Page 111 of Vengeful Mates

“Lot of people here,” Castor did his VP shit and told the cluster of Jackals surrounding us. Worry rang along the bond like a sword that struck something solid. “One thousand strong. Imagine how much we’ve all raised for men’s mental health.”

The men grunted, a few gazes jumping to me, pinning me as one of the men in need of that support.

“You should be proud the club raise five grand.” Castor brought his hands together in a clap. “Two from the club and more from donations.”

The men cheered and Slade moved about them, slapping them on the shoulders and shaking their hands.

A good cause for someone like me to take part in. I appreciated that my brothers got behind this. Men often didn’t convey their fears and worries and let them bottle up. A recipe for disaster, snapping, and doing something regrettable.

“Five thousand! That’s good, isn’t it, Little Bird?” I peered over her, and she craned her neck to look back and smile. “We’ll help so many people with mental health conditions.”

We wanted to foster a sense of charity and give back to the community in our children. Balance the Maat, so it didn’t turn on them and deliver them hell like it had to us.

“Yeah.” Mia threw up her fists. She didn’t understand the depth of mental health and what it meant, but she knew we did a good thing. That was all she needed to know. Let her stay young and innocent for as long as possible.

Castor smiled, his bond pleased his little distraction brought me to an even kilter. My brother looked dark, sexy, and suave in his three-piece steel-colored suit, all crinkled from sitting on his bike for the long ride into Sydney.

We all cleaned up nicely. Smoking hot in our suits, according to our mate. Sinning angels dripped in ink.

“I’ll get us our ride numbers.” Castor tugged at his jacket as he alighted from his bike.

“I’ll come with you, check things out.” Zethan’s code for scoping for Colton and relieving me of the duty. He picked up bits and pieces these last few days but nothing concrete. Unable to locate Colton set us all on edge, me the most.

An engine roared and men hollered, making me twitch and tighten my grasp on Mia, startling her. Some wanker throttled his bike to show off his new Harley to his buddies. Recreational rider. Cockhead with too much money and not enough taste. I wanted to jump off my ride, storm over, and punch his fucking head in for grating on my nerves.

Cool it.

The ride would be full of enthusiastic and animated riders who shot off on their bikes to show off. I had to calm my nerves before they got the better of me. Straighten myself out so I could lead the ride. Otherwise, I’d have to hand the lead over to another man. My pride refused to let some boasting cockhead spoil all my hard work and progression.

“Alaric, let me off.” Mia wriggled against my grasp. “I wanna ride with Slade.”

Absolutely not. Out of my reach. My arm crushed her stomach and she whimpered.

Intervening, Aaliyah hopped off the back of Zethan’s Yamaha, approaching me slowly like I was a fucking wounded bird with a fragile, broken wing. My balls shrank with frustration when my anxiety got so bad, she had to come to my rescue.

“Hey, honey, let’s get you on Slade’s bike ready for the ride, huh?” She touched my arm, her calm magick washing into me, disengaging my elbow and unlocking my grasp, letting Mia slide off into her mother’s hold.

Defeat washed through my chest. My pride took a hit that I let this get the better of me and ruined this opportunity.

“Come here, sweetheart.” Slade patted his bike and Mia scrambled to go to him.

“Hey.” I touched her head, stopping her. “Have you got a goodbye kiss for me?”

Mia bounced up to meet me when I leaned down to hug her and kiss her on the cheek. “Bye, Alaric. Love you.” Her words ran into each other.

“Have fun with Slade, Little Bird.” I smiled and stroked her head, guilt hacking at me for hurting her.

“I will.” Her gaze flashed to Slade.

“Wanna ride with me back home?” I wanted to make up for what I did.

“I’ll ride with you.” Aaliyah grabbed Mia’s helmet from the tail of my bike and shepherded our daughter away before I put ideas into her head.

My heart shrank to a tiny ball, my pride taking another beating that my mate didn’t trust that I wouldn’t break apart.

Slade’s eyes burned holes in me as he got off his bike to greet Mia, leaning down to boost her onto the back of his Harley. Shame buried under my breastbone that my president was going to send me home or make me sit this out. My hawk screamed his objections, but there was nothing I could do.

Slade got Mia’s helmet ready. “Wanna ride like a devil?”

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