Lexi bursts out laughing. “Subtle, Xan.”
“It’s a compliment,” Xanthe protests.
And just like that, the room fills with laughter again. Real laughter. The kind that pushes the air around and makes my chest loosen a little.
Lexi holds up a dress. It’s deep emerald-green, soft satin with a low neckline, but not indecent. “This one,” she declares. “The colour’ll make your eyes pop. Trust me.”
I hesitate, fingers brushing the fabric. “It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
“Then it’s settled,” Luna says, hopping up to fetch heels from a bag near the door. “We’ll do your hair wavy, bit of gloss on the lips, and boom, you’ll make Shadow forget how to speak.”
Xanthe smirks. “That won’t take much effort. He already looks at you like he’s about to commit a crime in your honour.”
I snort out a laugh, blushing. “You’re exaggerating.”
“Sweetheart,” Lexi says, passing me the dress, “we’ve all seen it. The man’s practically feral when you’re in the room. It’s kind of adorable.”
Their words shouldn’t make me warm, but they do. My cheeks ache from smiling. My stomach hurts from laughing. For once, I’m not bracing for cruelty or a blow. I’m surrounded by women who look like they could break a man in half, and yet, they treat me like something worth being around.
It’s new. It’s strange. It’s everything I didn’t know I needed.
When they’re done pruning me, Luna helps zip up the dress. The satin cools against my skin, smooth and light. I glance in the mirror, and for a second, I don’t recognise the woman looking back.
Xanthe’s behind me, adjusting a curl. “Told you. Stunning.”
Lexi hums her agreement. “He’s gonna lose his mind when he sees you.”
I take a shaky breath. “I hope so,” I whisper, half to myself, because my real fear his embarrassing him in front of everyone.
Luna grins, looping her arm through mine. “Then let’s go make it official.”
The hallway hums with voices when we step out. Somewhere below, I can already hear the rumble of bikes and men’s laughter. My heart kicks up a notch.
“Deep breaths,” Lexi murmurs, squeezing my hand. “You’re not walking into a firing squad. You’re walking into your new family.”
Family.
The word hits like sunlight through a crack, and my heart swells a little. I could get used to this.
The old ladies walk beside me like a shield. Luna leading, Xanthe following, and Lexi right at my side, her hand resting on my back. It helps anchor me. Because the second we reach the main room, every head turns.
There are dozens of bikers, some with old ladies I’ve never seen before, others chatting in groups with club girls hanging off them. I recognise the kuttes of the Hell’s Avengers mixed in with the Chaos Demons. Their patches gleam under the low amber lights. Their laughter rolls over the sound of music and pool balls clinking as the smell of oil, beer, and leather fills the air. It’s becoming my favourite scent.
And then, through the noise, I see him.
Shadow stands near the bar, tall and dark, his kutte open over a white T-shirt. His eyes find me instantly, and the moment they do, the noise fades.
I freeze.
He moves first, crossing the room with that slow, steady stride that’s all him, like nothing in the world could touch him. But his jaw’s tight, and his eyes are all over me—my face, my dress, my bare shoulders—like he’s memorising the sight.
The girls stop a few steps behind me. Lexi gives a small nudge, a silentgo on, babe.
My feet move before my brain catches up.
He stops in front of me, close enough that I can smell him, all smoke and soap and something warm that’s become home. His voice is low, meant only for me. “You look beautiful, Rem. Stunning.”
My throat closes. “You told me to dress for the part.”
