Page 82 of Rebel's Fairytale

Messer

Sitting in the backroom of the hardware store with the group of lunatics, Messer wasn’t surprised they were unsuccessful in achieving their goal of running the Howlers out of town. From what she had witnessed, they had no idea what they were doing. They thought they were being stealthy but speaking out in a town council meeting wasn’t stealthy, neither was tagging a library or a bar, without taking the necessary steps to get rid of evidence.

They were losers, and incompetent in her opinion. Hell, they hadn’t even given her much knowledge on shifters. What she learned, she had figured out herself.

The Howlers weren’t all shifters. Some of them were humans. Beside the few instances where they had roughed up a shitty husband or boyfriend, there weren’t any known violent or aggressive incidents. That didn’t mean the Howlers were violent or aggressive, it only meant they were good at hiding it if they were. It also meant they were good at stealth, unlike the group in front of her.

She also learned that Axle Weber was the president of the club, and the Howlers had a close ally club in the Tiger’s Club MC, which was led by Crush Welles. Both of which were well known in the community. Axle was more liked, but the only negative she heard about Crush was that the woman was cranky.

Dealing with townsfolk like the people around Messer, she understood how a woman would end up cranky. That didn’t mean she felt sympathy for the two presidents, though. They were both shifters. Violent or not, they had the ability to potentially hurt people or kill them. They were a danger, a threat to humanity.

She was going to have to let go of this group, though, and proceed on her own. The only semi-useful one was Niles Flynn. He at least had some information on the Howlers. It wasn’t much, but it got her started.

As Daniel Williams, one of the brothers who owned the hardware store, yelled at Charles Williams for vandalizing Bobby’s Bar, knowing the bar had cameras, Messer considered her next move. The carnival was probably her best bet of getting close to the clubs. Since it was being thrown at their headquarters.

“I wore a bandana covering my face and a hoodie,” Charles grumbled at his brother.

“Oh? The bandana hanging out of your back pocket?” Daniel’s voice rose with his anger. When Charles blushed and dropped his gaze, Messer knew Daniel was right. Daniel turned his attention to Niles. “And you! Why in the hell would you keep the paint in the car you were fucking driving? I swear to fuck you both are idiots!”

Yeah, it was time to break ties with these fools.

Matthew

Matthew Waters couldn’t fucking believe it. Finally, it was his turn. He hadn’t pressed the issue about his prospecting time being drawn out. He had to take a break just over a year ago to take care of some personal shit, and that had meant he started his time over when he returned. The Howlers had been understanding about the whole situation. They didn’t have to let him return to prospecting after his break, but they were gracious to give him another chance. Matt didn’t know if that had anything to do with his brother, Brute, or his brother by choice, Rock, but it didn’t matter to him either way. He wanted to be a Howler.

Being called into the church room for the Howlers was a damn trip. He’d wanted to be welcomed into that room for so damn long. Hell, they didn’t even let prospects clean in there. Having Axle personally call and ask Matt to meet him there at four was the closest he’d felt to being a member. It was either really good or really bad but, following the advice Kisy and Butterfly had given him while they hung out at the bar, he was thinking positively and manifesting that shit.

Taking a deep breath, Matt knocked on the door and waited. When he heard Axle call out, he twisted the knob and pushed the door open. Leaning his head in, he looked around, his gaze landing on Axle sitting at the head of the long table. “Pres?”

“Come on in,” Axle told him.

As Matt stepped through the door, he took in the other two people in the room, Pike and Keys. The presence of the two men didn’t give him a clue which way the conversation was going to go. When you’re talking about the sergeant at arms and the tech guru of the club, shit could be really good, or they hacked into your shit and found something you should be ashamed of.

Taking a few steps toward them, Matt was wracking his brain, trying to think if he had ever done anything too embarrassing. He didn’t think so.Think positively, he reminded himself and waited for further instruction.

“Have a seat,” Axle said and motioned to the seat to his left.

Matt took the seat. Pike and Keys sitting across from him.

“Look. I know your path in the club has been… unconventional,” Axle began. Leaning back in his chair, Axle folded his hands behind his head and sighed. “Normally, we wouldn’t ask this of someone until they were a member of the club, but you’re a special case. It’s pretty much a given you’ll join us. Once all of this shit is over, we’ll do the vote. But we need to ask something of you. It’s dangerous and could put you in the path of… Well, I’m just going to say it.” He straightened in his chair and let his hands fall to the top of the table. “We need someone to get close to the outsider who came to town and find out everything you can about her.”

Without even having to think about it, Matt nodded. “Yeah, I’ll do whatever you need me to.” The Howlers were important to him, and he already considered them family. If they needed his help, he’d give it without question.

Axle and Pike both smiled at him. Pike nodded as Axle replied, “Yeah, kid, you’ll be a good addition to the club.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Keys, give him the rundown on Messer.”

Chapter twenty-six

Two days later… Diamond

Thekidswerefullof energy and driving her bananas. All of them were excited about the carnival. In an attempt to get them to run off some of the energy, Diamond piled the kids into her Jeep and headed to the park near the elementary school.

Rock was busy with his brothers, setting up for the carnival. Not wanting to bother him while he was busy, she didn’t bother calling him to let him know they were going to the park. They would be in a public place. She figured they would be okay. Diamond justified her decision by making a promise to herself that they wouldn’t be there long.

As soon as she put the Jeep in park in the lot next to the park, the kids had their belts off and were out of their seats, running for the playground.

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