Page 14 of Fear

Sofia’s cheeks burned as the other women laughed. “That is not what I meant!”

Dakota’s expression softened. “Listen, I get it. You feel like you’ve been thrown into the deep end of something you never signed up for. But it’s not just about them being wolves—it’s about the bond.”

Sofia frowned, “The bond?”

Siena nodded. “Mating. It’s not like humans, Sofia. When a wolf finds their mate, it’s final. It’s absolute. Goliath’s wolf has already chosen you.”

A shiver ran down Sofia’s spine. “That doesn’t mean I have to choose him.”

Alaska sighed. “That’s where things get tricky. The pull between mates is… intense. If you deny it, it’ll hurt you both.”

Sofia swallowed hard, “How bad?”

Dakota tilted her head. “Ever seen a wolf without its mate? It’s not pretty.”

Sofia opened her mouth to respond, but a sudden roar of engines outside had all the women snapping their heads toward the door.

The sound wasn’t the Wolverines. It was unfamiliar. The first gunshot shattered the moment.

The women barely had time to react before chaos erupted. Glass shattered, wood splintered, and bullets tore through the clubhouse walls. Sofia threw herself to the ground, her heart slamming against her ribs as screams and curses filled the air. Dakota grabbed Siena, pulling her down behind the bar, while Alaska ducked and covered her head, her breath coming in sharp gasps.

"Get down!" Dakota shouted, her voice barely audible over the rapid gunfire. We can hear Onix shouting in anger from the corridor. Dawn is screaming in fright.

Sofia pressed herself against the cold floorboards, her fingers digging into the wood as adrenaline surged through her system. The sound of shattering bottles filled the air as the bar took heavy fire, liquid splattering across the floor. Her ears rang from the explosions of gunfire, and for a split second, she thought she was back in that warehouse—back when Grant had murdered her sister.

Terror clawed at her throat, but something else burned beneath it. Fury.

Alaska's hand gripped her wrist, pulling her closer. "Stay low! They won’t get inside!" But there was fear in her eyes, and that terrified Sofia even more.

The gunfire lasted only seconds, but it felt like an eternity. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the roaring of engines filled the air, tires screeching as the attackers sped away.

Silence followed, thick and heavy, broken only by the sound of shattered glass crunching under hurried footsteps as the men stormed inside.

***

The first crack of gunfire had Goliath moving before his brain caught up.

Drive-by. The Shadow Riders were making their move.

Windows shattered as bullets tore through the clubhouse. The Wolverines ducked for cover, some already drawing their weapons, but the enemy was moving fast. Too fast.

Goliath saw red.

He burst out of the clubhouse, his feet pounding against the pavement as his eyes locked onto the backs of three bikes speeding down the road.

"Mount up!" King roared.

In seconds, Wolverines were on their bikes, tires screeching as they peeled out in pursuit. But the Shadow Riders knew the land. They took a sharp turn, dust and gravel kicking up behind them, and by the time the Wolverines reached the road, they were gone. Vanished into the terrain like ghosts.

The rage boiling in Goliath’s blood had him shaking, his fingers gripping the handlebars so tight his knuckles turned white. They came here, they shot at his home, they could have hit her, maybe did hit her. That thought nearly sent him feral.

***

When the men returned, they were seething. King’s jaw was set like stone, his hands clenched into fists. "They got away."

"For now," Goliath growled, his golden eyes burning as he stalked toward the porch.

Sofia stood there, her arms wrapped around herself, heart still pounding. She had almost died, again, and suddenly, everything clicked. She couldn’t keep running, there was no escaping this. If she left, they’d find her. If she tried to do this on her own, she’d be dead in a week. Her only option—the only way to survive—was staying.

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