I lie straight through my teeth, grumbling, “I don’t fucking smile.”
Z chuckles again. “Bro, you were literally smiling when you pulled up.”
I frown, keeping a hand low on Destiny’s back as we follow Zeke to the barbecue area. “No, I wasn’t.”
“Bro. I saw teeth and everything.” He turns to grin at Destiny. “It’s disturbing. We’re concerned.”
She giggles, and I can feel through our bond that her anxiety is almost completely gone now. My brother’s always been good at sensing people’s needs and putting them at ease. He’s afucking pain in my ass, but has a goddamn heart of gold. It’s in his nature, I guess.
The backyard is full; a dozen of my brothers scattered around with their women and kids. Some people are standing near the massive grill where Marcus is flipping burgers, others, playing cards around outdoor tables, or just lounging around.
“Yo, Viper’s here!”
“And he brought his lady!”
“Holy shit, he actually looks… happy,” someone else yells before adding, “What the fuck?”
I will end these motherfuckers. I flip them off as we pass through the groups, garnering laughter.
“This is Destiny. My mate.” I pause. “Be fucking normal for once in your fucking miserable lives.”
Marcus laughs, waving his spatula. “Welcome to the chaos, sweetheart.”
Destiny waves back at him, smiling warmly. “Thank you for having me.”
“Babe, we been waiting for this day for fucking centuries,” Dom, one of our oldest members, a vampire who’s been with the MC from the beginning, says, chuckling. “Literally. Centuries. We thought Viper was gonna die alone and miserable.”
I turn a murderous stare his way. “Thanks, asshole.”
He raises his hands. “But it’s true. You’re the grumpiest motherfucker I ever met.” He gestures at me with the blood bag he just took a drink from. “And now look at you, eyes not dead anymore. It’s a fucking miracle.”
“A mate’ll do that,” Zeke jumps in, handing Destiny a drink, a huge grin on his stupid mug. “Especially one this cute.”
“Watch it,” I grunt.
“Come on, bro.” He motions his head toward his mate across the yard. “Issa’s right there.” Then he chuckles, adding, “destroying Tank at poker.”
“She’s not destroying me!” Tank yells from the card table. “I’m letting her win!”
“Sure you are, babe!” Issa calls back, and we all erupt in laughter. Even me.
Destiny relaxes into my embrace as we drift from group to group, chatting, laughing. I watch her get along with everyone like it’s no big deal. Like winning over a bunch of centuries-old, supernatural bikers and their families is totally normal for my little omega.
“She’s something.”
I turn to find Dom standing next to me, watching my girl with an approving look.
“Yeah.” I take a pull of my drink. “She is.”
“Never seen you like this, brother. In all our time together on this earth.”
“I’m the same as always.”
“V you haven’t growled at anyone in a full thirty minutes. That’s gotta be a record.”
I grunt. He’s not wrong. Usually, these gatherings make me twitchy. Too many people, too much noise. But with Destiny here, anchoring me through our bond, everything feels… easy, good.
“She fits,” Dom says. “With us. With you.”
