Page 51 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door
“Thanks to you. As Paul said, we owe you.” Her voice is melodic and soft. “I feel awful that this whole mess happened because of me.”
I wave her words away, going over and taking her soft hand in mine, looking her in the eyes. “No. That’s not true. Before, I’d have said it happened because of me. But that’s not true either. Viktor is the only one to blame. No one else,” I say firmly.
Katie smiles gratefully at me. At that moment, there’s a knock at the door, and Mira appears.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I knew you’d want to know right away. Logan is awake.”
My heart skips a beat. I’m so overwhelmed with joy. I glance over at Paul and Katie. “Sorry, but I’ve got to go see Wolf,” I say.
“Of course,” they reply. I’m already halfway out the door, Bear hot on my heels.
Wolf’s awake. He’s alright. We’re going to be alright.
He’s sat up in bed, looking weary but handsome as ever. Alive and well. He smiles as we enter, just as happy to see us as we are to see him.
I rush to his side, kissing him as salty tears of joy run down my cheeks. “Don’t ever scare me like that again,” I say, smothering him with kisses.
“It’ll take more than a bullet to take me from you, Harper.”
Chapter 29
Wolf
Two Weeks Later
Today is the day I finally get discharged from the hospital. To say I’ve been desperate to get out of here would be an understatement. I’m not the kind of guy who likes to sit around all day doing nothing, and I’m definitely not the type who enjoys being an invalid.
Thankfully, Viktor’s death also put an end to the turf war with Satan’s Sons. The majority of the club’s officers were either taken out or subsequently arrested. So there’s peace within the Shadow Pack. We desperately need peace so our members can mourn our losses and recover. I’m glad I decided to transition the Shadow Pack and its associated businesses to become entirely legitimate and legal when I first became Prez, otherwise, I don’t doubt that the cops would have come down on us a lot harder. As it is, we’re being viewed as the victims in all this, and most of our club members are getting off with community service.
Bear has been doing a great job of holding things together in my absence. I sometimes wonder if he’d be a better Prez than me. He’s certainly more suited to times of peace. I’m a warrior, not a diplomat. We’ve agreed that he’ll continue to run things until I’m completely healed.
For the first time since I patched into the Shadow Pack, my focus isn’t solely on the club. Right now, my priority is Harper and our unborn child. I want to build the perfectenvironment for them to be born into. I want to give our kids everything I didn’t have when I was growing up.
***
To no one’s surprise, least of all mine, they’ve arranged a surprise party for my arrival home. I try to act suitably shocked. It’s worth it just to see the joy it brings Jenny as she giggles with glee, having managed to trick me. One of our favorite games to play is sneaking up on each other to make them jump. In Jenny’s mind, she’s pulled the ultimate jump scare over on me.
“Surprise, we got you!” she squeals, jumping into my arms.
I try to hide my wince at the pain it sends through my body, but Harper notices. “Jenny, what did I say about being careful with Daddy Wolf while he’s still healing?”
“Sorry, Mommy, sorry, Daddy,” she says, melting my heart.
Harper comes over, and I pull her close, hugging both of my girls tight. “I missed you both,” I say, feeling a little choked up.
“We missed you, too,” Harper whispers in my ear, kissing me on the cheek.
“It seems all it took to domesticate this wolf was a little girl and her incredible mom,” Hawk points out with a smile as he comes over to shake my hand. “Good to have you back, Prez.”
Bear comes over, too, giving me his signature Bear hug, though I notice he goes easy on me. I’ll have to rectify that soon and show them all that I’m still the same Wolf. For now, I do my meet and greet, talking with each and every member who hasturned up, thanking them. Everyone is here, even Paul, Katie, Mira, and Ted. Mira and Paul are in deep conversation, seeming to hit it off well, and I can tell from the sappy-eyed way Tiny is gazing at Katie that he’s totally smitten. It seems we may be getting some new members to the Shadow Pack family soon.
I’m grateful that Susan isn’t here. I’m not ready to face her yet. I’m not sure I’ll ever be. Bear’s call was correct. I don’t know if I’d ever be happy having her near my family again. The guys tell me she’s checked into rehab, that she’s doing well, and is determined to turn her life around, finally. I’ll believe it when I see it. For now, I don’t have it in me to forgive her, even if I owe her for saving Harper’s life. Her obsession with me is what got her into the situation, and I can’t believe she’d risk an innocent child like that.
As much as I would have preferred my homecoming to be just family, I know why they arranged this. These people are my family too, the whole Shadow Pack is, and right now they need their leader. They need to know that everything will be okay.
So, I ignore the pain in my chest, and I plaster on a smile. Perhaps I’m not a terrible diplomat after all.
The party doesn’t last long, nor does it go on late, but I still feel exhausted by it. Harper cooks dinner for us all, and the five of us sit around the dinner table to enjoy it. I look around at our unconventional family, feeling like I’ve won the lottery.
