However, each chapter’s “colors” are a little different from the other, and that helps me. While Wilder’s chapter has a wolf skull on their cuts, Devon’s has a hog. It seems to fit since he’s being a complete pig, and even that may be an insult to the animal.
“You’re not here to measure your cocks against each other,” I remind them. “Put the guns away before I lose my damn temper. This is not how you act during a funeral. Save it for another time. Preferably when I’m not around to put your grown asses in time out and I’m home where it’s warm and dry. Understood?”
“Who the fuck are you?” one of Devon’s men asks.
Burner and Vik turn towards the faceless voice, crossing their arms over their broad chests.
“This is Lore’s scent match,” Burner says. “You want to fuck with the Little Queen? We’ve all taken to feeling really protective over her, so I don’t suggest that. While she’s a nurse, we don’t care about life as much as she does.”
My lips twitch in derision because he’s very correct about that. Storm and Wilder stride up the stairs to join us, facing the crowd at large.
“We’re here to lay Lore and Ace to rest. If you’re not here for the same reasons, go ahead and fuck off,” Wilder says.
“Is this said from your cushy new job as Prez?” Devon asks, standing for the second time after being put on his ass.
A part of me wonders if he’s drunk, because he’s making really stupid decisions right now.
“If you think anyone here wanted Lore dead to have anything he did, then you’re welcome to get the fuck out of Minneapolis,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief and disgust. “Get it the fuck together,Prez.”
“That’s better said than anything I could have said,” Wilder says under his breath, putting his gun away.
Together, we give everyone below us our backs and begin to walk up the stairs.
“Little Queen, huh?” Storm murmurs, his hand over mine as he threads it through his arm. The rain is dampening the bottom of my dress, despite the long fucking coat, and I nod absently. “Care to tell me how you shook off that alpha bark like a pro?”
“I was reminded that Devon has zero power over me, and now I want the club to take turns alpha barking me so I can shake it off.”
“You’re gonna get us all killed,” Burner breathes. “It’s really fucking ballsy too.”
“I don’t want to be at anyone’s mercy. Not ever again,” I reply, feeling Storm’s heavy gaze as we walk into the church.
Fool me once, and never fucking again, baby.
Chapter Five
Marie
The back of my neck fuckingitches.It’s as if someone can’t stop staring at me, but I refuse to turn around to see who it may be. I definitely know it’s not Devon because he’s sitting in the same row as I am. I’m sitting sandwiched between my alphas. I figured Devon wouldn’t want to be anywhere near me, but I was wrong.
He’s on Wilder’s right side, and he forced Vik to move so that he’d be able to sit there. That alpha’s arrogance knows no bounds, I swear.
The emotions from the funeral make my eyes burn, and I caved and put my sunglasses on. Storm and Wilder are sitting close enough to me that the pressure of their bodies feels as close to a hug as I can stand, and their hands lay heavy on my thighs to ground me. The tears never land, but my skin feels as if it’s vibrating with anxiety and sadness.
The men on either side of me never twitch, and neither of them judge me. I’ll break at home, after I kick any lingering club members that aren’t mine out so I can do it in peace.
Devon and Wilder stand to speak, and my eyes widen.
“Fuck, I may lose it if they get sappy,” I whisper so only Storm can hear me.
“They won’t,” he whispers back. “Wilder is holding on by a thread too. There are grown men crying here, Kitty. Again, no one will judge you for it.”
Chewing on my bottom lip, I watch as Devon stands up at the podium first.
“We all have stories about my brother,” he begins. “He was this larger than life warrior, a friend, a leader, as well as my brother. He always felt as if he was one step ahead of everyone else, and it was comforting to know I could always count on him. Some of you remember our father, and while we all agree he was a great president, he lacked in other places.
“A part of me always wanted to see if he would have children, because I need the blueprint on how to be a parent from him. Silly, huh? I learned how to be President from him, how to be a fair alpha due to his influence, and I want to punch him for leaving us.”
There are a couple of quiet chuckles at his words, and I shake my head because this is how these men seem to deal with their emotions. They beat the snot out of people and things until they feel better.
