Page 63 of Victorious: Part I

Maverick leans closer to Alpha, raising his brow. “I think you pissed her off, brother,” he whispers, thinking I can’t hear him.

I absolutely can.

Alpha tilts his head, letting out a heavy sigh. “Yep, but she needs to rememberI’mthe president of this place.” He grumbles back, then clears his throat. “All right, everyone inside. Time to make an action plan,” he yells as I strut away, grinning to myself.

As I stride into the clubhouse, I step up to the bar.

Navy grins at me as I move to take a seat. “Morning, Haven, you want a coffee?” she asks.

“For a morning to start like this, all before eight in the damn morning, I think I need a tequi—”

“Come with me,” Alpha grunts, taking me by surprise.

Navy’s eyes go wide before she bolts to the other side of the bar, leaving me to deal with Mr. Pissed-Off. I turn nice and slow, meeting his scowl. Popping my hip, I throw him a look, hand on my waist, and roll my eyes like I’ve got better things to do. “Oh c’mon, you aren’t pissed at me for what I said out there,are you?”

He reaches out, taking my hand, his grip firm, and he yanks me toward the Chapel stairs. “While I don’t mind you mouthing off every now and then and showing the guys that you’re tough, you’re starting toreallyfucking piss me off with your damn attitude.”

My feet can hardly keep up with him as he drags me through the clubhouse to the Chapel stairs, where I peer back and note that everyone is watching us. Furrowing my brows, I huff. “So, what? You want me to justfall in line?”I snap, trying to pull back from him.

The entire clubhouse goes silent as he spins, his face turning red, and then he bends down, lifting me over his shoulder with brute strength. “Shit!Alpha!”I gasp as he takes off up the stairs at a record pace.

“Fall in line? You’re the First Lady of the damn club, Haven. I’m gonna remind you of that!” he snaps, kicking open the door to the Chapel, storming in, then kicking it shut with an equal amount of force.

He rampages over to the Chapel table and practically throws me onto the epoxy. I think I even hear it crack a little with the intensity of his movements. Scrunching my face as I find my equilibrium, I sit up glaring at him, preparing to unleash my fury, when he rushes forward, grabbing my ankles, and yanks me to the edge of the table, standing between my parted legs. The hooded look in his eyes tells me instantly this was his devious plan all along.

The aggression clearly masks the pain he’s still feeling. The pain we’re all still feeling. But sometimes, anger and frustration are agreatway to get your emotions out.

And to findclimacticrelief.

“You sonofabitch,” I growl and inch forward, my breathing increasing, my skin tingling as my fingers trail up his chest.

He grins mischievously. “You wanted fire, baby.”

Bringing my knee up, I press my boot against his chest and shove him back. “Fuck. You!”

Alpha chuckles, stepping away from the Chapel table with the cockiest smirk crossing his face while he begins to remove his leather cut. “I mean, thatiswhy we’re in here,” he states, folding and placing his cut on the bookshelf behind the table.

He walks around it, stalking me like his prey.

He doesn’t rush.

He prowls.

Each step is deliberate as he walks the curve of the table like a lion circling its kill.

My pulse pounds harder with every inch he closes in. He grabs the edge of the table, looming over me like a storm cloud ready to break. “You want to mouth off in front of my men?” he growls. “Then you better be ready to pay for it in my fucking Chapel.”

“I said…fuck. You,” I repeat, goading him with a smirk I know will set him off…

Will let him unleash all that aggression and emotion he’s holding onto.

His pupils dilate.

His chest expands.

And then he snaps.

His hand flies to my throat, not hard but enough to stop the air in my lungs just for a second.

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