Gay! What the fuck! What was Ceric thinking? I know he was trying to help me by interrupting, but did he really have to say that. And how can she think that I’m gay? I have had more women then she could ever imagine, not that I want her to know all the women I have had. She is driving me mad, I had promised myself I would keep away from her, but the moment I have her in my sights all I want is to take hold of her and bury myself as deep within her as I can and never let go. I nearly kissed her, I nearly touched her. If that had happened it would have changed everything.
I know she is mine, there is no doubt about that. But am I ready to change my whole life? Am I ready to live my life for her? When she commented on Bion I wanted to tear him apart. What the fuck was he doing without a shirt on anyway? Can I let her go back tomorrow to her normal life? What if Merdor knows about her? Maybe she is different and doesn’t have a gift like the other women or like Jas.
Making my way to the top of the ridge, I look around for a place to be alone for a while. This is the only place where I usually find peace and where I can think; away from everyone and everything with only nature around me. Reaching the top, I sit on a huge rock looking out across the trees. No matter how many times I come here the view always takes my breath away.
We had purposely built our compound around and within the mountain, surrounded by trees. This allows for any of the brothers’ energy peaks to be suppressed. As Elementals, we are more than human. We’re born with the power to bend the elements. In my case I can bend the element of earth, mostly animals. I communicate and feel their energy. This helps me to be the best tracker within the club.
Suddenly I hear a screech; smiling I look up at the eagle soaring above me. Lifting my arm, I wait for it to land. I haven’t been up here for a few weeks. With all the stakeouts that we were undertaking on the Keres MC, there wasn’t much time. Since Wulf had found Jas about seven months ago things had started to unravel.
The Keres had tried to kidnap Jas a few months back. Since then everyone had been on high alert. The security on the compound had been tripled. More cameras had been installed throughout the club’s land and it was a vast piece of land. Celmund, one of the brothers oversaw all the club’s technology; he could get into any system that he wanted. He blamed himself for the breach, but it wasn’t his fault. There had been a security system in place and all the brothers had been out on an attack on a Keres warehouse when Jas’s foster parents and some other Keres had infiltrated the compound to kidnap Jasmine. At the time, the members hadn’t realised that we had a rat among us; but later it had been revealed that one of the Jezebels had been taking photos and informing the Keres of the brothers’ movements.
Since then Celmund has had all the Jezebels intensively investigated, even suppliers that don’t usually come into the compound. He has placed a chip on several items of Jas’s jewellery and clothing, such as shoes, sunglasses and hair clips. Jas obviously doesn’t know about any of these but Wulf is happy to know that at least there is a possibility of finding her if ever she were to be abducted again. Celmund has always had trust issues since he was young because of an event in his past. This incident with the Jezebel has just made it worse.
Stroking the eagle that is now perched on my arm, I continue looking out at the view, trying to find the peace that usually comes to me when surrounded by nature, but that peace is absent today. Gabriela is never far from my thoughts, making me feel agitated. The eagle can feel my turmoil. Screeching she flies back up into the sky. I rub my face in frustration. I know this feeling isn’t going to get any better, if anything it’s just going to get worse and I’m going to become more and more violent until I bond with Gabriela.
At the compound when she had been before me and her scent of chocolate and vanilla had reached me, taking away my willpower. Even her scent was decadent; I just wanted to reach out and taste her.
“Oh, fuck it! Why am I fighting it?” Grumbling to myself, I get up and start to make my way back to the compound. Just before I get to the entrance of the garage I come across Ceric standing outside smoking.
“I’m sorry brother. I wasn’t expecting to find you nearly kissing her, it was the first thing that came to mind to try and get you apart.” Ceric states as I near him.
“It’s fine, I understand. Don’t worry about it.” I’m about to go inside but stop at Ceric’s next words.
“I think she is hiding something. When she was walking into the compound with Jas I saw her stop as if in shock. She seemed surprised that Jas was touching her. Wulf was behind them and Jas didn’t ask her at the time why that was; but I heard Jasmine implying that she would like to know why she was so surprised at having her touch her.” At Ceric’s words my curiosity and concern for her rises. Why would she be surprised about someone touching her?
