“I want to be there,” Ava spoke up from the bathroom door as she listened to another one of Chris’ conversations on the phone.

Her second day as a mated woman, even if she wasn’t Claimed yet, began in a way that sucked ass.

Yet another freaking call from the MC. This time they were talking about meeting the MC that had tried to kidnap her to figure out what had influenced them to be so reckless if just to speak to her father.

Her supposed honeymoon was being intruded upon by the brothers as per fucking usual.

“Why do you want to be there? I can tell you’re pissed your dad wants me there?”

“Because they tried to kidnap me. I want to know what the fuck they thought they were doing,” Ava explained.

He pursed his lips as he stared down at his cell. She heard the buzz as another notification came and went, his fingers flying as he replied.

“I really don’t think it’s wise,” he said, finally looking over at her as she stood in the toweling robe once again.

“Unwise was them thinking it was a good idea to abduct me to manipulate my dad. This makes sense.”

“Your She Bear might disagree.”

Immediately deflating at his words because she saw the sense in them, and also saw that he’d been trying to protect her not steamroll over her opinion, she strode over from the bathroom door where she’d been standing watching him text the MC contact—Mundo, probably—and rested a hand on his arm.

“I appreciate your trying to protect me, Chris, but if my She Bear does try to come out, then I need to work on butting her back into place.”

His lips twitched. “After yesterday, you really think that’s possible?”

“I think it’s unlikely, but wasn’t it true that when you came over and roared at me to hold back, I did.”

He pondered that a second. “That is true.”

“I don’t want to plead here, Chris,” she half-warned, half-dammit-plead.

“You don’t have to. I don’t want you to think you have to defend your decisions to me when you don’t. I’m just concerned for you.”

“And I love that you are, I really do, but in this, I need to hear it too. I need to know why they involved me.”

He sighed. “Okay, but if you shift, make sure your inner bitch knows to listen to me.”

She grinned. “She knows. Do you want me to call down to reception for clothes?”

“Jesus, girl, just how much money do you have?”

That had her laughing, his astonishment tickled her pink. “They’ll just charge for going to the store for us.”

He shook his head. “Let’s let the millions look after themselves. We can go in yesterday’s gear and get changed at the clubhouse. That’s where the meet up is after all.”

She grimaced, but ceded to his wants with a nod. It was a minute point and she didn’t want to start an argument over something that made sense.

“Is the money situation going to be a problem?” she asked as she turned her back on him and started to tug on her jeans underneath her dressing robe.

“Why should it be?”

She took advantage of the fact his attention was still on his phone to tug on her tee shirt. Whether he knew she was commando or not, Ava didn’t know, but even in a desire to keep the peace, there was no way she’d jump into dirty underwear after a shower.

She turned around, saw his eyes dart away and knew they’d been glued to her butt.

Not too displeased, she carried on the conversation like she hadn’t just caught him watching her—after all, if she’d really wanted to, she could have gotten changed in the bathroom.

She wasn’t being a prick tease, but was trying to acclimate to being around him.

That meant, at some point, being okay with being naked around him.

“Why should it be? Hmm, I don’t know, maybe because you’ve mentioned it a few times?” She folded her arm across her chest, content when his gaze dropped to her unfettered breasts.

“I’m not bothered. Not particularly, anyway. Just, I guess, still astonished. As well as proud, to be fair. I can’t believe what you’ve done to be able to afford all this.”

Warmth flushed through her at his praise; she knew it was heartfelt. “Thank you.”

“I’ll assume your parents don’t know?”

“No. And I don’t want them to, either.” She frowned at him. “Promise you won’t say anything?”

“I won’t but don’t forget, now you’re mated they can’t force you to do anything.”

“They wouldn’t really have forced me to do anything before. It’s not like they or the MC needs my money. I just don’t want the hassle of explaining it to them.”

“They’d be proud to,” he countered, but she still shook her head.

“I’d prefer it to be kept on the down low.”

“Fine.” He shrugged dismissively. “Let’s set off.”

“You going in your boxers?” she asked, laughing even as she tried not to gawk at the luscious display of abs before her.

It was the first time she’d seen him in a state of undress. Out at the back of the clubhouse, where her room overlooked, there was a huge yard. An acre or so of barren grass with tufted trees here and there for the men to shift when they wanted.

She’d be a liar if she said she hadn’t watched out for him; would be struck down if she didn’t admit to knowing his exact routine where it came to shifting.

He grinned at her, but jumped up and pulled on his jeans, tee, then his boots and cut.

In less than five minutes, they were both ready. Another five saw them waiting for their bike down in the lobby, and ten minutes later they were on the way towards the city limits.

Once again, she took advantage of being on the back of his bike. Goddess, the feeling was indescribable. Truly wondrous to feel the wind in her hair, to feel it pull at her clothes and batter the hog into focusing all its energy into pushing against it.

The sun overhead was molten but she was cold, fresh with the blast of the breeze tugging at her skin.

She could honestly say it made the tedious journey go faster, and she was disappointed to make it to the MC as well as excited at the prospect of going back to the hotel.

