Page 58 of Rocky Top

“She’s human,” Smokey added, tone like steel. “And scared humans get desperate. They talk.”

Knox nodded slowly, eyes cuttin’ to me. “What’re you proposin’?”

“I keep an eye on her,” I said. “Let her stay close. If she’s gonna be a problem, I’ll know first. But I don’t think she will be.”

“You think with your dick or your gut?” Chevy asked flatly.

I shot him a glare that could’ve peeled paint. “I’ll take my dick and slap you across your ugly mug.”

Smokey, always the calm one, leaned forward. “We gotta decide if we bring her in or push her out.”

“Pushing her out risks her tellin’ somebody,” Knox said. “Hell, even if she don’t mean to. That’ll get her killed.”

TNT spoke up. “Keep our paws clean.”

“Careful,” I warned him. “Don’t go there.”

“And bringin’ her in?” Chevy asked me. “You vouchin’ for her?”

“I am,” I said without hesitation. “I’ll handle her.”

TNT spoke up, again, “You claimin’ her? Or is she up for auction? Don’t mind some white meat.”

I growled out, my eyes flashing, hairs growing out of my knuckles.

TNT laughed. “Settle down, Rock.”

Knox stared at me for a long moment, then gave a single nod. “You’d be responsible for her. I’ll have your back, but if shit goes sideways, it’s your neck, Rock.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” I said.

“We’ll have a vote. You boys think it over.”

We moved on to other business, dark rumors floatin’ through town, rival clubs actin' twitchy, one of 'em sniffin’ too close to our territory. Might be humans, might be somethin’ darker. Not the kind of problems we could afford on top of the Birdie situation.

But even as the voices circled and votes were cast in my favor, my thoughts drifted. Back to Birdie. To her eyes, wide and full of fire even when she was scared outta her damn mind. She was sunshinein a storm, warmth in the cold. And she had no clue what she'd walked into.

When the meetin’ ended, the boys filed out, mutterin' under their breath. Knox lingered, brows low.

“You really sure about this?” he asked.

“Sure as I’ve ever been,” I said. “She’s not just some girl. I feel it in my bones.”

He gave me a look like he half-believed me and half-worried I’d lost my damn mind.

“Just be careful, brother. We can’t afford to lose you.”

I clapped him on the back. “Ain’t planning on goin’ anywhere.”

But deep down, I knew what he meant. If things went bad, if Birdie couldn’t handle the truth of what we were, I might not have a choice. I’d have to put her down. Or be put down myself.

Birdie was tryin’ to piece this world together. And I was gonna be the one to walk her through it.

Whether she wanted me to or not.

Later that night, I stood out back near the fire pit, starin’ up at the mountains. The wind had a bite to it, but I didn’t care. The rage and heat from earlier still hadn’t worn off.

I’d wanted to mark Birdie. Hell, I’d dreamed of it. Her head thrown back, my teeth on her skin, claimin’ her like she was always meant to be mine.

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