“So, when are we going to vote on his patch?” Monster was distracting himself from what was really weighing on him.
Ghoul approached, sans his usual humor. “After today’s blood in, I’d guess it won’t be long.” He looked to Prowler.
“Just the formality of the vote, and his road name at this point.”
All the small talk was doing a mediocre job of distracting them from the loss of one brother, even if they were gaining another. Monster however, had more on his mind than just the fact that Kansas had died to save Carys.
“Prez, what …” Monster wanted to choke on the words, but he had to say them. “What are we going to do with the daughter?”
He couldn’t say her name. Every time he did, Ulf bashed against his invisible cage hard enough to rattle Monster. He was having a hell of a time holding onto skin. He’d have to put the silver back on to survive what was coming, he just knew it.
Ulf had claimed her. Called her theirs, and Monster couldn’t exactly argue the fact with him. When she’d kissed Ulf’s muzzle and he shared his life with her, Monster knew. Those were signs that were undeniable but deny them he must. Club came first.
His wolf wouldn’t accept her being sent away, but that was the only option Monster could think of. There was no way his club would harm a woman. Not for what Carys had done anyway. It was bad, but not bad enough to change their nature.
“What do you want to do with her?” Prowler asked, and Monster didn’t know how to answer. He wanted to fuck her into next week and claim her. It’s certainly what Ulf wanted, but while she’d revealed her truth to him on the ride over, how could he convince his club she wasn’t a threat to them? Would they ever accept her, or would they label her a betrayer as he had and blame her for Kansas’s death?
“She told me that her father tricked her. Used her mother’s illness to manipulate her. She didn’t want to do anything, and as soon as she met us, uh, me, she refused to feed him information.” Monster started to let all her words and events settle into his soul. “She said she cares about me, that she thought I was hers the second we met.” The last was said with a touch of awe. Monster never expected to have someone care about him. Hell, he never gave anyone a chance to get to know him, any but her.
“That’s pretty much—” Prowler cut off Boogeyman’s words with a raised hand.
“Do you believe her?” Without hesitation, Monster answered in the affirmative.
While he’d been torn earlier, he knew in his heart it was true, but again, how could he ask his club to stake everything on his belief without proof?
“Wolf shared with her and claims her, but my loyalty is?—”
Prowler slapped him on the back again. When he turned to his president, he was grinning from ear to ear.
“Well then, brother, I think you have some groveling to do.” Prowler upended his drink and finished his beer. Before leaning in and speaking to Monster alone. “Word of advice? Say it was all your fault, even if it wasn’t.”
Monster looked up at Prowler. “Pussy whipped much?” Monster mumbled before he was able to warn his brain who he was talking to.
“Watch it, Road Captain,” he scolded before returning the knowing smile to his face.
“Let her have her say. Don’t just listen, but hear her. Let her win the fights in private. Hell, tell her you're sorry and it’ll never happen again. Crawl across the floor and eat her pussy until she pushes you away. Whatever it takes to make her happy. Give her that, and even when you fuck up—and you will fuck up—she won’t call you on it in public. She’ll let you be the final authority in front of your brothers.”
Monster looked at Prowler through a whole new set of eyes. This was a side of him rarely seen. Since claiming Taylor, he seemed happier than ever. That didn’t stop him from doing what needed to be done, which had been Monster’s concern last year when Prowler had fallen to that fat little baby’s arrow. But he’d proven to them all that Taylor didn’t make him soft, she made him strong, despite his earlier words of wisdom.
There had to be something to what Prowler had said. Not only did Prowler look happier than ever, so did his daughter, and Taylor had become a pretty good first lady.
Something was bothering Monster though. Prowler protected the club at all costs. Making the tough decisions that would’ve crushed a lesser man. Hell, Monster couldn’t have done it.
“Prez? How can you trust Carys blindly after what went down?”
Monster understood why he did, but he didn’t know why Prowler would.
“I’m never blind when it comes to the Kings. I trust your instincts—more than you do most days—and you believe her.” The last felt like a scolding before he continued. “Her mother also had a lot to say that sounded an awful lot like what you just said.”
That’s right. Prowler had sent Boogey and the kid earlier.
“I’ll let Boogey fill you in. I have an ol’ lady waiting for me.” He leaned down and whispered in Monster’s ear, “Remember, grovel and all your fault.”
Monster watched his President whistle for Boogey before striding to the door.
“Give me the condensed version, not the typical Boogey dissertation.” His brother frowned. So, Monster added, “Please.”
That seemed to perk his brother up.