When the valet had brought the bike around, she’d made Chris promise to bring her back here, and he had with a laugh that told her she was crazy for thinking his intentions fell on different lines.

She climbed off the back of the hog as the gates to the clubhouse closed behind her.

Nothing had changed, not even her status in truth, but she felt a lot older. A lot different to the woman who stood here yesterday.

She’d killed. Not just once, but three times. She’d laid in her mate’s arms last night. Had had nightmares as the She Bear rattled around inside her head during sleep.

Nothing was the same as it had been this time yesterday, and yet, she couldn’t say it was for the worst. She wished like hell the situation hadn’t happened with the other MC, but changing that meant changing the fact Chris had come to her and would stop her father from catching her.

To keep that status quo, she’d endure the horrors of what she’d done in her other form. That was how badly she needed her mate in her life.

When Chris kicked the kickstand into place, he unfastened his helmet and let it hang off one of the handlebars. She perched hers beside his.

“You ready for this?” he asked her, eying her for nerves.

“Course I am. I’ve dealt with the IRS. Spider’s Venom can’t be any worse than them,” she tried to bluster. Succeeding in making him laugh, she smiled at him but was relieved when he just shook his head and reached for her hand to clasp her fingers.

As a unit, they strode toward the open front door. No one was there, but then, there wouldn’t be. There was a prospect at the gates, and he’d inform them of the other MC’s arrival.

As it was, they’d arrived with half an hour to spare. They parted at the foot of the stairs, him going to his quarters and her heading for her bedroom.

He left her with a kiss to the temple that had fire sizzling through her veins in response. That such an innocent caress could set her alight like that made her squirm deep inside.

Only the Goddesses knew how she’d react when they actually did more than touch lips to lips or chest to chest.

Shuddering a little at the thought, she hurried towards her room. Frowning when the door was open, she peered inside and groaned at the sight of Jessie lounging on her bed, eating her candy and watching her TV.

“How the hell did you get in here?” she growled, stalking toward her closet and otherwise ignoring the younger pain in the ass.

“I asked your mom to let me in.”

Ava froze, hands mid-level into the trousers she had hanging on rails in her closet. She strode back out and stared at Jessie who hadn’t budged. Her feet were still crossed at the ankle, her fingers were still tinkling with wrappers in the bag of candy she was eating. Only difference was her attention wasn’t on the screen.

“She has a key?”

The words were a low growl that had Jessie rearing back a little. Ava knew the little bitch had purposely tried to wind her up, and maybe normally, she’d have just taken it. Just gone with the flow. But after yesterday, everything was different.

Nothing was the same.

Shuddering a little with the rage flushing through her system, she whispered, “My mom has a key?”

Jessie scrambled into a sitting position. “Yeah. I thought you knew.”

“Why would I know, Jessie?” she snarled. “I wouldn’t bother locking the fucking door if I knew she had a goddamn key. Who the fuck do you think I’m locking out?”

The outrage she felt made her lightheaded. The wooziness hit her and she leaned against the wall to try to stop it, to try to contain it.

With a shiver, she whispered, “Get the fuck out of my room.”

“I wanted to ask if it was true,” Jessie said, pouting as she curled a finger around a long strand of golden blond hair. She looked like Goldilocks from the fairy-tale. That is if Goldilocks had been one of the bears.

“If what was true?” she snapped, digging her nails into her palms to try to gain some control of the situation.

“If you were mated to Chris.”

She clenched her jaw. “Does it matter if I am?”

Jessie frowned. “Why are you being such a bitch? I thought being mated would calm you the hell down, take that stick out of your ass.”

“You’re contradicting yourself,” she told the younger woman flatly. “Why ask me if I’m truly mated if you assume my character will have suddenly gone one-eighty?”

Jessie flushed. “All right, I wanted gossip.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” she sneered. “Get out. Now you’ve stirred some shit, you’ll have something to report back at least.”

“Don’t be like that, Ava,” Jessie retorted. “I didn’t mean anything bad by it. Hell, I’m glad you’re mated. At least one of us can be happy in this fucking place.”

The bitterness in Jessie’s tone had Ava freezing. She’d always assumed Mundo and Christie’s youngest was content with her life at the clubhouse.

Jessie must have sensed her surprise because she huffed. “Yeah, that comes as a shock to you, too. Why? Do I seem happy here? I’m bored out of my fucking mind.”

“At least you get to leave to work at the store.”

“Great. That’s just what I always wanted. You think I didn’t want to go to college, too? You think it doesn’t suck balls that we are both stuck here, waiting to get old, and not allowed to enjoy this time with the friends they forced us to make when we went to school with humans?” Jessie scampered off the bed. “It isn’t all about you, Ava. We’ve both been screwed, but at least you’re free now. Even if you are a bitch, I’m glad you’re out of it now.”

Before Ava could do more than gawk at Jessie, she stormed off, slamming the door behind her.

Still feeling shaken by the revelation that her mom had access to her room and had done for only God knew how long, she moved toward the bed and on knees that quaked, sank down into the plush mattress.

