Page 130 of Moonlight & Mayhem

“I admit it's suspicious.”

“It came from Holly Ridge,” he warned.

“Which means nothing to anyone except you because you still haven't told us shit,” Chris said. Chrome's smile disappeared. This was the part he'd been avoiding.

Howler looked at him. “I think our two clubs need to hold church.”

Chrome shook his head. “Not here.”

Tempest crossed her arms over her chest. “This is my clubhouse.”

“I know,” Chrome said.

“And someone just walked into it without being seen and left something under my fucking Christmas tree,” she said.

“I know,” Chrome said again.

“Then we're talking here,” Tempest insisted. Chrome looked around. Dark Chaos women had begun gathering. Silverfang brothers too. Every wolf in the room sensed something was wrong. The music had stopped, and no one was laughing now.

Chrome glanced at Christmas. She was watching him. He'd spent twelve years hiding the truth.

Maybe it was time he stopped. “Not out here.”

Tempest studied him. Then nodded toward the main room. “Howler. Moon. Mayhem. Chris.” Her gaze shifted to Chrome. “You.”

Christmas walked towards the main room, and Chrome followed. She looked over her shoulder. “Stop following me.”

“We're going to the same place,” he said.

“Walk slower,” she ordered.

“No,” he said. She muttered something under her breath, and Chrome smiled. Maybe Holly Ridge hadn't taken everything from him—not yet, and he intended to keep it that way.

The clubroom doors closed, and Tempest sat at the head of the table. Howler took the chair beside her. Christmas sat opposite them. Moon and Mayhem took seats together, and Chrome remained standing in the corner of the room.

Christmas seemed to notice. “Sit,” she ordered.

He looked at her. “You giving me orders now?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Thought we established you don't outrank me,” he said.

“No, we established that you don't outrank me,” she countered.

“Technicality,” he drawled.

“Grab a chair,” she ordered. Mayhem coughed, and Chrome glared at him. The Silverfang VP smiled back at him.

“She's got you trained already,” Mayhem joked.

“Fuck off,” Chrome growled. Christmas pointed toward the empty chair, and Chrome sat. She looked entirely too pleased. He hated how much he liked that.

Tempest put both hands on the table. “Holly Ridge,” she started. Chrome's humor disappeared. “What is it?” she asked, her question posed to Chrome.

“A pack town,” he said.

“You already said that,” Tempest pointed out.