“We need to go and talk to Wulf, he needs to try and get Jas to tell us what that was about.” Not waiting for Ceric’s response, I make my way into the main area of the club. As I’m crossing the bar area, I see Gloria sitting on Burkhart’s lap with her hand in his jeans and her tongue down his throat. Fuck! If Gabriela saw them she would want to run for the hills. He would have to make sure to keep her towards the back of the compound.
Ceric has caught up, following me into the training facility, we locate Wulf at the far-left hand side, throwing his knives. Wulf is known for being deadly with those knives. In all my years, I have never seen anyone as good as he is. Draco is standing next to him talking. Usually we would find those two together. They aren’t just club brothers but best friends also. They have a connection that is palpable.
“Bjarni, Ceric. Where have the two of you been? I heard that there is something that the two of you have been remiss about mentioning.” Draco had turned at our approach and had a shitfaced smirk on his face. Wulf stopped throwing his blades and turned to face us. Bion and Brandr who were in the ring fighting also stopped and started snickering. Fuckers! I wasn’t in the mood for this shit.
“Very funny assholes, careful you don’t find me in your bed one night with a blade,” Ceric mumbles, but there’s a smile hovering there also. You didn’t often find Ceric upset. If you did it had to be something very serious. Ceric was very slow to anger, but if someone had the misfortune to anger him, then that person should run!
“Let’s drop this shit. Wulf, you need to talk to Jas to try and find out why Gabriela found it so strange that she touched her.” I was looking at Wulf as I spoke, so I saw his jaw tense at my request. The only thing more important to Wulf then us brothers is Jas. Since Wulf found out that they were going to be parents he’s even more protective of her. If he thought that anything could upset her, even slightly he wouldn’t allow it to happen.
“What happened?” Draco asks, looking at Wulf and myself.
“When we arrived at the compound yesterday my Angel took hold of Gabriela’s hand to guide her into the building. Suddenly at the door Gabriela stopped with a surprised look on her face, she seemed surprised that Jas was touching her.” Wulf related what happened to us, earlier that day.
“That is strange, why would she be surprised about someone touching her? I’m thinking that maybe we should get someone else to touch her and see what her reaction is.” At Draco’s suggestion, my anger starts to rise. I know that I’m being unreasonable, but just the thought of another man touching her, no matter how innocently, makes me want to rip their arms off.
“Fuck no! No man is touching her.” I state, and they’d better listen to me. Brother or no brother they touch my Baby Girl and we will have problems.
“What if it was Wulf?” Brandr asks from the ring. I look over at Wulf, I don’t like the idea of any man touching her, but if it must be anyone then it could only be him.
“You only touch her arm,” I said. “If there is no reaction after a minute you let go. Agreed?” I must make sure that it’s him and only him and that he won’t hold her for too long, because if he did Jas or not I will personally be removing his hand away from her. At Wulf’s nod, I grunt; this is a bad idea. I’m already regretting it.
“Wulf, you still need to ask Jas to try and find out more about her.” Before Wulf can respond to Draco I feel the presence of the two women as they enter the training facility. Everyone looks back at them. Why would Jas bring Gabriela to the training facility? We all know Wulf doesn’t like Jas here, now that I think about it I don’t like Gabriela here either. Looking around I see that Bion and Brandr are shirtless, after what happened in the kitchen Bion better put on a shirt and quick. Now I understand Wulf’s dislike for his women coming into this area.
“Hi ladies. What brings you to the training area?” Draco asks in a friendly tone, even though Jas is Wulf’s woman we all love her like a sister and would do anything to please her, as the presence of Gabriela can attest to. No one besides the brothers and Jas are allowed in the back areas of the compound even the Jezebels aren’t allowed here. There are three rooms in the front area that the brothers use when scratching an itch with them. Wulf is making his way towards Jas, stopping them from advancing.
“I’m just showing Gabriela around, thought I would show her where all of you get those muscles.” By now Wulf had reached them, he circles Jas’s waist, pulling her towards him. I see Gabriela looking at me, a blush starting to flush her neck and face. As I’m about to walk towards them I see Wulf take hold of Gabriela’s arm just above her elbow.
