to it without thought, fishing inside for her perfume. I grab it out of a small floral cosmetic bag and twist the cap off the roll-on bottle. I breathe in the sweet jasmine scent before rolling some onto my thumb, it mixes with my blood and stings, but it feels like a part of her is seeping into me. Making my way back over to the bed, I sit on the edge and gently roll the perfume along her pulse point, and down her collarbone. I bend down and inhale, she makes a little sound, shifting, and starting to wake. I can still smell the hotel soap. It’s not perfect, but it’s better.

Brinley’s hands are folded under her pretty face, her mouth is slightly parted, and her onyx hair is splayed everywhere. I simply watch her like this for a time, studying small things about her—that tiny dimple in her chin, the way her long lashes rest, her pouty lips and how they completely hypnotize me.

I flex my fists and struggle to understand why a strange feeling that I can only relate to peace has quietly surfaced in my cold, lead heart when I touch Brinley. I have no idea how long I just watch her sleep like this, stroking her neck, her jaw. Her eyes flutter open and a tightening in my chest takes hold as her gaze meets mine.

She’s too good. She’s too pure, and all I want to do is corrupt her.

The moment I bury myself deep within her and claim her, I’ll be altered. Maybe forever. And I know it with every single part of me. But I’m not very good at denying myself what I want, so time isn’t on her side.