Page 18 of Chaos Claimed

Maybe Santiago should take his truck. If Percy got wasted, it would be a better option than trying to get the male home on a motorcycle.

But if shit went down, Santiago could navigate his bike through trickier terrain than he could his pickup.

“We’re waiting on Matias and Elijah,” he said over his shoulder, inhaling Percy’s scent. It wrapped around his senses, causing his wolf to growl once more.

Slowly, his mate leaned into his back again, his chin reclaiming its spot on Santiago’s shoulder.

“Should I have worn a thicker jacket?” He tugged on Santiago’s. “I don’t own a leather like some people.”

“As hot as it is?” Santiago shook his head. “What you have on is fine, cariño.”

It would be even better if they weren’t going at all. Had he known, Santiago would’ve opted for calling it a night, even if he was far from tired. But Percy had been too excited, and his mate could use a night out.

Fifteen minutes later, Matias passed them on the street. Revving his motorcycle, Santiago pulled from the curb to follow.

Percy hugged him so hard, he should’ve cracked ribs. “Not that tight.” Santiago chuckled, tapping his mate’s hands. “Relax, cariño.”

“I lied, all right!” Percy squeaked. “I’ve never been on the back of a bike. Do you really have to go this fast?”

“Babe, we’re doing twenty-five.” Santiago clocked the police cruiser tucked between the drugstore and barbershop. It was dark out, the streetlights far enough apart to leave the alley bathed in shadows.

But he’d seen it, along with the silhouette inside. Hopefully Gilmore was off duty by now. He wasn’t the only shady deputy in the department, but he was the only cop with a personal grudge against Santiago.

“We’re going to go faster, aren’t we?” Percy scooted impossibly closer, his crotch now pressed firmly against Santiago’s backside, his thin arms steel bands.

“We’re going to be doing the speed limit, hermoso. This is why you should’ve been honest with me.”

If he’d known Percy would panic, they would be in his truck instead.

His mistake was second-guessing himself. “If we go back for my truck, Matias will call off our little outing.” Because if Santiago knew Matias, and he did, the alpha hadn’t wanted to go in the first place.

“Why can’t we just meet them there,” he shouted right into Santiago’s ear. That wasn’t necessary. Despite the engine’s roar, Santiago’s heightened senses could hear Percy clearly. “We’d only be about twenty minutes late.”

No fucking way Santiago would leave his alpha and Elijah unprotected.

Regardless of the reason—partying, a meeting, or simply passing through—an outsider never rode solo.

If this had been a meeting with Xavier, the entire pack would’ve ridden along. Twenty-five deep. Their only goal—ensure Matias’s safety.

“Hold on tight, cariño,” Santiago said as they reached the back road. “Remember, don’t let go and lean with me.”

Percy nodded, eyes squeezed shut. Santiago chuckled. The human was his elegido, so he needed to get used to being tossed onto the back of Santiago’s hog.

Ahead, he noticed Elijah clutching Matias like a spider monkey. It was clearly his first ride too. The tension in his body suggested he’d be sore by the time they reached the club.

Twenty minutes into their ride, they entered cheetah territory. Percy let out a squeal when Santiago sped up to keep with Matias’s pace.

Clearly Santiago wasn’t the only one eager to get there as quickly as possible, but he wasn’t any more at ease when they arrived.

In fact, he was even more alert now that they weren’t racing at top speed. Even before they dismounted, the deep bass of the music was pounding. The parking lot was full, with at least thirty cars and trucks crammed in. The concrete structure wasn’t particularly big, but it appeared fitting for a town of this size. In big neon pink, the letters on the left side of the building spelled out fLare. Lare. Santiago had to admit, which was pretty clever.

Past the doorway, he noticed laser lights and strobes cutting a path across the partygoers. Now, why in the hell couldn’t they have a spot like this back in Blackthorn?

The bouncer at the entrance—dark haired and muscular—scrutinized them closely, his nose twitching. “Xavier made it clear that you four are off-limits,” he said, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. “As long as you come in peace, you won’t leave in pieces.”

Matias walked past him as if the bouncer were invisible. The cheetah grinned, a hint of respect in his eyes. “No harm will come to your mates while you’re here.”

“That’s bloody great!” Percy beamed. “I didn’t know you were from the UK, Sully.”

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