“How about we all go into the kitchen and try some of those treats Gabriela brought us?” He starts to guide them out the door as he speaks. Gabriela takes a couple of steps but stops in her tracks looking up at Wulf.
“I don’t understand, you’re also touching me?” She looks surprised and shocked. At her words Wulf drops his hand, letting go of her arm. It’s a good thing because without realising I was already making my way towards them to forcefully remove his hand if need be.
“Why do you seem surprised that someone would touch you Sweetheart?” Draco asks from right behind me. I notice from the corner of my eye that Bion and Brandr are moving towards the ring again. I know they’re keeping away from Gabriela so as not to upset me. Even though I realise it’s madness to be upset or jealous of my brothers, I can’t seem to help the possessiveness I feel towards her.
Concentrating on her, I observe that she is looking uncomfortable, even agitated.
“Umm, I just …” Shaking her head she looks at Jas and then turns her eyes to connect with mine, I can see the fear in her eyes. What could she possibly be afraid of?
“Whatever it is it’s okay, we are all here to help you, if there is anything wrong?” Jas has pushed herself away from Wulf and is now hugging her. Gabriela’s eyes fill with tears. I can see her struggling not to cry. I’m struggling not to go to her, hug her and tell her that everything’s going to be okay, that I will keep her safe from whatever it might be.
“I’m sorry, you’re going to think I’m weird.” She’s looking at me as she speaks. “I just don’t like people touching me, I have this … condition. The crazy thing is that it doesn’t happen when Jas touches me and now Wulf. Maybe I’m better!”
“What condition is that?” Draco asks, standing next to me. I’m in two minds. One I want to know what’s wrong with Gabriela, but on the other hand I can see this is disturbing her and I don’t want to upset her.
“I know this might sound crazy, but when someone touches me I usually see their future or part of it.” At her words, we all stand frozen, knowing that she’s one of the women that might be in danger from the Keres MC. Fuck! I can’t let her leave here. She might be in danger, it’s surprising that she hasn’t been caught yet.
“I was just surprised because with Jasmine and Wulf it doesn’t affect me. I can’t see anything when they touch me. I’m sorry, maybe I should go.” She starts to turn as she speaks, moving towards the door. I can see she’s agitated, I want to take her in my arms until her worries go away.
“Baby Girl, stop!” At my clipped words, she stops but doesn’t turn around. “You not going anywhere, none of us here think you’re weird. Jas please tell her.” I look at Jas with a pleading look, I know that Jasmine is now comfortable with us knowing about her gift, but she’s still wary of other people knowing about it.
Jas sometimes goes into a trance and paints things that are going to happen in the future, this gift of hers has helped the club a few times saving a lot of time and pain. Since she became Wulf’s woman her gift has changed. She can now channel that gift and only paints when she wants to know something specific, it doesn’t always work but at least she doesn’t go into trances. Wulf doesn’t like her to go into these trances as she gets extremely drained, especially now that she is pregnant.
“Angel, you don’t have to.” Wulf states glaring at me. I know he’s trying to protect her but he has to see that Gabriela has a right to know. I glare back at Wulf, one way or another Gabriela will have to know. If Jas doesn’t tell her then someone will have too.
“It’s okay Baby, she needs to know.” She makes her way towards Gabriela after kissing Wulf on the cheek. As she reaches Gabriela she hugs her around the waist with one arm and starts guiding her out of the training area.
I start to follow, but Draco puts his hand on my shoulder to hold me back. “Let them be, she will feel better if it’s only her and Jas.” I’m not happy with that, I want to make sure she is fine, but I understand what Draco is telling me.
Grunting in frustration, I turn. I might as well work off some steam now that I’m here. “Hey Ceric, I think you owe me one. Telling my woman, you want my lips and shit; I think I would like to kiss you to sleep. Come on asshole lets go spar.” I hear him groan from where he’s standing, while the others roar with laughter at his predicament. We both make our way towards the mats, ready to let off some steam.