Page 11 of Tucker's Strike

“But I can’t let them get me. I promised them, I promised I’d keep going,” she cries. Tears shimmer in her eyes, but not one rolls down her cheeks.

“You’re where the Moon Goddess has guided you over the years you’ve been alone,” Karsyn states softly, yet loud enough for all those in the room to hear.

Chapter Seven

Lake

Moon Goddess?

Seriously?

She wanted me here?

Why?

My dad taught me about the Moon Goddess and told me stories about shifters, where they were her children. Her creation. He told me a story about how the Moon Goddess herself birthed a wolf shifter.

I didn’t know if that was actually true. I didn’t think it was possible, if it weren’t for my dad being adamant when he claimed the Moon Goddess watches her children. I honestly don’t know how I feel about that. My thought is, if she did, then why did she allow my daddy and uncles to be taken from me, leaving me alone to take care of myself?

“I’m Karsyn,” the woman who’d spoken introduces herself but doesn’t move from where she’s in the arms of the shifter at her side. The patch on his cut shows he’s the President of the club.

Wonderful.

I clear my throat and lower my eyes to the floor. “I’m Lake.”

“I know who you are,” Karsyn remarks.

“Come on, little Fae,” Tucker whispers and urges me forward. He peels the light from my hand and gives it to another guy. “Quincy, do me a solid and put this in my room for me.”

“Sure thing, brother,” Quincy grunts, taking my night-light from Tucker.

I want to protest. To clutch the lamp to my chest. What would it make me look like though? A sissy? Someone who can’t take care of themself?

Tucker ushers me over to the man and woman before speaking again. “Prez, Karsyn, think we can sit down and have this conversation?”

“Yeah,” Tucker’s President says, looks at me, and surprises me. “Name’s Corbin. Welcome to the Spiked Raiders clubhouse.”

“Ugh, thanks, I guess,” I mutter, realizing something as I do. He doesn’t reach out to shake my hand or anything. He just keeps his arms around Karsyn.

“Sit, Lake,” Tucker murmurs as he pulls a chair out for me.

I do as he says, watching the other two closely, seeing the protective way Corbin is with Karsyn. How he keeps one hand securely on her rounded stomach.

“Would you like something to drink?” Karsyn asks.

“Water?” I don’t drink anything else. If I do, it makes me jittery. Even decaf stuff. It’s best to stick with water. I sometimes will splurge and get the flavors just to have something different, but I had to watch which ones I get since some of them had the same effect as drinking a soda. I found it best to simply just add actual fruits to my water.

“Hips, grab two bottles of water and two beers,” Corbin shouts, not taking his eyes off me.

“Coming,” a woman, I’m guessing is ‘Hips’ he called to.

Why would anyone name a woman such a thing? Then again, I’m named after a body of water. At least mine’s not Ocean or Sea. River wouldn’t be so bad, but still.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about,” Corbin announces, not beating around the bush.

Hips drops the drinks off, shooting a glare in my direction, but doesn’t say anything.

“What’s with her giving me the stink eye?” I blurt out.

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