Page 34 of Crush's Fall

“You know you’re going to have to deal with that, eventually. Your mom is not going to accept that you’re not ready for a mate. You know how she feels about mates and fate.”

“I won’t be bullied into anything,” Crush grumbled, and slid her phone back into her pocket.

As much as she wanted Lucifer, and knew they would eventually end up together, she wasn’t sure she was ready for that. The idea of giving a part of herself to him scared the shit out of her. She worked hard to prove she was capable and independent, that she didn’t need a man at her side, and she worried that her reputation wouldn’t survive if she gave in. With a man like Lucifer, strong and outspoken, she could already see her future — devalued and only known as Lucifer’s mate.Nah. Fuck that.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Lucifer

HearingCrushandPinky’sconversation as he sat at the bar and ate his Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap, his to-go order from the diner, Lucifer winced. He could practically read Crush’s mind. The idea of someone bullying Crush into accepting him as her mate would only send her spiraling and pushing him further away.

He started to wonder if it was even worth it. Why was he even trying? If she didn’t want him, why was he hanging around? Okay, sure, he was there for the Howlers as much as for her. He knew they were still suspicious and hesitant, but he still wanted to prove to them he was good enough.

Lucifer wanted to be the type of man that was worthy of wearing the Howlers’ colors. He wouldn’t kiss their asses, but he would put in effort to show them who he was and what he could offer.

It was odd for Lucifer. Part of him was solely focused on Crush, and another part was focused on establishing himself in the Howlers-Tiger’s Claw family. The rest of him was of the I-am-who-I-am mindset. He migrated from one line of thought to another in a very short period of time, sometimes the two thoughts contradicting each other.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he focused on eating his food and tried to keep Crush off of his mind. That lasted about three minutes before he wondered if she missed his attention at all.

Crush

When Bullet and Butterfly stepped into the clubhouse, Crush got up from her seat and made a beeline for them. She gave Butterfly a slight smile, not feeling angry with her sister-in-law at all, before she glared at Bullet and poked him in the chest, hard.

“Are youfuckingkidding me?” She was livid, but her tiger was silent, probably because her tiger wished she’d just go claim their mate.

Bullet crossed his arms over his chest and glared back at her. “You called Mom as soon as Butterfly got to town.”

“Notas soon as,” she scoffs.

“Close enough.”

“So, this is to get back at me?” She shook her head at him. “You know damn well that our parents meeting Butterfly is completely different than them meeting…”

Bullet’s brow lifted. “Why?”

Crush winced and dropped her gaze to the floor. “He’s…”

“Your mate, Sis,” Bullet said, low. “You’re just pissed because if you bring him to meet our parents, you won’t be able to deny it anymore. You’ll have to face it. You’ll have to accept it… accepthim.”

Her eyes lifted to his face again, and she glared. “Fuck. You.”

“Hit a nerve?” He had the audacity to grin.

Frustrated, annoyed, and pissed the hell off at her brother, Crush did the only thing that a young sister could do in that situation. She partially shifted her hand, reached out, and quickly dragged her claws across his face. She barely broke skin, but it was enough to get her point across.

As Bullet’s eyes started to glow in anger, Butterfly stepped between them with her hands up. “Hold on. Wait. It was me. I did it! I told your parents! I didn’t realize it was such a secret. I’m sorry, Crush. Really. Don’t be mad at him. There’s no need for this!”

The anger slowly faded out of her as her sister-in-law spoke while her brother shoved his mate behind him to protect her from Crush. She would never hurt Butterfly, and she knew Butterfly didn’t mean to cause her problems.

The whole situation was fucked up. Looking at Butterfly, who was peeking around Bullet’s side, she gave a nod and then stormed past them and out of the clubhouse.

Lucifer

As he watched Crush storm away, Lucifer couldn’t help but watch the way her hips angrily swayed with each stomp of her shitkickers.Fuck, he couldn’t wait to get her naked and under him. She would be wild, he just knew it.

Fully aware that her brother was standing a few feet away from him, he uttered, “I wonder if she’s a tiger in bed.”

Instantly, Bullet hissed and lunged for Lucifer, but he didn’t even flinch. Lucifer just grinned at Bullet. Trip slammed a hand over Lucifer’s mouth and shoved Bullet’s chest with the other. Two seconds later, Dragon’s hands wrapped around the top of Bullet’s shoulders and forcefully steered a snarling Bullet away.

---