Page 114 of Vengeful Mates

“Damnit, Aaliyah.” I glanced back at her. “I’m not comfortable with this scenario.” Neither were her other mates, their tension ratcheting up.

She hugged the bike with her thighs to boost her up to kiss my neck and ear with a tenderness and sweetness that took me by surprise. “Want to argue? Battle it out with me? Let’s do it. I’ve got good practice with Slade.”

“Fuck, angel.” I twisted the throttle of my bike to show my frustration. “If there’s any danger, I want you to go back to Zethan immediately.”

“Nothing’s going to go wrong.” She said the words determinedly like she forced herself to believe them. “But fine. I’ll do that if there’s any danger.”

Good. At least we agreed on that.

More of her power flowed into me, and this time, I felt relief from the pounding of noise, sight, and stimulants driving me into a craze.

“Thank you, angel.” I gripped her knee and squeezed. “I love you.”

I wanted to say more but a siren went off, signaling the countdown before the ride began.

“Love you too, my hawk.” That was the last thing she said to me.

The last I said to her. Of my love, she had no doubt.

“Hold on for the ride of your life, angel.” I tried to sound like my usual self, show her how her magick relaxed me. But I felt deflated, flat, and ready to get the fuck out of here the moment this was over.

Hiding it, I settled my helmet on and she followed my lead.

The countdown from ten started and bikes roared to the beat.Ten, nine, eight…I twitched at every second, my senses rising to alert. Slamming down my helmet visor, I summoned all my focus to lead my family, and get us safely through this.

Three, two, one.

Bikes roared as they took off, an army of riders moving with the crowd. Forced into the raging sea, I funneled my bike into the procession of riders, sticking close to the leaders, the best position if we needed to get out in the event of danger.

In my rearview mirror, I caught Slade throwing up his arm and fist pumping, prompting Mia to do the same. The bond electrified with his happiness and my uneasiness. One wrong move from a motorcycle could be catastrophic. A rider or more not watching where they were going causing a rear end. Another bike veering into Slade’s and crushing their legs. Dangerous scenarios played in my mind, fueling my anxiety, and I didn’t like the damn odds.

Aaliyah’s magick purred in my chest, bringing me down, and dampening the madness flashing in my head. The craze in my mind and chest lightened, freeing my senses to focus, the space I needed to perform my duty. Guide the procession of my club behind me. Warn my brothers of any threats and guide them to safety. Protect my family at all costs.

Women flashed signs to their men as we rode past, and riders revved their engines in thanks or tooted their horns. With Aaliyah wrapped around my body, the sounds didn’t bother me as much, letting me settle into being the road captain.

The procession of bikes weaved through the streets, heading for the windy roads along the coast where the ride finished, and we planned to celebrate with a picnic afterward.

Tension peeled back like a layer of an onion as I settled into my job, paying attention to the riders ahead of and behind me. This many this close lit my nerves on fire, but I put that aside and got on with what I had to do.

Traffic lights at the next intersection went red, but the commuters respected us and let us flow through unhindered. Some drivers gave us a supportive toot, and Slade’s bond lit up with laughter. A glance in my mirror showed him and Mia waving at people strolling along the sidewalk, shopping, talking on phones, or watching us with dropped jaws. Clearly, they didn’t get the memo for the ride coming through this area.

Spaces between buildings widened as the inner-city limits disappeared behind us, and we inched closer to the bay. Road traffic was heavy everywhere we went, but the sheer number of us held it back, and a few cars let off steam with horns blaring.

Aaliyah’s bond warmed with satisfaction that she brought me back from the edge, and I reached back an arm to stroke and pat her knee to show my appreciation. Fuck, I’d been too lost in my shit to realize she needed to comfort me to satisfy the healing mother goddess within her.

Arm slung around my waist, she let one hand worm under my suit jacket, tugging my shirt from my pants, her palms seeking my skin. Flames kindled in my belly the moment our skin met. My body flared to attention at her every caress. Urges to push her hand lower to stoke my awakening cock tempted me. Instead, I let her work her magick on me, her touch breaking apart the last of my worry in my breast. Trust burned in the glide of her palm along my torso, relighting my confidence that I could defeat this, awakening my shifter’s senses and letting them do the job I was born to. Protect the skies and people. Protect my family and brothers.

Slade’s bond fired with joy, and I glanced in my mirror, catching Mia with her arms wide, having the time of her life. Their excitement cast away the last of my fear and doubt, allowing me to enjoy myself with them.

The sky called to me, my gaze flicking to it, a plane soaring through the dotted clouds, the seagulls in the distance. Tranquility. Freedom.

The succession of bikes rolled along the winding roads, giving us spectacular views of the coast. Aquamarine waters lapped at the shore, reminiscent of the beauty of my mate’s eyes. Beachgoers walked their dogs on the sandy beach and dunes. Ships sailed further out to sea. The coastal breeze hit us with the scent of bike fumes, oil, aftershave, clean linen,

Seeing the beauty made me excited to bring my babies here, dip their chubby feet into the water, and take in their excited squeals as they kicked at the waves tickling them. To build sandcastles and rebuild them if a wave rolled over them. To give the kids their first lesson on a boogieboard and stand back as they frolicked in the water, riding the waves atop their boards.

My shifter senses detected a change in the air. Moving bodies and deviating currents. An obstruction ahead. A collision of drivers locking the road, perhaps.

Lifting off my seat for a better view, my god’s eye kicked in and zoned in on the source. A parade of about fifty bikes approached in the opposite direction, four abreast and taking up the entire road surface. Cars swerved to get out of the way, some crashed into the guardrails, others slammed into ditches. Fuck. Something was wrong.

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