Filed to story: Reclaimed Book by Roxie Ray
I showed Dylan how to use it, and he pressed the button to start it triumphantly. Then, there was a sharp knock on the door. As I went to answer it, Stephan came downstairs and shook his head as he moved to the door.
I swallowed and tried not to let anxiety wind around my heart again. After the car accident, I was taking his protectiveness a lot more seriously.
“Hawk,” Stephan said. He stepped aside and let his brother into the house. “You’re up early.”
“More like our guys were up late,” Hawk said. “Ace, you should come to the clubhouse as soon as you can.”
“What happened?” I asked from the kitchen.
Hawk glanced at Dylan, then sighed. “We picked up Blakely last night.”
“Where? I figured she’d be hiding,” Stephan said.
“She was. She ditched the truck at the junkyard. That’s where the cops found it. So, while the cops were busy with that, Striker had our guys check her usual haunts. She was crashing with Tori-you know her?”
Stephan nodded, a deep frown creasing his brow. “So, she didn’t try very hard.”
“They’re both at the clubhouse. Figured you’d want to talk to her before we get the police involved.”
Stephan nodded. “Good call. Let’s head over there now.”
“Hawk, can you stay and hang out with Dylan?” I asked.
Hawk and Stephan turned to face me, their matching hazel eyes bright with confusion. “What?”
“I want to go,” I said.
Stephan tilted his head to the side. “Harley, that’s not?-“
“I get that you want to protect us, but I’m not a damsel in distress, okay? I want Blakely to know she doesn’t scare me.”
Hawk and Stephan shared a look. They must’ve been communicating telepathically or something. Dylan bumped his shoulder against me. “Is there someone out there we should be scared of?”
“No, honey.” I ruffled his hair. “Just a silly bully. You know your mom’s good at handling those.”
The tension in Dylan’s posture eased, then he puffed out his chest a little. “Okay. Call me if you need me to help.”
I chuckled. “Of course.”
When I looked up, Stephan was watching us with a small smile. Hawk marched into the kitchen. “Dylan, it’s coffee time. And then perhaps we’ll go outside and play a little catch? Perhaps with your claws out?”
“It’s so hard with my claws out,” Dylan whined.
“But it’s great practice.”
“Thanks, Hawk,” I said. I took the towel off my head and hung it to dry in the downstairs bathroom, then quickly pulled my hair up into a bun. It was mostly dry. Good enough. Lakeview didn’t demand the same beauty rituals that life in Atlanta did.
Stephan held the front door open for me. “You’re sure about this?”
“Absolutely,” I said. “I’ve had enough of her.”
His gaze hardened slightly. “As have I.”
We climbed into his Cadillac and drove the short distance to the clubhouse. My heart pounded with anxiety as we approached, and I took a few deep, steadying breaths. Stephan’s hand dropped to my knee and squeezed. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to,” I said again. “It’s just a little intense.”
He hummed. “Yeah. I get that. But after this, we’ll never have to deal with her again.”
“Promise?” I asked with a teasing half-smile.
“Promise.”
We walked inside. Yesterday, it had been bustling and joyous with everyone meeting Dylan. Now, the mood was a lot more severe. Only Striker and two other enforcers were present-Tank, and one I didn’t recognize.
Blakely sat on a bar stool between them. She looked like she hadn’t slept all night. Her face was pale, with dark circles under her eyes, and her red hair was a greasy mess. There was still a slightly crazed look in her eye, though, like she was a cornered animal.
“So, it’s true,” Stephan said. He crossed his arms over his chest as he spoke in a low, dangerous voice. “Explain yourself, Blakely.”
“What’s there to explain?” she snapped. “I lost control of my truck.”
“You could’ve killed my mate,” Stephan snarled. His eyes flashed gold and I thought I saw his teeth briefly sharpen into fangs. Stephan wouldn’t really hurt her-he wasn’t violent like that-but for a moment I wondered.
“Mate,” Blakely scoffed. “That’s what you call whatever girl is currently in your bed.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I never once called you anything like that.”
“You didn’t have to say it!” She moved to stand up, and Striker shoved her back down with a hand on her shoulder. “Everyone knew, Ace! Everyone in this whole clan knew you were going to take me as your mate. But no, I was just a stand-in for your little Georgia peach.” Blakely scowled. “You used me, you lied to me, and you threw me out. For what? For her?
She’s not even a part of this clan!”
Blakely’s gaze flickered furiously between Stephan and me. Stephan kept his arms crossed, watching her, and the silence dragged on and on.
“Say something,” Blakely hissed.
“Are you done?” Stephan asked.
“Are you?”
“I asked you to explain yourself,” Stephan said. “You ran Harley off the road.”
Blakely narrowed her eyes at me with the same furious expression she’d worn in the grocery store. “You should’ve stayed gone. You don’t belong here. You’re not a part of this clan.”
Her words were thick with venom, but they didn’t hurt me at all. She looked like an angry cat, trapped and hungry and alone. Yeah, she’d made me crash my rental, but I couldn’t help but feel bad for her. She’d lied to get me out of the picture, was delusional about Stephan, and was now paying the price. I pitied her.
“Neither are you, Blakely,” Stephan said. “I thought removing you from the club would be enough, but this is beyond what I imagined you were capable of. You’re cast out.”
Striker’s eyes widened as he tightened his grip on Blakely’s shoulder. “Ace, she’s a human. She’s not even a full clan member, and even if she was, no one’s been cast out since?-“
“Since Sean,” Stephan finished for him. “I know that. This clan has been nothing but kind to you, Blakely. You’ve never been a member, since you haven’t been taken as a mate by any clan members, but we’ve welcomed you into our homes for years. We treated you like clan then, and I’ll treat you like clan now. You’re fully cast out. Just shows how badly you fucked up, Blakely.”
“Ace-“
“You’ve said your piece,” Stephan snarled. “I thought banning you from the club would be enough. But now, I’ll spread the word to the entirety of the Lakeview clan. If any clan member is seen with you, they’ll be cast out from the clan as well. You’re unwelcome. No one associated with the clan will have you at their table. I’m the only one who can allow you back in, and I wouldn’t expect that ever happening.”
