“What’s the problem? You want cash? You want us to leave?”
Behind him a door opens, and I watch his mouth slam shut as his attention shifts. But he doesn’t stop looking like he wants to eviscerate me with his eyes, before doing it properly out back like he threatened. His mood worsens when a pint-sized woman walks past him without comment and comes closer towards me. She stops behind the desk, opens a drawer, grabs a pen and a form.
Once she’s got everything set up on the counter, she brings her eyes up to mine, and while he’s hard like steel, his mate is soft like a marshmallow. She’s also an Omega, her throat riddled with packing scars from a long time ago.
“My Alpha is being overly protective which I’ve had a lifetime to get used to, but our guests shouldn’t have to see that side of his charming personality. Which is why I usually do this, and he usually helps with the bags.” Her light blue eyes lock on mine briefly before they drop to my nose. That isn’t altogether strange, more like she really has had to deal with dominant Alphas in her time.
She’s soft, her voice gentle and trusting as she keeps speaking, “He’s a wonderful person, but we have also seen our fair share of trouble. Particularly from your kind.”
“My kind?”
“Motorcycle gangs, biker crews, one percenters.”
“From mine?” I barely manage to swallow a bark at the sudden biting anger at her suggestion that my crew and I are bad. I mean we’re not a group of fairies but we’re not fucking cockheads either. I look back to her Alpha for confirmation.
His eyes drop purposely to the logo on my shirt. Before he opens his mouth though, his mate answers.
“Unless you’ve patched in to the Death Riders, then no.”
“You’ve had them here?” I snap, needing the clarification. Because Death Riders are fucking scum and if they’re associated in any way, I’m taking my girl and we’re fucking out of here.
“Not for a few years. We’ve seen our fair share of trouble, and don’t want to see any more of it. My pack has promised me time to watch sunsets.” She waits until I look down at her. “Life’s too short as it is. Am I right?”
“I’m not bringing trouble to your door.”
“Sure looks like it,” her partner snaps, making his Omega hiss under her breath, dropping her eyes submissively.
Without another word she hands a pen over to me then points to where she wants me to fill in details and add signatures. It feels like a test, but I’ve got nothing to hide, and I’ve done nothing wrong.
“How long are you staying?”
“A night or two.”
“And the lady in the car?” Her question takes me aback, and before I can question her, she speaks again. “Like I said, we’ve seen some terrible things in our time. We want your reassurance that she’s here of her own free will.”
“Of course she is,” I hiss, standing taller and getting offended at her insinuation. “Jesus, what have you seen?”
“We’ve seen enough to keep guns under our counters and my pack on high alert. But I can see you’re a man of your word, just like Jonah. We will have meals brought to your room…” Shewaves her hand, her mood shifting like something I’ve said in a handful of words has changed her mind about me.
“There’s no need.”
She sighs before bringing her eyes up to mine. “In my guest house, that’s what I do.”
“I appreciate that, but honestly…”
“Off you go. Jonah and I have the place to ourselves for a few more hours”—she looks down to the registration forms—“if you or your lady friend need us, dial 9. My name’s Nancy and I apologise for the strange welcome.”
I shake my head but also collect the key she offered; I make it to the door still wondering if the hotel down the road would’ve been a better choice.
“Before you go.” Her voice is quiet, though her words pack a serious punch. “If you hurt her in any way, we will track you down and destroy you. I have little regard for titles and names, so don’t think we won’t come after you. And we will if needed.”
Before I can say a word in defence, she and Jonah disappear out the door, and the lights shut off. I’m left in the dark, contemplating what the living shit is going on, when instead I should be thinking of being balls deep inside the tasty little Omega.
Pulling open the door though, everything fades into insignificance when I find her sitting saturated on the hood of my truck. If I’m honest, she kind of resembles a drowned rat, but she’s looking at me like I’m the only thing in her world.
I step out towards her, and a smile breaks over her face. So simple, but so poignant. But the biggest shock of the night isn’t knowing she’s my scent-matched mate, it’s the way I lean into the fact without any second thoughts.
Chapter