Resting her elbows on her knees, she tried to suck in enough air to clear her head of the fog of rage that had fallen upon her but no amount of cleansing breaths were working their magic.

The level of the breach was more than she could handle at that moment.

Why did her parents feel they had the right to invade every single aspect of her life?

Was that how it would be when she and Chris were here? Would Annette just pop in whenever she damn well wanted?

It didn’t matter that Annette had never unlocked the door while Ava was inside. It was the fact she had the key at fucking all.

Ava wasn’t allowed one moment of privacy, and she really wasn’t sure if she could cope starting mated life in this kind of environment.

Sucking in a sharp breath when her phone buzzed and made her jump, she leaned back and dug in her pocket.

Seeing Chris’s number, she answered, “I’ll be down in five minutes.”

“Okay, babe,” he told her easily, then, after a second, murmured, “Are you okay? Your voice is weird.”

“I’m fine. See you in a minute.”

She cut the call before he could ask anything else, and knowing him—even with the distance he’d pushed between them—she knew he’d come up to see her if her voice had really sounded different over the line.

That was the last thing she needed.

After meeting with the other MC, they could broach this conversation and what it meant for them going forward. Because all Ava knew was, she couldn’t stay in this clubhouse another fucking night.

Chris frowned down at his cell and then shot Mundo a look when he murmured from the window, “The bikes are just coming down the drive.”

The Council room was on the second floor, so at Mundo’s words, they trudged out and into the corridor, heading toward the front door where they’d be meeting the other MC on their territory.

Mars would stand on the gate line and Spyder outside the line, demarcating their land.

Petty shit, but then this MC crap was. Chris had outgrown it a long time ago, and said pettiness never ceased to piss him off when it came time to deal with other riders. On the rare occasion that happened now, anyway. A prospect, Tad, opened the gates at Mars’ nod when five bikes pulled to a halt outside them. As they climbed off their rides, Mars approached.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing trying to take my baby girl hostage?”

Spyder, the slick son of a bitch, just murmured, “And hi to you too, Mars. Long time no see.”

For a second, the atmosphere seemed to vibrate with the Prez’s rage. Chris felt it slice through the air like an invisible volcano that was erupting as they stood there. His fists curled and his shoulders tensed. His body was one whole mass of rage.

The Council stood by, waiting to see if they’d have to jump in and save the lunatic’s ass.

Spider’s Venom deserved no pity but the last thing they needed was more bloodshed. Mars had left that life behind a long time ago, and no one wanted to drag the MC back into those days.

If Mars attacked, it would be an all-out war between the MCs, and that was never a good thing.

So, why the fucker was trying to provoke the Prez when he had to know that would be the end result, Chris didn’t know. Unless all-out war was exactly what he wanted.

The thought bore further contemplation but before Mars could say a word, the front door to the clubhouse slammed open. They all twisted around to see who was coming, and though Chris expected to see Ava, who he saw was Jessie.

She had a huge pout on her face and looked as though she’d been crying if the red patches on her cheeks were anything to go by.

As was usually her way, she didn’t seem to read the tension in the air. Either it didn’t register or she simply didn’t give a fuck as she strode forward toward her father and threw herself into his arms.

Mundo stared aghast at his youngest, then shot an apologetic look at Mars whose rage had yet to settle. “Jessie, I need you to go inside.” Why he hadn’t said that before, Chris didn’t know. But then, Jessie had appeared out of nowhere and with a speed that was common among She Bears, had suddenly appeared in front of her father, demanding comfort.

“Why is Ava always such a bitch to me?” she whined.

“Jessie, we can talk about this later,” Mundo spat. “Jesus Christ, can’t you see we’re busy!”

“Everyone’s always too busy for me!” she growled, flinging herself away from her father and folding her arms against her chest in a move that seemed more self-comforting than childish.

She turned her head, saw the open gates and the bikes parked there, and her mouth dropped open. Why the hell she hadn’t seen them before, Chris really didn’t know. Nor did he care. He just wanted her out of there.

If Spider’s Venom wanted to cause trouble, the last thing they needed was one of the cubs in harm’s way.

That was, of course, until the Goddesses threw their hand into the mix.

A stillness, different to the one that had settled upon them all like a throbbing blanket, appeared as Spyder and Jessie’s gazes clashed.

“Who..? What...?” Jessie murmured dazedly as she stared at the bikers on the other side of the clubhouse gate.

“Hell no,” Mundo roared, jerking the stillness and shredding it to pieces as he reached for his daughter and grabbed her to him. He frog marched her to the door and shoved her inside, ignoring her struggles and holding the door closed as she tried to get out.

The Council scowled at his behavior, then Mars turned to Spyder. “What the fuck just happened?”

The arrogant man of moments before had been replaced with one who looked like his world had been rocked.

He recognized the feeling. He had felt it when Ava had hit puberty, had felt it every single fucking time he’d clapped eyes on her, until it had almost been comforting when she’d become reclusive and he’d seen less of her.

“Fucking hell,” he breathed, the realization stunning him like nothing else could. “He and Jessie are mates.”