Page 19 of Wolf at the Door

“Talk to me,” he said softly, his voice breaking the comfortable silence.

I hesitated, unsure where to start. But the way he looked at me, his blue eyes steady and patient, gave me the courage to begin.

“I grew up watching my parents fight,” I said, my voice quiet. “My dad…he wasn’t a good man. He broke my mom down, piece by piece, until there wasn’t much left of her. When he finally left, it was almost a relief. But by then, it was just me and her, trying to survive. I grew up thinking love was pain, that it was something that took more than it gave.”

Wolf’s arms tightened around me, his silence urging me to continue.

“When I met Dylan, I thought he was different,” I admitted. “He wasn’t. He took control of my life the same way my dad had with my mom. And I let him. Because I didn’t know how to fight back.” I paused, swallowing hard. “But then I met you.”

His hand stilled on my back, and I felt him tense beneath me. “What about me?” he asked, his voice rough.

“You make me feel safe,” I said simply. “You make me want to be stronger, to fight for something better. You make me believe I can be more than just…this scared, broken version of myself.”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment, and I lifted my head to look at him. His eyes were dark, his expression unreadable.

“You’re not broken,” he said finally. “And you’re not weak. You survived things most people couldn’t. That takes strength, Bella. More than you realize.”

His words settled over me, a balm to wounds I hadn’t even known I was still carrying.

“What about you?” I asked, my fingers tracing the tattoos on his chest. “What brought you here?”

He exhaled heavily, his gaze drifting to the ceiling. “Pain,” he said. “Loss. Anger. I didn’t have much growing up. Bounced around foster homes, always getting into trouble. Fighting was the only thing I was good at. Cutter found me, gave me a purpose. The club became my family, and I learned how to survive. How to protect what was mine.”

He looked down at me, his expression softening. “And now, you’re mine. I’ll protect you with everything I have. Always.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. Instead, I leaned up and kissed him, pouring everything I couldn’t say into that kiss. He held me like I was the most precious thing in the world, and I believed it.

The night stretched on, our words and touches weaving together a fragile tapestry of hope and love. And as I drifted off in his arms, I knew that no matter what came next, we’d face it together.

***

I woke to the sound of laughter and the blaring of music, the deep thrum of bass reverberating through the floor. The morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. For a moment, I stayed still, letting the memories of the night before wash over me. Wolf’s arm was draped over my waist, his breathing slow and steady. It was tempting to stay there, wrapped in his warmth, but curiosity pulled me from the bed.

I slipped into a pair of jeans and one of Wolf’s shirts before making my way downstairs. The main room of the clubhouse was alive with energy. Music blasted from the speakers, andthe brothers were scattered around, laughing, drinking, and decompressing from the night before. The tension of the fight was gone, replaced with the easy camaraderie that came from shared victory.

Wolf joined me a moment later, his presence grounding me as he wrapped an arm around my waist. “You okay?” he asked, his voice low.

I nodded, taking in the scene. The brothers greeted me with nods and smiles, their acceptance palpable. Ironhead raised a glass in my direction, his grin sharp. “You’ve got a hell of a woman here, Wolf,” he said.

Wolf chuckled, pulling me closer. “Don’t I know it.”

Lena, approached me with a warm smile. “Come on, Bella. Let’s get you a drink.”

I hesitated, glancing at Wolf, but he nodded, his expression encouraging. “Go ahead,” he said. “I’ll be here.”

Lena led me to the bar, her demeanour easy and welcoming. “You did good last night,” she said, handing me a glass of water. “Not a lot of women can handle this life, but I think you’ve got what it takes.”

Her words bolstered my confidence, and as the day went on, I found myself relaxing. The brothers treated me like one of their own, their banter and laughter infectious. Lena and I clicked instantly, her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude a refreshing change. By the time the sun began to set, I felt like I’d foundmy place here, among these rough, loyal, and fiercely protective people.

And when Wolf pulled me into his arms that night, whispering promises of forever, I knew that this was where I belonged.

Chapter 12

The full moon hung high above the forest, casting its silvery glow over the clearing. The air was heavy with tension, the kind that made every hair on your body stand on end. Tonight felt different, electric, as though the world itself was holding its breath. The clubhouse was alive with chatter and laughter, but there was an undercurrent of something more serious, something unspoken.

Lena had coaxed me into wearing a dress tonight. It was soft and flowing, the colour of crimson roses. The moment I slipped it on, I felt a strange mix of power and vulnerability, like I was stepping into a role I didn’t fully understand yet. When I stepped out into the common room, the brothers went silent for a beat, their gazes flicking toward Wolf, who stood near the bar.

His eyes locked onto mine, and the room seemed to fade away. His jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening where he gripped the edge of the bar. “You’re wearing red,” he said, his voice low and rough.

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