He didn't look convinced, his eyes darting between me and the door.
"Listen to me," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Not all rogues are dangerous. Most are just people trying to live their lives outside the traditional structures. The only ones who get in trouble are those who deliberately hurt others or risk exposing all of us."
Liam's breathing slowed slightly, but he remained poised for flight.
"You don't have to worry about any of that," I assured him. "You're not a rogue anymore anyway. You're my mate. That makes you part of our club, under our protection."
That seemed to confuse him again, his brow furrowing as he processed my words.
"Do you understand what a mate is?" I asked gently.
After a moment's consideration, he shook his head.
Of course he didn't. Who would have taught him? The realization made my chest ache all over again. This kid had been navigating the world without any of the knowledge most shifter children received from birth. No wonder he'd been so wary, so silent, so careful to remain hidden.
"It's a lot to explain," I admitted. "But we have time. There's no rush."
Liam seemed to relax marginally at that, though his position on the edge of the bed remained ready for a quick departure.
I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the throbbing that had intensified during our conversation. The adrenaline from the attack was wearing off, leaving me feeling the full effects of the concussion.
"Let me tell you about our club," I said, deciding to start with something more concrete. "About the people here. Then you'll understand better where you fit in."
Liam nodded again, his golden eyes fixed on me with an intensity that suggested he was memorizing every word. For all his silence, there was nothing slow about this kid. He was taking everything in, processing, analyzing.
I just hoped I could earn enough of his trust to convince him to stay.
"The Soldiers of Fortune MC has a structure, like most shifter groups," I explained, settling back in my chair. The movement made my head throb, but I ignored it. This was too important. "We're not as rigid as traditional bear clans, but we still have a hierarchy that keeps things running smoothly. Butch is our president—our alpha, in shifter terms. He makes the final decisions, keeps us all in line."
Liam nodded, his golden eyes tracking my every movement. He reminded me of a wild animal being offered food—interested but still wary of getting too close.
"Gunner is our VP—what shifters would call a beta. He's Butch's right hand, takes over when Butch isn't around. Strong as hell, loyal to the bone." I smiled slightly. "Has a temper, though. You'll want to steer clear when he's in a mood."
I shifted in my chair, trying to find a position that didn't make my head feel like it was about to split open.
"Bear is our sergeant-at-arms—the enforcer. He handles security, deals with threats, makes sure everyone follows club rules. Big guy, looks scary as shit, but he's got a good heart. Especially since he found Bug." I paused, watching Liam's face."You'll probably meet everyone tomorrow, so don't worry about keeping all this straight."
Liam made a small gesture with his hand, as if to say, 'keep going.' Kid was hungry for information. Probably the first time anyone had bothered to explain anything to him in years.
"Me, I'm the cook. Might not sound important compared to the others, but food is how we take care of our own. In bear culture especially, providing food is about more than just filling bellies. It's about family, about belonging." I gestured toward the kitchen beyond the door. "That's my domain. Nobody messes with my kitchen or my recipes."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Liam's face.
Progress.
"We've got other key members too. Ryder's our road captain—plans routes, keeps us safe when we're traveling. Razor handles the money, keeps the books. Smart as they come, that one. Gearhead's our mechanic—anything with an engine, he can fix it. And Ink runs the bar and does tattoo work. Multi-talented bastard."
I took a sip from the water glass on my nightstand, my throat dry from talking more than I usually did in a day.
"There are newer members too. Tex was a prospect until recently, but now he’s a full member. Bit of an attitude on that one. And Peanut—he's been assigned as Bug's protector when Bear's busy with club business."
Liam frowned at the mention of Bug again, his head tilting in question.
"Bug's... complicated," I said carefully. "He and some of the others have special situations. But that's their story to tell, not mine. Just know that we take care of our own here. No matter what baggage they bring with them."
Liam seemed to consider this, then nodded slowly.
"We've also got two fox shifter prospects—Sammy and Joey. Brothers who escaped a bad situation. They're coming back tomorrow after staying with a friendly MC for a while. Good kids, bit skittish like you."
