Page 76 of Road to Absolution

In a rush, I opened it and grabbed a cigarette. I lit it and inhaled…

Blowing out smoke, my body sighed.

As I began to calm down, I gazed about to notice the six of us were standing casually in a circle, facing each other, all with lit cigarettes. It was like a circle of mirrors. We were all each other’s image. We were… the same.

Unity.

Diesel was sure to make statements with his actions, but this one? No words were needed. For just an instant, I felt the comradery that clubs were formed for in the first place.

Taking in that silent moment, a powerful seed was planted. What would eventually grow from that seed was going to take time, but at least I had a stable foundation—men like me—to help guide the process.

I had once believed I was a grown-ass man. After facing death, and having to fight through those intense grips, I had a whole different perspective on what the hell a grown-ass man even was. A fierce attitude locked into place. I now felt like a true fighter. One even more willing to protect what was mine, including my sanity. Like a dog—a wolf—I was charged and ready to growl and bite any approach not welcomed.

I don’t know how, but these men saw the change in me, happening right in front of their eyes. They all leaned their head back and started to howl.

My jaw slacked. It was an amazing sight and an explanation of the symbol, the howling wolf on the back of my cut.

I didn’t join the howl that night. I was still learning how to blend in with the pack, but there was no judgment. They all smiled at me as if what I had just learned was enough for the night.

The rest of the drive to the clubhouse was trying, but I did my best to not shun away from all the oncoming traffic. My jaw locked and I fought to face fears. Being afraid at all, of something so simple as headlights, pissed me off.

In the front seat, my knee bounced with growing agitation.

“You good?” asked Rogue.

Not even close. “Yep.”

Lilah… I knew if I could just make it to her, I could find a way to breathe again.

"Almost there, Pup.”

On the outskirts of our town, opposite from where my new house sat, we turned down a dirt road I had yet to travel. Entering a wooded area, we turned down another dirt road. Rogue told me, “Now you’re on Ryder property.”

I broke into a cold sweat.

Off in the distance, to the left, there was a big building made of concrete. Not surprisingly, there weren’t windows, and the whole place—plus even more land, was all fenced in. Barbwire announced how privacy was taken seriously.

Rogue pointed up. “Those there were just recently added for protection.”

On the roof of the building were two lookout posts, one on each corner.

These weren’t cute little Tiki huts to block the sun. These lookouts were clearly built to take a beating, including gunfire.

Rogue added, “We were recently given quite a run for our money. Stallions, trying to help us, got pinned outside. That won’t happen again.”

My heart thundered as it became clear I was moving into a fortress that had been recently attacked. Just the thought had images of the men in my hospital room crossing my mind. I could smell the pillow suffocating me.

I rolled down my window and took a deep breath, trying to remind my lungs they were free to inhale, any time they wanted. I did get some air in, but I couldn’t deny my lungs were partnered with my brain. They were still… afraid.

That pissed me off. I made a fist then rolled the window back up.

“Welcome to your new home, wolf-in-training.” Two wide gates rolled open…

Having only been here minutes, I somehow understood Diesel better. When speaking with him, I always got the inclination his mind was moving way faster than his mouth. Always observing, paying attention, thinking, and considering…

After all he had done for me in the past few days, and I was barely a Prospect, I could only imagine all he had done for the gathered bikers waiting to greet us. To be a strong alpha of the pack, his mind must have been constantly reading and inspecting each wolf, gauging if any needed his protection.

In the slew of the men, I was surprised to recognize so many faces. They were from places like the grocery store, movie theater, and gas station…