Page 9 of Tucker's Strike

“I’m not a flipping fairy,” I shout, stomp my foot, and feel like a child for doing so. But I’m not going to put up with him talking about me being something I’m not or about my family. They protected me all my life. They raised me with love and shielded me from all the bad they could.

Tucker cocks a brow, not saying a word.

“There’s no way I’m a fairy,” I state once more. “My mom was human.”

“And what of your biological father?” he asks.

That has me freezing up. Anytime I ever asked, Dad would change the subject. He never told me about him. I just thought he didn’t know and didn’t want to tell me. What if he did, though, and he was hiding it from me?

“You don’t know anything about him, do you?”

Slowly, I shake my head, not answering him verbally.

“Well, Lake, it’s best you start believing. The truth is there in your scent, little Fae, you are just that, a Fae. And knowing this, it explains why you’re in danger.”

“How do you know that?” I blurt out, only to slap my hand over my mouth.

“I know,” he states, stepping into my space. “Because I was told my mate was on her way here and that she has danger right on her ass.”

Oh my God.

He can’t know. I don’t even know who is after me. I hope he doesn’t ask me who it is because then I have to tell him, and that’s not what I feel like doing. How do you explain you’re running from an unknown?

A cold shiver courses down my spine, and I know what that means. He’s right, that danger is right on my ass.

Thankfully, Tucker doesn’t ask any more questions, nor does he say anything right off. Instead, he stares at me, sensing something. When he finally speaks again, he grabs my wrist at the same time. “We’re leaving,” he states, starting toward the door.

“What?” I balk at the very idea of him taking me anywhere. “I’m not going with you.” I attempt to pry his grip from my wrist, but he’s too strong.

Tucker narrows his gaze and tugs me to his front. “Mate, you aren’t fighting me on this. I saw with my own eyes the chill go down your spine. I felt the shift in the air. You can’t lie tome. You’re in danger. It’s after you, and I’m getting you to the one place you will be safe. The one place my brothers and I can keep you safe no matter what comes at us. Now, you can come willingly, or you can fight me. I will throw you over my shoulder, still taking you out of here. You have three seconds to make your decision.”

I feel my throat tightening, and I glance to the side. It’s a view of the bedroom and where my night-light sits. I swallow and lick my bottom lip as I bring my gaze back to his. “Can I bring my night-light, please?”

Chapter Six

Tucker

“Where are we?” Lake asks as I help her off the back of my bike and follow suit.

I glance over to where Justice, my VP, was parking his truck. I could have called one of my other brothers to come and help out, but he and Corbin were the ones I needed to talk to first thing. Corbin, I have a feeling, knows more than he’s letting on because of Karsyn.

The moment Justice saw Lake and got her scent, he knew what I knew. He didn’t seem too happy, though he didn’t say anything. Just let me put the shit I needed in his truck.

“Clubhouse,” I answer, take her hand, and guide her toward the entrance. “I’ll get your stuff inside in a bit. I gotta talk to my brothers. Don’t get scared around them. We’re not all tigers here.”

“The guy who you had come to the house, he’s not a tiger,” she states, looking in the direction of Justice making his approach.

“He’s not,” I confirm.

“Coyote,” Justice mutters when he’s close enough for Lake to hear him. His eyes were focused on her. “This club doesn’t discriminate against what you are.” He pauses for a moment and takes Lake in before continuing. “Or rather, we don’t discriminate who our brothers are.”

“VP,” I growl, not wanting to disrespect Justice. But I won’t let him make Lake feel beneath him in any way.

Hell, the man caught her scent. He knows what she is, so he knows she’s anything but beneath him. Or anyone else.

There’s a legend about those of the Fae. They say that the lineage is older than time itself. I don’t know how true it is, but then again, I hadn’t ever met one in person before. Let alone think I’d ever find my mate and that she’d be half Fae.

Justice’s nostrils flare, and he jerks his chin toward the clubhouse. “Let’s just get inside, then we’ll talk about your mate.”

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