Page 35 of Ivy and the Deathstalkers

I start to protest, but then I hear his voice in my head, “Trust me. He will hear you like you hear me. The problem is he won’t be able to reply back. This is what you asked about the buzzing in the back of your head earlier.”

I spin around to face him and almost fall out of his lap. Good thing he has such a good grip on me. “Holy shit did you just…” He just nods.

KC looks at Jax. “Brother, this may be difficult for you, but I need you to clear that big thick skull of yours and just listen for a second. There's gonna be one word pop in your head. I need you to tell us what it is.”

Jax starts to say something, but all the sudden his mouth drops open. He looks at me and then at KC. “How the fuck did I just hear her without her speaking?”

“It's the bond.” KC smirks. “Now, what did she say?”

“She said that damn fruit I can't say! You know the fucking one I'm talking about!”

The room burst into laughter. “Jax has never been able to say kumquat,” Neo says, fighting his laughter. Jax holds up a middle finger to Neo.

“Jax, think your middle name to her.” KC waits.

A couple minutes go by and I shake my head. “There's something, but it's a buzz almost like a bee is in my ear.”

KC nods. “It’s because your bond is one-sided. Until he marks you, he's not fully part of the bond. Once he does, the three of us will be able to share abilities and speak to each other. And before you other fuckheads, say anything, yes, once you guys fully bond with her, we’ll all be connected in a way you couldn’t understand. Hell, I don’t even understand it, and I’ve read about it since I can remember.” He looks at his watch.

“I know you all have questions, especially you two.” He points to Cree and Beck. “But I want to table it for now. We can talk about it tonight at home and before you protest Ivy, we will take you to your place and help you feed your… friends, but youwillbe coming to the ranch for a while. Stanley knows what you are. I guarantee you're not safe, none of us are. You’re our mate, our first priority, and the last hope for our race.”

Damn, that's a lot of weight to put on my shoulders. But I know what he says is true, and as much as I want to argue with him, I know when to pick my battles. And this is not it.

Chapter 25

DJ

I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this information when we walk out into the main room. It’s my job to make sure everyone is ready for church, to get everybody organized, seated, and ready to shut the fuck up and listen. So, I reluctantly leave my mate’s side.

“Alright, fuckers, listen up! Sweetbutts, clear the room, but don’t leave. Everyone else, in Church. Prospects, too,” I announce.

Every eye in the fucking room widens when I demand the prospects join us. It’s never happened before. Prospects aren’t part of the club until they earn the patch. Which means they’re never invited to church. Doing so now goes against everything we stand for. But they have the right to know what we’re up against and why.

Chatter erupts as they slowly edge toward the meeting hall where we have church. Bikers are a bunch of gossipy bitches.

“Get movin’! We don’t have all day,” I bark.

They pick up speed and I scowl as I walk past. I step up to our normal spot and call the meeting to order. “Listen up fuckheads,this is gonna be quick and dirty. You'll keep your mouth shut until the end. We will ask if you have questions then. Until then, no one says a fucking word. Am I understood!?”

“Yes, VP.” Echoes throughout the room and I nod to King.

“Ok, good work today,” he starts. “Even though we were set up.” Growls and grumbles fill the room. “Unfortunately, we had some losses. Kreg, Lee, Rex, and Zek. Their service to this club will never be forgotten and we will honor their memory. Funeral arrangements will be made as soon as this mess is over. Until then, if you know of any immediate needs any of their family members have, please see Beck or Cree and they’ll take care of it.”

They were good men. Loved and respected by everyone in the club. The fact they died fightingourbattle, not even knowing what that battle was, is why we’re having this meeting.

“You’ll never know how much I appreciate each of your willingness to go into battle no questions asked. But this one is too big and dangerous to ask that of you. You deserve to know what we’re fighting and why. Ivy, come here, please.”

I look around the room for our mate, having lost sight of her in the shuffle. I knew one of my brothers would stay by her, so I wasn’t worried. Not that she couldn’t protect herself. I just like knowing where she is. I finally find her in a corner with Neo. And she doesn’t look too happy about being called out.

Glaring at King, she steps around Neo and maneuvers through the crowd, careful not to touch anyone. Which isn’t difficult since everyone steps back and stares as awomanwalks through Church. When she stops in front of him, he grabs her by the waist, pulls her against his chest, and kisses her like his life depends on it. Then he spins her around, and wraps his arm around her, intentionally leaving his fresh bite mark revealed.

I didn’t think I’d ever see Ivy so stunned. That kiss must have fried her brain. King points to the bite mark on his chest andslaps the one on Jax’s chest, which he’s still showing off with great pride.

Damn, I want one.

“This is Ivy. Our mate. All the officers’ mate to be exact. Disrespecting her is to disrespect us. Am I clear?” The boom in his voice has every member nodding their heads followed by dropping them in respect. I've heard him use what some call an alpha bark before. I don’t think deathstalkers have alphas, but if we did, King would be one. Hell, maybe he is. It’s not like I know everything about our species.

“Not to mention, a death sentence if Ivy finds out,” Neo mutters.

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