Page 65 of Rocky Top

Not just because she wasn’t ready. Not just because the Council still had their feathers ruffled over me bringing her into our world, but because I wasn’t sure what claiming her would make her become. And I couldn’t do that to her. Not unless she wanted it.

And since she was my responsibility, I couldn’t keep my distance.

After work, I picked her up from Eliza’s place. I had somewhere to show her. Didn’t say where. Didn’t say why. Just told her to wear jeans and hold on tight. And she had. Hell, if she didn’t always listen when it counted, even if she backtalked me on damn near everything else.

Birdie climbed on the back of my bike with that bubbly laugh, her arms sliding ‘round my waist, and I damn near lost my mind right there on the asphalt. Her soft curves pressing against my back, her scent filling my lungs, that cheerful little voice humming along to the rumble of my Harley like she belonged there.

And maybe she did.

I’d been ridin’ out to the old homestead since my mother passed. The clearing wasn’t just some pretty view. It was sacred ground. Old shifter land. Full of quiet power, where the wind felt ancient and clean, and a wolf could breathe.

I hadn’t taken anyone there before. Not even my pack.

But tonight? I needed Birdie to see it. To see me.

By the time we rolled up the gravel switchbacks, the sun was long gone, and the world had turned silver-blue under the moon. I killed the engine, the sudden silence wrapping around us like a blanket.

Birdie slid off, wobblin’ just a little on her boots, cheeks flushed from the ride. Her hair was wild in the best way, green eyes wide as she looked up at the stars like she hadn’t seen ‘em in years.

“Damn,” she whispered. “You bring all your girls here?”

I smirked. “Ain’t no other girls, sunshine. Just you.”

She rolled her eyes, but I saw the flush crawl down her neck. “You always this smooth, Rocky?”

“Nope. Usually I’m a surly bastard who don’t say much. But you bring it outta me.”

She looked at me then. Really looked. And something in her expression loosened.

The silence stretched out between us, not awkward, just thick with everything we weren’t saying. So I broke it the only way I knew how.

“C’mon.” I took her hand, led her up the narrow trail through the brush. The path opened up to the bluff, trees framing the mountain ridge like a goddamn painting. “This here’s where I come when the world’s too damn loud.”

Birdie stepped up beside me, her breath catching. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s home.”

A beat passed. Then another. She tugged her hoodie sleeves down, suddenly quiet.

“You okay?” I asked.

She nodded, then shook her head. “I’m still kinda processing, you know? You turning into a giant wolf, saving me from… whatever the hell that thing was.”

“Cougar shifter. Rogue.” I shrugged. “Didn’t recognize any scent tags. Probably from outta state.” I didn’t want to tell her yet that I suspected her ex.

Birdie’s brows lifted. “You say that like it’s normal. Like there’s some DMV for damn supernatural creatures.”

I chuckled. “Ain’t that organized. But yeah, there’s rules. Territories. Politics. Lotta posturing. Some packs are like ours. Others… not so friendly.”

“Are they all bikers?”

“No. That’s just a lucky coincidence.”

“And you’re just casually dropping all this?”

“Better than lettin’ you get eaten.”

Her lips twitched, but then she sobered. “Why’d you bring me here, Rocky?”

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