Colter stopped and pulled me into his arms. “Trust me, baby. You have nothing to worry about. The guys with old ladies will like how I am around you, their wives will be happy to have a new woman join their little crew, and my brothers who’re single will stay far away ’cause they don’t wanna risk getting their asses kicked.”
There was a lot to unpack with what he said. I started with, “Do their wives know about their old ladies?”
His broad chest shook with his deep laughter. “Yeah, baby. Their wives are their old ladies.”
“Oh.” My cheeks burned with heat. “I guess I should’ve known that since nobody in town has gossiped about the Hounds two-timing their women now that so many of them have wifed up over the past two years.”
“You got nothing to worry about there, Poppy.” He brushed a kiss against the top of my head before pulling back to meet my gaze. “Morally gray as our world might be, our emotional values are black-and-white. Once a Hound claims a woman, it’s forever—obsessive protection with unwavering fidelity. Our women, our old ladies, are treated as sacred.”
Instead of going with my impulse to climb him like a monkey, I asked, “Why would the single guys be afraid of getting beat up?”
His wink sent butterflies swirling in my belly. “Because they know how possessive we are with our women.”
His answer relieved most of my nerves, making me feel like I was already part of the group.
He led me around the clubhouse and toward the sprawl of picnic tables and lawn chairs scattered across the grass. Heads turned, and conversations paused. Then a tiny tornado of energy barreled toward us. “Unca Ace!”
A little boy with a mischievous grin launched himself at Colter’s legs, who scooped him up without missing a beat, making my heart melt and my ovaries explode.
“Hey, little man.” He ruffled the boy’s hair, then turned to me. “Poppy, this is Cadell. King and Stella’s boy.”
A stunning woman with a warm smile approached. “Sorry about him. I swear, he’s an escape artist.”
Colter handed the boy over to her with a grin. “Makes sense, considering who his dad and grandpa are.”
“You must be Poppy. I’m Stella.” She juggled the squirming toddler in her arms to pull me in for a quick hug. “We’ve heard so much about you.”
“Really?” My voice came out higher than intended.
Stella laughed. “Oh yeah. The guys are terrible gossips when one of them finds their woman.”
Colter didn’t get the chance to deny the accusation before more people drifted over to introduce themselves. Blaze clapped Colter on the shoulder while his wife, Courtney, balanced nine-month-old Arlen on her hip.
Echo was next, along with Violet, who cradled six-month-old Brian against her chest. Then Wizard and Thea with tiny Skye. Ash and Nora with a three-month-old they lovingly called Jelly Bean. Ink and Annika were the last of the couples with kids, and one-month-old Lorenzo slept through the entire introduction strapped to his daddy’s chest in a black sling.
They were followed by Onyx, who hovered protectively near Elena, six months pregnant and glowing. Kevlar kept a hand on Maren’s lower back—she was three months along and already looked radiant. Tomcat and Linden couldn’t stop touching each other.
I tried to keep names and faces straight, but my brain was spinning. Every single one of them greeted me like I belonged.
When a couple of guys without women accompanying them wandered over, Colter tugged me against his side.
One of them gave me a chin lift. “Rebel. Nice to meet the woman who finally tamed Ace.”
The other guy snorted. “Tamed? Nah. She just made him less of an asshole.”
Colter shot them a look. “Watch it, Cross.”
Stella looped her arm through mine. “Come on. Let’s get you a drink and leave the boys to grill.”
The women pulled me toward a long table loaded with food and drink.
Violet sat down and bounced Brian gently on her lap. “How are you holding up? The first visit to the clubhouse can be a lot, and yours is during a barbecue with all of us here, so that’s even more.”
I poured myself a cup of sweet tea, then blurted, “I’m terrified I’m going to say something stupid, then everyone will realize I talk way too much, and Colter will finally get tired of me.”
The words hung there for half a second. Then Courtney burst out laughing.
Stella squeezed my arm. “You’re adorable.”
