Page 13 of Bandit's Bounty

“Nothing much,” she replies, evading my eyes. When she sees my brows are raised, she adds, “I swear, if there was anything going on, I’d tell you.”

I feel like she’s lying to me, but I don’t know her well enough yet to call her out on it. Still, it’s concerning so I make a note to talk to Bandit about it later since she’s his sister.

“I need to have Bandit look at my car,” she suddenly says. “It’s past due for an oil change, but there’s also this ticking noise that keeps getting louder.”

“Raine!” I exclaim. “Really? And you’re just driving around all willy-nilly when your brother is more than capable of figuring out what’s going on?”

“I mean, I figured it was okay since my check engine light hasn’t come on yet,” she admits. “I promise, I’ll get him to go over it soon.”

“You better,” I retort. “Don’t think I won’t tell him either,” I warn, grinning at her. When she tosses a napkin at me, I hold my hands up and exclaim, “Hey, now, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t make sure she was safe?”

She shakes her head then changes the subject to something else. “So, I’ve finally got a little bit of alone time,” she states.

“How so?” I ask.

“Mom and Dad took a day trip to the mountains,” she replies. Leaning closer she adds, “They haven’t shifted since I moved back home, but I convinced them I was okay to stay by myself because I know how important it is for them to regularly shift.”

“Make sure you get Bandit to look at your car,” I say to Raine as she prepares to leave. “I think he’s at the clubhouse, but he could also be at the Spiked Raiders’ clubhouse. Just, promise me you’ll call him? All those lights and shit aren’t good indicators, Raine, and you’ll worry him if you’re driving around in something that’s not safe.”

At this point, I feel like a fucking broken record reiterating what we talked about over lunch, but I can’t help myself at this point.

“I will, I will, I promise,” she vows, leaning in to give me a hug. “Call me later?”

“Definitely,” reply. “Now, be careful and stay safe!”

“Okay,Mom,” she teases.

I watch her pull off then head back into the store so I can get stuff wrapped up since I’m going to meet Bandit at the Spiked Raiders’ clubhouse afterward. I can’t wait to see Karsyn’s little ones again. I know I enjoy how much fun Jazzy is but seeing her and Sage as they wind all the brothers around their little fingers makes me giggle. A bunch of burly, foul-mouthed badass bikers practically fall all over themselves when the two little girls ask for something. Plus, now that I’ve joined the ranks of the old ladies, I’m reveling in the newfound sisterhood. Harmony, Karsyn, and Electra are all witches, while Iwasa human, but now we’re all shifters. Not having had many girlfriends growing up, it’s a unique experience for me, but I’m thoroughly enjoying all the gossip as they explain how the club works, what thehistory was before, and the basic expectations when it comes to our roles within the male-oriented hierarchy.

Shaking my head at how silly the guys can be sometimes, I bag up a few items I know that Electra was looking for, then pull a few things together so that Jazzy and Sage can ‘make’ magic with their mothers. Actually, the kits I’m assembling will allow them to make their own natural lip balms and body lotion. I won’t add the essential oils since I don’t know what Jazzy or Sage prefer, but I do have an assortment in small vials for Harmony and Karsyn to help them add.

“You’re loving this, and you know it,” I murmur to myself as I place the stuff for the two little girls into fancy gift bags, while Electra’s is put in a regular store bag with my business logo on it.

A mysterious voice from inside of me startles me and has me nearly dropping to my knees when I hear,It’s just practice for when your daughter arrives.

What on earth? Who wasthat? Could I be going crazy? Ugh, I wish Bandit was right here so I could ask him if he knew.

I’m your wolf, Sloane. You’ll meet me soon. Don’t be afraid. This was predestined by the Fates to happen.

This time Idostumble, but thankfully, instead of my ass hitting the floor, I end up in the chair I occasionally use at my workstation. So many questions are now flying through my head, and I have no clue where to start with regard to asking them. Should I ask Bandit? One of the other old ladies? I truly don’t know and for someone who thrives on being organized and understanding every angle of something, I feel ridiculously discombobulated right now. I need Bandit. Yes, that’s exactly who I need.

He’s the calm to the mutinous storms that want to rage within me. Patient and understanding, he has helped reinforce my rebuilt self-confidence and self-esteem. While I will never claim to completely understand how the fated mate bond works, I’m glad he knew I was his, because each and every day, I learn something new about him, as well as myself.

Gathering everything that I planned to take to the clubhouse, I hurriedly shut the store down and rush to my car with all the bags and totes I packed. Tossing them onto the passenger seat, I slide into the driver’s side, buckle up, then start my car, eager to see my mate and the one who’ll always be there for me when I need him.

I know I’ll get the answers I need even if I don’t fully comprehend them at the time. Bandit will help me figure all of it out.

Chapter Eight

Bandit

It seems that ever since Cyrus and Corbin made peace with one another, we’re always partying at one clubhouse or another. This time, it’s at the Spiked Raiders and I’m kicked back, enjoying a cold one while I wait for Sloane to get here from work. Screams from the distance have all of us on high alert and I toss my beer to the side and follow the rest of the brothers from both clubs as we track down the thunderous noises we heard.

Breaking through the divide in the trees, I see Dane carrying someone and instinctively know it’s my sister.

"Move the fuck out my way," I shout, shoving my way through the brothers, my voice vibrating with anger and fear. "Raine." I look at my sister and snarl. "Fuck. Raine." I step toward Dane with my arms out and growl, "Give me my fuckin' sister. The hell did you do to her?"

Dane steps back and snarls, "Get the fuck back."

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